"The North"
This is how I think most people use it, though usage can vary, and I cannot guarantee I am right about the most common usage.
When I hear "the North" I think that means any state north of the Mason-Dixon Line. These states are east of the Mississippi or bordering the Mississippi.
I generally do not think people mean such places as Montana, Oregon, etc., but I know they could mean that because the semantics of the term are different for different people.
But I think saying "The Northwest" or just naming the state is more common than saying "the North" for northwestern states.
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