ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Flyover country

Flyover country is a term used to describe the vast area of land that is located in the middle of the United States. This area is also sometimes referred to as the "heartland" or "midwest" of the country.

Imagine that the United States is like a big circle, with the coasts on the outside and the middle part in the center. When people travel from one coast to the other, they often fly over this middle part without stopping. This is where the term "flyover" comes from.

Now, let's pretend you are a kid on a road trip with your family. You start on the east coast and drive all the way to the west coast. Along the way, you drive through big cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. These cities are like the fun playgrounds of the country, where there are lots of things to see and do.

But in between these big cities, you see lots and lots of open land. This is flyover country. It's not that there is nothing there, but it is often less populated and there aren't as many tourist attractions. Instead, you might see lots of farms, fields of crops, and small towns.

So, even though it might seem like there isn't much to see in flyover country, it is actually an important part of the country. A lot of the food that we eat comes from this area, and many people who live in flyover country enjoy the slower pace of life and strong sense of community. Just because it isn't as flashy or famous as the big cities, doesn't mean it isn't special in its own way.