North-east USA: characteristics of the area

"The economic heart of the state", "the workshop of the nation" - this macro-region of the United States of America is named in different ways. In the scientific literature it is called the Northeast of the USA. The region has played and continues to play a crucial role in the life of the most powerful power on the planet. In this article, we will examine the main features, problems and prospects of the Northeast of the United States, as well as identify the factors contributing to its sustainable economic development.

Economic zoning of the USA

The United States of America, in addition to the traditional breakdown into the states, is also divided into economic regions. Up until the 80s of the last century there were only three of them. This is the West, North and South. At the end of the 20th century, American economists and geographers began to identify four such regions. Since then, the so-called Northeastern United States, or abbreviated Northeast, has appeared on economic maps.

Thus, the modern micro-zoning of the state provides for the allocation of four economic regions on its territory. It is the South, the West, the Midwest and the Northeast of the USA. All these areas differ from each other not only by factors of socio-economic development, but also by historical and cultural characteristics.

North-east USA: characteristics of the area

The Macrodion includes New England, as well as Mid-Atlantic states. In its limits is located both the political (Washington) and the financial and economic capital of the state (New York). The northeastern United States consists of nine states. It:

• Pennsylvania;
• New York;
• New Jersey;
• Maine;
• New Hampshire;
• Massachusetts;
• Connecticut;
• Vermont;
• Rhode Island.

According to another regionalization, the following districts are also included in this macro district: Colombia, Delaware and Maryland.

Northeast: interesting facts and statistics

We can distinguish several of the most interesting characteristics of the American Northeast:

1. The region occupies only 5% of the country's territory. At the same time, about 20% of all Americans live in it.
2. The North-East is a very rich economic region of the United States. The states of Maryland, New Jersey and Connecticut recorded the highest in the country average incomes.
3. This macro region accounts for up to 25% of the country's GDP.
4. It was this territory that became the starting point of the European colonization of the entire continent.
5. Within the region is the largest megalopolis of the Earth "Bosvash" with an area of about 170,000 square meters. Km.

Northeastern United States: natural resources and geographical features

The natural-resource potential of the macro-district is rather poor. However, it is more than offset by an unusually profitable economic and geographical situation. The relief and climatic conditions are ideal for living and doing business. The northeast has an extensive outlet to the Atlantic Ocean. It is here that the largest seaports of the country are located - Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia and others. In addition, through the region is the most important railway mainland, connecting Detroit with the Atlantic coast.

Features of the resource base of the Northeast of the US are as follows. The main raw material of this region is coal. The macroregion is located within the Appalachian Coal Basin, which extends more than 1,000 kilometers along the slopes of the mountain system of the same name. The development of deposits began here in 1800.

In addition to coal, in the Northeastern United States is also actively mining some of the non-ferrous metal ores (particularly aluminum). The deficit of many mineral resources in the region is compensated for by an advantageous neighborhood. So, from the South and the Middle West, the United States is supplied with oil, gas, iron and copper ores, phosphorites, building materials, etc. Many raw materials, such as ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, machine building, chemical industry and others, are successfully operating on this raw material.

North-East - the "economic heart" of the United States

In the North-East of the United States, heavy industry (coal, metallurgy, various machine-building industries), food, sewing, and the printing industry received the greatest development. In the agrarian complex of the region, dairy cattle breeding and narrow-profile horticulture dominate. The main factors of the development of the North-East of the USA are as follows:

• Advantage of geographical position.
• The richest deposits of coal.
• Historical features associated with colonization.

Perhaps the most important factor in the economic development of the region is the advantage of its geographical location. Indeed, this part of the state is the closest to Europe. Four centuries ago this feature was extremely weighty. In 1620, off the coast of New England, moored the first ship with European colonizers.

It was through the Northeast that thousands of immigrants - adventurers and romantics - came to the continent from the Old World in search of a new life. Many of them settled here, forming the backbone of the future powerful financial and economic system. The northeastern United States has always been maximally open to the outside world. Within this region, great corporations emerged and developed - the "monsters" of modern capitalist society.

The main centers of the macroregion

New York is the main financial, industrial and commercial center not only of the Northeast, but of the whole country. According to statistical data, this megapolis gives over 10% of the total GDP of the state. Here are offices of the world's largest banks and insurance companies. In addition, there is a huge sea port in New York, which annually passes through itself several thousand cargo ships.

Washington is the administrative capital of the United States. The main product of this city, as Americans joke, are laws and various regulations. In addition, Washington is an important scientific, educational and cultural center of the country. A unique feature of the city - there are no skyscrapers here! And all because in Washington it is forbidden to build buildings that will be higher than the Capitol.

If Washington is the legal capital of the United States, New York is financial, then Pittsburgh can be safely considered the country's metallurgical capital. The city on the Ohio River is the main center of the "American Ruhr" - the largest coal and metallurgical base of the continent. Alas, today many plants and mines in Pittsburgh are closed. However, other branches of industry are actively developing in the city, in particular, the sphere of services and communications.

Conclusion

The North-East of the United States is the smallest country in the country. It is located in the north-eastern part of the state, which directly follows from its name, and includes nine states. The region occupies an important place in the US economic system. It was here that the main industrial belt of the country was formed. And it is in the Northeast that the largest megacities and industrial centers of the USA are located. These are the cities of New York, Washington, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Boston.