Welcome to the Southeast

Characteristics of the Southeast

History: Williamsburg, Virginia is a town that is “frozen in time.” If you go there today it looks just like it did in the 1700’s. Most of the Civil War was fought in the Southeastern states.

Population: The population of the Southeast is about 61 million people. Most people live in rural or farming towns.

Landforms: The Southeast has five different landforms in it. There are mountains, like the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee. There are coasts along the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. It also has plains, highlands, and even two plateaus. The Mississippi River flows through the Southeast and ends at New Orleans, Louisiana. Business: A large part of the Southeast’s business comes from farming. There is also tourism and entertainment. Most people in the Southeast work in service jobs.

Natural Resources: The greatest natural resource in the Southeast is the fertile soil, which produces items such as oranges, cotton, and peanuts.

Climate: The Southeast is hot during the spring and summer, and mild during the winter. Most of the rain falls in the summer and is typically a wet climate.

The Southeast States

Arkansas Louisiana

MississippiTennessee

AlabamaKentucky

Georgia

Florida

South Carolina

North Carolina

West Virginia Virginia

Landforms of the Southeast

Atlantic Coastal Plains and the Gulf Coastal Plains –

an area of flat land that runs along the

Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Coast

Mississippi River Valley – an area that is wide and flat where the

river empties into the Gulf of Mexico.

The Southeast also has plains, highlands,

and plateaus.

Mountains – the Appalachian Mountains rise between the Atlantic Coastal Plains and the Mississippi River.

Also, the Smokey Mountains are in Tennessee and West Virginia.

Industry – a branch of business or manufacturing that makes product or service.

Economy – the way people use resources to make and sell goods and services.

Tourism: the practice of traveling for recreation. Warm, sunny beaches, thick forests, and beautiful rivers and lakes bring many visitors to the Southeast.

Agriculture: farming

Diversify -

produce a variety of crops to make more money.

The Southeast is a region that is changing rapidly and is now a region of diversified agriculture and industry.