Flyover country

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Flyover country or flyover states is a somewhat derogatory Americanism popular among entertainers, businessmen, and others concerned with doing business on the coasts. The name comes from the fact that many such individuals shuttle between coastal locations — e.g., Manhattan and Los Angeles — by air. "Flyover country" thus refers to the part of the country that such Americans only view by air. Even Chicago, one of the larger cities in the U.S., is often considered part of the region. However, the term tends to refer to regions such as the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains which are sparsely populated and not as much of a draw to visitors as the coastal regions. It is a term that became somewhat common during the 2000 U.S. presidential election^[1] due to the tendency of such states to lean towards George W. Bush.