By Lisa

Ohio Capital: Columbus Largest cities: Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. 44,825 square miles Area: Ranked #34 in the US Ohio is the seventh-most populous state with nearly 11.5 million residents. Ohio, whose name was derived from the Seneca word ohi:yo’, meaning “Large Creek”

Indiana Capital: Indianapolis Largest Cities: Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Evansville. 36,418 square miles Area: Ranked #38 in the US Residents of Indiana are known as Hoosiers. The states name means “The land of Indians” or “Indian Land” because in 1768 the Indians used the land in Indiana.

Michigan Capital: Lancing Largest Cities: Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Warren. 97,990 square miles Area: Ranked #11 in the US Michigan is the 8 th most popular state in the U.S. The lower peninsula is shaped like a mitten. Michigan has five lakes.(Lake Huron, Michigan, Ontario, Erie, and Lake Superior.

Wisconsin Capital: Madison Largest Cities: Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay. 65,495 square miles. Area: Ranked #23 in the US Over all, 46% of Wisconsin's area is covered by land area is covered by forest. The word Wisconsin has it’s origins in the name given to the Wisconsin river by one of the Algonquin speaking American Indian groups living in the region at the time of European contact.

Illinois Capital: Springfield Largest Cities: Chicago, Aurora, and Rockfield. 57,198 square miles Area: Ranked #25 in the US African-Americans migrated to Chicago from the rural south formed a large and important community, which created the city’s famous jazz and blues cultures. Four U.S. presidents have been elected from Illinois. Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan.

Minnesota Capital: Saint Paul or St. for short. Largest Cities: Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and Rochester. 86,943 square miles. Area: Ranked #12 in the US The word Minnesota comes from the Dakota language name for the Minnesota River. Minnesota contains some of the oldest rocks found on earth, gneisses some 3.6 billion years old, or 80% as old as the planet!

North Dakota Capital: Bismarck Largest Cities: Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks. 70,769 square miles Area: Ranked #19 in the US. North Dakota is the 3 rd least populous state in the US with just over 640,000 residents today. But in 1870 there where fewer than 3,000 people living in north Dakota. Coal mines generate 93% of North Dakotas electricity. Oil was discovered near Tioga, North Dakota in 1951, generating 53 million barrels.

South Dakota Capital: Pierre Largest Cities: Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Aberdeen. 77,116 square miles. Area: Ranked #17 in the US. Two national parks have been made in South Dakota. One is the Wind Cave National Park, and the other one is the Badlands National Park which was created in Mount Rushmore National Memorial has the sculpture of 4 US presidents. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and Theodor Roosevelt.

Iowa Capital: Des Moines Largest Cities: Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport. 56,272 square miles Area: Ranked #26 in the US Iowa’s natural vegetation is tall grass prairie and savanna in upland areas, with dense forest and wetlands in floodplains and protected river valleys, and pothole wetlands in northern prairie areas. Most of Iowa is used for agriculture, crops cover 60% of the stage grass lands ( mostly pasture and hay with some prairie and wetland) cover 30%, and forests cover 7%; urban areas and water cover another 1% each.

Missouri Capital: Jefferson City Largest Cities: Kansas City, Saint Louis, and Springfield. 62,704 square miles Area: Ranked #21 in the US. The city has many nicknames, the most popular being “Gateway City”, as it is seen as the Eastern/Western US dividing mark. St. Louis is also called “ Gateway to the West” on behalf of the many people who migrated west through St. Louis via the Missouri River (first leg of Oregon Trail) and other wagon trails.

Kansas Capital: Topeka Largest Cities: Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City 82,277 square miles Area: Ranked #15 in the US Dodge City is a City and country seat of Ford Country, Kansas. It was named after Colonel Richard Irving Dodge. The population running old-time radio and television Western drama program Gun Smoke was set in Dodge City.

Nebraska Capital: Lincoln Largest Cities: Omaha, Lincoln, and Bellevue. 77,421 square miles. Area: Ranked #16 in the US Nebraska became the 37 th state in 1867, shortly after the American Civil War. At the time, the capital was moved from Omaha to Lancaster, United States, Abraham Lincoln.