WHY ARE REGIONS WHY ARE REGIONS SO HARD TO DEFINE?SO HARD TO DEFINE?

First, Regions are aboutFirst, Regions are about

SCALESCALE

Global ScaleGlobal Scalehttp://www.funpartystores.com/images/wbd_world-map.jpghttp://www.funpartystores.com/images/wbd_world-map.jpg

National ScaleNational Scalehttp://apps3.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/images/map_us.gifhttp://apps3.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/images/map_us.gif

State and County ScaleState and County Scalehttp://www.touristguide.com/maps/arkansas-map.jpghttp://www.touristguide.com/maps/arkansas-map.jpg

http://www.e-referencedesk.com/resources/counties/images/arkansas-county-map.gifhttp://www.e-referencedesk.com/resources/counties/images/arkansas-county-map.gif

Wards, Precincts, Census TractsWards, Precincts, Census Tracts

What is a Region?What is a Region?

A region is an area A region is an area with one or more with one or more

traits, characteristics, traits, characteristics, features that are features that are

common and make it common and make it different from different from

surrounding areas.surrounding areas.

What regional maps are What regional maps are these?these?

The College Board® by The College Board® by RegionRegion

http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_images/about/association/cbregion.gifhttp://www.collegeboard.com/prod_images/about/association/cbregion.gif

The Southeastern The Southeastern ConferenceConference

http://billsportsmaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/sec3.gifhttp://billsportsmaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/sec3.gif

The WAC membersThe WAC membershttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/WAC-USA-states.PNGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/WAC-USA-states.PNG

The “Fed” has regionsThe “Fed” has regionshttp://midnight.hushedcasket.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/federal_reserve_districts_map.pnghttp://midnight.hushedcasket.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/federal_reserve_districts_map.png

Another regionAnother regionhttp://orgs.unt.edu/geography/Images/swaag.logohttp://orgs.unt.edu/geography/Images/swaag.logo

With special thanks to Debbie With special thanks to Debbie LangeLange

Regions are defined by Regions are defined by their physical and human their physical and human

characteristicscharacteristics

There are 3 There are 3 types of types of regionsregions

FORMAL REGIONFORMAL REGIONhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/standards/05/index.htmlhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/standards/05/index.html

► Also known as a uniform regionAlso known as a uniform region► It is characterized by a common human property, such as It is characterized by a common human property, such as

the presence of people who share a particular language, the presence of people who share a particular language, religion, nationality, political identity or culture, or by a religion, nationality, political identity or culture, or by a common physical property, such as the presence of a common physical property, such as the presence of a particular type of climate, landform, or vegetation. particular type of climate, landform, or vegetation.

► Political entities such as counties, states, countries, and Political entities such as counties, states, countries, and provinces are formal regions because they are defined by provinces are formal regions because they are defined by a common political identity. a common political identity.

► Other formal regions include climate regions (e.g., Other formal regions include climate regions (e.g., Mediterranean)Mediterranean)

► Landform regions (e.g., Piedmont region of Pennsylvania)Landform regions (e.g., Piedmont region of Pennsylvania)► Economic regions (e.g., wheat belt of Kansas)Economic regions (e.g., wheat belt of Kansas)► Formal regions can be defined by measures of Formal regions can be defined by measures of

population, per capita income, ethnic background, crop population, per capita income, ethnic background, crop production, population density and distribution, or production, population density and distribution, or industrial production, or by mapping physical industrial production, or by mapping physical characteristics such as temperature, rainfall, growing characteristics such as temperature, rainfall, growing season season

Germany is formal regionGermany is formal regionhttp://harryallen.info/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/germany_map.jpghttp://harryallen.info/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/germany_map.jpg

Corn Production Corn Production (and Ethanol Plants)(and Ethanol Plants)http://www.dailyyonder.com/files/imagecache/story_default/imagefield/cornp-production-and-ethano.jpghttp://www.dailyyonder.com/files/imagecache/story_default/imagefield/cornp-production-and-ethano.jpg

Piedmont Region of Piedmont Region of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/60/Map_of_PA_Highlands.gifhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/60/Map_of_PA_Highlands.gif

FUNCTIONAL REGIONSFUNCTIONAL REGIONShttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/standards/05/index.htmlhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/standards/05/index.html

► Organized around a node or focal point with the Organized around a node or focal point with the surrounding areas linked to that node by surrounding areas linked to that node by transportation systems, communication systems, or transportation systems, communication systems, or other economic association involving such activities other economic association involving such activities as manufacturing and retail trading. as manufacturing and retail trading.

► A typical functional region is a metropolitan area A typical functional region is a metropolitan area (MA) as defined by the Bureau of Census. For (MA) as defined by the Bureau of Census. For example, the New York MA is a functional region example, the New York MA is a functional region that covers parts of several states. It is linked by that covers parts of several states. It is linked by commuting patterns, trade flows, television and commuting patterns, trade flows, television and radio broadcasts, newspapers, travel for recreation radio broadcasts, newspapers, travel for recreation and entertainment. and entertainment.

► Other functional regions include shopping regions Other functional regions include shopping regions centered on malls or supermarkets, area served by centered on malls or supermarkets, area served by branch banks, and ports and their hinterlands. branch banks, and ports and their hinterlands.

A less formal look at functional A less formal look at functional regionsregions

►Defined by a set of activities, Defined by a set of activities, connections or interactions connections or interactions

►For example: For example: ►Newspaper circulation areaNewspaper circulation area►Commuter traffic patternsCommuter traffic patterns►Subway systems in NYC, Boston, Subway systems in NYC, Boston,

etc. etc. ►Highway systemsHighway systems

NYC Subway – a functional NYC Subway – a functional regionregion

http://www.johnsonbanks.co.uk/up_images/228_MTA_current_400.jpghttp://www.johnsonbanks.co.uk/up_images/228_MTA_current_400.jpg

Perceptual RegionPerceptual Regionhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/standards/05/index.htmlhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/standards/05/index.html

► Construct that reflects human feelings and attitudes Construct that reflects human feelings and attitudes about areas and is therefore defined by people’s about areas and is therefore defined by people’s shared subjective images of those areasshared subjective images of those areas

► Tends to reflect the element of people’s mental Tends to reflect the element of people’s mental maps, and, although it may help to impose a maps, and, although it may help to impose a personal sense of order and structure on the world, personal sense of order and structure on the world, it often does so on the basis of stereotypes that it often does so on the basis of stereotypes that may be inappropriate or incorrect. may be inappropriate or incorrect.

► Examples such as: Southern California, Dixie, and Examples such as: Southern California, Dixie, and the upper Midwest are perceptual regions that are the upper Midwest are perceptual regions that are thought of as being spatial units, although they do thought of as being spatial units, although they do not have precise borders or even commonly not have precise borders or even commonly accepted regional characteristics and names. accepted regional characteristics and names.

Just where is Dixie?Just where is Dixie?http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/US_map-The_South_Modern_.pnghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/US_map-The_South_Modern_.png

Gotta do the ZelinskyGotta do the Zelinsky

Debbie gave me this map, Debbie gave me this map, too…too…

Perceptual, maybe – but how Perceptual, maybe – but how could this region be formalized?could this region be formalized?

http://cartophilia.com/blog/uploaded_images/nikeucob-713437.jpghttp://cartophilia.com/blog/uploaded_images/nikeucob-713437.jpg

Let’s do a couple of activities Let’s do a couple of activities you can do with your studentsyou can do with your students

► In one color draw a line around what In one color draw a line around what you think is, “THE SOUTH”you think is, “THE SOUTH”

► In another color draw a line around, In another color draw a line around, “THE MIDWEST”“THE MIDWEST”

► In yet another color, draw a line In yet another color, draw a line around, “THE NORTHEAST”around, “THE NORTHEAST”

►What about “THE SOUTHWEST”What about “THE SOUTHWEST”