What Are the US Regions?

The United States is a vast country with 50 states and enormous variety in geography, climate, and culture. To make it easier to study, geographers divide the country into five main regions: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and West.

Regions share similar physical characteristics, climate patterns, histories, and economies - though the lines between them are not perfectly sharp, and different sources may group states slightly differently.

The Five Regions

1. Northeast

States: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland

Physical features: Appalachian Mountains, Atlantic coastline, Hudson River, Chesapeake Bay
Climate: Cold, snowy winters; warm summers; all four seasons
Industries: Finance, technology, education, healthcare, fishing, tourism
Famous landmarks: Statue of Liberty, Liberty Bell, Harvard University, Niagara Falls
Largest cities: New York City, Philadelphia, Boston

2. Southeast

States: Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Louisiana

Physical features: Appalachian Mountains, Gulf Coast, Mississippi River, Everglades
Climate: Hot, humid summers; mild winters; frequent hurricanes along the coast
Industries: Agriculture (cotton, tobacco, peanuts), tourism, military, energy
Famous landmarks: Great Smoky Mountains, Everglades, New Orleans French Quarter
Largest cities: Miami, Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte

3. Midwest

States: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas

Physical features: Great Plains, Great Lakes, Mississippi and Missouri Rivers
Climate: Cold winters, hot summers; prone to tornadoes; very little rainfall
Industries: Agriculture (corn, wheat, soybeans), manufacturing, automotive
Famous landmarks: Mount Rushmore, Gateway Arch, Badlands
Largest cities: Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Kansas City

4. Southwest

States: Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada (sometimes Utah and Colorado)

Physical features: Sonoran Desert, Grand Canyon, Rio Grande, Colorado River
Climate: Hot and dry; some areas have monsoon season
Industries: Oil and gas, ranching, tourism, technology
Famous landmarks: Grand Canyon, Alamo, Santa Fe historic district
Largest cities: Houston, Phoenix, Las Vegas, San Antonio

5. West

States: California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Alaska, Hawaii

Physical features: Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada, Pacific Coast, volcanoes (Cascade Range), Pacific Islands
Climate: Varies widely - coastal fog in San Francisco, desert in Nevada, tropical in Hawaii, Arctic in Alaska
Industries: Technology, entertainment, agriculture (California's Central Valley), fishing, timber
Famous landmarks: Golden Gate Bridge, Yosemite, Mount Rushmore (technically Midwest), Grand Teton
Largest cities: Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, San Francisco

Comparing the Regions

Northeast: History, finance, education - Appalachian Mountains + Atlantic coast

Southeast: Warm climate, agriculture, music - Gulf Coast + Mississippi River

Midwest: Farming, Great Lakes - Great Plains + Great Lakes

Southwest: Desert, canyon lands, Hispanic heritage - Grand Canyon + Rio Grande

West: Tech, movies, mountains, diversity - Rocky Mountains + Pacific Ocean

Practice Activities

Region map coloring: Students color each region a different color on a blank US map and label key states.
Region research project: Each student or group researches one region - climate, industries, landmarks, and famous people from that area.
State capitals quiz: Learn the capital cities of each region's states.
Compare and contrast: Use a Venn diagram to compare the climate and economy of two different regions.
Virtual field trip: Use Google Earth or classroom maps to "visit" a landmark in each region.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the five US regions?

The five main regions are the Northeast (New England and Mid-Atlantic states), Southeast (including the Deep South and Florida), Midwest (also called the Heartland or Great Plains), Southwest (including Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada), and West (including California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and Alaska and Hawaii).

Why is the Midwest called the breadbasket of America?

The Midwest is called the breadbasket because its flat, fertile plains and rich soil make it ideal for growing enormous amounts of crops - especially wheat, corn, and soybeans. States like Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Illinois produce food that feeds not only the US but much of the world.

Which region has the most states?

The Southeast has a large number of states (typically 12, including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia). The exact number depends on which regional model is used - different textbooks group states slightly differently.