midwest?

I am amused by how little Californians know of our country. They are clueless as to where Minnesota is. I mean, they know it's out in the middle, but that's about it.
Someone just asked me if I was caught up in the storm that hit Ohio, etc. I had to explain that MN is west of that, so I was ok.
Kinda like me " the NE, I guess. I don't know anything beyond Maine out there.