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The United States
NORTHEAST
SOUTHEASTSOUTHWEST
MIDWESTWEST
INTERIOR
Facts and figures1. 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 AmericaRegional 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 LineAmerican 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 BreadbasketCorn/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