Please forgive me my Southern Brother, for I must totally disagree with your choice and comments of people from the "Heartland" states of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.
Having been reared most of my life in the great state of Georgia, on the outskirts of the metro Atlanta area, I have met many people from all over the country that moved here to capitilize on our job market and low cost of living. Especially in my job life.
The people that I have met from the Illinois, Indiana, Ohio region have been, without exception, stand up-down home people. People that share our love of small towns, high school football, home grown "maters", Cup racing, fishin', baseball,Etc....They just talk a little different.