I'm originally from Popland, but I've been living in Sodavania for the past quarter century.

And they missed a category. In some parts of the south, it's actually "cocola."

The sharp division between the UP and eastern Wisconsin is fascinating. I remember back in the seventies when my cousins moved to Milwaukee from where we lived in southeast Michigan, they told me about having to get used to the new vocabulary (they also called water fountains "bubblers"--weirdos).

I'm curious about the "other." What do they call soft drinks in New Mexico?

Further thoughts: harkening back to Albion's Seed, it would seem that both Puritans and Quakers are soda drinkers, whereas the Presbyterians opt for coke. And the Cavaliers seem to be a mix between the two. But which folkway created the pop drinkers? (Note that it really was culturally appropriate to split off West Virginia from Virginia way back when).

The "other" in the "northwest angle" of Minnesota has been driving me nuts (although since it's mostly water, it's entirely possible that the results are caused by 1 person answering with something goofy).

FYI, as a Milwaukeeite youth I refused to switch to "pop" when I moved to Green Bay (where, despite the map, it seemed like the majority said "pop"), and have continued to say "soda" even deep in Popland. "Bubbler" went away, though...

Hey, we call it Pop in Southwest Virginia as well as West Virginia.

You can cal it Pop anywhere in the south and be ok, even if they love their Coke. Just dont call it 'soda' in the south or you will be snickered at.

To me Coke is 'cola' while pop is all encompasing of carbonated beverages.

Parts of New England call it tonic....

In Texas, it's "Coke", even when it's Dr. Pepper, just like Kleenex.

Here in New Mexico it is mostly Soda with an occasional Coke. The later being a Texas influence I suspect.

Rand,

Based on the map, you can blame the werid East Wisconsin lingo on the Germans. They colonized East Wisconsin and St. Louis, back when. I'm not sure, but I think I see a hint of 'soda' in Texas around New Braunfels - at one time a straggling German colony.

Yea in and around Dallas I've grown up with 'Coke'. My Dad being from Chicago I'd catch him every once and a while asking if I wanted a 'pop'. In which usually caused a response of, "Uh, wha?" from me, until I realize he wasn't referring to a slap upside the head.

Isn't it at times also referred to as a 'phosphate'. An older term referring back to the times when Soda Jerks would make the beverage by hand.

I'm certain they also got hold of a gaggle of nerdy types that insisted it is called a "carbonated beverage - see it says it right on the side of the can".

Grew up in Chicago m'self. Everyone I knew always called it sodapop. *shrug*

Texas Stadium serves Pepsi and not Coke. Proof that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is a Sith lord.

I always said sodapop (but never too loudly.) What I prefered was the '2 cent plain.'

I agree with the above on soda in NM. I could get what I wanted if I asked for an rootbeer cola.

Oddly, my relatives in Connecticut are Pop folks, but it's listed as a solid soda state.