The Gulf Coastal Plain

Region

• A geographic section or subregion is an

area that has similarities in vegetation,

wildlife, and other natural resources.

• There are 5 subregions that make up the

Coastal Plains.

5 Subregions:

• The Piney Woods (blue)

– Eastern most subregion

• The Gulf Coast Plain

(yellow)

– South and west of the

Piney Woods

• The Post Oak Belt

(purple)

– West of both Piney Woods

and Gulf Coast Plain

5 Subregions:

• The Blackland

Prairie (brown)

– Stretches west along

Post Oak Belt

• The South Texas

Plain (pink)

– West of the Gulf Coast

Plain

Piney Woods

• There are 4 Natural Forests that are found

the in Piney Woods:

– The Angelina

– Sabine

– Sam Houston

– Davy Crocket

Piney Woods

• Much of the Big Thicket area is a swamp.

• An important economic activity in the

Piney Woods is Lumbering. Rain in this

area helps support this industry.

Gulf Coast Plain

• Heavy stands of grasses grow in many parts of the Gulf Coast Plain.

• The single most important industry here is the production of petrochemicals. (chemicals made from oil and gas that are used in most industries.)

• Houston is the largest city in Texas and

the third largest seaport in the United

States. It is located in the Gulf Coast

Region.

• Tyler is known as the “Rose Capital of the

World”. It is located in the Post Oak Belt.

The South Texas Plain

• Lies west of the Gulf

Coast Plain.

• Extends south to the

Gulf of Mexico where

the land is low and

flat.

• In the northern and

western area, the

land gently rises and

becomes more hilly

• The climate in the

subregion is drier

than the Gulf Coast

Plain.

• Grasslands cover this

coastal section, but

dense brushlands

characterize this

subregion.

South Texas Plain

• The South Texas

Plain has one of the

richest farming areas

in the nation.

• Temperatures are

warm for most of the

year.

• The Valley has fertile

soils from sediment

washed down the Rio

Grande.

South Texas Plain

• Ranches are common

throughout the South

Texas Plain.

• The subregion is mostly

rural.

• San Antonio is the largest

city in the subregion.

• The South Texas region

is a major center for

international trade.

The Post Oak Belt

• The Post Oak Belt begins

just outside San Antonio

and stretches north the

Red River.

• It lies west of the Piney

Woods and the Gulf

Coast Plain.

• The Belt has a similar

climate to that of the

Piney Woods.

The Post Oak Belt

• Few part of the Post Oak

Belt are covered in trees

such as post oak,

blackjack oak, elm,

hickory, pecan and

walnut trees.

• Mesquite trees are

becoming more common.

• The area’s soil is sandier

and the land is mostly

flat.

The Post Oak Belt

• Cotton is a major crop as

well as sorghum, corn

and grain to feed

livestock.

• Livestock is a major

industry. Farmers raise

cattle and hogs.

• The regional economy

depends on natural

resources such as oil and

natural gas.

The Post Oak Belt

• Most people in the

Post Oak areas live in

rural communities.

• The largest cities in

the Post Oak Belt are

Bryan-College Station

Blackland Prairie

• The Blackland Prairie has more of the

state’s larger cities than any other

subregion, such as, Dallas, Garland,

Grand Prairie, Mesquite, Plano,

Richardson, Sherman, Temple, and Waco.

• Allen is a part of the Blackland Prairie as

well!

• Austin has many high technology firms

and is becoming an important computer

research center.

• Many people in the South Texas Plain

earn their living in agriculture and farming-

related industries.