Midwestern United States

Lore & Background

The Midwest occupies the north-central portion of the United States, lying on the broad Interior Plain between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountain ranges. Its twelve states—Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin—are bordered by Canada to the north, the Northeastern and Western United States to the east and west, and the Southern United States to the south. Major rivers include the Ohio, upper Mississippi, and Missouri. The region is a mix of heavy industry and agriculture, with extensive areas forming part of the Corn Belt, and its central location makes it a transportation crossroads for river boats, railroads, and trucks. Chicago is the most populous city, with other large urban centers including Columbus, Indianapolis, Detroit, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Omaha, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Cincinnati, St. Paul, and St. Louis. Historically, the area was part of the Northwest Territory created by the 1787 Northwest Ordinance, bounded by the Great Lakes and the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. The term “Midwest” emerged in the late 19th century, initially applied to Kansas and Nebraska as the civilized areas of the West. The region’s pre-Columbian history includes Paleo-American cultures from around 12,000 BCE, followed by Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippian periods. Mississippian peoples were mound-building farmers who cultivated maize, beans, and squash along river floodplains, with a major population decline around 1400 coinciding with the Little Ice Age. Major Great Lakes tribes included the Huron, Ottawa, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sauk, Meskwaki, Neutrals, and Miami, most speaking Algonquian languages.

Reader's Guide

The Midwest's significance stems from its role as a transportation crossroads for river boats, railroads, autos, trucks, and airplanes, facilitated by its central location. Politically, the region includes multiple swing states, making it heavily contested and often decisive in elections. The region's pre-Columbian history includes Mississippian culture, which built mound structures and supported large populations through maize, beans, and squash agriculture. The Midwest's legacy includes its historical frontier identity and its continued demographic and economic weight within the United States.

Did You Know?

• The term 'Midwest' was used in the late 19th century to refer to Kansas and Nebraska as the civilized areas of the West.
• The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 created the Northwest Territory, bounded by the Great Lakes and the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.
• The region lies on the broad Interior Plain between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountain ranges.
• Pre-Columbian Mississippian culture built mound structures and supported large populations through maize, beans, and squash agriculture.
• Native American tribes such as the Huron, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi inhabited the Great Lakes area, while Plains Indians like the Lakota and Cheyenne lived on the Great Plains.