Transcript USAx - Humble ISD

Regions
Answers the question “How are places similar or different?”
A region is an area of the earth’s surface with similar
characteristics. Regions usually have more than one characteristic
that unifies them. These may include physical, political, economic,
Perceptual Regions have characteristics
or cultural characteristics.
that are perceived to be similar. They
Formal Regions are defined by related
characteristics. The textbook has
broken the earth into regions based on
continental area & cultural styles.
Functional Regions are
organized around
interactions between
places. Like a city and its
suburbs.
are defined by popular feelings and
images
The Northeast
The region’s coastal and inland waters turned it into the heart
of trade, commerce, and industry for the nation. The
Northeast is one of the most heavily industrialized and
urbanized areas in the world. Coal, iron ore, and oil fueled
industrialization. Traditional industries still play a role in the
region’s economy, but most Northeasterners are now
employed in manufacturing and service industries.
The Midwest
Because of its central location, the
Midwest is called the American
heartland. Vast, largely flat plains are
a distinctive feature of the region. So
are numerous waterways, including
the Great Lakes and the Mississippi
River.
The Midwest is the nation’s
“breadbasket.” Fertile soil, adequate
rainfall, and a favorable climate
enable Midwesterners to produce
more food and feed more people than
farmers in any comparable area in the
world.
The South
The South is often referred to as the “sunbelt” because of its climate. Agriculture
was the South’s first economic activity, and cotton, tobacco, fruits, peanuts, and rice
are still grown there. Livestock production is important, too.
The introduction of air conditioning in the 1950s and the region’s vast stores of energy
resources encouraged industrialization. In recent times, the South has attracted many
manufacturing and service industries.
The West
The West is the most rapidly growing region in the United
States. The region’s growth was helped by the introduction
of air conditioning and by irrigation.
Mining has always been important to this region. It began
with the first Gold Rush miners. It continues today in many
of the region's states. Alaska and Hawaii are two of the
region's states that have extreme climates.
Corn Belt
…traditional area in the Midwestern
United States in which corn (maize)
and soybeans are the dominant crops.
Soils are fertile, and rich in organic
material, and the land is relatively
level.
Sun Belt
…region comprising 15 southern states in
the United States. Large in-migration,
along with a high birth rate and a decline
in out-migration, all contributed to rapid
growth of both the Sun Belt’s population
and manufacturing activities. The regions
warm-temperate climate with extended
summers and short, mild winters make it a
highly populated region.
Rust Belt
…parts of the northeastern and
Midwestern US that once experienced
large-scale industrial and
manufacturing growth. Declining
industry, and aging factories, make this
a post industrial society which has lead
to a falling population
Bible Belt / Cotton Belt
The Bible Belt is an informal region in the
southeastern and south-central United States in
which the church plays a strong role in society
and politics, and Christian church attendance
across the denominations is generally higher
than the nation's average.
The Cotton Belt is an economic region of
the southern United States where cotton was
the predominant cash crop from the late 18th
century into the 20th century.