Chapter 3 Regions of Texas

The Coastal Plains

The Coastal Plains

The Coastal Plains The State’s largest geographic region. More people live in this region than the rest of Texas. The inland border is the Balcones Escarpment Lower elevations (0-1000 feet above sea level) Petroleum discoveries such as the 1901 Spindletop Oilfield discovery have greatly enriched the area. Shipping and warehousing grew out of the oil industry.

Spindletop Oilfield

Spindletop Oilfield

The Coastal Plains Climate Along the coastline is hot and humid Gulf Coast winds deliver moisture and create a more dependable water supply Tropical storms and hurricanes are common In 1900, more than 6,000 people died when a hurricane slammed into Galveston

Galveston Hurricane of 1900

Galveston Hurricane of 1900

Galveston Hurricane of 1900

The Coastal Plains Resources and Population More people live in the Coastal Plain than the rest of Texas due to the warm climate and water supply. Shipping, agriculture, oil production, farming, livestock grazing, and warehousing are big economic activities The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, a channel that stretches from Brownsville to Apalachee Bay, Florida, allows for trade along the southeastern U.S.

Sub region—The Blackland Prairie

Sub region—The Blackland Prairie Reaches from the Red River to San Antonio Great for growing cotton Dallas—the 3rd largest city in Texas. Industries include financial, insurance, electronics, commercial hub, transportation hub. Home to the Dallas Cowboys. It’s central location encourages movement of people and goods due to transportation routes San Antonio—The 2nd largest city in Texas. Industries include customer-support call centers, military installations. Home to the Alamo. Austin—the capital of Texas. Known world-wide for its music scene, bands, and dance clubs. Home to the UT Longhorns and high-tech firms.

Sub region—The Post Oak Belt

Sub region—The Post Oak Belt A timbered area of oak, hickory, and other hardwood trees. Soil is great for growing corn, grains, cotton, peanuts, pecans, hay, watermelons and Christmas trees. Livestock grazed here. Medicine, agriculture, and service industries. Home to Texas A&M and Bastrop State Park No large cities, but the largest in this sub region is Tyler, Texas.

Sub region—The Piney Woods

Sub-region—Piney Woods Pinewood and hardwood forests supply most of the state’s timber industry National Forests found here include: Angelina, Sabine, Sam Houston, and Davy Crockett. The Big Thicket National Preserve includes dense forestland and swamp. Natural resources: wood and oil. Farming is also important as the growing season is long because of climate and the water supply. Texarkana, Longview, Huntsville are cities in this region.

Sub region—The Gulf Coast Plains

Sub region—The Gulf Coast Plains Cattle and farming country due to excellent grasslands Crops such as cotton, grain sorghum, and rice are also grown. The mainland near the coast is full of bayous—tributaries off larger bodies of water where the water usually moves slowly. An area for heavy industry: oil and natural gas products, such as gasoline, plastics, fertilizer, antifreeze. Petrochemical (any substance made from petroleum or natural gas)industries found through the area Houston is the state’s largest city. Houston has a diverse economy (science, technology, banking, oil). Home to the Johnson Space Center and the Houston Texans. Houston Ship Channel—a man-made waterway dug to ship goods and allow travel between Houston and the Gulf of Mexico. Corpus Christi—petrochemicals, fishing/shrimping, U.S. Navy Beaumont—petroleum Galveston—fishing, shipping Victoria—agriculture and petrochemicals

Buffalo Bayou

Sub region—The South Texas Plains

Sub region—The South Texas Plains Dryer than the Gulf Coast Plains, but near the Rio Grande, water is plentiful for growing crops even in the winter. Vegetation includes: prickly pear cactus, mesquite, black brush, other shrubs 10-month growing season makes cattle ranching, farming, and related industries possible. “Winter Garden”-a cluster of counties that use wells and irrigation to grow vegetables in the winter Alluvial soil—rich soil that has been deposited from flowing river water. Allows for citrus trees to grow in the Rio Grande Valley Laredo is important for rail transport, meatpacking, and is the main entry point for Mexican and American trucks. Other cities include Kingsville, McAllen, Brownsville, Edinburg, Harlingen.

Questions to consider… How do the cities in the Coastal Plains compare to other regions of Texas? Petroleum discoveries have been important to the Coastal Plains of Texas. Why has this led to strong shipping and warehousing industries in the state?

Know which Region and Subregion is which!