The most widely accepted definition of a hoosier: a hillbilly, hick, white trash, dirt bag, racist, provincial, ethnocentric, and/or scumbag. Typical interests of a hoosier includes: guns, pickup trucks, NASCAR, wife beating, neglecting pets, beating one's wife, mowing the grass, shooting animals, and drinking beer. A hoosier is commonly suspicious of outsiders, and will be uncomfortable in unfamiliar social situations. A hoosier can originate from any part of the world, but are found in highest concentration in the southern U.S. and Indiana (which is also known as the Alabama of the north). The term hoosier is an insult.

St. Louis Meaning: white trash of the worst kind. Also used as an adjective to describe anything several notches below your own perceived sophistication. Dates back to a strike that occurred in St. Louis in the 30's. During this strike, scab workers from Indiana were brought in to fill in for strikers. The perjorative hoosier stems from the St. Louis workers' lack of appreciation for this.

A name given to people from Indiana. The people of Indiana are proud to bare the name, and it is a misconception that it is derogatory for a red-neck farmer. There are a lot of myths about the origin of the name, but the truth is that nobody really knows where it came from (your guess is as good as anyone elses). Also the mascot of Indiana University.

St. Louis Breakdown:

"South City Hoosier" - These are hoosiers that have all the hoosier trademarks and live south of Highway 44. Almost all of the men work in the automotive field. The women usually are the ones buying Basic cigarettes and scratch-off tickets at a South Grand gas station on Wednesday mornings while thier 7 and 9 year old kids are listening to Eminem in the Astro van.

"South County Hoosier" - These hoosiers aren't always poor rednecks. In fact, most of them own homes and have decent jobs. Look for fishing boats in the driveways, Christmas lights in May and stockpiles of Busch Light beer. Many of the men are hunters and/or fishermen and all have buddies that can fix your car. The women usually have part-time jobs, and slightly newer vans. Many south county hoosiers grew up as south city hoosiers.

"Jefferson County Hoosier" - These hoosiers are a wily bunch. Most drive pickup trucks and have boots that are heavily stained and torn to shreds. They usually start sentences with "hey man..." and all of thier stories are about thier brother-in-law. They too hunt, but can't afford to have thier deer stuffed and mounted like most South County Hoosiers. Almost all of these hoosiers are extremely conservative, and very few work in St. Louis. The women generally wear clothes from 1993 and rock 80's style femullets and bangs. Most smoke menthol cigarettes but will buy the non-menthol brands for thier 14 year old sons named Levi.

"St. Charles Hoosiers" - S...

Indiana definition (most common and nationally recognized definition): 1. A native or inhabitant of Indiana (taken from Oxford American Dictionary). 2. An alumnus or student of Indiana University. Also "Hoosiers": Indiana University sports teams. Note: The Indiana University Basketball team is sometimes referred to as “the Hurryin’ Hoosiers.”

St. Louis Definition (regional slang term): Generally means redneck, hick, or someone from Missouri outside of St. Louis or certain areas of St. Louis.

The word itself and its most common definition have its origins in the state of Indiana (also known as the Hoosier State), though the word has taken on regional meanings outside of Indiana, most commonly in and around the St. Louis, MO area. However, even the St. Louis definition can trace its origins to Indiana and Indiana natives transplanted to the St. Louis area.

There are other definitions on Urban Dictionary that outline the St. Louis definition of the word Hoosier in some detail and the better ones include a history of the word. I won’t go through those definitions again, but I would like to point out, as I did above, that if you look at the origins of the St. Louis meaning you will see that this word, as used in St. Louis, also has its roots in Indiana.

Also, contrary to other definitions listed here, Indiana University has no mascot -- there is no “Indiana Hoosier.”

The following is from the July/August 1992 issue of the Indiana Alumni Magazine:
...

A St. Louis, MO term.

Refers to anyone of limited education and social skills. Often lower-class or working-class people who drive pickup trucks and beat-up American cars more than 10 years old. Often spotted by their mullets, overalls, carhardts, Calvin & Hobbes pissing stickers, or t-shirts covered in eagles, guns, American flags, Confederate flags or any combination of the aforementioned items. They can also be identified by their atrocious pronounciation of commonly known foreign words (especially French) and their complete lack of knowledge in the areas of English grammar and world history. See also: Republican.

St. Louis Meaning: white trash of the worst kind. Also used as an adjective to describe anything several notches below your own perceived sophistication. Dates back to a strike that occurred in St. Louis in the 30's. During this strike, scab workers from Indiana were brought in to fill in for strikers. The pejorative term hoosier stems from the St. Louis workers' lack of appreciation for this.