Largest state in Midwest U.S.? Michigan, right?

Question

Assuming the states shown in this link...

http://www.iptv.org/bestofthemidwest/graphics/BigMidwestMap.jpg

...are the states of the Midwest, which is the largest?

My friend and I are in a disagreement. I say it is Michigan, based on the official government figures, here:

http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-PH1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-format=US-9

This would rank the states this way:

Michigan 96,716.11 square miles

Minnesota 86,938.87

Kansas 82,276.84

Nebraska 77,353.73

South Dakota 77,116.49

North Dakota 70,699.79

Missouri 69,704.31

Wisconsin 65,497.82

Illinois 57,914.38

Iowa 56,271.55

Ohio 44,824.90

Indiana 36,417.73

So, Michigan would the largest, right?

Answer 1

No, not according to Rand-McNally.  Your figures include the area in the Great Lakes.  The website listed below has figures similar to Rand-McNally of land area only.

Here is what Rand-McNally publishes:

Kansas  81,823

Minnesota 79,617

Nebraska 76,878

South Dakota  75,898

North Dakota  68,994

Missouri  68,898

Michigan  56,809

Iowa  55,875

Illinois  55,593

Wisconsin  54,314

Ohio  40,953

Indiana  35,870

Answer 2

Michigan is indeed the largest state

Answer 3

Since when did Texas get dropped from being in the Midwest?