As the World Turns is set in a state in the Midwestern region of the farm.
As the World Turns . Set in the fictional town of Oakdale , Illinois , the show debuted on April 2 , 1956 , at 1:30 pm EST. . Illinois ( [ ɪlᵻˈnɔɪ ] ) is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States , achieving statehood in 1818 .