NationStates Jolt Archive

I don't know if this has been posted to NS before, but I haven't seen it. This is a map showing how people refer to soft drinks in various part of the United States:

http://www.popvssoda.com/countystats/total-county.html

My first reaction is that "coke" and "pop" are much more popular than I imagined. Together, they dominate all but a handful of states. Of course, this reflects geographical area, not raw numbers, but I still didn't think that they were so widespread.

I'm also surprised at how "soda" seems to pop up in random places. Why does it predominate in the eastern half of Wisconsin? Why is there a "soda" blob covering parts of Missouri and Illinois? Why are random counties in states like Montana, Nebraska, and the Dakotas deep "soda," when most of the counties around them are deep "pop"? And what's the deal with states like Virginia, New Mexico, and Alaska, with no consensus?

What do you all think? Does this map accurately represent your experience? Does your preferred word match the color of your county on this map? And for the non-Americans on the forum, what terms do you use for soft drinks?

I am a Wisconsinite myself, and have lived in many different parts of the state (two). However, in terms of soda/pop, I was born in Milwaukee (south east). So, from birth, I learned that it is soda. Now I live on the west side of WI, and it bother's me to no end to hear people say "Pop". I can't explain why the state is so split, but I do know that it is wierd. Also, I have a friend who was born in Baltimore, and he always says Cola. He doesn't like the whole "Pop" thing either.

Speaking of pop...root beer is my favorite...and right now, I am searching the internet looking for good homebrew recipes...I want to spend the summer making the good stuff...

Acually, I can prove (maybe) why eastern Wisconsin say's Soda.

So, I'm in this class called Wisconsin Studies (and it's REALLY boring), but one thing I did learn is that a lot of the original settlers in WI were from New England. And who else say's "Soda"--New England. Also, most of the immigrants to Wisconsin came through Milwaukee, or Green Bay, which are the two "Soda" centers in the state...so that's why the east side of WI say's "Soda". I can't explain why the rest of the state is stupid and say's Pop...Don't tell my friends I said that...

I don't think this really "fairly" represents every area. I live in Iowa, was born in Arizona, and I call it by it's brand name. But also, each county they asked very few people. Like in Story County, IA. We have 85,000 people I believe, but they only got results from 78. How do I know those people all don't live in Southern Story County closer to Des Moines, or in Northern Story county closer to Ames, Roland, Story City, Gilbert, etc.! But it is VERY interesting! :wink:

I've seldom heard it called pop in New York. And apparently they say it is in some areas in the west of NY.

I've seldom heard it called pop in New York. And apparently they say it is in some areas in the west of NY.

I've seldom heard it called pop in New York. And apparently they say it is in some areas in the west of NY.

Acually, I can prove (maybe) why eastern Wisconsin say's Soda.

So, I'm in this class called Wisconsin Studies (and it's REALLY boring), but one thing I did learn is that a lot of the original settlers in WI were from New England. And who else say's "Soda"--New England. Also, most of the immigrants to Wisconsin came through Milwaukee, or Green Bay, which are the two "Soda" centers in the state...so that's why the east side of WI say's "Soda". I can't explain why the rest of the state is stupid and say's Pop...Don't tell my friends I said that...

there is another linguistic link between eastern wisconsin and new england. in both places (and pretty much only those places) it is common - or at least acceptable - for people to call drinking fountains 'bubblers'.

YES!!! YES!!!! VERY TRUE!!! IN MILWAUKEE, WE CALL THEM BUBBLERS TOO...AND THE REST OF WISCONSIN MAKES FUN OF US!!!

Yeah, and about the lack of people in the survey...I live on the boarder of Pierce County and St. Croix County. In Pierce, they interviewed 20 people, and ST. Croix only 48. However, "Pop" dominated them. Living on the border, I can safely say that "pop" is dominant over anything else.

BUT...some of those "weird" county's, like the one in Montana that say's soda, while no other counties in the state say it, my be accounted for by the low subject group...


By the way...I am the same person as Monoline...

Wow, who wasted their life making that map? Anyway, where I come from (in the middle of Nebraska) everybody says "pop". And it is the same for the most of Nebraska. But I found it interesting that only two or three counties called it something different. And they weren't necessarily right next to each other.

I live in Minnesota, and we use the term "pop" everywhere, from Lake of the Woods to Rochester. People in the very south of Minnesota, near Iowa, use the term "soda" or "soda-pop."

I call soft drinks "soft drinks".

Somebody had a little too much time on their hands to compile such a map.

Meh, I call it soda pop. Not one or the other. Not even Coke. I call it soda-pop. (Maybe it looks better with a hyphen?)

Soda, but my mom always calls it Pop.

I live in Minnesota, and we use the term "pop" everywhere, from Lake of the Woods to Rochester. People in the very south of Minnesota, near Iowa, use the term "soda" or "soda-pop."

We do? I use, and hear, soda. Odd...

I live in Minnesota, and we use the term "pop" everywhere, from Lake of the Woods to Rochester. People in the very south of Minnesota, near Iowa, use the term "soda" or "soda-pop."

We do? I use, and hear, soda. Odd...

The majority of my relatives live in Douglas, Otter Tail, and Stearns Counties and they all use the term soda.

Its called coke people. kinda like cocaine

I call it coke when I want Coca-Cola.

Soda is the generic term around here in my part of PA. Pop is someone we'd only hear out of the mouths of foreigners. :wink:

Yes, here in Santa Barbara we call it soda. Old people might call it pop.

I've never really heard "coke" used to describe soda in general.

Although 'coke' is often used to describe that particularly brownish, syrupy caffeine loaded crap called Pepsi, Coke, RC Cola, whatever.

Everyone where i live says pop, in central illinois

Being from the south, they are usually called cokes or cold drinks around here.

Soda.

I live in Minnesota, and we use the term "pop" everywhere, from Lake of the Woods to Rochester. People in the very south of Minnesota, near Iowa, use the term "soda" or "soda-pop."

We do? I use, and hear, soda. Odd...

The majority of my relatives live in Douglas, Otter Tail, and Stearns Counties and they all use the term soda.
Really? 'Cause all's I hear around here is "pop." When I was in Duluth, they said pop. When I was near Lake of the Woods, I heard nothing but pop, and when I went to visit the Mayo Clinic, I was hearing pop all over the place. Sure, a lot of the older people use the term soda, but all's I hear from people 5 to 65 is pop.

Fascinating map - thanks for sharing!

And what's the deal with states like Virginia, New Mexico, and Alaska, with no consensus? That's what I want to know :? I'm from New Mexico, the very center of it, and I want to know why they think 80 - 100% of us call it "other"... everyone there that I've heard says Coke.

I do, however, go to college in Oklahoma, and I can say that the map is accurate there. The eastern part of the state tends to say "pop" (which I think is hilarious and laugh every time someone says it to me) and the western part, "coke".

I live in Minnesota, and we use the term "pop" everywhere, from Lake of the Woods to Rochester. People in the very south of Minnesota, near Iowa, use the term "soda" or "soda-pop."

We do? I use, and hear, soda. Odd...

The majority of my relatives live in Douglas, Otter Tail, and Stearns Counties and they all use the term soda.
Really? 'Cause all's I hear around here is "pop." When I was in Duluth, they said pop. When I was near Lake of the Woods, I heard nothing but pop, and when I went to visit the Mayo Clinic, I was hearing pop all over the place. Sure, a lot of the older people use the term soda, but all's I hear from people 5 to 65 is pop.

Well, I just remember visiting up there and hearing soda and thinking that soda was for soda crackers. I'd never heard soda referring to a beverage before. Nearly everyone in West Virginia that I hear call it coke or pop. Mostly coke. You get pretty used to this scenario:

Customer: "I'd like some fries and a coke"

Cashier: "Pepsi ok?"

Customer: "Yeah, that's what I asked for"

Cashier: "You had asked for coke"

Customer: "Exactly, that's what I asked for"

Cashier's head explodes.

Sure, it gets messy sometimes but you learn to live with it.

The stuff is called soda fellas. Coke is a type of soda. Pop just sounds retarded.

IT'S A FRIGGIN SODA! IT'S NOT POP, COKE, OR PEPSI!

I am Canadian..... I say POP!!!! I think most Canadians say pop.

Most people in New York City say soda when refering to soft drinks in general, but use Coke to describe the dark colored sodas (like Pepsi) and Sprite to describle clear sodas (7UP). In think it's like that in a lot of places.

I typically refer to it by its brand name, so I don't call it "soda", "pop", or "Coke." Well, if it's a Coke, I call it a Coke, but I don't call Dr. Pepper "Coke", or "soda" or "pop." I call it "Dr. Pepper." It's easier.

IT'S A FRIGGIN SODA! IT'S NOT POP, COKE, OR PEPSI!

Somebody hasn't had their Coke today! :lol:

one of the 15 southern rules. its called a Coke. no, it doesnt mater what it is; sprite, pepsi, dr. pepper, slice, w/e, it doesnt matter. it is called coke. asking for a "soda" or "pop" will get your yankee butt kicked all the way back across the mason dixie line.

I think pop sounds cool, soda is so 50's

Pop just sounds retarded.

you've obviously never heard a wisconsinite say 'soda' - particularly a northern wisconsinite. sow-daa. it sounds ridiculous.

Looks like Colodia has missed his Jolt / Mountain Dew 50-50 blend. :lol:

I will never get why people refer to it as coke! I mean, what if it's a sprite? That's not even a cola!

Looks like Colodia has missed his Jolt / Mountain Dew 50-50 blend. :lol:

we've all missed our jolt havent we sir mod? :lol:

Sex!

*runs away*

I am Canadian..... I say POP!!!! I think most Canadians say pop.
I am Canadian, and I can honestly say I have never heard a Canadian say anything but pop.

Let's examen this. Soda Pop. Blue Car. You don't say "My dad let me take out his blue last weekend and I crashed it." You referred to car. My point is that you can't drink adjectives, nouns yes, adjectives no. So it has to be Pop, not soda. If you spoke Spanish it could work, coche azul, pero no en ingles senor. Yet it is a regional choice, being from Seattle, it's pop.

I will never get why people refer to it as coke! I mean, what if it's a sprite? That's not even a cola!

possibly for the same reason we call things klenexes or xeroxes or anything else where we've taken a specific term and generalized it.

Ahh...a country run by corporations...

I just say soda.