Can You Identify These Major Midwestern U.S. Cities from One Image?

By: Kennita Leon

Chicago is a city located in the northeastern part of the state of Illinois. This Midwestern state has 2.7 million residents, which makes it the third most populated city in the United States. Chicago is also known as "the city of neighborhoods" thanks to the 77 community areas divided into several neighborhoods.

Columbus is the capital city of Ohio in the United States. It ranks as #14 as the largest city in the United States and also breaks records as the only large city in the North to experience more than 10 percent growth from 2010 to 2017. This city has a population of more than 870,000 people, with Whites as the leading racial makeup followed by Blacks/ African Americans.

Indianapolis is the capital of Indiana and also the third most populated city in that state. Indianapolis and the state of Indiana are known for many things, such as being the "The Crossroads of America." Indianapolis, in particular, is located at the center of several interstate highways that intertwine across the state.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin is a city that is known for its beautiful summers, baseball and of course, as the beer capital of the world. Its esteemed title as "Beer City" is no doubt due to the result of breweries such as Schlitz and Miller and their legacy. Milwaukee also appeals to the history fanatics, thanks to the Milwaukee Public Museum that houses the largest head of a dinosaur (a T-Rex).

Though Detroit is commonly cited for its achievements in the automobile industry, this Midwestern State has other accolades. In 1979, the city made history as the first one to allocate individual telephone numbers to people. Before that, the party lines were commonly used where an operator would direct calls.

Louisville is Kentucky's largest city, which also possesses a rich history. It gets its name from the King of France, Louis XVI, who reigned during the late 1700s and aided in The American Revolution. In recognition of his support, a statue was erected in his honor.

Kansas City, Missouri, is known as the "City of Fountains" due to the efforts of the Kansas City of Fountains Foundations since their establishment in 1973. In Greater Kansas City, there are 200 fountains, excluding those privately owned in offices and homes.

The agriculture sector has always been a major contributor to the economy of Omaha, Nebraska. However, eventually, the state broadened its spectrum and delved into other major areas such as telecommunications and insurance.

Minneapolis is a large city in the state of Minnesota. It is usually recognized along with its neighboring town, Saint Paul, as the "Twin Cities" of that state. Minneapolis is known for its lakes and parks, such as Lake of the Isles and Loring Park in downtown Minneapolis.

Wichita is a city in Sedgwick County, Kansas that is usually cited as "the air capital of the world." Clyde Cessna, an aviator, signed a contract in 1916 to begin the manufacturing of planes that would put eventually pave the way for aviation in Wichita and other parts of the world.

Cleveland is a city in Ohio and the second biggest one in that state. Many famous people and inventions have been born out of this city, such as the electric streetlamp that was invented by Charles F. Brush. He then used his designs in his hometown, making Cleveland the first city in the U.S. to have electric street lights.

Lexington, Kentucky has long been recognized as the "horse capital of the world" due to its achievements in the equine sector. Lexington has about 400 farms and more than 320,000 horses, which is about one horse for every 12 citizens in the state.

St. Louis is a city that borders the Mississippi River and is also not a part of any particular county or state; it is independent. It was named by Pierre Laclede and Auguste Chouteau when they founded it in the late 1700s. This city is named after King Louis (Saint Louis) IX of France.

Saint Paul is the other "twin city" in Minnesota. It connects with Minneapolis and together they are identified by this alias. Though Minneapolis is the larger city, it is St. Paul which is the capital of Minnesota.

Cincinnati is a city in Ohio with festivals, bike trails and beautiful parks that can be enjoyed during springtime or fall. Bockfest is a festival marked by three days of celebration for the upcoming spring season.

Lincoln, the capital of Nebraska, is named after the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, who was assassinated in 1865.

Toledo is situated in North-western Ohio and is also part of an area known as The Great Black Swamp. "The Glass City" as it is called, due to its manufacturing of glass as far back as the 19th century.

General Anthony Wayne built America's first Fort at the convergence of three rivers: the St Mary's, Maumee Rivers and the St. Joseph. This took place after the land was captured from the Miami Indians by U.S. Troops.

Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Every year since 1983, a fundraiser called the Brat Fest is held in the city during memorial day weekend.

Des Moines, pronounced "duh-moyn" rhyming with loin, is the capital and most populated city in Iowa. In the early years, Des Moines was a city with some frivolous laws.

As of July 1st, 2018 Illinois had a population of just over 200,000 people. Aurora has produced successful people in the media industry such as the late reporter and author, Randy Shilts.

Akron, Ohio, is a city that isn't just known for its tire production - it has made strides in the wine industry as well. The 750 ml wine bar is the perfect example; it has rave reviews from Wine Spectator and delivers the finest wine at the most romantic location.

Springfield, Missouri, is commonly referred to as the "Birthplace of Route 66." In 1926, the Route 66 highway was proposed in Springfield as a roadway connection between Chicago and Los Angeles.

This large Michigan city has made history in numerous ways. In 1945, it became the first city to add fluoride to drinking water, before it became a standard practice to do so.

Sioux Falls in South Dakota gets its name from the huge waterfall in its midst. This body of water spans 123 acres and is believed to use over 7,400 gallons of water every second. This mesmerizing sight can be enjoyed from Falls Park.

Kansas City ranks as number 3 for the largest cities in Kansas. It should, however, not be confused with Kansas City in Missouri which, between the two, was the first to become a state.

Wilbur and Orville Wright were two brothers that are best known for the invention of the world's very first airplane. The Wright Memorial at Huffman's Prairie in Dayton was erected in honor of the two men who created history.

Cedars Rapids is a city in Iowa with many small towns in its vicinity. Fairfax, Marion, Atkins and Bertram are a few of those towns that are part of Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Columbia, Missouri has a strong educational background; Stephen's College, University of Missouri and Columbia College are all located here.

This quaint city in North Dakota made its way into the Guinness Book of World Records when it delivered "the largest pancake feed in the world."

Flint is a Michigan city plagued by alarming crime levels, health-related disasters and other social ills. According to a 2017 FBI report, Flint was the "six most violent city in America."

The National described Dearborn, Michigan as "the Arab of America" due to the large population of Arabs residing there. Education is a major part of their development and contrary to popular belief, not all Arab-Americans identify as Muslim.

Decatur, Illinois was often referred to as "the Soybean Capital of the World." The A.E. Staley Manufacturing Company is the reason for this title since more than 30 percent of soybeans worldwide were processed with this company in Decatur.

Plymouth, Minnesota is situated northwest of Minneapolis - 12 miles away to be exact. It is at the center of several major highways such as Hwy.169 and Hwy.55.

Lafayette, Indiana is home to the Haan Mansion Museum of Indiana Art. For some time, a couple by the name of Bob and Ellie Haan owned the property before it was transformed into the go-to place for Indiana art worldwide.

Springfield is a south-western Ohio state that had a small population of just over 60,000 people. In 2016, National Public Radio, Inc (NPR) reported on the "shrinking city" and the tough economic times faced due in part to industrialization.

"Toilet Paper Capital of the World" is a nickname given to the city of Green Bay in Wisconsin. Northern tissue, the first toilet paper to ever be produced, was manufactured in Green Bay in the 1900s.

Dubuque, Iowa is a hub of activity in the commercial sector due to its ideal location in what is known as the Tri-state area. Every year, festivals such as Oktoberfest Polka festival, Dubuque County Fair and Baconfest are held.

In 2014, Forbes added the city of Bowling Green, Kentucky to its list of "Best places to retire in 2015." At the time, Bowling Green was the only Kentucky city to be named on this list.

Minnetonka is a city in the suburbs in Minnesota. The name, Minnetonka, means" water big" or "great water." This is in reference to Lake Minnetonka which expands over 14,000 acres, the largest in the Twin Cities area.

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Image: Wiki Commons by Lol19

About This Quiz

The Midwestern United States is that area...well, it's pretty self-explanatory, don't you think? Its official name is the North Central Region, but that's just boring. This area makes up 12 of the 50 states in the country and includes Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Indiana, South Dakota, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, North Dakota, Michigan, and Ohio. But these states are easily identifiable on their own. For instance, you would know exactly which states we were talking about if we were to show you Mount Rushmore, Chimney Rocky, Cave of the Mounds and Gateway Arch. Right? But it's not so easy to name the cities that make up these states. 

So, because we love challenging you, we're going to ask that you do exactly that. We want to see if you can name these midwestern cities if we show you pictures of them. Of course, it won't be easy, so we're going to put some hints that you can use if you get stuck. And by the end, we'll know just how much midwest geography you really know. Ready to get started?

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