Why is the Midwest called the Midwest if geographically it is closer to the East Coast?

Answer 1

Because it is 1/2 way to the west, which starts at Colorado.

Peace!

Answer 2

The middle of what we now know as the United States lay west of
the first European settlements along the east coast. At the time, the
far west portion of the country was largely unexplored and was not
calculated into the geographical terminology. As some of the land west
of the Mississippi was explored and annexed, the central area bacame
known as the "middle west", and is now referred to as the "midwest".

Answer 3

In early American history, the region was the Northwest Territory. During the Civil War it was the western part of the country but as new states were admitted to the Union the region, now being towards the middle of the country became the Midwest.

Answer 4

Because the eastern states are smaller than the western states.

If you look at the number of states from west to east coast instead of the size and geographical placement, then you'll see that the midwestern states are the middle states to the left.

Answer 5

Because that's what the settlers called it before the rest of the U.S. had been discovered by the Europeans. Back then it made sense because it was the midwest part of the country. Now it doesn't make sense but it stuck through the generations.

Answer 6

The discoverers, started in the East. so everything to them was in the west. If they would have started our country in the West, it would have been called the Mid East. And Mid South, and Mid North just doesn't sound cool.

Answer 7

It was named the Midwest when the US ended at the MIssissippi River.

Answer 8

Because they can't call it the Middle-East.