Ch. 8 s. 2Regions of the USA

(PowerPoint)

• Homework- work on study guide• 2nd Postcard due Monday

• Megalopolis—group of cities that have grown into one built up area

• Ex)Boston, New York, Philly, Baltimore, & Washington D.C.

Vocabulary

Megalopolis at night

Vocabulary

• 2. Corn Belt– area of the Mid-West that specializes in growing corn.

Corn Belt

Vocabulary

• 3. Dairy Belt– area of Mid-West that specializes in making dairy products.

Dairy Belt

Wheat Belt

• 4. Wheat Belt– area in Mid-West specializing in grains and wheat.

Wheat Belt

Vocabulary

• 5. TEXTILES—cloth products

Vocabulary

• 6. METROPOLITAN AREA–

• A big city and all the surrounding smaller towns

• Ex)New York City is the largest metro area in the USA

Vocabulary

• 7. ARABLE– soil and land fit for growing crops

Vocabulary

• 8. SMOG– pollution that hangs over a city like a cloud

• Smallest land size but highest population political and financial center of the USA• Jobs have attracted many immigrants past and

present.• 40+ million people live in the N.E.• The USA capital is in this region (Washington,

D. C. )

The Northeast

Northeast cont.….

• Good transportation connections like rail, airports and waterways helped N.E. develop industries

Most industrialized region but many factories are closed due to outsourcingErie Canal connected the Great Lakes and interior of USA with the Atlantic O. & world.

Pictures of Washington, D.C.

NYC at night

Boston built on a Charles R.

Baltimore was built on Patapsco R.

• Major farming region and producer of industrial goods

• Chicago is the largest city in Mid-West. O’Hare is one USA’s busiest airports.

• Chicago has important RR hub. Chicago is 3rd largest city in USA

The Mid-West

Mid-West Cont.….

• Lots of arable land for corn, grains, wheat and dairy products

• Major manufacturing centers ex) Detroit with car manufacturing

• Transportation lines bring in raw materials to Mid-West for manufacturing, then bring out for sale.

• Region stretches in a great arc from VA to TX• Two of the bigger cities include:– Atlanta:– Dallas-Ft. Worth: The largest metro area in the

South. Large transportation hub (air and rail)The South and West has had an influx of new immigration from Latin America and Asia since the 1960s.

The South

• Old South was rural and agricultural.• Civil War, ruined Southern economy. Has

never completely recovered.• New industries are based on raw materials:

lumber, cotton for textiles, oil production. • Also high tech industries, tourism,

manufacturing

The South cont.

• Largest size-wise, most sparsely populated• Pioneers had a difficult land journey.

Conditions were harsh in early days.• The transcontinental RR opened up the west. • Farming, ranching and now mining are

industries in the West.

The West

Pacific States

• Most people who live in the West live in the Pacific States. Cali has 34+ million people.

• Traditionally home to farming, forestry and Hollywood.

• After WWII the Colorado River provided hydroelectricity for industries

• the Colorado River is used for irrigation and almost none of it gets to the Gulf of California

• Silicon Valley is a mega center for computer technology, many jobs now overseas.

• many natural resources including minerals, oil and arable land.

Pacific State cont.

• Northeast States: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Washington, D.C.

• Mid-West states—Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri

• Southern States: Great Arc from VA, N. Carolina, S. Carolina, GA, FL, AL, MS, TN, KY, Arkansas, LA & TX

States by Region

Western States: N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, OK, New Mexico, CO, WY, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, AZ

Pacific States: California, Oregon, Washington state, Alaska, Hawaii