Introduction - U.S. Midwest Region
Often referred to as American's Heartland, anyone that has ever really explored the Midwest region of the United States will tell you, there is much more to it than just agriculture and expansive farmland. Yes, you will find farms, but what you will also find is the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world, the Great Lakes. You will also find one of the most famous landmarks in America. George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln will forever live on in the Black Hills of South Dakota where their faces were carved into Mount Rushmore. Perhaps you are familiar with the Mall of America, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis or the name Tornado Alley, all of which are associated with the Midwest. On this page we have listed relevant facts about the Midwest region of the US including which states make up the Midwest. You will also find links to pages with descriptions of each Midwest state. Whether you are a kid who is doing a research project or an adult who is looking for specific information, we hope you find the information both interesting and useful.Click here for a great selection of Amazon.com books about the Midwest.
Basic Midwest Region US State Facts
- The 12 states that make up the mid-western region of the United States include Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
- Because the Midwestern United States does not border any oceans temperatures can often be extreme with fluctuations throughout the year sometimes exceeding 100 degrees or more. Summers can be brutally hot, while winters can be downright bone chilling.
- Although Tornado Alley does not have any clearly defined borders, the most severe and frequent tornadoes usually occur in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and the Midwest states of Missouri and Iowa.
Midwest Region Points of Interest
- Using mostly dynamite and the manpower of approximately 400 people Mount Rushmore, located near Keystone South Dakota, was completed in 1941 and became one of the Midwest most amazing points of interest.
- Bloomington, Minnesota is home to the Mall of America, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. With over 400 events each year and over 400 stores as well as a waterpark, aquarium, mini-golf course and much, much more, it's easy to see why over 35 million people visit the mall each year.
- Saint Louis, Missouri is where you will find the world's tallest arch; the Gateway Arch. It towers 630 feet (192 meters) tall, is made of stainless steel and was completed in 1965.
Interesting Midwest Region US State Facts
- Chicago, Illinois is the most populated city in the Midwest US states and the third largest city in the nation.
- Some of the major cities in the Midwest include Detroit, St. Paul, Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and St. Louis.
- The deadliest tornado in U.S. history ripped through Missouri, Illinois and Indiana killing 695 people in March of 1925.
- The Ohio River, Upper Mississippi River and Missouri River are the major rivers that flow through the Midwest.
- Black Elk Peak, located in South Dakota, is the highest mountain in the Midwest (7,244 feet) and the highest in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.
- There are several rivers that flow through the Midwest Region; the three largest are the Mississippi River (1,250 miles), Arkansas River (1,469 miles), and the Ohio River (981 miles). The Mississippi River is perhaps the most famous and important river in the entire U.S.; it is used to transport numerous products including grains, oil, and coal.
- The Midwestern states are nestled between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains, right in the middle of the U.S.
- Major crops in the Midwest are wheat, corn and oats; giving rise to the nickname the "Breadbasket of America".