The Seven Geographic Regions of the United States

The United States is commonly divided into seven geographic regions for cultural, economic, and physical analysis:

1. New England — ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT. Rocky coast, mountains, dense history, education hub
2. Mid-Atlantic — NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, DC. Megalopolis core, finance, industry, immigration gateway
3. South — VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, KY, TN, AL, MS, AR, LA, TX, OK, WV. Diverse: Atlantic/Gulf coasts, Appalachia, Delta, Plains; distinct culture
4. Midwest — OH, MI, IN, IL, WI, MN, IA, MO, ND, SD, NE, KS. Great Lakes, Corn Belt, manufacturing heartland, "America's heartland"
5. Southwest — TX, NM, AZ, OK (sometimes). Arid, Hispanic/Native heritage, energy, border dynamics
6. West — CO, WY, MT, ID, UT, NV. Mountains, basins, deserts, parks, mining, recreation
7. Pacific Northwest — WA, OR. Cascades, rainforests, tech, ports, environmentalism

Alternative Schemes

• Census Bureau (4): Northeast, Midwest, South, West
• Physiographic (8+): Based on landforms (e.g., Coastal Plain, Piedmont, Interior Lowlands)
• Cultural (11): Woodward's "Nine Nations" / Garreau's "Nine Nations"

The seven-region model balances physical geography, historical settlement, and economic coherence — widely used in education, business, and policy.