Regions of the United States

Northeast

The Northeast

Few natural resources Some coal in Pennsylvania

Waterways (rivers, shoreline, Great Lakes, etc.)

Allowed for trade, fishing, industry

Factories were built along rivers waterfalls to take advantage of hydroelectric power

Megalopolis (Greek “very large city”) The area from Boston to

Washington, DC

Over 40 million people Many descended from Immigrants

South

The South

Climate/Vegetation Mostly Humid subtropical

Warm and wet

Less rainfall toward the West

Warm and semiarid in western Texas and Oklahoma

Mixed forests

Mangroves are tropical trees in swampy areas along the coast

Bayous in Louisiana

Everglades in Florida

Economy Agriculture

Industry

Textile mills built along the fall line

Oil industry began in east Texas in 1901

NASA developed in 1960s in Florida, Alabama and Texas

The South Population

Population growth Sunbelt region grew faster than any

other US region in the 19070s

Diverse Population African America (over 50% live in the

South)

Hispanic

Mexico (across the Rio Grande from Texas)

Cuba (Florida is only 90 miles from Cuba)

White/European

Louisiana-French/Cajun

West Texas-German

Midwest

The Midwest

Agricultural Economy (The Nation’s Breadbasket) Large flat area with fertile soil

Warmer and wetter areas (Illinois, Iowa, Indiana)

Grow corn and soybeans and raise hogs

Drier Great Plains States grow grains Wheat and sunflowers

Cooler areas with poorer soil in the north (Wisconsin)

Grow hay and raise dairy cattle

The Midwest

Transportation and Industry Waterways allow growth of heavy

industry Great Lakes

Detroit-automobiles

Mississippi River

Over 400 million tons of freight each year

Railroad allow transportation of products Chicago-grain is processed and livestock

slaughtered

West

The West Natural Resources/Economy

Minerals such as gold, silver, oil, etc.

Gold Rush—mid-1800s

Oil discovered in Alaska in 1960s Pipelines carry oil from remote areas to

port cities

Forests—provide nearly 50% of the nation’s lumber

Fish—billions of tons caught in waters off of Alaska, Hawaii, other Pacific coastal areas

The West Alaska

Largest state but least populated

Few roads

Juneau can be reached only by plane or boat

Anchorage only has 2 roads into the city

Hawaii

8 main islands

More than 2,000 miles away from mainland US

Annexed by the US in 1898

Became 50th state in 1959

Jet travel makes it a popular tourist destination

Satellites and Internet allow easier communications