Soda Vs Pop Vs Coke Map Of The US

Map found on redditThe map above shows how the term for carbonated sweet soft drinks in different parts of the United States has shifted over time.

In 1947 the term Soda, Pop and Coke (which confusingly refers to all soft drinks, not just Coca Cola) were all fairly even distributed in the United States.

Over time the term Soda has become increasingly more common, most likely due to the influence of media in both California and New York.

That said, the map above likely overstates the change somewhat based on survey data from PopVsSoda.com

 

The come from The Pop vs Soda Page which is a web-based project to plot the regional variations in the use of the terms “Pop” and “Soda” to describe carbonated soft drinks.

Here’s what they current survey results show by US State & Canadian Province:

State/Province	Pop	Soda	Coke	Other	Total
Total	157,659	164,145	58,490	21,120	401,414	100.00%
Alabama	153	582	2849	665	4249	1.06%
Alaska	324	636	60	92	1112	0.28%
Alberta	2185	69	55	48	2357	0.59%
American Samoa	8	11	1	40	60	0.01%
Arizona	586	2799	437	174	3996	1.00%
Arkansas	154	347	1442	80	2023	0.50%
British Columbia	2657	133	50	85	2925	0.73%
California	925	20119	2892	1941	25877	6.45%
Colorado	2909	1943	327	183	5362	1.34%
Connecticut	70	4273	102	115	4560	1.14%
Delaware	24	699	41	29	793	0.20%
District of Columbia	35	442	57	40	574	0.14%
Florida	344	5400	3642	1921	11307	2.82%
Georgia	140	1425	4933	410	6908	1.72%
Guam	6	19	7	30	62	0.02%
Hawaii	35	673	36	76	820	0.20%
Idaho	954	520	63	123	1660	0.41%
Illinois	16400	7267	885	572	25124	6.26%
Indiana	5591	1485	1989	363	9428	2.35%
Iowa	6295	1227	67	173	7762	1.93%
Kansas	2960	934	342	253	4489	1.12%
Kentucky	1251	692	2248	329	4520	1.13%
Louisiana	81	375	2739	597	3792	0.94%
Maine	35	1418	21	74	1548	0.39%
Manitoba	382	30	52	141	605	0.15%
Maryland	208	5127	677	218	6230	1.55%
Massachusetts	115	5874	240	1883	8112	2.02%
Michigan	20493	10894	232	398	32017	7.98%
Minnesota	11627	1745	119	311	13802	3.44%
Mississippi	74	184	1435	102	1795	0.45%
Missouri	1948	6733	541	230	9452	2.35%
Montana	1061	284	37	73	1455	0.36%
Nebraska	3045	661	54	119	3879	0.97%
Nevada	119	849	136	52	1156	0.29%
New Brunswick	509	21	14	9	553	0.14%
New Hampshire	18	1428	34	255	1735	0.43%
New Jersey	135	8306	263	201	8905	2.22%
New Mexico	95	493	754	79	1421	0.35%
New York	7607	16671	489	525	25292	6.30%
Newfoundland	125	21	20	63	229	0.06%
North Carolina	228	2671	1843	1008	5750	1.43%
North Dakota	1136	253	15	25	1429	0.36%
Northwest Territories	19	2	1	14	36	0.01%
Nova Scotia	837	43	10	16	906	0.23%
Nunavut	9	1	2	22	34	0.01%
Ohio	19487	3082	450	490	23509	5.86%
Oklahoma	1687	692	1486	151	4016	1.00%
Ontario	6598	205	214	265	7282	1.81%
Oregon	3086	1903	188	179	5356	1.33%
Pennsylvania	13089	11395	331	450	25265	6.29%
Prince Edward Island	115	9	1	18	143	0.04%
Puerto Rico	6	85	88	47	226	0.06%
Quebec	128	164	158	309	759	0.19%
Rhode Island	15	934	16	43	1008	0.25%
Saskatchewan	565	21	24	31	641	0.16%
South Carolina	60	880	1283	237	2460	0.61%
South Dakota	1152	313	22	32	1519	0.38%
Tennessee	226	892	3656	323	5097	1.27%
Texas	361	4813	14494	906	20574	5.13%
Utah	858	1096	161	137	2252	0.56%
Vermont	19	679	9	56	763	0.19%
Virgin Islands	12	23	3	16	54	0.01%
Virginia	562	5066	1457	620	7705	1.92%
Washington	6772	3059	213	286	10330	2.57%
West Virginia	1555	488	240	88	2371	0.59%
Wisconsin	3410	8751	87	438	12686	3.16%
Wyoming	463	150	74	318	1005	0.25%
Yukon	30	3	2	22	57	0.01%

It should be noted that Soda slightly edges out Pop based on the current survey data, but this could be down more to who filled in the survey than actual everyday usage.

Here’s a breakdown of their origins and why they became dominant in specific areas, considering the map you provided:

1. “Pop”

• Origin: The term “pop” likely originated from the sound made when opening a bottle of soda. It became popular in the mid-19th century and is often credited to its use in English-speaking countries like the UK and the US.
• Dominant Regions:
  • Northern US: States in the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and parts of the Great Lakes region primarily use “pop.”
  • Why?: This term likely spread due to the influence of British and Northern European settlers in these regions. It was further reinforced by the marketing and distribution of soft drinks from regional bottlers that adopted the term.

2. “Soda”

• Origin: “Soda” comes from “soda water,” the fizzy water that was originally carbonated with sodium bicarbonate in the early days of the soft drink industry. The term was common in the northeastern US and tied to the soda fountains that became iconic in urban centers.
• Dominant Regions:
  • Northeast, West Coast, and parts of the Southwest: The term “soda” is widely used in urbanized and coastal areas.
  • Why?: These regions were influenced by early urbanization, soda fountains, and Italian immigrants who referred to similar drinks as “soda.” The term spread and stuck in areas with significant urban and cultural hubs.

3. “Coke”

• Origin: “Coke” became a generic term for carbonated drinks in the South due to the overwhelming influence of The Coca-Cola Company, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Coca-Cola was one of the earliest and most successful soft drink brands in the US, leading people in the South to use “coke” generically.
• Dominant Regions:
  • Southeastern US: This term is most common in the Southern states, where Coca-Cola’s dominance in the beverage industry began.
  • Why?: The cultural and economic influence of Coca-Cola in the South was so strong that it became synonymous with soft drinks in general, regardless of brand.

Why the Shifts in Usage?

1. Mobility and Migration: Increased movement of people across the country has blended regional linguistic preferences.
2. Media Influence: National advertising campaigns often use “soda,” which helps spread the term to new areas.
3. Cultural Change: Younger generations may adopt terms based on pop culture or perceived modernity, shifting away from older regional terms.
4. Globalization: The term “soda” aligns more with international terminology, which may influence its growth in usage.

What about Soda Pop?

The term “soda pop” is a combination of the words “soda” and “pop” and has been used as a way to describe carbonated beverages in a more general or inclusive manner. Here’s some context about the term:

1. Origins of “Soda Pop”

• “Soda”: Refers to the carbonated water component, originally made with sodium bicarbonate.
• “Pop”: Refers to the sound made when opening a bottle or can of carbonated drinks.
• The combination of “soda pop” likely originated as a way to describe carbonated beverages comprehensively, combining two common descriptors from different regions.

2. Use and Spread

• The term “soda pop” was more common in the early 20th century when the beverage industry was still relatively young, and different terms competed for dominance.
• It was used in advertising, bottling, and general conversation to describe the product in a way that could appeal to broader audiences.

3. Why Didn’t “Soda Pop” Dominate?

• Regional Preferences: Over time, regional identities solidified around simpler terms like “soda,” “pop,” or “coke,” making “soda pop” sound overly formal or outdated.
• Efficiency: People tend to prefer shorter terms in casual speech, and “soda pop” is longer and less efficient than either “soda” or “pop.”
• Cultural Shifts: As media and advertising favored one term over others in specific regions, “soda pop” became less common, often sounding old-fashioned or quaint.

4. Modern Usage

• Today, “soda pop” is less common in everyday conversation but still understood universally across the United States.
• It is sometimes used in nostalgic contexts or as a way to emphasize the traditional roots of the beverage industry.
• The term may also appear in more formal writing or when describing carbonated beverages in a generic way that avoids regional bias.

Regional and Historical Associations

• While “soda pop” was never strongly associated with any one region, its components (“soda” and “pop”) split regionally, as reflected in the dominance of “pop” in the Midwest and “soda” on the coasts.

What do you call it?