Population Settlement in North America: Eastern Half Dominates

The eastern half of North America (east of the 100th meridian) contains the vast majority of the continent's population.

• United States: Megalopolis corridor (Boston–NY–Philly–DC), Great Lakes (Chicago, Detroit, Toronto), Southeast (Atlanta, Miami).
• Canada: Quebec City–Windsor corridor (Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa).
• Mexico: Central plateau (Mexico City, Guadalajara, Puebla, Toluca).

Major cities: New York (8.8M), Los Angeles (3.9M), Chicago (2.7M), Toronto (2.9M), Mexico City (9.2M metro). The West (beyond the 100th meridian) is far less dense due to aridity and mountains.