Regions!!!
What is a region?
• A region is a division of the earth
or a place on the earth
o Some regions are official
o Some are not!
Formal Region
• Based on facts. Can
be proven to exist.
Can not be argued.
• Doesn’t ever really
change (not easily).
• This region typically
establishes
boundaries.
Formal Region
Functional Region
• Used for a specific purpose (without the purpose
we wouldn’t need the region)
• Usually centered around a “node” from where
the service spreads via a transportation network.
Cell phone coverage
Functional Region-Pizza
Delivery
Seinfeld
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_yRNp2YkQE
Vernacular Region
• On a piece of paper map out
where people sit in the lunchroom.
• Jocks, girls, boys, etc.?
• Warning!! Be tactful (don’t label a
group as losers)
Vernacular Region
• Based on peoples’ perceptions or
opinions of a place
• It can vary from person to person
• Be careful! Not usually accurate.
Vernacular Region
Quick Review… matchy
match!
• Based on peoples’
perceptions of a place
• Used for a specific
purpose (without the
purpose we wouldn’t
need the region)
• Based on facts. Can be
proven OR a region that
cannot be argued
• Formal Region
• Functional Region
• Vernacular Region
This
sounds
familiar
…
Pair Share
• Turn to the person next to you and
come up with an example of…
• Left Side of the Room: Formal Region
• Middle of the Room: Functional Region
• Right Side of the Room: Vernacular
Region
**Try to come up with an example that I
didn’t give you 
OTHER TYPES OF REGIONS
YOU SHOULD KNOW
ABOUT…
Cultural Regions
• A region based on people and places that have similar
cultural characteristics
• Would a cultural region most likely be formal,
functional or vernacular?
Political Regions
• A region created by government
officials to create a specific political
entity.
• What types of political regions can you
think of?
http://web.mit.edu/kenta/www/one/
Physical Regions
• Regions characterized by the physical geography of an
area.
http://www.harpercollege.edu/mhealy/g101ilec/china/chd/chphys/chphytx.htm
http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/phillie/InternationalExchange/Canada/Physical%20Regi
ons/Physical_Regions/index.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Ring_of_Fire
Functional, or
Vernacular?