Regions of the United States –

7-1 The Northeast

I. Physical Characteristics of the Northeast

A. Millions of people visit the Northeast every year to experience the:1. scenery (ex. Leaves in the fall)2. culture3. history of the region

B. The Appalachian Mountains make some areas quite rugged

II. Resources of the Northeast

A. Apart from coal in Pennsylvania (ex. Eckley, Stockton, Jim Thorpe), the Northeast has few mineral resources

B. The Northeast has been a center of commerce and fishing since Colonial times.

III. A Leader in IndustryA. The Northeast’s rivers have been vital to its history

1. ex. Connecticut, Susquehanna, Hudson, Delaware Rivers

B. Abundant precipitation and hilly terrain helped industrialists harness water power by building water wheels that powered machines

C. Factories were built at waterfalls along many of the region’s rivers

D. The factories produced goods that were sold across the US and exported to markets around the world

E. The rivers also served as trade routes, railroad routes, and highway routes

IV. The MegalopolisA. The cities of the Atlantic coast grew from being harbors of international trade to centers of industry that attracted many people from the countryside and overseas

B. Over time, the coastal cities spread and ran into each other, creating a megalopolis (very large city)

C. The east coast megalopolis remains one of the dominant centers of American business and industry

D. There are now concerns that the megalopolis might run short of water or waste disposal facilities

E. Some cities in the Northeast are declining in population

V. Northeast Facts

A. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was the center of the steel industry for many years. The Allegheny and Monongahela rivers along with Lake Superior provided transportation of finished products

B. New York is considered to be the “Center of the Nation” although geographically it is not

C. Philadelphia and Boston offer a very nice view of the Nation’s history