How can we measure the spatial limits of a tradition? When a group of people share a similar way of life, political or geographical dividing lines are of little consequence. A clear demonstration of this fact is found in Indiana. The southern third of the state is culturally part of the Upland South. The rest of Indiana follows a midwestern pattern except for the fringe area near Lake Michigan which is northern in orientation. The mighty Ohio river, Indiana's southern boundary, is usually considered the northern limit of the South. Yet, we can find significant elements of southern culture--modes of log cabin construction, agricultural practices, song style--120 miles north of Louisville.

What signs or guides can we then use to show us where one culture ends and another begins? Any item may be used to describe a region if it appears consistently throughout the entire area. The distribution of a folksong or a dialect term, for example, may very likely approximate the limits of a region.