An Introduction to Human Geography
The Cultural Landscape, 9e
James M. Rubenstein
Chapter 11
Industry
Geog 1050
Victoria Alapo, Instructor
Industrial Revolution Hearths
The Industrial Revolution originated in areas of northern England.
Factories often clustered near coalfields.
World Industrial Regions
• North America
– Industrialized areas in North America
– Changing distribution of U.S. manufacturing
– “Brownfields” i.e. old abandoned factories
• Europe
– Western Europe
– Eastern Europe
• East Asia
Manufacturing Regions
The world’s major manufacturing regions are found in North America, Europe, and East
Asia. Other manufacturing centers are also found elsewhere.
Industrial Regions of North America
The major industrial regions of North America are clustered in the northeast U.S. and
southeastern Canada, although there are other important centers.
Industrial Location
• Site & Situation Factors
– Land
– Labor
– Capital
– Location near inputs/raw materials
– Location near markets
– Transport choices (availability of rail,
highways, airports, etc)
Cotton Yarn Production
Production of cotton yarn from fiber is clustered in major cotton growing countries,
including the U.S., China, India, Pakistan, and Russia.
Woven Cotton Fabric Production
Production of woven cotton fabric is labor intensive and is likely to be located in LDCs.
China and India account for over 75% of world production.
Shirt Production
Sewing cotton fabric into men’s and boys’ shirts is more likely to be located near customers
in MDCs, but much production now occurs in LDCs.
Electronic Computer Industry
Computer and parts manufacturing requires highly skilled workers and capital.
It is clustered in the Northeast and the West Coast.
Steel Production, 1973 and 2002
About 60% of global steel production takes place in MDCs in 2002, compared to 90% in 1973.
Growth of steel manufacturing in China has been especially dramatic.
Change in Steel Production,
1973–2002
Steel production has generally declined in MDCs and increased in LDCs,
especially in China, India, Brazil, and South Korea.