1. Regional Names Can be based on: Geographic Characteristic or Feature
Sunbelt
Panhandle
Coastal Bend
General Location
N, S, E, W
Cultural Identification
German Hill Country
Metroplex
Political Boundaries
Cities
Counties
Legislative Districts
Natural Regions
United States = 10
Texas = 4

2. The Regions of Texas Coastal Plains North Central Plains Great Plains
Mountains & Basins

3. The Coastal Plains

4. Coastal Plains Information Most populated region Largest region
Covers 1/3 of TX
Divided into 5 subregions

5. Coastal Plains Climate
Wettest part of Texas (receives the most rainfall)
Supports forests areas
Mild weather (close to the Gulf of Mexico)
Intracoastal Waterway (helps economy)

6. Coastal Plains Soil/Vegetation
Dense forests (National Forests)
Grassy Prairies
Rich soil
Low & marshy (Bayous) in some areas near the coastlines

7. Caddo Lake near Marshall,TX
Coastal Plains
Nacogdoches
Caddo Lake near Marshall,TX

8. Coastal Plains Economy/Resources
Banking (Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas), trade, tourism, sports
Ranching: cattle, poultry, & hogs
Lumber
Farming: rice, cotton, corn, grain, sugarcane
Fruits & vegetables: grapefruit & oranges
(especially in Rio Grande Valley with fertile soil, warm, freezing rare)
Fishing, shrimping & shipping (many ports for international shpping)
Petrochemical: Oil & oil refining (Spindletop and E. TX Oilfield)
Minerals: coal, lignite, natural gas, granite, sand

9. Coastal Plains Economy/Resources
Shrimp boats near Galveston

10. Coastal Plains Economy/Resources
Oil rig near Galveston

11. Old Mission Control, Johnson Space Center
Coastal Plains
Cities
Houston (largest city in TX)
San Antonio
(2nd largest city)
Beaumont
Houston
Old Mission Control, Johnson Space Center

12. Coastal Plains Galveston Corpus Christi Waco Austin (capital) Dallas
Cities
Galveston
Corpus Christi
Waco
Austin (capital)
Dallas
Laredo (fastest growing city in TX)
Corpus Christi
Dallas

13. The North Central Plains

14. North Central Plains Information
Divided from Coastal Plains by Balcones Escarpment
“Where the West Begins”
Slogan relates back to a treaty signed when the Republic of Texas and nine Native American groups signed Bird’s Fort Treaty. Under this treaty, the Native Americans agreed to stay west of what is now Fort Worth. At the time, the location marked the western frontier of settlement and explains, in part, why some people think of Fort Worth as being in West Texas.

15. North Central Plains Climate
Light rainfall
Hot summers
Cold winters
Not affected by the Gulf of Mexico (too far away)

16. North Central Plains Soil/Vegatation
Rolling Prairies, shrubs, small trees
Soil
stony soil in some areas (not good for farmers)
sandy soil in other areas (good for famers)

17. North Central Plains Economy/Resources
Ranching: cattle (beef/dairy), hogs, sheep, poultry, goats
Fort Worth Stockyards
Farming: cotton, wheat, grains, & peanuts
Manufacturing: airplanes, helicopters, & electronics

18. North Central Plains Economy/Resources Mineral Resources: sand gravel
coal
limestone

19. North Central Plains Economy/Resources
Cotton Gin
Cotton Gin

20. North Central Plains Cities
Fort Worth (est. in 1849 as an army fort on the Texas frontier)
Abilene
Wichita Falls
Fort Worth

21. The Great Plains

22. Great Plains Information
Separated from the North Central Plains by the Caprock Escarpment
Covers the Panhandle of TX
Divided into 2 subregions

23. Great Plains
Climate
Part of TX w/ the coldest and longest winter (further from Gulf & higher in elevation)
Mild sun
Dry region – drought often a problem

24. Great Plains Soil/Vegetation
Varied landscape:
Flat and treeless (called a “Sea of Grass”)
Hilly & rugged
Palo Duro Canyon
Escarpment
Rocky soil (hard layers of limestone)

25. Great Plains Economy/Resources
Farming w/ irrigation from Ogallala Aquifer: cotton & grain (wheat)
Ranching: sheep, goats, cattle
Oil & Natural Gas

26. Great Plains Economy/Resources
Grain storage near Amarillo
Ranch near Amarillo

27. Red Butte near Amarillo
Great Plains
Cities
Red Butte near Amarillo
Amarillo
Lubbock
Odessa
Midland
Near Lubbock

28. Mountains and Basins

29. Mountains & Basins Information
Close cultural and economic ties to Mexico
Presidio Chapel in San Elizario

30. Mountains & Basins Climate
Red Sands (near El Paso)
Driest part of TX
Desert
Hot Summers
Cold Winters
Average rainfall: 9” per year
Rain comes as air moves up in elevation, it cools, and rains

31. Mountains & Basins Soil/Vegetation
Dry, rocky soil
Desert plants (cactus) & mesquite trees
Farmers irrigate crops with water from the Rio Grande River
Dramatic landscape:
Canyons
Mountains
Plateaus
Basins
Franklin Mountains

32. Mountains & Basins Economy/Resources
Ranching: cattle, sheep, goats
Minerals: oil, sulfur, & silver
Farming: cotton, pecan trees, alfalfa, & vegetables
Tourism: Big Bend & Guadalupe Mountains National Parks

33. Mountains & Basins Cities
El Paso
El Paso
Marfa
Alpine