AMERICA’S 5 REGIONS

•The United States is a massive country•Areas of the United States have common links: culture, language, religion, and environment

WHY SPLIT THE US INTO REGIONS?

• Population of ~55 million people

• Largest cities:– New York City (18 million

people)– Philadelphia (6 million

people)– Boston (4.5 million people)

• America’s most densely populated region

• Most culturally diverse• Climate is varied – hot

summers and cold winters• Over half of the Northeast is a

wooded area

NORTHEAST

• Total population of ~78 Million• Largest cities:– Washington D.C. (9 million

people)– Miami (5.5 million people)– Atlanta (5.5 million people)

• Also known as the Deep South• Climate is generally warm –

long summers and short winters

• Natural feature: Mississippi runs between TN, MS, LA, and AR– Longest river in the United

States• Very good land for agriculture

and farming; known as the “Cotton Belt”

SOUTH- EAST

• Has a population of ~ 65 million people

• Largest cities:– Chicago (9.4 million people)– Columbus (1.8 million people)– Indianapolis (1.7 million people)

• Environment is grasslands – most of the region is on the Great Plains

• Natural feature: Mississippi River cuts region in half; provides water for crops and cities

• Central location makes it a crossroads for transportation– Called “fly-over country” because

most air travel flies over it• Economy is focused on farming;

contains the Great Plains

MID- WESTERN

• Total population of ~19 million people

• Largest cities:– Houston (2.1 million people)– Phoenix (1.5 million people)– San Antonio (1.3 million people)

• Various states are considered part of the “Southwest.”

• Most states were once part of Mexico before being conquered by the United States

• Includes the states of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona.

• Natural features: the Grand Canyon runs through Arizona

• Arid climate – most of the Southwest is a desert

SOUTH-WEST

• Total population of ~72 million people

• Largest cities:– Los Angeles (13 million people)– San Francisco (4.3 million

people)– San Bernardino (4.3 million

people)• Natural feature: Rocky mountains

run through the center of the region– 54 mountains over 14,000 feet

tall• Various climates; deserts, forests,

and grasslands• Seismically active – many

earthquakes in California• Varied economy – farming,

technology, and manufacturing

WEST