Wild & Wacky Stats!

[Josh/Devilman88]

Why not affluent areas of the West?  Less social pressure?

That's a good question. Some thoughts:

States with larger immigrant populations, particularly immigrants from lower economic strata than those that make up northeastern immigrant communities, are going to have a lot more of their children in the population. NJ has a large immigrant population, but many of them come to the U.S. with college degrees or an ethos of putting off children, and like CT it has a small urban:suburban ratio.

The northeast not only has more affluent families, but people marry later and women tend to work longer before starting families. My sister in NJ was 29 when she had her first son and she was the first of any of her friends to become a mother. Of the people I know, very few had children in their 20s and plan for them in their 30s. I suspect the situation is different in middle-class areas like north Dallas or Mesa, AZ.

I should find the National Geographic article.

Most pepole in NC have kids by their mid to late 20's in NC

[Josh/Devilman88]

Pop vs Soda vs Coke (WTF?)

I resent this map. I hate the term 'pop'. I know one friend from Minnesota who says it, but everywhere else in at least SE PA is all 'soda'.

There's a map online that aggregates a huge number of responses; it's actually really interesting. I'll see if I can find it.

All NC should be blue. I have never heard anyone call Soda, "Coke".

[Josh/Devilman88]

Yeah what jimrtex described is a "float" here.

Do people in the south seriously refer to Sprite, Sierra Mist and 7 Up as "Coke"?

I haven't talked to anyone that does.