How well do you know America's regions?
Americans often describe the country by region — New England, the Midwest, the South, the West. Six questions, from easy to hard, about what makes each one distinct.
Did you know?
- Linguists have mapped the 'soda vs. pop' divide: 'soda' is common in the Northeast and West, 'pop' in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest, and 'coke' as a general term in much of the South.
- Tornado Alley, stretching across parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska, sees many of the world's strongest tornadoes. The United States records more tornadoes than any other country.
- The Olympic Peninsula's Hoh Rainforest receives around 140 inches (3.5 m) of rain a year. Mosses and ferns cover almost every surface, creating one of the quietest places in the country.
Understanding America's regions
The United States is so large and varied that people often think of it as a collection of regions. Official statistics divide the country into four Census regions — the Northeast, the Midwest, the South and the West — but everyday conversation uses many more names, such as New England, the Pacific Northwest, the Deep South and the Sun Belt.
Official Census regions
The US Census Bureau groups states into four regions and nine divisions to compare population, income and other data. These groupings help researchers track trends, such as the long-term movement of people from the Northeast and Midwest toward the South and West, a shift that has reshaped American politics and economics.
Culture and accents
Regions differ in food, music and speech. Southern cooking, New England seafood and Tex-Mex cuisine reflect local history and ingredients. Accents vary too: linguists map differences in pronunciation and vocabulary, such as whether people say 'soda', 'pop' or 'coke' for a soft drink.
Climate shapes life
Climate strongly influences regional life. The Sun Belt's warm weather has attracted retirees and businesses, while the snowy Upper Midwest has a strong tradition of winter sports. Hurricanes affect the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, and tornadoes are common in the central plains, often called Tornado Alley.
Economic regions
Some regional names describe economies. The Corn Belt and the Wheat Belt describe farming areas, the Rust Belt recalls heavy industry, and Silicon Valley in California names a technology hub. These labels change as economies evolve and new industries appear.
Time zones
The contiguous United States spans four main time zones: Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific. Alaska and Hawaii have their own zones, and US territories add more. Some states are split between two time zones, which can make scheduling across a single state surprisingly complicated.