Regions of the United States

Different Ideas

The United States is divided into different regions by different organizations.

The way the United States is divided is different for different needs.

For example, the U.S. Federal Reserve banks divide the regions differently than the U.S. Census Bureau.

Most agree they can be divided into FOUR main sections, with different divisions within.

Within the regions, you can see see different divisions. For example, the west is a large region. What two divisions do you see within the west?

Northeast Region

New England States• Maine• Vermont• New Hampshire• Massachusetts • Rhode Island• Connecticut

Mid-Atlantic States• New York• Pennsylvania• New Jersey

Northeast RegionGreat Things to Know!

All 9 states of the northeast region were part of the original 13 colonies before the United States became independent in the American Revolution

The states typically see all 4 seasons, with winter being especially severe in the most northern states.

Canada borders the northeastern states to the north.

The Atlantic Ocean borders these states to the east.

Rhode Island is the smallest state in the northeast, as well as in the entire country.

Lake Ontario and Lake Erie border the northeast states.

All states located in the Eastern Time Zone

Southern Region

South Atlantic • Delaware• Maryland• District of Columbia• Virginia• West Virginia• North Carolina• South Carolina• Georgia• Florida

South East• Kentucky• Tennessee• Mississippi• Alabama

South West• Oklahoma• Texas• Arkansas• Louisiana

Southern RegionGreat Things to Know!

The south is the most populated region in the United States.

Eleven states in the southern region seceded (broke away) from the United States during the civil war. They formed the Confederate States of America. One reason that they seceded was due to their disagreement about slavery (the south was in favor, the rest of the states were against slavery).

Most of the south is hot, humid, and has mild winters.

Agriculture has been an important part of their history, especially cotton.

Even long after the civil war, many of our nation’s most famous racial cases, as well as Civil Rights issues came from the south (Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, integration of schools, etc).

Well known for their music, especially with their influence in jazz and country

Mississippi River runs north to south through the southern region

North Central/Midwest Region

Northeast Central• Wisconsin • Michigan• Illinois• Indiana• Ohio

Northwest Central• Missouri• North Dakota• South Dakota• Nebraska• Kansas• Minnesota• Iowa

North Central/Midwest RegionImportant Facts to Know

Illinois is the most populous state of the Midwest Region.

Many famous explorers came from the Midwest such as Lewis and Clark.

The first region to prohibit slavery with Ohio being a primary route for the Underground Railroad.

The Mississippi River runs north and south through the Midwest.

The Missouri River runs into the Mississippi River.

The automobile industry was started in Michigan.

Ohio was the birth place of aviation with the Wright Brothers famous for building the first plane to fly.

The tallest building in the country, The Willis Tower, is in Chicago.

The topography is mainly flat, which is used for farming.

Four of the 5 Great Lakes of America border a state in the Midwest.

Western Region

Pacific States• Alaska• Washington• Oregon• California• Hawaii

Mountain States• Idaho• Montana• Wyoming • Utah• Nevada• Colorado• Arizona• New Mexico

Western RegionImportant Information to Know!

Largest region, covering more than half the land area in the United States

Most populated state in the COUNTRY is California, located in the western region

The Pacific Ocean borders Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, and California

Mexico is south of the western region, while Canada is north of the western region.

The Four Corners, where four states touch, are Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico

The weather varies greatly in the western region. Some states see heavy rain and snow such as Oregon and Washington but other states like Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico have a desert like climate.