US Regions and Geography
 Region: New England (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut)
o First Peoples: Five Nations People
o Colonizers: RELIGION! English (Pilgrims and Protestants), French from North
o Geography: Northern Atlantic, Mountainous VT/NH, Fall Colors!
o Industry: Shipping, Textiles, Fishing
o Major Cities: Boston, Providence RI, Hartford CT
o What to Remember: American Revolution, Boston Red Sox, Lobster!

Region: Mid Atlantic (Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia)
o First Peoples—5 Nations Iroquois, Susquehannock, Delaware, Powatans
o Colonizers—RELIGION! Quakers in PA, Catholics in MD
o Geography—Appalachian Interior, Low Land Coasts, Rivers!
o Industry—Coal/Natural Gas, Shipping (Canals!), Banking, Government
o Major Cities—Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, Washington DC, Richmond,
o What to Remember—Megalopolis, American Revolution—Union during Civil War,
Government, Power

Region: South (West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas)
o First Peoples—Cherokee, Seminole, Choctaw, Chickasaw Names of Areas!
o Colonizers—Spanish in FL, French in New Orleans, English/American from East
o Geography—Low Coasts (Hurricanes!), Appalachian Interior
o Industry—History of Plantations, Farming, Universities
o Major Cities—Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, Louisville, Raleigh, Charleston,
Birmingham, Nashville, Little Rock
o What to Remember—Trail of Tears, Confederate States, Civil Rights, Rural Poverty,
Christian Voters Bible Belt, SEC College Football!

Region: Great Lakes (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota)
o First Peoples: 5 Nations and Prairie People
o Colonizers French from North (De-triot), Americans from East
o Geography—Great Lakes and Water Ways (borders of states N & S)
o Industry—Shipping, Transportation, Rust Belt,
o Major Cities—Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Chicago
o What to Remember: Access to Atlantic (!), Rust Belt, Big Ten Schools

Region: Great Plains (Dakotas, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Montana,
Oklahoma, Texas)
o First Peoples: Comanche South, Sioux/Lakota North
o Colonizers: Americans from East, Spanish from South and West, French Traders
o Geography: Vast, fertile plains, Tornados, Oglala Aquifer
o Industry: Farming, Transportation
o Major Cities: Oklahoma City, Dallas, Houston, Lincoln, St. Louis, Kansas City, Sioux City
o What to Remember: Intersection of America, Railroads, Gateway Arch Symbolism,
Dust Bowl

Region: Southwest (New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada)
o First Peoples: Pueblo, Utes, Pima/Yuma
o Colonizers: Spanish, Americans from East
o Geography: Mountainous, Desert, Remote (National Parks)
o Industry: Mining, Tourism, Energy Production (Hoover Dam)
o Major Cities: Albuquerque, Denver, Salt Lake, Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas
o What to Remember: Legacy of Spanish and Present Day Hispano Culture, us!

Region: Pacific (California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho)
o First Peoples: MANY TRIBES in CA!!! Nez Perce!
o Colonizers: Spanish (Missions), Americans (Reservations)
o Geography: Rocky Coasts, Farmland in CA, Mountainous along Coasts, Desert
Grassland in NW, Rain Rain Rain in NW
o Industry: Silicon Valley, Microsoft in Seattle, Banking, Transportation/Shipping,
Farming
o Major Cities: LA, SF, Portland, Seattle, Boise
o What to Remember: Laid Back, Asian Immigrants, Spanish Influence in South, Music
and Culture