The Census Bureau splits the Midwest into two divisions. The East North Central states are Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, all touching the Great Lakes. The West North Central states are Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas.
The western half is where points get lost: the Dakotas, Nebraska and Kansas are all large, flat shapes stacked on top of each other. Learn them as a column from north to south.
The eastern half is easier to anchor because of the Great Lakes. Michigan is the only state made of two peninsulas, Wisconsin sits between Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, and Ohio, Indiana and Illinois line up from east to west beneath them.
Getting the plains states right
- Michigan is two peninsulas: the mitten-shaped Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula, which borders Wisconsin.
- From north to south on the plains: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, then Oklahoma, which is in the South region.
- Iowa sits between two rivers: the Mississippi on its east side and the Missouri on its west.
The 12 states in this quiz
| State | Capital | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | Springfield | Midwest |
| Indiana | Indianapolis | Midwest |
| Iowa | Des Moines | Midwest |
| Kansas | Topeka | Midwest |
| Michigan | Lansing | Midwest |
| Minnesota | Saint Paul | Midwest |
| Missouri | Jefferson City | Midwest |
| Nebraska | Lincoln | Midwest |
| North Dakota | Bismarck | Midwest |
| Ohio | Columbus | Midwest |
| South Dakota | Pierre | Midwest |
| Wisconsin | Madison | Midwest |
Questions people ask
Is Ohio in the Midwest?
Yes. The Census Bureau places Ohio in the Midwest's East North Central division.
Which Midwest state has the most neighbors?
Missouri, with eight bordering states, the joint highest in the country along with Tennessee.