East North Central states facts for kids

Quick facts for kids East North Central
Top, left to right: Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Detroit
Composition	Illinois Indiana Michigan Ohio Wisconsin
Metropolitan areas	Chicago, IL Cincinnati, OH Cleveland, OH Columbus, OH Detroit, MI Toledo, OH Grand Rapids, MI Indianapolis, IN Milwaukee, WI
Area
• Total	299,170 sq mi (774,800 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	47,368,533
• Density	158/sq mi (61/km2)

The East North Central states are a group of five states in the United States: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. These states are found in the Midwest region. They are special because they are close to the Great Lakes and even share a border with Canada through Michigan.

This area is also a big part of the Great Lakes region. The Great Lakes are like huge freshwater seas! They help ships travel to the Atlantic Ocean and even down to the Gulf of Mexico. This makes cities like Chicago and Detroit important port cities.

Long ago, people from Britain and France influenced the culture here. Today, most people in the East North Central states follow Christianity. The largest Christian groups include Catholics, Methodists, Lutherans, and Baptists. The biggest non-Christian religion is Islam.

History of the East North Central States

Before Europeans arrived, many different American Indian tribes lived in what are now the East North Central states. Later, parts of this land were claimed by the British and the French. After the United States became independent, the eastern part of this region became part of the U.S.

Since then, this area has grown a lot. It is still the most populated part of the Midwest.

Geography and Climate of the Region

The East North Central states are in the northern part of the U.S. They are known for their humid continental climate. This means they have warm summers and cold, snowy winters. Many cities near the Great Lakes get extra snow, called "lake effect snow", during winter storms.

People and Population Facts

In 2020, the East North Central states had over 47 million people living there. Illinois is the state with the most people, while Wisconsin has the fewest. Chicago is the biggest city and metropolitan area in the region.

In 2010, about half the people were male and half were female. About 24% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age was around 39 years old.

Most people in this region are White. There are also many Black Americans and Asian Americans. About 7.6% of the population are Hispanic or Latino.

Languages Spoken in the East North Central States

English is the main language spoken at home by most people. However, many people also speak Spanish. Other languages are spoken too, including German. In some parts of Northeast Ohio, a lot of people speak German because of the large Amish community there.

Politics and Elections

The East North Central states play an important role in U.S. politics. People in these states vote for their leaders, including the President. The two main political parties in the U.S. are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Other parties, like the Libertarian Party, also have supporters.

In the 2020 Presidential Election, Joe Biden (Democrat) won slightly more votes than Donald Trump (Republican) in this region.

• Bold means the candidate won the election.

Images for kids

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  Ethnic origins in East North Central

See also

• Government of Ohio
• Elections in Ohio
• Political Party Strength in Ohio
  • Ohio Democratic Party
  • Ohio Republican Party
  • Libertarian Party of Ohio
  • Charter Party of Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Green Party of Ohio