United States Cultural Regions

New England The six states of New England are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. These states are defined by their colonial history, town meeting governance, and the location of some of the most renowned schools and universities in the world.

– Mid-Atlantic – The five states of the Mid-Atlantic include New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. This region also includes the U.S. capital of Washington, D.C. These states are known for their centers of industry, business, history and government. New York City, the largest city in the United States, is located in this region.

– The South – The South is defined by 12 states. Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi make up the Southern cultural region. The region is known for its history, agriculture, new industries and generally warm weather.

– Midwest – The states located in the Midwest include North and South Dakota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa. These states are known for their large agricultural industries. The third largest city in the United States, Chicago, is located in Illinois.

– Southwest – The states of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona make up the Southwest. The Southwest United States is known for its large Native American and Spanish American populations. Many of these states belonged to Mexico and became part of the United States after many land disputes and wars with Mexico. These states have seen a larger than average population growth during the 2000s.

– The West – The Western United States includes California, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho and the two non-continental states of Alaska and Hawaii. The Western United States was an area that saw a history of expansion and exploring across the 19th century. Since the post-war era, the region has become one of the major population centers of the country. The region is known for its strong environmentalism and technological industries. Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States, is located in California.