Where's the nearest ship?

[Shyjohn]

Living in the UK we think nothing of jumping in a car and driving to the coast. I don't think anywhere's more than a hundred miles from the sea. Then the thought struck me, and forgive my ignorance if it's a stupid question but would it be true to say that the majority of Americans have never seen, and will never see the sea? I think that's sad.

 

[Nora]

I can't speak for the rest of America, but personally I've seen the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Gulf of Mexico, the Irish Sea, the Mediterranean and Lake Michigan (which is big enough to be a sea, dammit! lol).

With three coasts, it's not that hard for an American to find his or her way to the seaside at least once in their lives.

 

[*bratcat*]

 

[Secret Kate]

 

[SlowHand89]

I've lived beside water all my life. Can't imagine what it would be like if I couldn't go down to the water whenever I wanted to.

 

[CarolineOh]

Living in the UK we think nothing of jumping in a car and driving to the coast. I don't think anywhere's more than a hundred miles from the sea. Then the thought struck me, and forgive my ignorance if it's a stupid question but would it be true to say that the majority of Americans have never seen, and will never see the sea? I think that's sad.

I actually don't think that's true. The largest populations in the U.S. are in California, New York, Texas, and Florida, all states with sea coasts.
I don't have figures handy but I believe the majority of Americans live within a couple hundred miles of the coasts.
Myself, I live in Michigan, but I can look out my window and see ocean bound ships going by every day. I've seen the Atlantic several times, and will be seeing plenty of the Pacific next week, when we go to Hawaii for our honeymoon.

 

[Shyjohn]

Re: Re: Where's the nearest ship?

I actually don't think that's true. The largest populations in the U.S. are in California, New York, Texas, and Florida, all states with sea coasts.

Thanks CarolineOh. That's what was puzzling me. My knowledge of US geography is embarrassingly poor. I knew that most of the large cities are coastal but I don't know what percentage of the population are town/country dwellers and therefore more likely to live inland.
Thing is most answers so far have been from people who have travelled widely. But you're the only person to actually give me an answer so far. I want to believe you.

 

[ma_guy]

I'd agree with CarolineOh!.

The population that makes up the center of the US is pretty sparse compared to the areas along the coasts. Most of the people within the US also don't seem to have to much problem driving several hundred, if not thousands of, miles. I know a few people that drive more than 100 miles just to commute to/from work each day.

 

[Lasher]

Here's a link to a hokey little map on the US Census Bureau's website that shows population distribution:

Map

And what you'll see is that a lot of people live pretty close to the oceans, the Gulf, or the Great Lakes.

And the comments you're getting on this thread from people who are well traveled are not atypical. The closest ocean coast to me is about a 6 hour drive and we've made the trip several times. Because of the relative abundance of quality highways and also relatively inexpensive fuel coasts compared to the rest of the world, Americans tend to do a lot of driving. Just ask anyone who's tried to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and didn't get any early enough start, lol.

 

[ma_guy]

Re: Re: Re: Where's the nearest ship?

Thanks CarolineOh. That's what was puzzling me. My knowledge of US geography is embarrassingly poor. I knew that most of the large cities are coastal but I don't know what percentage of the population are town/country dwellers and therefore more likely to live inland.
Thing is most answers so far have been from people who have travelled widely. But you're the only person to actually give me an answer so far. I want to believe you.

Shyjohn, If you look at US Census data for the year 2000 you'll find that roughly 2/3rds of the entire US population lives in a state that has coastline on the Atlantic, Pacific or Gulf Of Mexico (170,720,675 people out of a total of 281,421,906) There are also major population centers like Philadelphia that are less than 50 miles from an ocean but are in a state that doesn't have a coastline of it's own.

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Where's the nearest ship?

 

[Nathon_88]

I have been to:

Pacific Ocean (twice......lovely beaches.....)
Lake Ontario (COOOOOOOLD!)
That's about it.

 

[ma_guy]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Where's the nearest ship?

sigh* You are so smart!

Smart ass maybe.. lol

 

[Azwed]

Just ask anyone who's tried to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and didn't get any early enough start, lol.

I hate that bridge

 

[kotori]

I grew up within ten miles of salt water, and now I live in the middle--750 miles from the Atlantic, 750 from the Gulf, 300 or so from the Great Lakes. It sucks. I miss it.

 

[freakygirl]

I'm 30 minutes from the Pacific Ocean and an hour from the Puget Sound...

 

[patient1]

I'm pretty sure that there is a tidal effect on the Delaware river as far as Philadelphia, so isn't that similar to London?


I would say that most of us don't make it to the coast every month, or year, though.

What is rare in America are people that have crossed the country at ground level,& rarer still someone that's seen all 50 states, but it's a transcontinental country rather than a fine island.

I doubt if most natural-born Americans have been to more than one other country.