The word soda comes from soda-water (sodium bicarbonate with acid to create fizz). Its original meaning was sodium carbonate, Na2CO3, but has evolved into one of the generic terms for a soft drink.

Pop was introduced later in 1812 by Robert Southey, "A new manufactory of a nectar, between soda-water and ginger-beer, and called pop, because ‘pop goes the cork’ when it is drawn."

Trailing soda and pop in popularity is coke, which has influence in the south likely due to the location of the Coca-Cola plant in Georgia. “I’ll have a coke,” “What kind of coke?”, “Root beer please”.

Source -
Tasty Research

 

 

Soda, pop or coke?

Ever notice how people from all around the United States refer to their favorite carbonated beverage as soda, pop or coke? When I moved from Ohio to Virginia, I clung to my "pop" as an anchor to my midwestern roots. Over 25 years, I began to think of myself as a true Virginian and "soda" slipped slowly into my vocabulary. So I would wonder, "Where is the dividing line between pop and soda? Maybe somewhere in Pennsylvania - like the continental divide?"

The more I deal with the Internet, the more I realize that there are very few issues that SOMEONE has not dealt with. And so I found this wonderful map that tells us county-by-county, who's calling it soda and who's a pop or a coke fan.

soda_or_pop

If you're a detail freak or want to see this map closer up, check out these websites:

The Pop vs Soda Controversy

Strange Maps

Pop vs. Soda Debate Splits the Nation