Things most people don’t know about Illinois is that while the Mason Dixon line officially goes around the bottom of the state, philosophically it cuts through the middle. Peoria is maybe thirty miles north of the rednecks.
Add that he was a boomer and I was disappointed but not surprised when people started complaining about him.
Ha, I’d argue it starts right at Pekin.
That puts several university towns below the line. But little towns outside big towns in the Midwest have their own vibe.