Regions of Our Country

The United States map is split into five regions. A region is an area that shares similar features. Each region is named after its location in the United States. Throughout this program, you'll study these regions to learn about their history, economics, civics, and geography.

New York City is sometimes described as the "city that never sleeps." Most people who live in urban areas like New York have non-agricultural jobs. However, the Northeast does have areas that are rural. Which do you think is more common? How does it compare to where you live?

The Southeast region of the United States has many rivers winding through the Appalachian mountains and along the coastal plains. But heavy rains sometimes cause flooding. In response to flooding, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was established in 1933. This group was responsible for damming rivers to control water flow and flooding. A byproduct of the dams was hydroelectric power and the creation of recreational areas. The geography of the Southeast plays an important role in how people live.

The Midwest is known as "America's Breadbasket" because midwestern farmers grow a lot of the wheat we use to make bread. Crops, such as wheat, and livestock, such as hogs and cattle, teem through the gentle hills and flat plains. Near these farms are urban centers like Chicago, Detroit, Fargo, and Des Moines. There are many benefits to living in the Midwest region as a result.

These petroglyphs, found on Mesa Verde in Colorado, were made by the Anasazi. They date between 600-1300 C.E. Archaeologists believe that the boxy spiral shape is probably a sipapu, the site where many southwestern Native Americans believe they emerged from the earth, near the Grand Canyon. History is a collection of stories. Sometimes stories are passed down from generation to generation. Sometimes history is marked by how the land changes. The Southwest is a region that has many stories to tell.

The Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic takes place in Boise, Idaho each fall. Attendees can get free balloon rides, live music, and a variety of food from local vendors. As many as 30-40 balloons take to the sky at different times during the festival, providing people a chance to look down on the area where they live. It's truly a birds-eye view of life. The American West is a vast region that stretches thousands of miles and includes many amazing geographic features, from tall mountains to endless salt flats. The cities can also sport many different features and characteristics too.