The land of Lincoln: genesis of a vernacular region

CE Colten - Journal of Cultural Geography, 1997 - Taylor & Francis
CE Colten
Journal of Cultural Geography, 1997Taylor & Francis
Abraham Lincoln is prominent in the business names across central Illinois. A review of
Lincoln place and business names serves as the source to delimit the vernacular" Land of
Lincoln." Lincoln as a town name is common in Illinois, although the state is not prominent
as part of the overall nationalistic place-naming enterprise. Business names associated with
the popularization of travel to Lincoln historic sites and the state's promotion of central Illinois
as Mr. Lincoln's country serve as a gauge of the rise and extent of the Land of Lincoln. Within …
Abraham Lincoln is prominent in the business names across central Illinois. A review of Lincoln place and business names serves as the source to delimit the vernacular "Land of Lincoln." Lincoln as a town name is common in Illinois, although the state is not prominent as part of the overall nationalistic place-naming enterprise. Business names associated with the popularization of travel to Lincoln historic sites and the state's promotion of central Illinois as Mr. Lincoln's country serve as a gauge of the rise and extent of the Land of Lincoln. Within Illinois, the vernacular region focuses on Springfield and trends to the southeast where the Lincoln family entered the state.
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