Use of the term"down state" to describe Southern Illinois

Lately it seems that our politicians have adopted the term "down state" to describe southern Illinois.  What a negative label!  Why do they not just say southern Illinois?  Does the southern part of the state, which has been invisible to most government agencies north of 64, not deserve to be referred to consistently by the same name?  We've been called Egypt, Little Egypt, Southern Illinois and not DOWN STATE!!!  The area south of 64 is southern Illinois and needs to be called such!