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Michigan
The region could be divided into two parts, separated by an extremely long bridge. The temperate region in the south has some farms and a huge nasty city. There could also be a city based on Ann Arbor (hipsters and foreigners reside there), and a Frankenmuth-ish city with traditional festivals or something.
The northern region would be cold and more sparsely populated, with unique forest Pokemon. There could be a location based on Copper Harbor or the Sault Locks.
An equivalent to Henry Ford or a legend about an Edmund Fitzgerald-like ship could be worked in as lore for the region.