The Midwest is the home of the great Great Lakes, the vast North
Woods, the open plains full of corn and wheat, a patchwork of industrial
cities and small towns, and Chicago, one of the largest cities in the
United States. The term "Midwest" refers to the states west of the
Appalachians, north of the Ohio River, and east of the Great Plains. The
region is sometimes referred to as the "heart" or "rust belt" of the
United States and is often associated with agriculture and industry
(historically manufacturing, though this has faded over the years).
Midwestern culture is generally perceived as "down-to-earth" because
much of the population is located far from coastal cities and cultural
centers such as New York and Los Angeles. The Midwest is almost evenly
divided between liberals and conservatives, and is the region with the
highest concentration of swing states in presidential elections.
The suffix "West" is a historical relic from early U.S. history, when
the majority of the U.S. population lived east of the Appalachians.
The states bordering the Great Lakes (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin) are sometimes referred to as the
"North Coast," "Third Coast," or "Fresh Coast" in analogy to the East
and West Coasts. These are the states in the region that make up the
Rust Belt.
Also known as "America's Heartland," the region is
regarded as the broadest representative of American culture because of
its major role in the manufacturing and agricultural sectors, as well as
its patchwork of commercial metropolises and small towns. In fact, most
of the nation's television broadcasters speak with a Midwestern accent.
The Midwest is the birthplace of more than a quarter of U.S. presidents
(considering that six of them were president before statehood took
effect in the Midwest) and is also the birthplace of many of the
technology inventors and entrepreneurs that fuel the global economy.
Major population centers are located either on the Great Lakes
(Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Duluth) or on the
Mississippi and Ohio Rivers (Minneapolis, St. Paul, St. Louis, and
Cincinnati). This reflects the historical importance of the waterways as
a means of connecting the region to the Port of New York (via the Erie
Canal) and the Port of New Orleans (via the rivers). Originally a marshy
area, Chicago boomed because it was the easiest means of shipping from
the St. Lawrence and Erie Canal to New Orleans. Commerce via the Great
Lakes remains a major part of the region's economy today. Indianapolis
is an exception, with its non-navigable waterways, but it is a major
intersection for road traffic. Chicago also became the nation's railroad
center in the 19th century and remains so to this day.
With the
advent of globalization, much of the heavy industry on which many
Midwestern cities depended was outsourced to countries in Asia and Latin
America, where labor costs were lower, and many of the once great cities
fell into decline. As a result, many Midwestern cities continue to
suffer from high unemployment, urban decay, and high violent crime
rates. This is especially true for cities that were built on a single
industry, such as Detroit, Flint (automotive), and the declining steel
town of Gary, Indiana.
Indiana is a Midwestern state known for
its rich agricultural heritage, manufacturing prowess, and passionate
sports culture, particularly basketball. Home to bustling cities like
Indianapolis, which hosts the iconic Indy 500 race, the state blends
rolling farmlands with industrial innovation, producing everything from
automobiles to pharmaceuticals while preserving charming small towns and
scenic river valleys along the Ohio River.
Illinois
boasts the vibrant global city of Chicago, a hub of finance, culture,
and architecture that towers along Lake Michigan, yet it also
encompasses vast prairie farmlands and historic river towns. As a
transportation crossroads, the state drives the nation's economy through
rail, air, and road networks, while its diverse population fuels
innovation in technology, education, and the arts.
Iowa, often called the "Food Capital" of
America, is a heartland powerhouse of corn, soybeans, and pork
production that feeds the world from its fertile plains. Beyond
agriculture, the state shines with friendly communities, top-tier
universities, and a strong emphasis on renewable energy, making it a
model of rural innovation and political importance during election
cycles.
Michigan stands out with its
two peninsulas shaped by the Great Lakes, offering stunning freshwater
coastlines, dense forests, and a legacy of American automotive
manufacturing centered in Detroit. From the vibrant music and cultural
scenes of Motown to outdoor adventures in the Upper Peninsula, Michigan
balances industrial resurgence with natural beauty and a thriving craft
beer and arts community.
Minnesota
earns its "Land of 10,000 Lakes" nickname through abundant waterways
that support fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing amid northern
forests and prairie landscapes. Known for progressive cities like
Minneapolis-St. Paul, innovative healthcare and technology sectors, and
a deep-rooted Scandinavian heritage, the state offers a high quality of
life with strong education systems and four distinct seasons.
Missouri serves as a true crossroads where
the Midwest meets the South, featuring iconic landmarks like the Gateway
Arch in St. Louis and the lively jazz and barbecue culture of Kansas
City. Its diverse terrain spans the Ozark Mountains, fertile river
valleys, and bustling urban centers, supporting industries from
aerospace to agriculture while preserving rich Civil War history and
cave systems.
Ohio is a dynamic swing state
with a proud industrial past and a bright future in advanced
manufacturing, research, and aerospace. From the Rock & Roll Hall of
Fame in Cleveland to the vibrant capital of Columbus and the inventive
spirit of Cincinnati, Ohio blends hardworking Midwestern values with
world-class universities, professional sports teams, and scenic Lake
Erie shoreline.
Wisconsin, famous for
its cheese, beer, and friendly "Cheesehead" spirit, thrives on dairy
farming, manufacturing, and tourism around the Great Lakes and
Northwoods. Cities like Milwaukee offer rich cultural scenes and
breweries, while the state's pristine lakes, forests, and trails provide
endless outdoor recreation, all underpinned by a strong emphasis on
education and community traditions.
1 Chicago is the third largest city in the USA, a vibrant
metropolis on the shores of Lake Michigan known for its
stunning skyline, world-class architecture, and deep
cultural roots. As a major hub for finance, commerce, and
transportation, it boasts iconic landmarks like the Willis
Tower and Millennium Park, while its diverse neighborhoods
reflect a rich tapestry of global influences. Famous for its
deep-dish pizza, blues music, and passionate sports fans,
Chicago continues to thrive as a dynamic economic engine in
the American Midwest.
2 Cincinnati, nestled along the
Ohio River in southwestern Ohio, is a historic city that
blends Southern charm with Midwestern practicality. Once a
major river port and manufacturing center, it now features a
thriving arts scene, professional sports teams like the Reds
and Bengals, and renowned institutions such as the
University of Cincinnati. Its hilly terrain, beautiful
riverfront parks, and vibrant Over-the-Rhine neighborhood
make it a hidden gem for food lovers and history enthusiasts
alike.
3 Detroit, often called the Motor City, earned its
reputation as the capital of the automobile industry,
birthplace of Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler. Despite
facing significant economic challenges in recent decades, it
is experiencing a remarkable renaissance with revitalized
downtown areas, a booming creative community, and
world-famous music heritage from Motown Records. Its
resilient spirit, iconic sports venues, and rich industrial
history continue to define this powerhouse on the Detroit
River.
4 Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana, is a
dynamic Midwestern city celebrated for its motorsports
legacy, most notably hosting the Indianapolis 500 race each
year. Known as the "Crossroads of America," it features a
walkable downtown with cultural districts, the iconic
Soldiers and Sailors Monument, and a strong economy driven
by life sciences, technology, and logistics. Its friendly
atmosphere, extensive green spaces, and growing arts scene
make it an appealing destination for residents and visitors.
5 Kansas City, affectionately known as the "City of
Fountains," straddles the border of Missouri and Kansas and
is renowned for its rich jazz heritage, mouthwatering
barbecue, and beautiful urban fountains scattered throughout
its parks and boulevards. A major agricultural and
transportation center, it offers a blend of historic
architecture in the Country Club Plaza, vibrant
entertainment districts, and professional sports teams that
unite the community. Its laid-back yet culturally rich vibe
continues to attract foodies, music lovers, and history
buffs.
6 Milwaukee, proudly called the City of Brewers,
is Wisconsin's largest city and a historic center of
American beer production with legendary brands like Miller
and Pabst. Situated on the western shore of Lake Michigan,
it combines old-world European charm with modern innovation,
featuring a scenic riverwalk, world-class museums, and a
passionate sports culture centered around the Brewers and
Bucks. Its friendly neighborhoods, summer festivals, and
thriving manufacturing sector embody the hardworking spirit
of the Upper Midwest.
7 Minneapolis, together with its
twin city St. Paul, forms the vibrant "Twin Cities"
metropolitan area in Minnesota, celebrated for its chain of
lakes, extensive park system, and high quality of life.
Known for its progressive culture, thriving arts and theater
scene, and innovative companies in technology and
healthcare, Minneapolis offers a perfect balance of urban
energy and natural beauty with features like the Mississippi
Riverfront and the iconic Stone Arch Bridge. Its cold
winters are matched by warm community spirit and year-round
recreational opportunities.
8 St. Louis stands out with
its iconic Gateway Arch, a soaring monument that symbolizes
the city's role as the historic gateway to the American
West. Located along the Mississippi River in Missouri, it
boasts a rich blend of French, German, and African-American
cultural influences seen in its architecture, cuisine, and
music. Home to Anheuser-Busch, major universities, and a
revitalizing downtown, St. Louis continues to evolve while
honoring its baseball heritage with the Cardinals and its
pioneering spirit in aerospace and biotechnology.
9 St.
Paul, the quieter and more historic twin of Minneapolis,
serves as Minnesota's capital and offers a charming blend of
Victorian architecture, cozy neighborhoods, and a strong
sense of community. Situated on the banks of the Mississippi
River, it features attractions like the majestic State
Capitol, the Science Museum of Minnesota, and the lively
Cathedral of Saint Paul. Known for its Irish heritage,
winter festivals like the St. Paul Winter Carnival, and a
growing food scene, St. Paul complements its twin city with
distinctive character and enduring Midwestern warmth.
The states that border the Great Lakes (Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin) are also often counted on a "North Shore", alternative to the East and West Shores.
As in other parts of the U.S., English is the de facto
official language. The "Midwestern accent" is the most
common voice heard on news programs across the country. Most
native Spanish speakers in the Midwest have at least a basic
command of English, although in areas with a large Hispanic
population, Spanish speakers may be in the majority. There
also used to be a large German-speaking population, but
today it is mostly confined to rural areas consisting of
Anabaptist communities.
Most large cities have a
diverse ethnic community, including many first-generation
immigrants. Chicago, in particular, is known for its large
Assyrian, Jewish, Polish, Ukrainian, and African American
communities that migrated from the South. Nevertheless, the
classic Chicago accent has fallen into disuse, and most
young Chicagoans speak with a common American accent.
Milwaukee also has a large Hmong-speaking population.
Missouri, Wisconsin, and Minnesota each have their own fine
linguistic quirks, but in general, the English spoken here
is one of the most easily understood dialects in the entire
United States, with few unusual terms used in everyday life.
Dialects of other European languages such as German,
Norwegian, and Swedish are spoken by some of the older
residents, but these dialects are now dead languages, and
most of the younger generation is English-only.
By plane
This region is home to several of the US's
largest airports: Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Minneapolis–St. Paul
(MSP) and Detroit (DTW). This can also be reached with
direct flights from Europe. Chicago is a hub for United and
American Airlines, Minneapolis and Detroit for Delta
Airlines, Detroit also for the low-cost Spirit Airlines.
Other major airports in the region, but mostly of national
importance, are Chicago Midway (MDW; mainly used by
Southwest Airlines), St. Louis (STL), Kansas City (MCI),
Cleveland (CLE) and Indianapolis (IND).
By train
Chicago is the beginning and end point of several routes of
America's largest long-distance rail company, Amtrak. These
include shorter routes as well as those that run through to
Los Angeles or Seattle on the west coast and New York or
Washington on the east coast. There are no high-speed trains
in the Midwest like we know them from Europe. It takes a
whole day to get to Chicago from New York, Washington or
Dallas, and two days from Los Angeles or Seattle. For longer
distances, traveling by train is therefore primarily an
option for travelers who have a lot of time and want to see
something of the landscape, are enthusiastic about trains
and/or are afraid of flying. With wide armchairs or sleeping
and dining cars, this is a thoroughly comfortable but not
cheap pleasure. In order for the tickets to be reasonably
affordable, you should book well in advance.
Several long-distance Amtrak rail lines run from Chicago
across the Midwest.
Capitol Limited and Lake Shore
Limited: Chicago-Toledo-Cleveland and on to
Pittsburgh/Washington, D.C. and Albany/New York City
Cardinal: Chicago-Indianapolis-Cincinnati and on towards
Washington/New York
Empire Builder:
Chicago-Milwaukee-Saint Paul/Minneapolis and on to
Portland/Seattle
Texas Eagle: Chicago-Springfield-St.
Louis and on to Dallas/San Antonio
Southwest Chief:
Chicago-Kansas City and on to Albuquerque/Los Angeles
California Zephyr: Chicago-Omaha and on to Denver/San
Francisco
Trains usually only run once a day, are
slow but expensive. That's why this is primarily an
adventure for rail enthusiasts and travelers who want to
experience the vastness of the country, but not the quickest
- and certainly not the cheapest - means of getting from A
to B. However, if you have the wherewithal or book ahead of
time to get savings, it can be very comfortable to sit in a
comfortable chair, move around the train, dine in the dining
car and look out of large picture windows instead of being
cooped up in the car for hours to be.
Far cheaper,
but not quite as comfortable and usually even slower, are
long-distance buses. The market leader, with the densest
network and most destinations, is Greyhound.
Away
from the big cities, you almost always need a car in the
Midwest. In every larger town there are a large number of
car rental companies.
The Midwest stretches more than
1000 kilometers. That's why you can think about flying
within the Greater Region. Even smaller cities often have an
airport that at least has connections with the hubs Chicago
(ORD or MDW), Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) and Detroit (DTW).
With low-cost airlines such as Southwest Airlines, even
short distances are quite affordable.
The Midwest is a patchwork of large cities, small towns, and
rural villages. As the epicenter of the American Industrial
Revolution, immigrants and African Americans poured into the
region in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, from urban
areas with large numbers of German, Irish, Polish, Italian,
Greek, Scandinavian, Mexican, Puerto Rican, and African
Americans, Amish and Mennonite traditions to rural areas, a
diverse ethnic cuisine emerged. Midwestern cuisine is often
simple and hearty, with an emphasis on meat, potatoes, and
dairy products, due to the harsh climate away from the coast
and the history of Central European and Scandinavian
settlement.
As the major center of cattle ranching in
the United States, the Midwest is generally regarded as
having some of the best steaks in the country. Chicago, in
particular, is known for its very large number of
top-quality steakhouses.
Major Midwestern cities like
Chicago, St. Louis, Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee are
known for their bratwurst, kielbasa, Italian sausage, and
good old American hot dogs. Small, rural towns like German
Amana Colonies in Middle Iowa have some of the best
German-American food in the Midwest. Known for its
family-style meals, Amana Colonies offers the hearty cuisine
for which the Midwest is known. Because many African
Americans trace their family roots to the South, Southern
regional cuisine is often found in African American
communities.
Parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin have a
strong Scandinavian influence. In the larger cities, food
culture is also strongly influenced by the new immigrant
communities, especially Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai,
Vietnamese, Indian, and Middle Eastern cuisines.
Wisconsin is also known as one of the major cheese producing
states in the U.S., with cheddar cheese being the most
popular. Wisconsin is also known for its Emmentaler cheese
(known as "Swiss cheese" in most parts of the U.S.) due to
the history of Swiss-German settlement in Wisconsin, and
some areas are known for local interpretations of
Swiss-German cuisine, such as Rösti and Kalbarwurst. Some
areas are also known for their local versions of
Swiss-German cuisine such as Rösti and Kalberwurst.
Some areas of Wisconsin are also known for their local
Swiss-German dishes such as Rösti and Kalberwurst. In
spring, salad greens, radishes, sweet peas, and spinach. In
summer, sweet corn, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, onions,
melons, berries, apples, cherries, peaches, and pears. This
abundance of produce is superb when in season and seems to
encourage large portions all year round.
Beer - The Midwest has historically been the center of the
American brewing industry, with national giants
Anheuser-Busch (St. Louis) and Miller (Milwaukee) still
headquartered in the region. Summit (St. Paul), Goose Island
(Chicago), Great Lakes (Cleveland, Ohio), Bell's (Kalamazoo,
Michigan), New Glarus (New Glarus, Wisconsin), Grookes (Cold
Spring, Minnesota), Shell's (New Ulm, Minnesota),
Leinenkugel (Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin), and many other
well-known craft breweries. Microbreweries and brewpubs are
also located throughout the region. Millstream Brewery in
Amana Colony, Iowa, is home to the world's best (2010 World
Beer Cup Gold) Vienna-style lager beer.
Milk - Wisconsin
is particularly famous for its fresh dairy products,
including milk, cream, and a variety of cheeses.
Wine -
Wine is made in all Midwestern states. Catawba grapes were
first discovered in Ohio in 1802, and Catawba vineyards line
the shores and islands of Lake Erie. Michigan and Missouri
are also important wine-producing states. The Amana Colonies
in Iowa have five wineries that feature traditional sweet
fruit wines, as well as a number of German and French-style
wineries. There are approximately 90 wineries in Iowa, many
of which feature the unique flavors of "cold climate"
grapes.
Rural areas and small cities in the Midwest are among the
safest in the nation for travelers and residents. Some of
the larger cities, especially south of Chicago, north of
Milwaukee, east of Cleveland, East St. Louis, and some areas
of Detroit, should be avoided after dark.
Weather in
the Midwest can vary from hot spells in July and August to
blizzards in January and February. Tornadoes are common in
the southern part of the region in the spring, but warnings
are often sufficient to protect property and lives. Local
radio and television stations provide ongoing advice and
information when weather conditions on the roads are likely
to worsen. Disastrous weather is rare, and the region is not
an earthquake-prone area.
Pre-Columbian and Indigenous History
Indigenous peoples inhabited
the Midwest for at least 12,000–15,000 years. Paleo-Indian cultures
followed retreating glaciers around 12,000 BCE, hunting megafauna in the
Great Plains and Great Lakes areas. The Archaic period (c. 8,000–1,000
BCE) brought more diverse foraging and early settlements.
The
Woodland period (c. 1,000 BCE–1,000 CE) featured mound-building (e.g.,
Adena and Hopewell cultures in Ohio and Illinois), trade networks, and
pottery. The pinnacle came with the Mississippian culture (c. 900–1500
CE), centered at Cahokia near modern East St. Louis, Illinois. At its
peak around 1100 CE, Cahokia was a metropolis of 10,000–20,000
people—larger than contemporary London—with over 120 earthen mounds
(including the massive Monks Mound), sophisticated agriculture (maize,
beans, squash), long-distance trade (to the Gulf Coast and Great Lakes),
and a complex chiefdom society. Mississippian influences spread across
the Midwest and Southeast via rivers.
Cahokia declined by around 1400
CE due to climate shifts (Little Ice Age), resource depletion, social
upheaval, or other factors; its people dispersed into smaller groups. By
European contact, diverse tribes inhabited the region:
Algonquian-speaking groups (Ojibwe/Chippewa, Ottawa, Potawatomi, Miami,
Sauk, Fox) around the Great Lakes; Siouan peoples (Ho-Chunk/Winnebago,
Osage); and Plains tribes (Sioux/Lakota, Pawnee, etc.) on the western
prairies, many adopting horse culture post-1600s for bison hunting.
Tribes maintained trade networks, seasonal agriculture/hunting, and
varied governance (e.g., matrilineal clans among some Huron). Conflict
and alliances were common, intensified by later European pressures.
European Exploration and Early Colonization (16th–18th Centuries)
Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto crossed the Mississippi in 1541, but
sustained European presence began with French explorers and fur traders
in the 17th century. Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet explored the
Mississippi in 1673; René-Robert Cavelier de La Salle claimed the
Mississippi Valley for France in 1682, naming it Louisiana.
The
French established trading posts, forts (e.g., Detroit, Cahokia,
Vincennes), and alliances with tribes for the beaver fur trade,
intermarrying and creating a relatively cooperative network compared to
other colonial powers. Britain gained control after the French and
Indian War (1754–1763) and the Treaty of Paris (1763), but the region
remained sparsely settled by Europeans.
American Acquisition,
Northwest Territory, and Early Statehood (Late 18th–Early 19th
Centuries)
After the American Revolution, the 1783 Treaty of Paris
transferred the area east of the Mississippi to the U.S. The Northwest
Ordinance of 1787 was pivotal: it organized the Northwest Territory
(Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, part of Minnesota),
banned slavery, guaranteed rights (trial by jury, religious freedom),
promoted public education, and outlined a path for equal statehood (not
colonial status). This set a democratic precedent for westward
expansion.
Ohio became the first state (1803). The 1803 Louisiana
Purchase added western areas (Missouri, Iowa, etc.), explored by Lewis
and Clark (1804–1806). Settlement accelerated via land surveys, military
campaigns against Native resistance (e.g., Northwest Indian War, Battle
of Tippecanoe in 1811), and treaties that often displaced tribes (Indian
Removal policies, Trail of Tears affecting some groups).
States
joined the Union: Indiana (1816), Illinois (1818), Missouri (1821, as a
slave state per the Missouri Compromise), Michigan (1837), Iowa (1846),
Wisconsin (1848), Minnesota (1858), Kansas (1861, after "Bleeding
Kansas" violence over slavery), Nebraska (1867), and the Dakotas (1889).
19th Century: Agriculture, Industry, and Conflict
The Erie Canal
(1825) and railroads connected the Midwest to Eastern markets, boosting
grain, livestock, and lumber. The region became the nation's
breadbasket, with fertile soils and the Corn Belt. Immigrants from
Germany, Scandinavia, Ireland, and elsewhere fueled growth, bringing
diverse cultures (e.g., strong German influence in Milwaukee,
Scandinavian in Minnesota).
The Midwest played a key role in the
Civil War era. Slavery was banned in the Northwest Territory, but
tensions rose; it supplied Union troops, leaders like Abraham Lincoln
(Illinois), and anti-slavery momentum (Republican Party roots in
Wisconsin/Michigan). Post-war, industrialization boomed: Chicago grew
into a rail and meatpacking hub (second-largest U.S. city by 1890),
steel in Ohio/Indiana, autos later in Detroit. The Great Plains saw
homesteaders after the Civil War, aided by railroads, barbed wire, and
(temporarily) favorable rainfall, though challenged by droughts and
Native conflicts (e.g., Sioux Wars, Wounded Knee 1890).
Social
movements thrived: Grangers (farmer cooperatives), Populism,
Progressivism (e.g., Robert La Follette in Wisconsin), labor unions,
temperance, and settlement houses (Jane Addams in Chicago).
20th
Century to Present: Boom, Bust, and Reinvention
The early 20th
century brought prosperity, immigration, and WWI/WWII industrial output.
The Dust Bowl (1930s) devastated Plains agriculture, spurring New Deal
programs and migration. Post-WWII, the "Rust Belt" emerged as
manufacturing (autos, steel) declined due to globalization and
competition, while agriculture mechanized and consolidated.
The
region remained politically influential as swing states. Culturally, it
produced innovations in architecture (Chicago School), music (jazz/blues
in Chicago, rock in Ohio), literature, and sports. Today, it balances
advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, finance/education hubs (e.g.,
Chicago, Minneapolis), and rural economies, facing challenges like
depopulation in some areas, opioid crises, and climate impacts,
alongside strengths in renewables and tech-ag.
The Midwest's history
embodies American expansion's promises and costs: democratic ideals and
opportunity alongside displacement of Native peoples, environmental
changes, and economic shifts. It remains a vital, diverse heartland
shaping national identity. For deeper dives, sites like Cahokia Mounds
or museums in Chicago offer tangible connections.
Major Physiographic Regions and Topography
The Midwest is
dominated by the Interior Plains, which include the Central Lowland
(eastern parts) and the Great Plains (western parts). Much of the
landscape is low-relief and glaciated from Pleistocene ice ages,
creating fertile soils, flat farmlands, and thousands of lakes and
wetlands.
Central Lowlands/Till Plains: Cover much of Illinois,
Indiana, Ohio, southern Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa.
Glaciers left behind till (unsorted sediment), creating flat or gently
rolling plains with rich, deep soils. The Dissected Till Plains feature
more erosion and river valleys.
Great Plains: Encompass western parts
of the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, and parts of Missouri. These are
higher-elevation grasslands (rising westward to 5,000+ feet near the
Rockies) with shortgrass prairie in drier west and tallgrass in the
east. Not uniformly flat—includes rolling hills, buttes, and badlands.
Uplands and Exceptions: The Ozark Plateau (southern Missouri, extending
into Arkansas/Illinois) features hilly, forested terrain with karst
features like caves and springs. The Black Hills (western South Dakota)
are an isolated mountain range (part of the greater Rockies front)
rising prominently. Driftless Area in southwestern Wisconsin and parts
of Minnesota/Iowa escaped glaciation, showing rugged, unglaciated hills
and valleys. Superior Upland (northern Minnesota/Wisconsin/Michigan) has
ancient, rocky terrain linked to the Canadian Shield.
Overall
Elevation: Mostly 500–2,000 feet (150–600 m), with gradual westward
rise. Highest points include peaks in the Black Hills (Harney Peak
~7,242 ft / 2,207 m).
Major Bodies of Water
The Midwest is
exceptionally water-rich, with the world's largest system of freshwater
lakes and major river systems.
Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan,
Huron, Erie, Ontario—though Ontario is mostly outside core Midwest
definitions):
They hold ~20% of the world's surface freshwater.
Lake Superior is the largest and deepest.
They moderate local
climates (e.g., lake-effect snow) and support shipping, industry,
recreation, and unique ecosystems. Michigan borders four; Wisconsin and
Minnesota border Superior and Michigan.
Major Rivers:
Mississippi River: Central artery, flowing south from Minnesota through
Iowa, Illinois, Missouri; drains much of the region.
Missouri River:
Longest in North America; flows through the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas,
Missouri.
Ohio River: Forms southern boundaries for Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois; key for eastern Midwest.
Other notables: Platte, Red,
Wabash, Illinois, Des Moines. These rivers shaped settlement,
agriculture, and transport.
Thousands of smaller lakes (e.g.,
Minnesota's "10,000 lakes"), reservoirs, and wetlands dot the landscape,
especially in glaciated areas.
Climate
The Midwest has a
primarily humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa/Dfb), with cold winters,
warm-to-hot summers, and precipitation year-round (though heavier in
spring/summer). Southern fringes (e.g., southern
Illinois/Indiana/Missouri) trend toward humid subtropical.
Temperature: Extreme seasonal swings—summers average highs ~85°F (29°C),
winters lows ~15°F (-9°C). Record extremes exceed 110°F (43°C) and -30°F
(-34°C). Northern areas (e.g., North Dakota, Minnesota) are colder.
Precipitation: 20–40+ inches (500–1,000+ mm) annually, supporting
rain-fed agriculture. Snow is common in winter, especially lake-effect
near the Great Lakes.
Variability and Severe Weather: Tornado Alley
influence (high tornado frequency in Iowa, Indiana, etc.),
thunderstorms, blizzards, polar vortex outbreaks, droughts, and floods.
Jet stream and clashing air masses (Gulf moisture vs. Canadian cold)
drive this.
Agriculture thrives due to fertile glacial soils, flat
land, and reliable moisture, making the region the nation's
"breadbasket" (corn, soybeans, wheat dominant).
Ecological and
Human Context
Prairies once dominated, supporting vast bison herds
(now largely converted to farmland). Forests cover northern and upland
areas. The region features diverse habitats: wetlands, river valleys,
dunes (e.g., Sleeping Bear Dunes), and badlands. Glacial history created
productive soils but also features like moraines and kettle lakes.
Human geography overlays this: industrial Great Lakes cities (Chicago,
Detroit, Milwaukee), agricultural heartlands, and Great Plains
ranching/farming. Rivers and lakes enabled early settlement, trade, and
growth.
In the 19th century, the Midwest had a very high density of
German-speaking residents, and in many regions they made up the
majority. The cities of St. Louis, Milwaukee and Omaha in particular
were centers of German culture, which can still be seen today in the
large number of breweries there. Even today, most German-Americans are
found there, but in terms of ancestry, not language. Around a fifth of
the total population of the United States stated in the 2000 census that
they were German-Americans, most of them in the Midwest. Immigrants from
Scandinavia and their descendants also live in the Midwest, especially
in the region around the Great Lakes.
Between 1910 and 1930, many
African-Americans from the southern states immigrated to the industrial
cities of the Midwest as part of the Great Migration; however, unlike in
the southern states, there are hardly any African-American residents in
the countryside.
Chicago was and is a frequent destination for
immigrants. Many Poles still live in Chicago today. Naturalized
immigrants from Latin America make up the majority of the 4th
Congressional District in the southwest of the city, two Korean-language
newspapers are published in the Albany Park district, and there is a
Korean-language television station.
The Midwest is popularly said to be particularly down-to-earth (for
example, the question "Will it play in Peoria?"). However, it would be
wrong to imagine a uniform conservatism here. The Midwest also includes
union strongholds such as the industrial cities of Detroit and Cleveland
and liberal university cities such as Ann Arbor, Urbana, Bloomington and
Madison.
Due to this diversity, the states of the Midwest have
been the birthplace of very different political movements since the
early 19th century, which have gained influence throughout the United
States.
Among the first were the abolitionists, the opponents of
slavery. Abraham Lincoln, for example, came from this milieu.
Around 1900, the populist movement around William Jennings Bryan
flourished, especially in the agricultural part of the region west of
Chicago.
Wisconsin was a stronghold of the progressive reform
movement of the early 20th century, which was supported above all by
Robert M. La Follette, Sr. At the same time, Eugene V. Debs, who came
from Indiana, was one of the leading figures in the socialist labor
movement.
In the interwar period, the Midwest was a stronghold of the
isolationist movement. The numerous Americans of German and Swedish
descent were influential here.
Many progressive reforms originated in
the Midwest. For example, Michigan abolished the death penalty in the
19th century. Illinois was the first US state to abolish sodomy laws.
In recent times, politicians such as Richard Gephardt, John Conyers,
Dennis Kucinich, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have come from the
Midwest.
Overall, the political character is still very diverse
today.
Traditionally, Missouri and, more recently, Ohio in
particular have been assigned the role of a swing state that determines
the election, because their population structure represents that of the
entire United States quite well and therefore reflects political trends
well. In the 2004 presidential election, eight of twelve Midwestern
states voted for the Republican incumbent George W. Bush, in 2008 seven
and in 2012 six of twelve for the Democrat Barack Obama. In 2016,
Republican Donald Trump surprisingly won all Midwestern states except
Illinois and Minnesota, which was considered crucial to his electoral
success. In 2020, Joe Biden again won four of twelve states (Illinois,
Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin). Although he did better there than
Hillary Clinton in 2016, election researchers see a continuation of the
longer-term shift to the right, especially among the white, small-town
population of the Midwest. In the 2024 presidential election, Donald
Trump won the majority in ten of the twelve Midwestern states, as in
2016; only in Illinois and Minnesota did Kamala Harris receive the
majority of the votes.
Agriculture in the American Midwest is descended from the family and
traditional agriculture of the country's origins and this is evident in
the analyses. Indeed, the average surface area of farms in the Midwest
is ten times smaller than large farms in the state of California. On the
other hand, if the comparison is made on turnover, those of farms in the
Midwest states are less than half that of their Californian
counterparts. The largest family businesses are mostly in debt, but
still manage to remain productive, mainly in cereals and livestock. The
smallest farms in the Midwest, close to cities, often have different
sources of income to survive, including tourism, which comes from urban
areas, which is becoming increasingly important.
Even if the
plains of the Midwest cultivate many different species, some productions
are preferred to others. Corn is the main crop, as it perfectly matches
the hot and humid climate of the summer, wheat, a versatile cereal, is
also grown, although soybeans, which remain the best complement to corn,
are the second production in these territories. As for livestock, while
dairy production and poultry farming have moved to the southern and
eastern states of the country, pig farming remains the preserve of small
family farms in the Midwest.
The strength of American agriculture
comes from its versatility and its many different crops, made possible
by the different climates and soil types of the country. However, this
also makes them more sensitive and vulnerable to climate change. Indeed,
American crops were developed for a very specific climate in a very
specific soil; a small change in temperature can completely disrupt the
year's harvest. The main problems due to the major climate changes that
farmers face are: rising temperatures and soil erosion. These problems
can be transformed into opportunities if they are detected and
anticipated in time, allowing for rapid adaptation. This adaptation can
be done at different levels, whether that of farmers, institutions, but
also that of the country's general economy. Fortunately, American
agriculture has a good institutional, economic and scientific framework,
essential to counter or correct these effects. The Midwest, like the
rest of the country, is therefore already adapting to climate change, in
particular by using the crops best suited to different local climates
and soil types, but also through irrigation used at its optimum, or by
leaving certain lands to rest.
Various models have emerged in
order to optimize land use and crop rotation. The Purdue University
Crop/Livestock Linear Programming Model, for example, attempted to
determine the most productive rotations, and defined six crop rotations,
with combinations of different varieties. This model also made it
possible to determine the best percentage of land allocated to each
crop. It emerged that soybean cultivation should be increased, while
wheat cultivation should be decreased. All these forecasts were created
based on the results of the harvests from 1990 to 1999 and go up to
2040-2059. We can see that, in the first period, ten out of eleven
regions studied grew wheat, while in the latest forecasts for 2040,
there would be only one region growing wheat. Other models have been
developed to estimate the consequences of climate change and soil
erosion in the Midwest, all of which have concluded that soybeans should
take precedence over corn and wheat, because it is in greater demand,
more adapted but also less damaging to the soil than its two cousins.
The Global Change Assessment Model (GCAM) is an international model
that has also looked at the case of the Midwest of the United States. He
takes a more global view, dividing the planet into different climates,
in order to improve things worldwide. He highlighted the productivity of
crops in the region he studied and considered it indispensable. The low
carbon generation, however, should be offset by planting forests on
other, less productive lands. As would bioenergy crops, which would also
be more useful on less productive lands than those in the Midwest.