Flyover country


Flyover country and flyover states are American phrases describing the parts of the contiguous [United States] between the Northeast and West Coast of the United States.
The origins of the phrases and the attitudes of their supposed users are a source of debate in American culture; the terms are often regarded as pejoratives, but are sometimes "reclaimed" and used defensively.

Definition

The terms refer to the interior regions of the country passed over during Transcontinental flight across [the United States|transcontinental flights], particularly flights between the nation's two most populous urban agglomerations: the Northeastern Megalopolis and Southern California. "Flyover country" thus refers to the part of the country that some Americans—especially those of urban, wealthier, white-collar status—only view by air when traveling and never actually see in person at ground level.