Midwestern United States facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Midwestern United States The Midwest, The Heartland, American Midwest
Region
Chicago Gateway Arch in St. Louis Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Scotts Bluff Mount Rushmore Minneapolis Sunflower field in Kansas Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland Detroit
This map reflects the Midwestern United States as defined by the Census Bureau.
Subregions	East North Central West North Central Upper Midwest Lower Midwest Great Plains
Country	United States
States	Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin as defined by the Census Bureau. Regional definitions might vary slightly among sources.
Largest metropolitan areas	Chicago Detroit Minneapolis–St. Paul St. Louis Cincinnati Kansas City Columbus Indianapolis Cleveland Milwaukee
Largest cities	Chicago Columbus Indianapolis Detroit Milwaukee Kansas City Omaha Minneapolis Wichita Cleveland Cincinnati St. Paul St. Louis
Area
• Total	750,522 sq mi (1,943,840 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	68,985,454
• Density	91.91663/sq mi (35.489210/km2)
Demonym(s)	Midwesterner

The Midwestern United States, often called the Midwest or the Heartland, is a large region in the central part of the United States. It's one of the four main regions defined by the United States Census Bureau. This area is located between the Northeastern United States and the Western United States, with Canada to the north and the Southern United States to the south.

The Census Bureau includes 12 states in the Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. In 2020, over 68 million people lived in the Midwest. The region is mostly flat plains between the Appalachian Mountains and the Rocky Mountains. Important rivers here include the Ohio River, the upper Mississippi River, and the Missouri River.

Chicago is the biggest city in the Midwest and the third largest in the U.S. Other major cities are Columbus, Indianapolis, Detroit, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Omaha, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Cincinnati, St. Paul, and St. Louis. The Chicago area is the largest metropolitan area in the region.

The Midwest's economy combines big industries and farming, with large parts known as the Corn Belt. Money, healthcare, and education services are also growing. Its central location makes it a key hub for transportation by river, rail, road, and air.

Exploring the Midwest's Past

The term West was once used for this region. This was when British colonies didn't stretch far from the Atlantic coast. By the early 1800s, anything west of the Appalachian Mountains was considered the American frontier. Later, the frontier moved west of the Mississippi River.

The French settled the upper Mississippi area, calling it the Illinois Country. In 1787, the Northwest Ordinance created the Northwest Territory. This land was bordered by the Great Lakes and the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Some places, like Northwestern University, still use "Northwest" in their names because of this history.

The name Midwest started being used in the late 1800s. It referred to states like Kansas and Nebraska as more settled parts of the West. Another common name for the region is the Heartland.

Ancient Cultures of the Midwest

Long ago, Native American cultures lived in the Great Plains and Great Lakes areas. The earliest, called Paleo-Americans, were here from about 12,000 BCE to 8,000 BCE.

Later came the Archaic period (8,000 BCE to 1,000 BCE), the Woodland Tradition (1,000 BCE to 100 CE), and the Mississippian Period (900 to 1500 CE). Archeological finds show that Mississippian culture likely started near St. Louis, Missouri. It then spread along the Mississippi and Illinois rivers.

Mississippian people were mostly farmers. They grew maize (corn), beans, and squash in the rich river floodplains. Corn was their main crop. They also gathered seeds, nuts, and berries, and hunted and fished. This farming allowed them to support large populations.

The Mississippian period is known for its mound-building culture. Many mounds were built for ceremonies or burials. Around 1400, their population greatly declined, possibly due to climate change. Their culture ended before Europeans arrived.

Great Lakes Native Americans

Major tribes in the Great Lakes region included the Huron, Ottawa, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sauk, Meskwaki, and Miami. Many spoke Algonquian languages. The Ho-Chunk spoke a Siouan language.

In the 1500s, these natives used stone, bone, and wood tools for hunting and farming. They made canoes for fishing. Most lived in wigwams that were easy to move. The Ojibwe were mainly hunters and fishers. Other tribes, like the Sac and Fox, both hunted and farmed.

They traded widely, reaching as far as the Rocky Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. Tribes had different ways of organizing their communities. The Hurons, for example, traced family lines through mothers.

Their religious beliefs varied. Hurons believed in Yoscaha, a sky being who created the world. The Ojibwe believed in the Great Spirit. They saw religion as a personal connection with a guardian spirit.

Great Plains Native Americans

The Plains Indians are the native peoples who lived on the plains and rolling hills of the Great Plains. Their horseback culture and famous stories with settlers have made them well-known.

Plains Indians are usually split into two groups. One group was fully nomadic, following large herds of buffalo. Some also grew tobacco and corn. These included the Blackfoot, Arapaho, Cheyenne, Comanche, Crow, Kiowa, and Lakota.

The second group, sometimes called Prairie Indians, were semi-settled. They hunted buffalo but also lived in villages and grew crops. These included the Arikara, Hidatsa, Iowa, Mandan, Omaha, Osage, Pawnee, and Santee.

Nomadic tribes survived by hunting, especially buffalo. Buffalo provided food, hides for clothing, and bones for tools. They lived in teepees, which were easy to take down and move. When Spanish horses arrived, tribes quickly adopted them. By the early 1700s, many tribes had a full horse culture. Horses made hunting and travel much easier.

The Dakota or Sioux were among the most powerful tribes. They controlled vast lands in the Great Plains. They were skilled hunters and traders, selling furs to Europeans. Today, the Sioux have many tribal governments across reservations in the U.S. and Canada.

European Explorers and Early Settlers

European settlement began in the 1600s after French explorers arrived. This area became part of New France, including the Illinois Country. The French period started with Jacques Cartier's exploration in 1534. It ended when France gave most of its North American lands to Britain in 1763.

Mapping the Mississippi River

In 1673, the Governor of New France sent Jacques Marquette, a priest, and Louis Jolliet, a fur trader. Their mission was to map a route to the Pacific Ocean. They traveled through Michigan and across Lake Michigan. They entered the Mississippi River on June 17, 1673.

Marquette and Jolliet were the first to map the northern Mississippi. They confirmed that one could travel by water from the St. Lawrence River to the Gulf of Mexico. They also noted the friendly native peoples and rich natural resources. French officials later built many fur trading posts.

The Fur Trade

The fur trade was very important for early European and Native American relations. It shaped how they interacted. Goods like guns, clothing, blankets, and tools were traded.

The French and Native Americans often saw their exchanges as gifts, not just trade. These gifts built friendships and alliances. French traders, called voyageurs, often married Native American women. These women were vital to processing furs and helped build strong community ties.

When British traders arrived, they offered better goods and prices. This created competition between the French and British. After Britain won the Seven Years' War in 1763, they took over French lands. The British tried to change the trade system, which led to unrest among Native Americans. This eventually caused Pontiac's War. After the conflict, the British had to compromise and bring back some of the old trade practices.

American Pioneers Settle the Land

After French control ended in 1763, many French settlers stayed in their villages. Spain gained Louisiana, west of the Mississippi. St. Louis became a main town. France briefly regained Louisiana, then sold it to the U.S. in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.

American settlement began from the east, over the Appalachian Mountains or through the Great Lakes. Fort Pitt (now Pittsburgh) was a key starting point for settlers. Large-scale settlement in Ohio became possible after Native American tribes were defeated in 1794. Many people also moved north from Kentucky into southern Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

Farmers grew corn and vegetables. They often cleared land, farmed it, then sold it to new arrivals and moved further west.

Squatters and Land Claims

Settlers without legal land claims, called "squatters," moved into the Midwest before 1776. They sometimes clashed with Native Americans. After the American Revolution, the new U.S. government debated how to handle these settlers. Some wanted to remove them, but eventually, policies allowed "actual settlers" to buy the land they had improved. These squatters became known as "pioneers."

Native American Conflicts

In 1791, General Arthur St. Clair led U.S. troops against Native American settlements. His forces were defeated by a tribal group led by Miami Chief Little Turtle and Shawnee Chief Blue Jacket. This was a major defeat for the U.S. Army.

The War of 1812 ended with Britain losing control of the region. This left Native American allies without British support. After this, and a short conflict called the Black Hawk War in 1832, major Native American warfare east of the Mississippi River ended.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson sent the Lewis and Clark Expedition to explore the Louisiana Purchase. They started in Illinois in 1804. Their goals were to map the new territory, find a route to the Pacific, and build relationships with native peoples along the Missouri River. The expedition returned in 1806, having made contact with many indigenous nations.

Political Changes and Growth

The Midwest has often been a key region in national elections. From 1860 to 1920, both major political parties often chose their presidential candidates from this area.

The Republican Party started in the Midwest in the 1850s. Its first local meeting was in Ripon, Wisconsin. The party opposed the spread of slavery. It also promoted values like hard work, self-reliance, and public education.

In the late 1800s, the Populist movement gained strength among farmers in the Plains states. Later, the urban Progressive movement became important, with Wisconsin being a major center for reforms.

The Midwest has also been a stronghold for isolationism. This belief meant America should not get involved in foreign conflicts. Many German American and Swedish-American communities supported this view.

Yankee Settlers and Their Influence

Settlers from New England, called Yankees, began arriving in Ohio before 1800. They spread throughout the northern Midwest. Many started as farmers but later moved to cities to become business owners and professionals. Chicago grew to be the dominant city in the region.

Yankee settlers brought their traditions and values. These included a strong work ethic, respect for private property, and belief in public education. They also believed in honest government and community involvement.

Transportation Transforms the Region

Three waterways were vital for the Midwest's growth. The Ohio River flowed into the Mississippi River. The Pinckney's Treaty in 1795 allowed American crops to be shipped down the Mississippi.

The Great Lakes also formed a key shipping network. The Erie Canal, opened in 1825, connected the Great Lakes to New York City. The Illinois and Michigan Canal in 1848 linked the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River system. These canals helped cities grow along the waterways. During the Industrial Revolution, the lakes transported iron ore to steel mills. The Saint Lawrence Seaway, completed in 1959, opened the Midwest to the Atlantic Ocean.

The Missouri River extended water travel almost to the Rocky Mountains. The Mississippi River inspired classic books by Mark Twain, like Life on the Mississippi. His hometown of Hannibal, Missouri, is now a tourist spot.

Railroads and the Automobile Age

In the mid-1800s, railroads arrived in the Midwest. Chicago became the world's largest railroad hub. By 1910, over 20 railroads operated passenger service from Chicago. Even today, many major railroads meet in Chicago.

Electric interurban railroads connected many Midwestern cities from 1890 to 1930. Ohio and Indiana had the most interurban tracks. However, cars and buses soon replaced them.

By 1900, Detroit became the world center of the auto industry. Pioneers like Henry Ford and Walter Chrysler built their factories there. This led to many businesses making auto parts. Today, General Motors, Chrysler, and the Ford Motor Company are still based in the Detroit area.

The American Civil War Era

Freedom and the Underground Railroad

The Midwest, especially the region created by the Northwest Ordinance, was the first large area in the U.S. to ban slavery. The Ohio River formed a boundary between free and slave states. This boundary is famous in American literature, like Uncle Tom's Cabin.

The Midwest, particularly Ohio, was a main route for the Underground Railroad. Midwesterners helped enslaved people escape to freedom in Canada. This secret network was most active between 1850 and 1860. It used meeting points, secret routes, and safe houses provided by people who opposed slavery.

The region was shaped by the absence of slavery (except in Missouri), pioneer settlements, and free public schools. Democratic ideas from Revolutionary War veterans and Protestant faiths also influenced the area.

Bleeding Kansas Conflict

The first violent conflicts leading to the American Civil War happened between Kansas and Missouri. This period, from 1854 to 1858, was called "Bleeding Kansas". The main question was whether Kansas would join the U.S. as a free state or a slave state. It was a conflict between Northerners and Southerners over slavery.

The Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854 allowed settlers in these territories to decide on slavery themselves. This led to many people moving to Kansas to influence the vote. Both sides formed armed groups, leading to clashes. Kansas eventually joined the U.S. as a free state in 1861, just before the Civil War began.

The conflict showed how divided the country had become. The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 was a final trigger for Southern states to leave the Union. Most Midwestern states, except Missouri, banned slavery. Conflicts between Kansas and Missouri continued until 1863.

Immigration and Industry Growth

After the American Civil War, many European immigrants came directly to the Midwest. German immigrants settled in Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and other states. Irish immigrants went to Great Lakes cities like Cleveland and Chicago. Scandinavians settled in Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota. Poles, Hungarians, and Jews also moved to Midwestern cities.

The U.S. was mostly rural during the Civil War. But the late 1800s brought industrialization, more immigration, and urbanization. The Great Lakes states became a center for industry and innovation.

A growing economy attracted people from farms and other countries. Manufacturing, retail, and finance became very important. Chicago was a hub for industrialists like Marshall Field and Julius Rosenwald. John D. Rockefeller started his Standard Oil Company in Cleveland.

In the 1900s, many African Americans moved from the Southern United States to Midwestern cities. This was part of the Great Migration. They sought new opportunities in factories and schools. This led to big changes in the populations of many Midwestern cities. It also brought challenges like segregation and people moving to suburban areas.

The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is a famous monument. It symbolizes the westward expansion of the United States. It is the tallest man-made monument in the U.S.

German Americans in the Midwest

As the Midwest opened up, many Germans settled there. Between 1820 and World War I, nearly six million Germans came to the U.S. From 1840 to 1880, they were the largest immigrant group.

Cities like Milwaukee, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Chicago were popular destinations. By 1900, over 40% of the population in Cleveland and Milwaukee was German American. Many German neighborhoods, like "Over-the-Rhine" in Cincinnati, still show their heritage.

Half of German immigrants settled in cities, while the other half became farmers. They established farms from Ohio to the Plains states. Railroads helped by offering cheap land and transportation to German-speaking farmers.

Political Movements and Social Change

After the Civil War, the Midwest was a battleground for political and economic ideas. Movements like temperance (against alcohol) and populism (for farmers' rights) gained attention. Prohibition was a big issue, with groups like the Woman's Christian Temperance Union starting in the region.

Women's Rights and Activism

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, women in the Midwest became more active in public life. They pushed for women's rights and prohibition. Women used the fight against alcohol as a way to also push for the right to vote. Midwestern states began allowing women to vote before the 19th Amendment was passed. Carrie Chapman Catt from Iowa was a leader in the suffrage movement.

Workers and Farmers Unite

The Midwest saw labor unrest. Chicago was important in the Great Railroad Strike of 1877. The Haymarket affair in 1886 involved a protest and a bomb. The Pullman Strike of 1894 shut down much of the rail traffic. Eugene V. Debs, a labor leader, became a Socialist.

Farmers also faced challenges. They formed groups like the Grange and the Farmers' Alliance. They wanted cooperatives, lower rail rates, and changes to money policies. The Alliance formed the Populist Party in 1892.

The Progressive Era

The Progressive Era was a time of social reform and government regulation. It aimed to fix problems caused by industrialization. Jane Addams started Hull House in Chicago in 1889. It helped immigrants and campaigned for city services.

Midwestern mayors like Hazen S. Pingree and Tom L. Johnson led early reforms. Robert M. La Follette of Wisconsin was a famous Progressive leader. He pushed for reforms like direct primaries and child labor laws. These "Wisconsin idea" reforms became a model for other states.

Midwest Geography and Landscape

The Midwest is mostly flat or gently rolling land. This makes it ideal for farming. Most of the eastern two-thirds are called the Interior Lowlands. These lowlands gradually rise westward into the Great Plains. Most of the Great Plains are now farmed.

While generally flat, there are some varied areas. These include the eastern Midwest near the Appalachian Mountains, the Great Lakes Basin, and the rugged areas of northern Minnesota. The Ozark Mountains are in southern Missouri. The Driftless Area in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois has deeply eroded hills.

As you go west, the hills give way to flat farmlands in central Ohio. This is the start of the vast Interior Plains. Prairies cover most of the Great Plains states. Iowa and much of Illinois are in the "prairie peninsula." This is an area of prairies surrounded by forests.

Rainfall decreases from east to west. This creates different types of prairies. The tallgrass prairie is in the wetter east. The mixed-grass prairie is in the central Great Plains. The shortgrass prairie is closer to the Rocky Mountains. Today, these prairies mostly match areas for corn/soybeans, wheat, and ranching.

Much of the northern Midwest's coniferous forests were cut down in the late 1800s. Now, mixed hardwood forests are common. Most of the Midwest is now urban or agricultural.

Defining the Midwest Region

The term Midwestern first appeared in 1886. Midwest followed in 1894. It referred to parts of the central U.S.

Traditional definitions include states from the Old Northwest and the Louisiana Purchase. The Old Northwest states are also called Great Lakes states. The Ohio River runs along the southeast, and the Mississippi River runs through the center. Many Louisiana Purchase states are also called Great Plains states. The Missouri River is a major waterway there.

The U.S. Census Bureau defines the Midwest Region as these 12 states:

• Illinois: Old Northwest, Mississippi River, Ohio River, and Great Lakes state
• Indiana: Old Northwest, Ohio River, and Great Lakes state
• Iowa: Louisiana Purchase, Mississippi River, and Missouri River state
• Kansas: Louisiana Purchase, Great Plains, and Missouri River state
• Michigan: Old Northwest and Great Lakes state
• Minnesota: Old Northwest, Louisiana Purchase, Mississippi River, and Great Lakes state
• Missouri: Louisiana Purchase, Mississippi River, Missouri River, and border state
• Nebraska: Louisiana Purchase, Great Plains, and Missouri River state
• North Dakota: Louisiana Purchase, Great Plains, and Missouri River state
• Ohio: Old Northwest, Ohio River, and Great Lakes state
• South Dakota: Louisiana Purchase, Great Plains, and Missouri River state
• Wisconsin: Old Northwest, Mississippi River, and Great Lakes state

Other groups might include slightly different states. For example, the National Park Service Midwest Region includes Arkansas.

State	2020 census	2010 census	Change	Area	Density
Iowa	3,190,369	3,046,355	&10000000000000004727420+4.73%	55,857.09 sq mi (144,669.2 km2)	57/sq mi (22/km2)
Kansas	2,937,880	2,853,118	&10000000000000002970855+2.97%	81,758.65 sq mi (211,753.9 km2)	36/sq mi (14/km2)
Missouri	6,154,913	5,988,927	&10000000000000002771548+2.77%	68,741.47 sq mi (178,039.6 km2)	90/sq mi (35/km2)
Nebraska	1,961,504	1,826,341	&10000000000000007400753+7.40%	76,824.11 sq mi (198,973.5 km2)	26/sq mi (10/km2)
North Dakota	779,094	672,591	&10000000000000015834734+15.83%	69,000.74 sq mi (178,711.1 km2)	11/sq mi (4.2/km2)
South Dakota	886,667	814,180	&10000000000000008903068+8.90%	75,810.94 sq mi (196,349.4 km2)	12/sq mi (4.6/km2)
Great Plains	15,910,427	15,201,512	&10000000000000004663450+4.66%	427,993.00 sq mi (1,108,496.8 km2)	37/sq mi (14/km2)
Illinois	12,812,508	12,830,632	Template:Number table sorting/negative−0.14%	55,518.89 sq mi (143,793.3 km2)	231/sq mi (89/km2)
Indiana	6,785,528	6,483,802	&10000000000000004653535+4.65%	35,826.08 sq mi (92,789.1 km2)	189/sq mi (73/km2)
Michigan	10,077,331	9,883,640	&10000000000000001959713+1.96%	56,538.86 sq mi (146,435.0 km2)	178/sq mi (69/km2)
Minnesota	5,706,494	5,303,925	&10000000000000007590020+7.59%	79,626.68 sq mi (206,232.2 km2)	72/sq mi (28/km2)
Ohio	11,799,448	11,536,504	&10000000000000002279234+2.28%	40,860.66 sq mi (105,828.6 km2)	289/sq mi (112/km2)
Wisconsin	5,893,718	5,686,986	&10000000000000003635176+3.64%	54,157.76 sq mi (140,268.0 km2)	109/sq mi (42/km2)
Great Lakes	53,085,258	51,725,489	&10000000000000002628818+2.63%	322,528.93 sq mi (835,346.1 km2)	165/sq mi (64/km2)
Total	68,995,685	66,927,001	&10000000000000003090955+3.09%	750,521.93 sq mi (1,943,842.9 km2)	92/sq mi (36/km2)

Major Cities and Metropolitan Areas

Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) ranked by population size

Rank (Mid­west)	Rank (USA)	MSA	State(s)	Population­
1	3	Chicago	Illinois Indiana Wisconsin	9,449,351
2	14	Detroit	Michigan	4,392,041
3	16	Twin Cities (Minneapolis–Saint Paul)	Minnesota Wisconsin	3,690,261
4	21	St. Louis	Missouri Illinois	2,820,253
5	30	Cincinnati	Ohio Kentucky Indiana	2,249,797
6	31	Kansas City	Missouri Kansas	2,192,035
7	32	Cleveland	Ohio	2,185,825
8	33	Columbus	Ohio	2,138,926
9	34	Indianapolis	Indiana	2,089,653
10	40	Milwaukee	Wisconsin	1,574,731
11	51	Grand Rapids	Michigan	1,150,015
12	57	Omaha	Nebraska Iowa	967,604
13	74	Dayton	Ohio	814,049
14	81	Des Moines	Iowa	709,466
15	85	Akron	Ohio	702,219
16	87	Madison	Wisconsin	680,796
17	90	Wichita	Kansas	647,610
18	96	Toledo	Ohio	606,240

People and Culture of the Midwest

The Midwest is home to a diverse population. According to the 2022 American Community Survey, about 73% of the population is White (Non-Hispanic). About 10% are Black (Non-Hispanic), and 8.6% are Hispanic or Latino.

Many Midwesterners have German ancestry, especially in North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Nebraska. The upper Midwest also has many Scandinavian Americans, particularly in Minnesota and North Dakota.

Historically, the Midwest had few Black residents. This changed in the early 1900s during the Great Migration. Many African Americans moved from the South to Midwestern cities. This brought big changes to city populations and also challenges like segregation and people moving to suburban areas. Today, Black Americans make up 10% of the Midwest's population, mostly in cities like Chicago and Detroit.

Illinois is the most populous and diverse state in the Midwest. It is considered very representative of the overall demographics of the United States. Almost half of the Midwest's Hispanic population lives in Illinois, mainly in the Chicago area.

The median household income in the Midwest was $70,283 in 2022. About 12.2% of the population lived below the poverty line. The median age was 39.2 years.

Religious Beliefs in the Midwest

Like the rest of the United States, most Midwesterners are Christian. Most are Protestants, with rates from 48% in Illinois to 63% in Iowa. The Catholic Church is the largest single denomination, making up 18% to 34% of state populations.

Lutherans are common in the Upper Midwest. This is due to large German and Scandinavian populations. Southern Baptists make up about 15% of Missouri's population.

Judaism and Islam are practiced by 2% of the population, mostly in major cities. About 35% of Midwesterners attend religious services weekly.

Midwest Economy and Industry

Farming and Agriculture

Agriculture is a huge part of the Midwest's economy. It brings in billions of dollars and creates thousands of jobs. The region has some of the best farming land in the world. Its fertile soil and tools like the steel plow have led to huge harvests. The Midwest is known as the nation's "breadbasket." It produces lots of corn, wheat, soybeans, oats, and barley.

Early settlers struggled with the dense prairie soil. In 1837, John Deere, an Illinois blacksmith, invented a steel plow. This plow cut through roots and made farming the fertile prairie possible. Farms spread westward with the settlers.

The Corn Belt is a region where corn has been the main crop since the 1850s. It includes Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and parts of other states. Iowa and Illinois are the top corn-producing states. The U.S. produces 40% of the world's corn.

Wheat is also grown throughout the Midwest. The U.S. is the third-largest wheat producer globally. Kansas and North Dakota produce the most wheat. About half of the U.S. wheat crop is exported.

Midwestern states also lead in other farm products. Iowa is known for pork and chicken eggs. Nebraska leads in beef and veal. Wisconsin is famous for dairy.

Finance and Business Centers

Chicago is the largest financial center in the Midwest. It has the third-largest economy among North American cities. Chicago is home to major financial exchanges like the CME Group, which owns the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and Chicago Board of Trade. It also hosts the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the largest options exchange in the Western Hemisphere.

Other Midwestern cities also have important financial centers. Cleveland, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and St. Louis all have Federal Reserve Bank districts. Major banks like Huntington Bancshares in Columbus and Fifth Third Bank in Cincinnati are based here. Many insurance companies also have headquarters in the Midwest.

Manufacturing and Innovation

The Midwest's waterways and transportation networks led to a huge growth in factories. The region is a global leader in advanced manufacturing. John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil started in Cleveland. Cyrus McCormick's Reaper company became International Harvester in Chicago. Andrew Carnegie's steel mills were very efficient.

The Midwest is a global leader in car production. Henry Ford's assembly line changed how cars were made. The Detroit area became the world's automotive center. Akron, Ohio became a leader in rubber production for tires. Over 200 million tons of cargo are shipped through the Great Lakes each year.

Midwest Culture and Lifestyle

The Midwest is often seen as "typical" of the United States. This idea came from studies of cities like Muncie, Indiana. The phrase Will it play in Peoria? means whether something will appeal to mainstream America.

Euchre, a card game, is still popular in the Midwest.

Education and Learning

Many Midwestern universities are part of the Association of American Universities (AAU). This group includes leading research universities. Seventeen of the 69 U.S. and Canadian members are in the Midwest. These include private schools like the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. Public institutions include the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign and the University of Michigan.

Other notable public universities are the University of Cincinnati and Iowa State University. Many state teachers colleges became state universities after 1945.

There are also many private colleges. Some prominent liberal arts colleges include Carleton College and Oberlin College.

Health and Well-being

The rate of preventable hospitalizations in the Midwestern United States decreased from 2005 to 2011. This was true for overall, acute, and chronic conditions.

Language and Accents

The accents in the Midwest are generally different from those in the South or the Northeast. The accent of most of the Midwest is often considered "standard" American English. This accent is often used by national radio and TV broadcasters.

However, many cities in the Great Lakes region are experiencing the Northern Cities Vowel Shift. This changes how vowels are pronounced.

The dialect in Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and parts of North Dakota is called the Upper Midwestern Dialect. It has influences from Scandinavia and Canada.

Missouri has elements of three dialects. These include Northern Midland, Southern Midland, and Southern accents.

Music and Entertainment

German immigrants helped establish musical traditions like choral and orchestral music. Czech and German traditions also led to the popularity of polka music.

In the 1900s, many Southerners moved to Midwestern cities. They brought jazz, blues, bluegrass, and rock and roll. This led to new music styles like the Motown Sound from Detroit and house music from Chicago. Jelly Roll Morton was a jazz musician in Chicago. Kansas City developed its own jazz style.

Chicago blues is a famous blues style. Rock and roll music was first identified as a new genre in 1951 by Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed. He helped popularize the term "rock and roll." The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in Cleveland. Chuck Berry from St. Louis influenced many rock musicians.

Detroit's Motown Records produced many famous soul and R&B artists. These included Aretha Franklin, the Supremes, and Stevie Wonder. These artists were very successful in the 1960s and 1970s.

Midwest music fans also enjoy country music, heavy metal, and heartland rock. Musicians like Bob Seger and John Mellencamp became famous for heartland rock. Other successful rock bands from the Midwest include REO Speedwagon and Styx.

Prince and other artists created the Minneapolis sound. House Music, the first form of Electronic Dance Music, started in Chicago in the early 1980s. Techno music began in Detroit in the late 1980s.

Sports and Recreation

The Midwest has many professional sports teams. These include teams in the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL), and Major League Soccer (MLS).

Major cities with teams include:

• Chicago: Bears (NFL), Cubs, White Sox (MLB), Bulls (NBA), Blackhawks (NHL), Fire (MLS)
• Cincinnati: Bengals (NFL), Reds (MLB), FC Cincinnati (MLS)
• Cleveland: Browns (NFL), Guardians (MLB), Cavaliers (NBA)
• Columbus: Blue Jackets (NHL), Crew (MLS)
• Detroit: Lions (NFL), Tigers (MLB), Pistons (NBA), Red Wings (NHL)
• Green Bay: Packers (NFL)
• Indianapolis: Colts (NFL), Pacers (NBA)
• Kansas City: Chiefs (NFL), Royals (MLB), Sporting (MLS)
• Milwaukee: Brewers (MLB), Bucks (NBA)
• Minneapolis–Saint Paul: Vikings (NFL), Twins (MLB), Timberwolves (NBA), Wild (NHL), United (MLS)
• St. Louis: Cardinals (MLB), Blues (NHL), City SC (MLS)

Famous teams include the St. Louis Cardinals (11 World Series titles) and the Green Bay Packers (4 Super Bowl titles).

In college sports, the Big Ten Conference and Big 12 Conference have many top teams. These include the Ohio State Buckeyes, Michigan Wolverines, and Kansas Jayhawks.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, opened in 1909, hosts the famous Indianapolis 500-Mile Race. Other motorsport venues include Road America and Michigan International Speedway.

Cultural Differences Within the Midwest

The Midwest has different cultural areas. Some people see the small towns and farms of the Great Plains (Kansas, Iowa, Dakotas, Nebraska) as typical Midwest. Others see the industrial cities of the Great Lakes (with their history of immigration and factories) as more representative. For example, in South Dakota, the western part is more like the Western U.S., while the eastern part is more like the rest of the Midwest.

Two other regions, Appalachia and the Ozark Mountains, overlap with the Midwest. Appalachia is in Southern Ohio, and the Ozarks are in Southern Missouri. The Ohio River has long been a boundary between the North and South. States like Missouri have strong Southern influences.

Western Pennsylvania also shares history with the Midwest. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan has strong cultural ties to Canada. This is partly due to early French Canadian settlers.

Midwest Politics

The Midwestern United States is politically divided. The Democratic Party is stronger in the Great Lakes Region. The Republican Party is stronger in the Great Plains regions.

States like Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin often voted Democratic in presidential elections from 1992 to 2012. Minnesota has voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1972. However, Republicans have recently gained ground in Iowa and Ohio.

Missouri has voted Republican in every presidential election since 2000. Indiana has voted Republican in most presidential elections since 1940. The Great Plains states (North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas) have voted Republican in every presidential election since 1940, except for 1964.

Most Midwestern states use primary elections to choose delegates for national conventions. Iowa uses caucuses, which are the first votes in the presidential nominating process.

East North Central States Politics

As of 2025, Illinois has a Democratic Governor, J. B. Pritzker, and Democratic majorities in its state legislature. Illinois also has two Democratic U.S. senators and a Democratic majority in its U.S. House delegation.

Wisconsin has a Democratic Governor, Tony Evers, but a Republican-controlled state legislature. Wisconsin has one Democratic and one Republican U.S. senator. Its U.S. House delegation has a Republican majority. Wisconsin is considered a swing state, with close presidential elections.

Michigan consistently voted Democratic in presidential elections from 1992 to 2012. However, it has become a swing state since 2016. Donald Trump won Michigan in his successful presidential bids in 2016 and 2024. The Michigan Legislature is closely divided. Michigan has two Democratic U.S. senators and a narrow Republican majority in its U.S. House delegation.

Indiana is a Republican stronghold. It has voted for the Republican presidential candidate in most elections since 1940. As of 2025, the Republican party controls both U.S. Senate seats, has a large majority in its U.S. House delegation, and controls the governorship and both houses of the state legislature.

Ohio has a Republican Governor, Mike DeWine, and Republican majorities in its state legislature. Ohio also has two Republican U.S. senators and a Republican majority in its U.S. House delegation. Ohio has been a key state in presidential elections. Donald Trump won Ohio by large margins in 2016, 2020, and 2024. In 2024, Republican Bernie Moreno won the U.S. Senate election, meaning most statewide elected officials in Ohio are now Republicans.

West North Central States Politics

The Great Plains states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas have been strong Republican areas for many decades. They have voted Republican in almost every presidential election since 1940.

Iowa had a Democratic governor from 1999 to 2010. It had one Democratic and one Republican senator for many years. However, since 2016, Donald Trump won the state by large margins. As of 2022, Republicans hold most statewide offices, both U.S. Senate seats, and all U.S. House seats. Governor Kim Reynolds was reelected by a large margin. Trump won Iowa for a third time in 2024.

Minnesota voters have not voted for a Republican president since 1972. This is the longest streak of any state. As of 2025, the Democratic Party controls all statewide offices and has a narrow majority in the State Senate. The State House is evenly split. Minnesota has two Democratic senators and an evenly split U.S. House delegation.

Missouri was historically a "bellwether" state, often voting for the winning presidential candidate. However, it has voted Republican in every presidential election since 2000. Republicans generally win in most of the state, while Democrats win in Kansas City and St. Louis. As of 2025, Missouri has a Republican governor and Republican supermajorities in both houses of the state legislature. Both U.S. senators are also Republican.

See also

In Spanish: Medio Oeste de los Estados Unidos para niños

• Cuisine of the Midwestern United States
• Territories of the United States on stamps