I've always wondered why states such as Iowa, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, etc. are called "the Midwest"?

Question

Maybe it's obvious, but I don't get it. They are located in the Northeastern region of the U.S.?

Answer 1

"The Midwest" was named when the country was still quite small, and thus those states were west of most of the country.

It's always confused me as well, I come from California and to me "Midwest" would be Colorado.

Answer 2

The term "midwest" is used rather loosely and I don't think we can come up with a list of states that "belong" in this classification. However, for argument's sake, I think that states that fit into the geographical categories of "Central Plains" & "Great Plains" might logically be classified as midwestern, which is a imprecise term which reflects the westward direction of development of our country. If you wish, you could add the states that reside within the Appalachian Plateau as also midwestern if you wish.
However I consider the states that are in the Rocky Mountains and the Colorado Plateau to be essentially "western" states, as well as those in the Great Basin.
The use of the term "midwestern" also has cultural as well as geographical connotations which might change the perception of what is meant by midwestern.

SoCalLife, all those states are EAST of the Mississippi River. Who taught you geography?

Answer 3

The midwest also includes Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, North and South Dakota...
But, it depends upon what the purpose is. Geographically, there is the Northeast, the East (coast area), the Southeast, Midwest and Western States. So, geographically, the Midwest is any part that is not included in the East (northeast, east, southeast) or western states.
It is "Midwest" because it is in the "middle" between the east and the west.

Answer 4

The term originated in the 19th Century and it's roots stem from a time when North America was an English colony with little knowledge of the geography of the interior of the continent.

Answer 5

I suspect that it got that moniker in the mid-19th century, when the western edge of the settled part of the United States ended at the Mississippi River.

Answer 6

the most logical answer would be that -- these states are 'west' of the mississippi river, therefore, granting them 'western' geography in the USA, however, since these states are not ON the west coast, but rather, in the middle of the united states, granted, west of the mississippi, to correct any confusion as being a state in the 'west', they are dubbed, MIDWEST, for they are in the the MIDdle of the country and WEST of the mississippi.

hope this helps!

Answer 7

Because land in these areas resembles the land of the west.