UNITED STATES
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
ESPN: A Framework For Studying Countries
Economic
Social
Political
ENvironmental
Economic
Social
Political
ENvironmental
ECONOMICS
Mixed economy
Which elements are free
enterprise?
 Which elements are
socialist?

ECONOMICS - DEMOGRAPHICS
US
High Per Capita GDP
45,800
High Life Expectancy
78 years
Low Population Growth
Rate
.88%
Low Infant Mortality
6.3/1000
• How would you
describe the level of
development of the
U.S.?
• More developed
• Where does the U.S.
rank in the Human
Development Index?
• NUMBER FOUR!
ECONOMICS – RESOURCES AND
INFRASTRUCTURE
Rich in resources
Minerals, energy,
forests
 Arable land

Highly developed
infrastructure
Roads
 Communications
 Ports and railroads
 Education

ECONOMICS – GLOBALIZATION
Vast export
sector
Large role in
world financial
markets
Multinational
corporations
and
outsourcing
NAFTA
SOCIAL - U.S. AND THE WORLD
American popular
culture spread
worldwide
America as a world
power
National security and the
military
 UN Security Council
member

SOCIAL – IMMIGRATION
17th and 18th century migration


Religious persecution
Economic gain/resources
19th century migration





Religious persecution (again!)
Famine in Europe
Jobs in factories
Railroad construction
Available land
20th and 21st century migration


Economic growth and opportunity
War and revolution (with religious persecution!)
SOCIAL - POPULATION PATTERNS
What are the major cities in the U.S.?
Where has population shifted over time?
REGIONS WITHIN THE U.S.
Perceptual regions – How would you describe…
 The
Northeast?
 The
Midwest?
 The
South?
 The
West?
REGIONS WITHIN THE U.S.:
THE NORTHEAST
 1/5
of the country’s
population
 Financial and industrial
center
 Urbanization centered
around rivers and ports
 “Rust Belt”
 Culturally diverse
REGIONS WITHIN THE U.S.:
THE MIDWEST
 Major
farming region
“Corn Belt”
 “Dairy Belt”

 Leading
producer of
industrial goods
 Large cities along the
Great Lakes and the
Mississippi River
 African American
population
concentrated in urban
centers
REGIONS WITHIN THE U.S.:
THE SOUTH
 30%
of the country’s
population
 Historically agricultural,
but new industries
developed in late 20th
century
 Economy centered
around natural resources
 Large Hispanic
population
REGIONS WITHIN THE U.S.:
THE WEST
 Largest
and most
sparsely populated
 Interior West very
different from Pacific
states… why?
 Livestock, mining, and
tourism
POLITICS
What is the political system in the U.S.?
What do voting patterns in the U.S. have to do with population?
What about popular participation?
HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT
INTERACTION
Railroads and interstate highways opened/connected new
areas despite physical barriers
 Rivers, dams, bridges, canals, and irrigation made water
resources more useful – early “highways” for trade
 Later technological advances made it possible to live
comfortably in formerly marginal areas
 People live near key resources

HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT
INTERACTION
Rivers and canals for trade and energy
 Mountains mined
 Aquifers tapped for irrigation
 Wind generates green energy
