Where did the term Midwest come from and why?

Question

I live in WI. which is considered the midwest. I used to live in Arkansas which is considered the midsouth. THAT makes more sense but why isn't it considered midnorth in WI? We're nowhere NEAR the west. Also , why is Ohio considered midwest? That's even MORE asinine.

I guess I should have phrased it as why is it STILL considered midwest? Yes,it makes sense from a 1800s/early 1900s standpoint.

Answer 1

Many of these geographical terms orginated when America was much smaller and less developed. What used to be a geographically-correct term then doesn't necessarily apply now.

At one point, Illinois was considered part of the Northwest, as that was as far as anybody had ever gone (which inspired Northwestern University in Evanston). With manifest destiny and westward expansion, Illinois became mid-West, and now is technically more east than west. But Midwest remains the term, as does the university.

In short, it seems it's more about geographic "pride" than it is about geographic sense.

Answer 2

Remember that "mid" can also be between east and west (vs north and south).
And the term originated, I believe, during the 19th centuryin America, before all of the land between California and the Mississippi was developed and settled. So, the farming states like WI, IA, NE, IL, MO, SD, ND, IN, etc., became known as the "middle west" -- not quite out to the Rocky Mountains.
Ohio is probably considered midwest (a) because it, too, was somewhat westerly in the 19th Century, (b) there is some agriculture, (c) (most likely) it's known as the midwest by those who live on the coast, who consider the whole of the middle of the country "flyover" states and can't distinguish between Ohio, Iowa, and Idaho. It certainly is very geographically, physically, and economically distinct from most of the "true" Midwest states.

Answer 3

During the westward expansion in the 1800's, what was considered the western frontier moved from the Appalachians (when Ohio was considered "west") to the Mississippi River (when Wisconsin was considered "west") to the Missouri, to the Rockies, to the Pacific Coast. In general, the "midwest" is broadly that part of the US west of the Appalachians, east of the Rockies, and north of the Ohio River, all of which is in the * middle* of the continent, and *west* of the original 13 colonies on the East Coast. The states south of the Ohio River were not included in the midwest for political reasons, as the separate economic and political identity of the Southern states developed.

Answer 4

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