The United States NORTHEAST SOUTHEAST SOUTHWEST MIDWEST WEST INTERIOR

Facts and figures 1.50 states, 50 capitals 2.Federal constitutional republic 3.Population > 300 million 4.Capital: Washington, D.C 5.Largest city: NYC, pop. > 8 million

Northeast Includes: Maine, N.H., Vt., Mass., Conn., R.I. (New England) plus N.Y., N.J., Penn. Rocky coasts to the north; better harbors/shipping ports to the south Regional characteristics: Industry and huge cities culturally diverse Fast-paced lifestyle Financial Fashion media capital of the world Cultural icon: White steeple church

Southeast Includes: Ala., Ark., Del., Fla., Ga., Kent., La., Md., Miss., N.C., S.C., Tenn., Va., W. Va., Wash. D.C. Still a “laggin” region overall: –“Islands of Growth in a Sea of Poverty” – large urban/rural economic gaps Regional characteristics: –Laid back lifestyle –significant cultural differences – religious (Bible Belt) Cultural icon: Food

Midwest Includes: Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Illinois Center of country’s meat and grain production (America’s “breadbasket”) Regional characteristics: –Rural –agriculture –ranching Cultural icon: –Water towers –grain elevators

Southwest Includes: Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and southern California Economy dominated by mineral exploitation, oil and agriculture Regional characteristics: –Immigration issues –big oil business Cultural icon: –Flat roof and adobe construction

Interior Includes: Colorado*, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming Large size, low population density (Big Sky Country) Regional characteristics: Wilderness high concentration of indigenous peoples Cultural icon: Windmill

West Includes: Oregon, Washington, California, Hawaii, Alaska Most cities and agriculture in the southern portion Regional characteristics: –Hollywood glamour –logging and fishing industry –tourism (Hawaii) – fishing/crabbing and oil –global warming (Alaska) Cultural icon: Totem pole

Sub-Regions of North America Regional and Culture/Environment Tradition Border Types Cultural Economic Natural Combination Icons of the Cultural Landscape Manmade features than symbolize the sub-region Old Economic Core Remains of the Manufacturing Belt (see Top 20 cities in 1870) Postindustrial quaternary and quinary economic activity, e.g. Boston and New York City Includes the Canadian industrial core Agriculture still important in west part of sub-region Cultural border – Mason Dixon Line American South Western Core – agriculture still important. 80% of the land in Illinois is in agriculture Edge of agricultural dominance, except dairy Beginning of tourism and foresty Second homes Three season tourism Cultural Landscape Icon – the Smokestack New England and Canadian Atlantic North/South New England split Economic and cultural similarities between US and Canadian portions Rapid and severe economic swings Landscape Similarity - which is Maine and which is Newfoundland? Cultural Landscape Icon (US) – the White Church with White Steeple Quebec (French Canada) Francophones – not only Quebec No longer just agricultural, full industrialized and developed Heightened sense of nationalism Francophone and Anglophone New Brunswick Cultural Landscape Icon- Quebec Village Church Great Plains Breadbasket Center of meat and grain production Nearly all economic activity revolves around agriculture/ranching Corn, wheat, soybeans, pork – principal products Eastern Breadbasket Corn/Soy Beans/Hogs Western Breadbasket Wheat and Cattle Breadbasket Cultural Landscape Icons – The Water Tower and Grain Elevator Eastern Breadbasket Cultural Landscape Icons – The County Courthouse American South Undergone the most change in last 100 yrs = Sunbelt urban growth Still a “laggin” region overall – “Islands of Growth in a Sea of Poverty” – large urban/rural economic gaps Strong cultural differences American South – Cultural Landscape Icons (beware of racist values) American South – Cultural Landscape Icons (Food) Sadly defunct Continental Interior Large size, physical diversity, low population density, localized growth issues Much of the land is owned by national governments Greatest concentrations of indigenous peoples in both countries Tourism is of growing importance Cultural Landscape Icon (old) Cultural Landscape Icon (new) The Southwest Deep ties to Mexico; early colonization Economy dominated by mineral exploitation, oil and agriculture Border with Mexico is permeable and shifting Western edge is metropolitan southern California Cultural Landscape Icon – Flat Roof and Adobe Construction Pacific Northwest Physical geography of narrow coast and interior mountains Most cities and agriculture in the southern portion Climatically wet – mid- latitude rain forests Decline of logging and fishing, rise of high-tech (southern) Garreau’s original Ecotopia Cultural Landscape Icon (folk culture) – Totem Pole John Harmon – G120 – Fall 2003