Regions of the United States

The United States is made up of 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., the national capital, and territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam. Each state has its own capital city, where its state government meets. Geographers often group states into regions that share a location, climate, economy, or history. Different sources draw the lines differently. The U.S. Census Bureau uses four main regions: the Northeast, the Midwest, the South, and the West. Many textbooks use smaller regions. New England is known for its rocky coastline and long colonial history. The Mid-Atlantic is home to large cities such as New York City and Philadelphia. The Southeast has a warm, humid climate and a long growing season. The Midwest has flat, fertile land and is a leading producer of corn and soybeans. The Southwest is largely dry. The West includes the Rocky Mountain states and Pacific coast states such as California, Oregon, and Washington. Some nicknames describe regions' economies. The Rust Belt means parts of the Northeast and Midwest where many factory jobs disappeared in the late twentieth century. The Sun Belt means the fast-growing South and Southwest. Because people define regions, a state like Texas can fit in more than one, depending on what is being compared.

This explanation is AI-generated and can occasionally be wrong. 🚩 Report