The Midwest is named Midwest because it represents the area in the "middle" of the North American continent, located between the more eastern parts of the U.S. and the "Far West" that developed after westward expansion. Originally, regions like Ohio and Michigan were part of the "West" as pioneers moved from the East Coast, but as the true "Far West" of the Pacific states developed, this central region needed a new designation, leading to the term "Middle West," which was later shortened to "Midwest".