<P> Seven states in the central and inland northeastern US, traditionally considered to be part of the Midwest, can also be classified as being part of the Eastern United States: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin . A 2006 Census Bureau estimate put the population at 66,217,736 . The United States Census Bureau divides this region into the East North Central States (essentially the Great Lakes States) and the West North Central States . </P> <P> Chicago is the largest city in the region, followed by Indianapolis and Columbus . Chicago has the largest metropolitan statistical area, followed by Detroit, and Minneapolis--Saint Paul . Sault Ste . Marie, Michigan is the oldest city in the region, having been founded by French missionaries and explorers in 1668 . </P> <P> The term Midwest has been in common use for over 100 years . Another term sometimes applied to the same general region is "the heartland". Other designations for the region have fallen into disuse, such as the "Northwest" or "Old Northwest" (from "Northwest Territory") and "Mid-America". Since the book Middletown appeared in 1929, sociologists have often used Midwestern cities (and the Midwest generally) as "typical" of the entire nation . The region has a higher employment - to - population ratio (the percentage of employed people at least 16 years old) than the Northeast, the West, the South, or the Sun Belt states . </P> <P> Four of the states associated with the Midwestern United States (Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota) are traditionally referred to as belonging to the Great Plains region . However, in recent years they are often included in the Midwestern region . </P>

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