Best Midwest City: Michigan Contenders

Michigan is the epitome of the Midwest. Isn't it? There's the water, the rust belt cities and industry, the agriculture, the woodlands - it's all here.

So is there a Most Midwest claim that Michigan can claim?

That's the question that came up on Geography subreddit of Reddit with the question, "what is the most Midwestern city in America?"

Most Midwestern meaning spatially located as well as culture. What city adheres to midwestern stereotypes the best?

So where in Michigan may fit that definition of the most Midwest of our shared regional geography?

Detroit may be your first thought. But, perhaps, the largest cities are just a bit to national/ to truly be of a region. Further, college towns like Lansing/East Lansing and Ann Arbor may be out for bringing too much of a non-regional flavor. Last, touristy areas - think Traverse City - would pull from non-Midwest influences to draw visitors.

There's a case to be made both for and against Grand Rapids.

Grand Rapids is a great city but too trendy with too much much hipster influence to represent the region
Best beer though

So what does that leave? Many places outside Michigan getting mentions include Fort Wayne, Toledo, Cedar Rapids or Omaha.

What Michigan cites are like that? Perhaps Saginaw, Battle Creek or Marquette.

👇🏼BELOW: The Largest Cities in Michigan Without a Nickname + These Tiny Michigan Counties Have Less than 10,000 Residents👇🏼

The top reply from Reddit users isn't in Michigan. Rather, the stereotypical "everycity" of Middle America, Peoria, Illinois claims the crown.

These Are the Largest Michigan Cities Without a Nickname

Many Michigan cities carry well known nicknames like Motown for Detroit. But many of the state's largest cities have no nicknames at all. Here are the largest cities in the state without a nickname.

Gallery Credit: Eric Meier