Regions of Texas
How many regions are in Texas?
Great
Plains
Mountains
and Basins
North Central
Plains
Coastal Plains
What region is Fort Worth in?
4
Can you name the 4 Regions of Texas?
Great
Plains
North Central
Plains
Mountains
and Basins
Coastal Plains
2. North Central
Plains
1. Great Plains
1
2
3
4
3.
4.
Mountains
and Basins
Coastal Plains
• Texas is a vast state made up of
many different natural elements and
terrains.
The 3 largest states in the United
States are:
1st largest is ……………………….
2nd largest is ………………………..
3rd largest is ………………………..
Texas is the 2nd largest state in the
United States.
Traveling across Texas you will see
everything from forests to mountains
to beaches to plains.
What region do we live in?
North Central Plains Region
The 4 Regions of
Texas are
Great Plains
North Central Plains
Coastal Plains
Mountains and Basins
Regions of Texas
• Each region has different natural resources.
• This allows Texas to be one of the most
self-sufficient states in the country.
Do you know what SELF-SUFFICIENT means?
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
• Location
– Center part of the
state
– Hill Country in the
southern part
– Bordered by the Cap
Rock Escarpment on
the west
– Bordered by the
Balcones Escarpment
on the east
North Central Plains
Cities
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Austin
Waco
Fredericksburg
Llano
Fort Worth
Wichita Falls
Abilene
• The Hill Country is a popular name for the
area of hills along the Balcones Fault and is
a transitional area between the Great
Plains and the Gulf Coastal Plains.
North Central Plains
Physical Features
– Prairies
– Forests in the Cross Timbers
– Rolling Plains and Hills
– Variety of trees
– Small shrubs
– Limestone rock
- Thick grass
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
PHYSICAL FEATURES AFFECT
INDUSTRY
• Rich soils support farm industries
• Natural resources have spurred other
industries
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
SUBREGIONS
This region is
divided into
3 subregions:
Grand Prairie
Cross Timbers
Rolling Plains
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
HAS 3 SUBREGIONS
GRAND PRAIRIE – flat and rolling hills,
grasslands; suited for livestock
CROSS TIMBERS – sandy soil; good for
farming a variety of crops
ROLLING PLAINS – grasslands; hilly
terrain; steep valley; rivers; suited for
cattle and ranches
north Central
Plains
flat and rolling
hills; grasslands
well suited for cattle, other
livestock; Fort Worth is a large
meat-processing center
wet and mild
climate; thin soil
limits crops that can be grown
to mainly crops for animal feed;
cotton in some areas
TIMBERS
sandy soil
absorbs water well—very good
for farming; many crops grown
from peanuts to corn, cotton, hay
ROLLING
grasslands; hilly
terrain; steep
valleys; rivers
GRAND
PRAIRIE
CROSS
PLAINS
well suited for cattle (valleys—
shelter; grasslands and rivers—
food and water); contains many
of the state’s largest ranches
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
CLIMATE
– Sub tropical
– Cold winters
– Hottest summer
temperatures in the
state
– 20-30 inches of
rainfall a year
– Violent storms and
tornadoes
North Central Plains
Climate
Central Texas is shaped by its many rivers and hills.
In a single year the region can receive up to 48 inches of rain,
and flooding is common near rivers and in low lying areas.
North Central Plains
• In the summer, one of the favorite activities is
floating down a creek or river in an inner tube.
• Spring is a time for residents to drive the winding
back roads and take in the rainbow of colors produced
by the blooming wildflowers, including Bluebonnets
and Indian paintbrush.
• In the fall and winter, hunters visit in hopes of taking
home a white-tailed deer.
• Some of the favorite local cuisines are barbecue and
a variation on traditional Mexican food affectionately
referred to as Tex-Mex.
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
PLANTS
-bluebonnets
-Indian Paintbrush
-Texas Oak Trees
-Mesquite Trees
North Central Plains
Plants
Indian
Blanket
Standing
Cypress
Blue Sage
North Central Plains
Animals
•
•
•
•
•
•
Bobcat
White-tailed deer
Turkeys
Screech Owl
Mexican Freetail Bat
Cliff Swallow
And the road runner….
The real
road
runner…
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
ANIMALS
-Bobcat
-White-tailed deer
-Turkeys
-Screech Owl
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
AGRICULTURE
– Cattle, goats,
sheep, cotton,
grain sorghum,
oats, pecans, hay,
peaches, cedar
trees, wheat, corn,
peanuts
– Fertile soil, beef,
wool, mohair from
angora goats, oil in
some areas
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
ECONOMY
The fertile soil produces crops for a large
portion of its industry
NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS
• Crops: Cotton,
corn, and other
grains.
• Resources:
Limestone, sand,
gravel, oil, gas,
and clay.
• Grow: Peaches,
hay, peanuts,
wheat, and
sorghum.
Where are the North Central Plains?
North Central
Plains
North Central Plains
COASTAL PLAINS
COASTAL PLAINS
• largest of the 4
Texas regions
Location of Coastal Plains
•
•
•
•
Covers 1/3 of the land of Texas
Northeast border is the Sabine River
Southeast border is the Gulf of Mexico
West border is the Balcones
Escarpment
• The Coastal Plains reaches inland, away
from the coast about 250 miles
COASTAL PLAINS CITIES
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Austin
Brownsville
Dallas
Houston
San Antonio
Tyler
Texarkana
Corpus Christi
Coastal Plains
Physical Features
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–
–
–
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Woods & Forest
Beaches
Grassy Plains and Prairies
Has lots of fishing and shrimping
It is the largest of the four regions in Texas
Gets the most rainfall
Has citrus groves
COASTAL PLAINS
This region is
divided into
5 subregions:
Piney Woods
Gulf Coastal Plains
South Texas Plains
Post Oak Belt
Black land Prairie
COASTAL PLAINS
SUBREGIONS
• Piney Woods – pine forest, farming, timber
• Gulf Coast Plain – prairie, bayous, farming,
ranching, fishing, ports, oil, petrochemicals
• South Texas Plains – warm dry climate, yearround farming, ranches
• Post Oak Belt – sandy soils, prairies, farming,
energy resources
• Blackland Prairie – rich soil, large population,
manufacturing
The Coastal Plains
Subregion
Piney Woods
Gulf Coast
Plain
South Texas
Plains
Post Oak
Belt
Blackland
Prairie
Main Industrial and Economic Activities
timber, farming (fruits, vegetables), cattle ranching, oil
farming (rice, cotton, grains), livestock, fishing, shrimping,
center of oil industry, petrochemicals, ports and shipping
farming (Rio Grande valley: fruit, vegetables, sugar-cane);
ranching; retail and international trade; tourism; military
bases (San Antonio)
farming (cotton), corn, cattle, hogs); mining (oil,gas,
lignite); manufacturing
farming (cotton, grains, vegetables, cattle, chickens,
hogs); Dallas/Metroplex: banking, insurance, and oil
corporate headquarters, international cotton market,
manufacturing, transportation hub
COASTAL PLAINS
• The land along the Gulf Coast is very
near sea level. It is hard for water to
drain off the land, since there is
nowhere lower for the water to go.
Much of the coast of Texas is made up
of marshes----wetlands where a variety
of tall grasses grow.
COASTAL PLAINS CLIMATE
-Hot and damp, humid
-Tornadoes, hurricanes
“More rain and violent storms
than any other region”
-30-55 inches of rain per year
Warm in the South
Cold in the North
COASTAL PLAINS
PLANTS
• The land along the Gulf Coast is very
near sea level. It is hard for water to
drain off the land, since there is
nowhere lower for the water to go.
Much of the coast of Texas is made up
of marshes----wetlands where a variety
of tall grasses grow.
COASTAL PLAINS ANIMALS
Many kinds of animals live in the coastal
plains region…
– Quail, Hawks, Owls, Bald Eagles and
hundreds of other birds
– White tail deer
– Foxes, Bobcats, Skunks
– River otters
– Alligators in the marshes!!! Some weigh
up to 500 lbs!!!
Coastal Plains Animals….
COASTAL PLAINS
AGRICULTURE
– Timber, dairy, cattle,
hogs, poultry, grain,
sorghum, cotton, corn,
peanuts, roses, fruits,
hay, fish, sheep, wheat,
vegetables, rice, citrus,
and shrimp
– People, lots of rain, rivers,
lumber and paper mills,
chemical plants, ports, and
oil
COASTAL PLAINS
Economy Way of life:
fishing, timber, oil and gas
The gulf coast is a major center of economic activity. The
marshlands provide breeding grounds for ocean life, which make
the fish and shrimp businesses very important.
The port of Houston is one of the 10 busiest ports in the world.
COASTAL PLAINS
• Oil and Gas
Along the coastal region you will find many oil
rigs that are on-shore and off-shore.
The ocean gives easy access to ship the oil
and gas to where it needs to go.
THE GULF COAST PLAINS
ADAPTS TO ENVIRONMENT
• Houston – petrochemicals, shipping,
manufacturing
• Dallas – banking, manufacturing,
corporate headquarters
• Laredo – trade, farming
• San Antonio – tourism, military, retail
Where are the Coastal Plains?
Coastal Plains
Coastal Plains
GREAT PLAINS
GREAT PLAINS
• Region is located mostly in the panhandle area
of Texas.
• This area is very flat with a high elevation
that features canyons. It is a barren area
with very few trees.
GREAT PLAINS
LOCATION
– Texas Panhandle
to the north
– Cap Rock
Escarpment on
the east
-Northeast Texas
-Colorado and Red
Rivers are the
borders.
GREAT PLAINS CITIES
-Amarillo
-Lubbock
-Odessa
Abilene
Midland
-San Angelo
-Wichita Falls
PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE
GREAT PLAINS
• Panhandle area of Texas
• Highest Elevation in Texas
• High and flat treeless plains and
grasslands
• Caprock Escarpments with elevation
rising to the east
• Balcones Escarpments along the eastern
and western edges
• Red River
Palo below
Duro the
Canyon
Caprock
– hard forms
bed of rock
soil of the
High Plains
Escarpment – cliffs
GREAT PLAINS
GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES
-Rolling
grassy lands
-Thick grasses
-Cross Timbers area - large areas of
hardwood trees
-Limestone rock
-Higher elevation because limestone
doesn't wear down easily
GREAT PLAINS
This region is
divided into
3 subregions:
High Plains
Edwards Plateau
Llano Basin
The Great Plains
HIGH PLAINS
Physical Features
high flat, Caprock prairie with elevation rising to east; escarpments
on eastern, western edges; Red River forms Palo Duro Canyon;
little rainfall; oil and gas
EDWARDS PLATEAU
Physical Features
high, hilly limestone plateau rising and getting more rugged to west;
Balcones Escarpment and Fault, many springs on southern edge;
many areas rocky with thin soil; prairie grasses; trees; rivers, streams
form deep valleys and canyons
GREAT PLAINS
• Climate
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–
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Windy, Dry Air
Tornadoes
Very cold in winter
Very hot in summer
Coldest region of
Texas
– 15-20 inches of
rainfall a year
– Violent sand, snow,
and rain storms
GREAT PLAINS
PLANTS
-Prickly pear
-Yucca
-Indian Paintbrush
-Cactus
GREAT PLAINS ANIMALS
•
•
•
•
Pronghorn
Prarie Dog
Snakes
Toads
Great Plains Economy
Way of Life
• Cattle ranching and cotton farming are
major sources of commerce in this area
• Farming - fruits, vegetables,
watermelons, oats
• Ranching - cattle, angora goats (mohair)
• Cedar trees - fenceposts
• Oil and gas
TEXANS HAVE ADAPTED TO THE
ENVIRONMENT OF THE GREAT PLAINS
• Used grasslands for farming
• Pumped water for irrigating crops
• Drilled for oil and gas
• Built cities
Where are the Great Plains?
Great
Plains
Great Plains
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
LOCATION
• Far west Texas
• East border near Pecos
River
• South border is the Rio
Grande
• North border is
New Mexico
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
CITIES
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–
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Alpine
El Paso
Fort Stockton
- Pecos
-Kermit & Monahans in Permian Basin area
-Fort Davis, Marfa, & Alpine in Mountain area
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
PHYSICAL FEATURES
• Towering Peaks, Rocky
Canyons, and flowering
cacti.
• Mountains and Basins
have dry, rocky soils.
• Places: Big Bend
National Park,
Guadalupe National
Park, and Davis
Mountains
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
• Guadalupe Peak is
the highest point in
Texas
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
•
•
•
•
•
Dry desert climate
Rocky soil
Mountains, Canyons, Basins
Plateaus
Limited Plant Life
Mountains and Basins
Physical Features
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–
–
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Mountains ranges, basins & plateaus
Guadalupe Mountains
Big Bend National Park
Guadalupe Peak – highest peak in Texas (8749
feet)
• Basins are lowlands surrounded by higher land.
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
This region
has no subregions
MOUNTAINS AND Basins
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
Physical Features
mountains, plateaus,
basins, canyons;
desert climate with
little rainfall; dry
rocky soil; limited
plant life (desert
grasses, shrubs,
cacti)
Economic
Activities
ranching; some
farming with irrigation; oil, sulfur, silver;
tourism; El Paso
(military bases,
Mexican trade, I-10
trade route)
Population/
Main Cities
population:
small, concentrated
in a few small towns
main city:
El Paso (one of the
largest Texas cities
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
CLIMATE
-Driest part of state
-8 inches of rain per year, 20 in mountains
-Hot days, cool nights
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
PLANTS
-Some sagebrush
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
ANIMALS
mountain lions
peregrine falcons
rattlesnakes
MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
WAY OF LIFE
Ranching-cattle, sheep, goat
Farming - cotton, fruits, vegetables,
cantaloupes (irrigation in El Paso and Pecos
River Valley)
Oil and gas - part of Permian Basin
Where are the Mountains and Basins?
Mountains
and Basins
Mountains & Basins
Coastal Plains
• Includes about 1/3 of Texas
• Home to more people than any other
part/region of Texas
• About 2 out of every 3 Texans live in the
Coastal Plains
• The Coastal Plains is divided into 5 subgroups:
-Piney Woods
-Gulf Coast Plain
-South Texas Plain
-Post Oak Belt
-Blackland Prairie
Coastal Plains and its Subregions
1. Piney Woods: -pine forests
-rainiest part of Texas -elevation low
-growing season (average number of days
between the last killing frost of spring and
the first killing
frost of fall) is 230265 days
2. Post Oak Belt: -dryer than Piney Woods
-west of Piney Woods subregion
-oak, hickory trees - growing season 230280 days
3. Blackland Prairie: -long, narrow area
-follows the Balcones Escarpment (cliff or
abrupt break in the land’s surface) near
Oklahoma border, through San Antonio, and
down to the Mexico border -growing season
230-280 days soil not good for growing trees
-prairie grass
4. Gulf Coastal Plain: -warm temperatures,
long growing season 240-309 days, low
elevation
5. South Texas Plain: -warm year round vast
range of elevations (sea level to 1,000 ft.
above) -growing season 265-341 days
(long growing season in Brownsville)
North Central Region and its Subregions
•Rolling plains
Brush, scattered grasses
l
•Covered by small oak and mesquite trees
•North Central Region is divided into 3
subregions:
Grand Prairie
Cross Timbers
Rolling Plains
North Central Region and its Subregions
1. Grand Prairie: -near Temple and Killeen
-soil NOT good for growing trees
-mostly tall grasses
2. Cross Timbers: -post oak, hickory, pecan and
elm trees
3. Rolling Plains: -largest subregion in North
Central Region
-most of this subregion is largely steppe (vast,
flat, treeless plain)
Great Plains Region and its Subregions
Great Plains Region is divided into 3 subregions:
1. Edwards Plateau: -primarily of limestone
caves and underwater streams -Edwards Aquifer
(San Antonio’s water supply) is in this subregion
2. High Plains: -major farming area
-dry climate
-elevation ranges from 3,000-4,000 feet
Mountains and Basins Region
• Tall mountains separated by large basins
(closed valleys)
• Forests on mountains
• Lower elevations (basins) are deserts with
cactus, short grasses, and shrubs
• Very little rain
• Contains the HIGHEST POINT
IN TEXAS: Guadalupe Peak ~ 8,751 feet
Benefits
• Each region contains different natural
resources. From the cotton fields of
the Mountain and Basin and Great Plains
regions to the ports of the Coastal/Gulf
Plains, each area is rich with essential
resources. This range of resources is a
huge benefit as it allows Texas to be
one of the most self-sufficient states
in the country.
REGIONS OF TEXAS
1
Label the 4 regions of Texas
2
4
3
TRACE PATTERN OF TEXAS
• Draw and label the 4 natural regions (pg
10 in map book) COLOR THE REGIONS
• Draw and label 5 major cities (pg 3 in
map book)
• Draw and label 5 rivers (pg 50 in class
book)
• Draw a compass rose on your map
• You will be given a region to work on AS A
GROUP.
• You will need to find a way to make sure that
all topics are somehow shown on your poster.
Designate certain people to do certain jobs.
• *This project will be given 2 FULL class days
to work on and can be worked on during any
extra catch-up time throughout the day.
• *Project is due Friday, Sept 5th at the
beginning of the social studies period.
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*The following are requirements for your poster :
Illustration of Texas
Illustration of your given region.
Climate
Major cities
Way of life
Contributions
Plants and animals
Landforms
Any other interesting info you find.
*This is a MAJOR GRADE!!!
*Each group member will have an opportunity to grade the other
members by using the rubric for the project.