The Four Main Geographic Regions of the United States

Standard Census Bureau Division

The U.S. Census Bureau defines four primary regions:

1. Northeast – New England + Mid-Atlantic (9 states + DC)
2. Midwest – East North Central + West North Central (12 states)
3. South – South Atlantic + East/West South Central (16 states + DC)
4. West – Mountain + Pacific (13 states)

Why Four?

This framework balances historical settlement patterns, economic ties, climate, and culture. It's used for statistical reporting, federal administration, and academic research.

Subdivisions Exist

Each region splits into divisions (e.g., New England, Pacific) for finer analysis. Other systems exist (time zones, judicial circuits, FEMA regions), but the four-region model is the most common general reference.