The Midwest

With four distinct seasons, quality education systems, vibrant cities and relaxing country-sides, the Midwest is an ideal place to go to school, start a family and grow a business.    Below are some highlights of the strengths of the Midwest. *

 

• MGA Region has over 64 million people – 21 percent of national population
• MGA region is over 673 million square miles, or 18 percent of national land area
• MGA region has 27 percent of the nation’s surface water area
• MGA region is nearly 2.8 trillion dollars – or 19.6 percent of the national GDP
• 16 percent of MGA states’ GDP in the region is an average from manufacturing with some states in the low to-mid 20s
• The Midwest has 29 land-border points of entry – some of the nation’s busiest U.S. border crossings
• 4 main exports for the region include: machinery, transportation, chemicals and processed food
• MGA states award nearly 750,000 post-secondary degrees – 24 percent of the national total
• Midwestern states awarded nearly 780,000 post-secondary degrees – 25 percent of the national total

 

The Midwest offers a lot of cultural and tourist events throughout the year. To find out what the region offers, visit Midwestern states' tourism websites: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

*Most data in 2008 numbers, 2009 numbers are set to be released in November 2010; Midwest region also includes Nebraska and North Dakota, as they are not currently members of the MGA.