The Midwest of the United States has an aura all its own: folks from that region are seen as generally laid back, thanks in large part to the relaxed pace of life, low cost of living, and abundance of things to do in the area.
There are a dozen states that make up this region: Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.
The next time you’re looking at Cincinnati houses for sale or pondering if the job market there is right for relocation, keep an eye out for these things unique to America’s Heartland.
More Than Corn
Many conjure an image of endless farmland when picturing the Midwest, but that’s simply not all there is to it.
Chicago, the nation’s third-largest city, is in the Midwest. Ohio is home to the country’s second-oldest amusement park with Cedar Point, Michigan has beach towns, and the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri is a popular vacation spot.
There are Fortune 500 companies among mom-and-pop shops, metropolitan areas, quiet neighborhoods, and remote areas for those seeking quiet.
Although Cornhole is Quite Prevalent
The folks in the Midwest have claimed this bean bag tossing game as a staple for get-togethers in the backyard or tailgating at games.
Other things they have made synonymous with the region: “pop” instead of soda, ranch dressing slathered on everything, and calling sneakers “tennis shoes.”
Loyalty in Sports- Thanks to Academics
The Big Ten schools are institutions that emphasize both athletics and academics, and the majority of them are in the Midwest.
This leads the way for not only ample choices when it comes to education, but a culture surrounding the schools from current students and alums alike, particularly when it comes to support through sporting events.
Pride in Specific Cuisine
Wisconsin has cheese. Chicago has deep-dish pizza. Some parts of Nebraska and Iowa like to serve chili alongside their cinnamon rolls.
The varying regions in the Midwest lend to an array of cuisines that are proudly touted both in eateries and at home-cooked meals.
Additionally, know that one dish all Midwesterners love is the hotdish, more widely known as a casserole.
Genuine Friendliness
In 2013 the University of Cambridge released a study that looked at more than 1.5 million people’s personalities and found that those of the Midwest had “moderately high levels of extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness.”
Unpredictable Weather
You can experience tornadoes or lake effect snow, warm weather, and rainy days – and sometimes in a period of 24 hours.
A 2016 study by Save On Energy included Sioux Falls, Minneapolis, and St. Paul at the top of a list of top ten cities with unpredictable weather.
Slow Pace, Less Stress
There are plenty of ways to spend time outdoors and enjoy life outside of work. People are friendly, and the region has a lot to offer.
This adds up to a less stressful way of living.
A 2020 WalletHub survey ranked the stress levels of cities across the country, and many of the top ones fell in the Midwest with Lincoln, Nebraska, topping the list.
