12 Maps to Explain the Midwest

A listicle by Aaron Renn surveys the many different approaches to mapping the Midwest.

The list includes a traditional map, as defined in the early days of the United States, to the bureaucratic definition set forth but the U.S. Census Bureau. Other maps locate the Midwest in relation to the other "nations" in the United States and some break down the larger area of the Midwest into smaller sub-regions, such as the "Lower Lakes," the "North Woods," and the "Plains." Showing off the capabilities of the Internet, online survey mechanisms and the crowdsourcing power of Reddit have also helped a few intrepid social commentators create their own maps. Finally, other data collection methods have helped compile patterns out of the self-selecting behavior of Midwesterners.