Regional division of the USA. (Economic regions)

ECONOMIC REGIONS

The US is generally divided into 4 regions: the North-East (N-E), the Middle West (M-W), the South (S), and the West (W). These are based on areas which are commonly thought as belonging together – for historical, geographical, economic or other reasons. The N-E & M-W together formed the historical “North” as opposed to the “South”. Each of the regions is subdivided into a number of smaller regions, mainly for economic reasons.

 

N-E

Historically it can be characterized as the oldest part of the US (7/13 original states were here). Economically, it’s the most important part of the US, most highly industrialized. We often speak of “the industrial N-E”. The largest % of urban population. The chains of cities extending from Boston to Wash.DC has been called the “Atlantic metropolitan belt”. Industrial, commercial & residential centers adjoin each other with only brief interruptions. The focal point of the belt is NYC.

The N-E is subdivided into: New England & the Middle Atlantic Region.

· New England: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut; Boston – historical, economic & cultural importance; here there are much more computer offices per square mile than anywhere in the USA; Harvard University; best philarmony;

Massachusetts Institute of Technology – MIT (Indian).

Harvard – situated in Boston (used to make money by selling beer).

· The Middle Atlantic Region: NY (the Empire State), New Jersey, Pennsylvania; NYC – the greatest political, economic & cultural center; history & famous sights; Philadelphia (its importance); Baltimore; Pittsburgh (the Smoky City).

The Appalachian Mountains: iron ore & coal.

Pittsburgh – not ‘smoky’ now.

Ontario – the Niagara Falls – best seen from the Canadian side.

Rochester University – the best-equipped in the world, for people with problems (blind).

Festival of Lilac – Lilac bushes.

Niagara Falls – a small town to go there for honeymoon (lots of hotels).

New York – many skyscrapers (cf. Washington DC – none: no building should be higher than the building of Congress).

Washington DC – 4/5 of the population are the blacks; memorials: Jefferson Memorial (designed by T. Jefferson himself; Lincoln Memorial (with quotations), John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s Center (for performing arts with his bust in the middle), Washington Memorial.

Philadelphia – is between NY & Washington; founded by William Penn; all the documents were signed there. It’s a cultural center, too. The citizens do Europe when they retire. Here was sighed the Declaration of Independence.

Baltimore – some parts of the city are very much like Britain.

 

M-W

This term came into general use with the settlement of the West (or Far West) on the 19^th century. The region includes 12 states of the north central region: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, North/South Dakota.

There’s great diversity in climate, soil & resources. The region possesses a vast extent of rich farmland, an excellent river & lake system, extensive forest lands, abundant deposits of minerals (! iron ore, limestone, coal).

M-W is very important: includes 2 most important agricultural areas (the Corn Belt & the Wheat Belt) as well as a leading industrial area (the Lower Lakes Region).

Economically, M-W is divided into 4 principle regions:

· The Lower Lakes Region: leading industrial area (Michigan, Ohio, parts of Indiana & Illinois); Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo;

· The Upper Lakes Region: dairy farming area (Wisconsin & Minnesota); Minneapolis, St. Paul;

· The Corn Belt: Iowa – most of Indiana & Illinois – parts of Missouri – Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota;

· The Wheat Belt: extends to the W & N-W of the Corn Belt: from N.Oklahoma (south) to Canada (north). Includes: N/S Dakota - most of Kansas – Nebraska, central part – parts of Missouri – extreme north of Oklahoma.

Chicago – one of the largest transport systems: more than 30 railroads come to Chicago. Slaughterhouses are here. Food-processing & meat-processing – the birth-place of Alkapony.

Detroit – the automobile capital of the US (Ford, Chrysler, General Motors, +)

 

S

Includes the whole area to the south of the N-E & the M-W, 14 states: Virginia, W.Virginia, N/S.Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas.

¼ of Am.ppl lives here. The S has certain characteristics:

1. has lagged behind the N in industrial development -> has fewer large cities;

2. typical crops – cotton & tobacco;

3. large black population (the Black Belt), racial prejudices here are deep-rooted; most inequality btw blacks & whites in this part of the country;

4. is a supplier of raw materials (petroleum in Texas, coal in W.Virginia, lumber);

5. the standard of living here is lower, the poorest region.

But – some important changes, esp. in the post WW2 period: more industries, less cotton, mechanization, blacks move north.

Is divided into 3 regions:

· The South Atlantic Region: Virginia, W.Virginia, N/S. Carolina, Florida; Atlanta;

· The Deep South: Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis;

· The West South Central Region: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas (has undergone the most rapid economic development in the post WW2 period, now – a very important economic region); Houston, Dallas, Oklahoma City.

 

 

W

Comprises 11 states: Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, California. The region is vast & extremely varied; let’s point out some distinguishing features:

1. is historically the youngest;

2. most of its states are mountain states;

3. has the lowest density of population, except of California;

4. states are mostly agricultural with emphasis on pastoral farming, only CA & Oregon are important industrial states;

5. is an important supplier of raw materials, esp. non-ferrous metals (in the Rocky mountains) & oil (CA).

Can be divided into 3 regions:

· The Great Plains: cattle country of the “Wild West”, the eastern parts of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, the western parts of S.Dakota, Nebraska, Texas, Denver;

· The High West: 1/3 of the country, a mass of plateaus, mountains, canyons, deserts, salt lakes, forests, scrublands, prairies, irrigated valleys; the Rockies are rich in minerals; Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah (the Mormon state);

· The Pacific Coast: economically the most important part of the W: California (San Francisco, LA), Oregon (Portland), Washington (Seattle).

 

Alaska

Is the largest state with the smallest population, former RUS territory; 1896 - the Gold Rush; 1969 – the Oil Rush.

 

Hawaii

The 50^th state, the last to join the US. In the center of the Pacific. Economy is dominated by tourism, sugar cane, pineapples.