Interesting Map

This is an interesting map that shows strong regional preferences for the local word for 'soft drink'. New England, California, Arizona are firmly in the 'Soda' camp. 'Pop' has a large territory which stretches from western Pennsylvania through the Great Lakes and Great Plains to the Pacific Northwest. 'Soda' has two major outposts in 'Pop'-land: Eastern Wisconsin and the region surrounding St. Louis. The South is firmly in the 'Coke' camp. Coke is based in the Southern economic hub of Atlanta so I think this explains why Coke is a 'Coke' even if it is a Pepsi. Two Southern states, North Carolina and Virginia, show a weaker preference for 'Coke' by leaning toward "Soda". Growing up in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia, we called everything 'Coke'. I never heard anyone refer to Coke as 'Pop' until I was in college and met someone from Pittsburgh. Virginia and North Carolina also have high concentrations of citizens who are originally from other states. This would account for these two Southern states having weak 'Coke' and 'Soda' scores. Also notice that Southwest Virginia is neither a 'Coke' nor 'Soda' region, but a 'Pop' region. A look at the map shows that middle to upper Appalachia is a strong 'Pop' region. Southwest Virginia is physically and culturally part of Appalachia; and, as such, the local soft drink term is consistent with that part of Appalachia.