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