Midwestern United StatesThe Midwestern United States (also referred to as the Midwest, the Heartland, the American Midwest, Middle America, or the Middle West) is one of the four census regions defined by the United States Census Bureau. It occupies the northern central part of the United States. It was officially named the North Central Region by the U.S. Census Bureau until 1984.
List of United States cities by populationRanking of cities in the U.S.KMLGPX (all coordinates)GPX (primary coordinates)GPX (secondary coordinates)This is a list of the most populous municipal corporations of the United States. As defined by the United States Census Bureau, an incorporated place includes cities, towns, villages, boroughs, and municipalities. A few exceptional census-designated places (CDPs) are also included in the Census Bureau's listing of incorporated places.
2020 United States censusThe 2020 United States census was the 24th decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to offer options to respond online or by phone, in addition to the paper response form used for previous censuses. The census was taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected its administration.
IllinoisU.S. stateState in the United StatesIllinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Wabash and Ohio rivers to its south, and the Mississippi River generally to its west. Of the fifty U.S. states, Illinois has the fifth-largest gross domestic product (GDP), the sixth-largest population, and the 25th-most land area.
List of the most populous counties in the United StatesThis is a list of the 100 most populous of the 3,144 counties in the United States based on the national decennial US census conducted on April 1, 2020, and vintage Census population estimates for July 1, 2025. Many of the counties on the list include major cities or metropolitan areas in all parts of the United States.List of North American cities by populationFor the majority of cities in North America (including the Caribbean), the most recent official population census results, estimates or short-term projections date to 2020, with some dating 2022 at the latest. This list compiles figures for all North American cities with a population within city limits exceeding 500,000 that year.
Cook County, IllinoisCounty in Illinois, United StatesCounty in Illinois, United StatesCook County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Illinois and the second-most-populous county in the United States, after Los Angeles County, California. More than 40 percent of all residents of Illinois live within Cook County. As of 2020, the population was 5,275,541. The county seat is Chicago, the most populous city in Illinois and the third most populous city in the United States.
Lake MichiganLake Michigan ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume (1,180 cu mi; 4,900 km) and depth (923 ft; 281 m) after Lake Superior and the third-largest by surface area (22,300 square miles; 57,757 km), after Lake Superior and Lake Huron.
Metropolitan statistical areaIn the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region based on a county or a group of counties with at least one urbanized area with a population of at least 50,000 and adjacent counties with economic ties to the central area. Such regions are not legally incorporated as a city or town would be and are not legal administrative divisions like counties or separate entities such as states.
Chicago metropolitan areaThe Chicago metropolitan area, also known as Chicagoland, is the largest metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwest. The metropolitan area contains the City of Chicago along with its surrounding suburbs, satellite cities, and hinterland, spanning several counties across northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana.Combined statistical areaCombined statistical area (CSA) is a United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) term for a combination of adjacent metropolitan (MSA) and micropolitan statistical areas (μSA) across the 50 U.S. states and the territory of Puerto Rico that can demonstrate economic or social linkage. CSAs were first designated in 2003. OMB defines a CSA by various combinations of adjacent metropolitan and micropolitan areas with economic ties measured by commuting patterns.County seatA county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in six countries: the United States, Canada, China, Hungary, Romania and Taiwan. An equivalent term, shire town, is used in the U.S. state of Vermont and in several other English-speaking jurisdictions.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.