United StatesUnited StatesUrbanization and ImmigrationUrbanization and Immigration

Historical Geography of the USA

• Thirteen Colonies – 1700’s

• Louisiana Purchase – 1803

• Mexican Cession and Texas – 1840’s

• Gold Rush – 1840’s

• Westward Expansion – 1850’s to 1890’s

• Hawaii - 1898

• Postwar Sun Belt Explosion – 1945 to Present

U.S. Cultural Geography• American Exceptionalism - The belief that American values and beliefs about

democracy and liberty are superior to other values, are unique to the USA, and are “exportable” to other parts of the world.

• The U.S. is called a “melting pot”. What does this mean?

Primary Languages

•English 82.1%•Spanish 10.7%•other Indo-European 3.8%•Asian and Pacific island 2.7%•Other 0.7% (2000 census)

note: Hawaiian is an official language in the state of Hawaii

Primary Ethnic Groups

•White 79.96% •Hispanic 15.1% •Black 12.85%•Asian 4.43%•Amerindian and Alaska native 0.97%•native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.18%•two or more races 1.61%

Primary Religions

•Protestant 51.3%•Roman Catholic 23.9%•Jewish 1.7%•Buddhist 0.7%•Muslim 0.6%•other or unspecified 2.5%, unaffiliated 12.1%, •none 4% (2007 est.)

Overview of United States• World's third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada) • 3rd largest population (after China and India) = 310,232,863 (July 2010

est.)• How many states?

– 50

• What type of Government System? – Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition

• What is a Federal Republic?– There is a National Government and there are State Governments

• What are the three branches of government?– Executive (President / Governor) – Legislative Congress (House of Reps. / Senate) –both National and State– Judicial (Court System) – Federal Court and State Courts

U.S. Regional Physical Geography• Vast central plains• Mountains in west• Hills and low mountains in east• Rugged mountains and broad

river valleys in Alaska• Rugged, volcanic topography in

Hawaii

*** Refer to Region Group Presentation Notes ***

Climate• Almost every type of climate is found in the United States

since it extends over such a large area North to South.• Canada has a cold climate because of it’s latitude.

Cities and Transportation in North America

Why do people settle where they do?

Higher population where factors are better, lower where life is harder.

•Climate – temperate, desert, tropical

•Transportation Networks – rail, road, river, harbors – where two intersect, often a city will form.

•Resources – mining, agriculture, water supplies

•Economics – ease of trade, nearby markets and customers

What is a city?• politically organized region• infrastructure• center of business and culture• innovation and technological advances• economic activity

PARTS OF THE CITY?

• Central Business District (CBD) = downtown areas

• Suburbs – Developed areas around the CBD

• Metropolitan Area- The city, its suburbs, and surrounding areas

• Megalopolis- Formed when several metropolitan areas grow together

• Example?– Boston, New York City,

Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington D.C. form the “BosWash Megalopolis”

What are the reasons for city locations in North America?

Some cities may be more than one kind of city, depending on the history of the city.

• Port – located along coast• River – located along major internal waterways• Railway – located along rail lines• Highway – located and formed alongside major interstates and

highway

Each were determined by the type of transportation available!!!

Port Cities – Our First Cities• Earliest European cities in the New World, found on

coasts• Centers for shipping and international trade• Examples: St. Augustine (1565), St. Johns – Canada (1583),

New York (1625), Boston (1630), San Francisco (1776)

River Cities – Expansion Inland• Waves of expansion used rivers as paths for travel, shipping, and

exploration.

• Major rivers with heavy urbanization include the Ohio, Mississippi, Hudson, Missouri, and St. Lawrence Rivers. This also includes the Great Lakes region.

• Examples: Chicago (1803), St. Louis (1763), New Orleans (1718 - also a Port city), Montreal (1642), Cincinnati (1788), Austin (1835), Kansas City (1838)

Rail Cities• In the mid 1800’s, trains became a major form of transportation. This

caused several river cities to expand in size and importance, such as Cleveland, Chicago, and Kansas City.

• Rail cities are mostly found in two belts1. “Rust Belt” cities around the Great Lakes – Chicago, Gary, Cleveland2. “Cattle Country” cities in the Midwest/Great Plains regions – Kansas City,

Dallas/Ft. Worth, Denver.

Highway Cities• Built after WWII, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower during Cold War

(1950’s). Also used for defense – so the military could move quickly around the US during a war, especially a nuclear war.

• Led to massive growth of cities in the western portions of the USA. • Examples: Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, El Paso

Map of the Interstate System

Population Distribution of the United States

What Major Ethnic Groups?• White 66%

• Hispanic 15%

• Black 13%

• Asian 4.43%

• Amerindian and Alaska native 0.97%

• Native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.18%

• Mixed Race 1.61%

AFRICAN-AMERICAN POPULATION

HISPANIC POPULATION

ASIAN POPULATION

CAUCASIAN POPULATION

Basic Facts of Immigration

• The number of foreign-born residents of the United States (39 million of 307 Million) is at its highest level in US history.

• Roughly 12% of Americans were born in a different country.

• Of these immigrants to the US…– one-third are naturalized citizens– one-third are legal permanent residents– one-third are illegal aliens.

USA: where do immigrants come from?

Pull Factors

• Stable political systems.• Representative democracy with laws insuring

individual rights.• Economy that have historically grown with

low tax rates.• Economic opportunity to immigrants.

Push Factors

• Many countries do not have employment opportunities.

• Widespread corruption exists in many countries.

• Many countries have no healthcare system.• War, famine and natural disasters.

Current Issues with Policies

• Illegal Immigrants– Do not pay income taxes.– Money sent back to home country which is not

invested in U.S. economy.– Use services which raise price

• Healthcare• Car Insurance