Explore midwest states map to see the states located in the Midwestern United States of America.
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States in the Midwestern United States
State
Capital
Population (2023 est.)
Area (sq mi)
Major Cities
Statehood Year
Nickname
Illinois
Springfield
12,549,689
57,914
Chicago, Aurora, Naperville
1818
Land of Lincoln
Indiana
Indianapolis
6,833,037
36,420
Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville
1816
The Hoosier State
Iowa
Des Moines
3,219,171
56,273
Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport
1846
The Hawkeye State
Kansas
Topeka
2,934,582
82,278
Wichita, Overland Park, Kansas City
1861
The Sunflower State
Michigan
Lansing
10,037,261
96,716
Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren
1837
The Great Lakes State
Minnesota
Saint Paul
5,787,008
86,936
Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Rochester
1858
The North Star State
Missouri
Jefferson City
6,168,187
69,707
Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield
1821
The Show-Me State
Nebraska
Lincoln
1,967,923
77,348
Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue
1867
The Cornhusker State
North Dakota
Bismarck
781,137
70,698
Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks
1889
The Peace Garden State
Ohio
Columbus
11,833,678
44,825
Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati
1803
The Buckeye State
South Dakota
Pierre
919,318
77,116
Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen
1889
The Mount Rushmore State
Wisconsin
Madison
5,935,064
65,498
Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay
1848
The Badger State
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States stands as one of the four major geographic regions which the U.S. Census Bureau defines. Twelve states make up the Midwest including Illinois together with Indiana and Iowa and Kansas and Michigan and Minnesota and Missouri and Nebraska and North Dakota and Ohio and South Dakota and Wisconsin. The United States' north-central area contains the Midwest which extends from Canada in the north through the Great Plains to the west and the Northeastern U.S. to the east and the Southern U.S. to the south. The country considers the Midwest its "Heartland" because of its central position and historical significance together with its distinct cultural heritage based on farming and manufacturing and conventional social norms.
Geography and Climate
The Midwest contains varied geography which includes North Dakota and South Dakota plains alongside Iowa and Illinois farmlands and Michigan and Ohio Great Lakes shoreline and Minnesota and Wisconsin forested highlands. The Mississippi River together with the Missouri River and Ohio River shape the natural terrain of the region while also playing a significant role in its historical growth. The Great Lakes consisting of Superior, Michigan, Huron and Erie form a distinctive geographical landmark which positions the Midwest as the world's largest freshwater lake region by surface area. The lakes function as a vital part of the regional shipping operations while maintaining essential roles in maintaining local ecosystems.
The region has a continental climate with cold winters and hot summers. The Midwest is vulnerable to large swings in weather because it lacks mountains and oceanic buffers, resulting in blizzards in the winter and tornadoes in the spring and summer, particularly in areas that are part of “Tornado Alley.” The yearly precipitation is fairly uniform, although eastern Kansas and western Missouri are drier.
Historical Background
Native American tribes such as the Sioux, Shawnee and Ojibwe inhabited the Midwest before European settlers arrived. French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet led the way in the 17th century when they explored the Mississippi River and its tributaries as part of the fur trade. The region became French territory before becoming British territory and eventually U.S. territory through treaties and the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.
During the 19th century, the Midwest underwent a significant transformation due to the influx of European immigrants, especially Germans, Scandinavians, and Irish, and the agricultural boom due to the rich soil and the introduction of the steel plow. The construction of canals and the expansion of the railroad system made Chicago, St. Louis, and Cincinnati into major industrial and transportation centers. The Midwest was also important during the Civil War, providing both manpower and manufacturing capabilities to the Union.
During the twentieth century the area gained fame as the symbol of American industrial power through its automotive and steel sectors. Detroit in Michigan received its “Motor City” title because it served as the origin point of automobile manufacturing in America. The second part of the century introduced economic difficulties because deindustrialization caused many urban areas to lose jobs and experience population decreases which people called the "Rust Belt" emergence. The region continues to exert significant economic power together with cultural influence across the United States.
Modern Significance
The Midwest remains essential for American life in the present day. The population of the twelve Midwestern states reached more than 68 million according to the 2020 U.S. Census results. The economic and educational and cultural centers of the United States operate through major cities including Chicago which ranks as the third largest city and Minneapolis-St. Paul and Columbus and Indianapolis and Milwaukee. The regional economy depends on agriculture because Iowa and Illinois produce the most corn and soybeans while Wisconsin maintains its position as the leading dairy-producing state.
The Midwest holds economic significance but also functions as a political indicator because its urban and rural mix serves as a presidential election predictor. The region contains several major universities and research institutions which include the University of Chicago Northwestern University the University of Michigan and Ohio State University that drive national academic and scientific progress.
