| Definition | States Included |
|---|
| Census Bureau (West South Central + Mountain) | AZ, NM, TX, OK (WSC); CO, ID, MT, NV, UT, WY (MTN) — but "Southwest" usually = AZ, NM, TX, OK |
| Cultural/Historical Southwest | AZ, NM, West TX, S. CO, S. UT, S. NV — Spanish/Mexican/Indigenous legacy |
| Ecoregion (Chihuahuan/Sonoran/Mojave Deserts) | AZ, NM, West TX, SE CA, S. NV, S. UT |
| Common 4-State Core | Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma |
States Definitely NOT in Any Southwest Definition
- Delaware — Mid-Atlantic (East Coast)
- Kentucky — South / Upland South
- Maryland — Mid-Atlantic
- West Virginia — Appalachia / South
States THAT ARE in the Core Southwest
- Oklahoma — Included in Census West South Central; culturally transitional (Plains + Southwest)
- Texas — West TX is core Southwest; East TX is South. Whole state often grouped.
Why the Confusion?
The original list (DE, KY, MD, OK, TX, WV) mixes clearly non-Southwest states (DE, KY, MD, WV) with core Southwest states (OK, TX). Likely a flawed quiz question.
Correct answer: Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, West Virginia are not in the Southwest. Oklahoma and Texas are (at least partially/core).
Wanderlust World