A look at the United States region by region

Brief Tour of the United States - Introduction

Traditional "Chicago pizza"

Although many aspects of American life are similar throughout the 50 states, looking at regional differences can shed light on some of the complexities of our vast country. Richard Huckaby, a foreign service officer who coordinates the State Department’s electronic journals, presents one view of what the regions are and how they differ. This article is drawn from presentations Huckaby has made to audiences in France, South Korea, and Kosovo.

There are those who believe that it is no longer appropriate to talk about regional differences in the United States—that all Americans have been melded into one “monolithic” culture characterized by one way of thinking, one way of eating, one way of speaking. It is certainly true that there are few places in the United States where you cannot eat at McDonald’s, Burger King, or Pizza Hut. Almost anywhere you live you can shop at Wal-Mart, The Gap, or Foot Locker at malls that differ very little from one another. Almost everyone has access to the same television shows and movies, and many can listen to the same mass-market music. But does this mean that regional differences are more myth than reality? I don’t think so.