This. Our country was originally established on the east coast. Anything off the coastline was considered “west.” But knowing just how massive our country is now, we have the true west (left half of the country) and then the mid-west (anything not on the east coast, but not on the left half of the country).
Our basis for cardinal locations is centered around the concept of our nation slowly expanding “out west” from the east coast.
Put the center of the compass in NY and it all works.
This. Our country was originally established on the east coast. Anything off the coastline was considered “west.” But knowing just how massive our country is now, we have the true west (left half of the country) and then the mid-west (anything not on the east coast, but not on the left half of the country).
Our basis for cardinal locations is centered around the concept of our nation slowly expanding “out west” from the east coast.