Regional Geography of the United States and Canada

by McKnight, Tom L.

• ISBN13: 9780130288653
• ISBN10: 0130288659
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-11-01
• Publisher: Pearson College Div

Summary

Regional Geography of the US and Canada provides readers with the most up-to-date information available for each region. Emphasizes the description and interpretation of North American landscapes, including their sequential development. Covers ecosystems, urban morphology, agriculture and inland waterways. Includes a significantly revised and upgraded mapping program. Discusses environmental and ecological issues. Ideal for readers looking for an introduction to the Geography of the United States and Canada.

Table of Contents

List of Vignettes	ix
Preface	xi
About the Author	xiii
The North American Continent	1	(7)
Continent, Subcontinent, or Culture Realm?	1	(1)
Continental Parameters	1	(1)
A View from Space	1	(3)
The Countries	4	(1)
Amicable Neighbors	5	(2)
Selected General Bibliography on Canada and the United States	7	(1)
The Physical Environment	8	(23)
The Pattern of Landforms	8	(11)
The Pattern of Climate	19	(3)
The Pattern of Natural Vegetation	22	(2)
The Pattern of Soil	24	(2)
The Pattern of Wildlife	26	(1)
Ecosystems	27	(3)
Selected Bibliography	30	(1)
Population	31	(28)
Melting Pot or Potpourri?	31	(2)
The Peopling of the North American Subcontinent	33	(8)
The Contemporary Population	41	(12)
Trends and Questions	53	(4)
Selected Bibliography	57	(2)
The North American Cities	59	(30)
Historical Development of North American Cities	61	(4)
Metropolitan Areas	65	(1)
Urban Morphology: Changing Patterns	65	(15)
Urban Functions: Growing Diversity	80	(1)
Urban Population: Variety in Abundance	81	(1)
Urban Ills: Massive Maladjustments	82	(2)
Urban Delights: The Proof of the Pudding	84	(1)
Urban Dichotomy: Central Cities Versus Suburbs	85	(1)
Urban Tomorrow: The Outreach of City Life	85	(3)
Selected Bibliography	88	(1)
Regions of the United States and Canada	89	(11)
The Geographical Region	91	(1)
The Problem of Regional Boundaries	91	(1)
The Problem of Regional Statistics	92	(1)
Determination of Regions	92	(3)
Changing Regions	95	(2)
Regions of the United States and Canada	97	(2)
Selected Bibliography	99	(1)
The Atlantic Northeast	100	(28)
A Region of Scenic Charm and Economic Disadvantage	100	(2)
The Physical Setting	102	(7)
Settlement and Early Development	109	(4)
The Present Inhabitants	113	(2)
Agriculture	115	(3)
Forest Industries	118	(1)
Fishing	119	(2)
Mining	121	(1)
Recreation	122	(1)
Urbanism and Urban Activities	123	(3)
The Outlook	126	(1)
Selected Bibliography	127	(1)
French Canada	128	(18)
A Culturally Oriented Region	129	(1)
French Canada as a Region and a Concept	130	(1)
The Region and Its Parts	131	(1)
The Environment	132	(1)
Settling the Region	133	(1)
The Bilingual Road to Separatism	134	(4)
The Primary Economy	138	(2)
Urban-Industrial French Canada	140	(4)
Tourism	144	(1)
The Outlook	144	(1)
Selected Bibliography	145	(1)
Megalopolis	146	(29)
Extent of the Region	146	(2)
Character of the Region	148	(2)
The Urban Scene	150	(17)
The Rural Scene	167	(3)
Recreation and Tourism	170	(1)
The Role of the Region	171	(3)
Selected Bibliography	174	(1)
The Appalachians and the Ozarks	175	(18)
The Regional Character	175	(2)
The Environment	177	(3)
Settlement of the Appalachian Highlands	180	(1)
Settlement of the Ozark-Ouachita Uplands	181	(1)
Agriculture	181	(2)
Forest Industries	183	(1)
Mineral Industries of the Appalachians	184	(1)
Mineral Industries of the Ozark-Ouachita Uplands	185	(1)
Cities and Industries	185	(2)
Resorts and Recreation	187	(1)
The Outlook	188	(4)
Selected Bibliography	192	(1)
The Inland South	193	(23)
The Physical Environment	194	(2)
Peopling and People of the Inland South	196	(3)
The Changing Image of the Inland South	199	(1)
The Rise and Decline of Cotton in the Inland South	200	(1)
Agriculture in the Inland South: Productive Diversity	200	(6)
Forest Products	206	(2)
Minerals and Mining	208	(2)
Urban-Industrial Dynamism	210	(3)
The Outlook	213	(2)
Selected Bibliography	215	(1)
The Southeastern Coast	216	(29)
The Physical Setting	216	(6)
Primary Industries	222	(9)
Manufacturing	231	(2)
Urban Boom in the Space Age	233	(5)
Inland Waterways	238	(2)
Recreation	240	(2)
The Outlook	242	(1)
Selected Bibliography	243	(2)
The Heartland	245	(30)
Extent of the Region	246	(1)
The Look of the Landscape	247	(1)
The Physical Setting	248	(4)
Human Occupance of the Heartland	252	(3)
The Incredible Opulence of Heartland Agriculture	255	(1)
Farm Operations	256	(5)
Minerals	261	(1)
Heartland Manufacturing	262	(1)
Transportation	263	(3)
The Urban System of the Heartland	266	(1)
The Outlook	266	(7)
Selected Bibliography	273	(2)
The Great Plains and Prairies	275	(37)
The Changing Regional Image	275	(2)
The Physical Setting	277	(7)
Sequent Occupance of the Great Plains and Prairies	284	(3)
Contemporary Population of the Great Plains and Prairies	287	(1)
Crop Farming	287	(10)
Livestock Raising	297	(3)
Mineral Industries	300	(3)
The Ebb and Flow of Urbanization in the Great Plains and Prairies	303	(4)
A Transit Land	307	(1)
Limited Tourism	308	(1)
The Outlook	308	(2)
Selected Bibliography	310	(2)
The Rocky Mountains	312	(27)
Extent of the Region	312	(2)
Origin of the Rocky Mountains	314	(1)
Major Geomorphic Subdivisions	314	(5)
Vertical Zonation: The Topographic Imperative	319	(2)
The Opening of the Region to Settlement	321	(4)
The Mining Industry	325	(2)
Forestry	327	(1)
Agriculture and Stock Raising	327	(2)
Water ``Development''	329	(1)
The Tourist Industry	330	(5)
Transportation	335	(2)
Settlement Nodes	337	(1)
The Outlook	337	(1)
Selected Bibliography	338	(1)
The Intermontane West	339	(40)
Assessment of the Region	339	(2)
Topographic Variety	341	(4)
An Arid, Xerophytic Environment	345	(3)
Settlement of the Region	348	(2)
Land Ownership in the Intermontane Region	350	(1)
The Contemporary Population: Varied and Rapidly Increasing	351	(7)
The Water Problem	358	(1)
Agriculture	359	(3)
Pastoralsm	362	(1)
Mining	363	(3)
Forestry	366	(1)
Tourism	366	(2)
Specialized Southwestern Living	368	(3)
Suburbia in the Sun: The Southwest's Rush to Urbanism	371	(4)
The Outlook	375	(2)
Selected Bibliography	377	(2)
The California Region	379	(28)
The California Image: Benign Climate and Landscape Diversity	379	(2)
The Environmental Setting	381	(2)
Settlement of the Region	383	(3)
Population: Sensational Growth Slowing Down	386	(1)
The Rural Scene	387	(2)
Urbanism	389	(14)
California and the Pacific Rim	403	(1)
Tourism	403	(1)
The Outlook	404	(2)
Selected Bibliography	406	(1)
The Hawaiian Islands	407	(18)
The Physical Setting	407	(5)
Population	412	(2)
Centuries of Political Change	414	(1)
The Hawaiian Economy: Specialized, Lively, Erratic	414	(6)
Urban Primacy: A One-City Region	420	(1)
Problems and Prospects	420	(3)
The Outlook	423	(1)
Selected Bibliography	424	(1)
The North Pacific Coast	425	(34)
The Terrain: Steep and Spectacular	427	(4)
Climate: Moist and Monotonous	431	(1)
The World's Most Magnificent Forests	432	(2)
Occupance of the Region	434	(2)
Wood Products Industries: Big Trees, Big Cut, Big Problems	436	(4)
Agriculture: Sparse and Specialized	440	(1)
The Ups and Downs of Commercial Fishing	441	(1)
Power Generation	442	(1)
Mineral Industries	443	(1)
Urbanism: Major Nodes and Scattered Pockets	444	(3)
Spectacular Scenery	447	(3)
The Vital Role of Ferries in the Region	450	(3)
The Outlook	453	(5)
Selected Bibliography	458	(1)
The Boreal Forest	459	(25)
A Harsh Subarctic Environment	461	(5)
The Occupance	466	(1)
The Economy	467	(10)
Subarctic Urbanism: Administrative Centers and Unifunctional Towns	477	(1)
Transportation: Decreasing Remoteness and Increasing Accessibility	478	(1)
Tourism	479	(1)
Native Land Claims in the North	480	(1)
The Outlook	481	(2)
Selected Bibliography	483	(1)
The Arctic	484	(23)
The Physical Setting	485	(7)
The People	492	(3)
The Subsistance Economy	495	(2)
The Rise of a Money Economy and Agglomerated Settlements	497	(3)
Nodes of Settlement	500	(1)
Economic Specialization	501	(2)
Transportation	503	(1)
The Outlook	503	(2)
Selected Bibliography	505	(2)
Index	507