One of the strange things about living in University town and I will not use the word City (it would be over statement for Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan). Yeah, depending where you go in the US, each region may have it own dialect and their own accent. Yet, I have seen it while in the Army based at Fort Bragg and here in the UP of Michigan. Many people who move can and do adapt the local accent/dialect fairly easy, to the point where others who have transplanted too wouldn't be able to tell you were from else where originally.
Then again there is something in the New England accent, various New York ones, Mississippi, and Texans twang that are dead give aways, or certain open hospitality phrases that reminds one of the South. I know one person who I go to school who lived in New Mexico, you can barely tell he moved up here only 5 years ago, again his wife still has that Texan twang you pick up on.
One has to remember in the US lot of the local accent/dialect reflect the people who moved into the various regions once they came to the US and they added their accent to the local flavor as they and their following generations mingled with those already living in the area.
Just some thoughts.
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