Regions and Boundaries¶

Summary¶

This chapter examines how the United States is organized into regions and explores the attributes that define each state. Students will learn about remaining states not covered in previous chapters, state capitals, Washington DC as the nation's capital, state borders, and state symbols. Understanding these organizational concepts helps students see connections between geography and governance.

Concepts Covered¶

This chapter covers the following 16 concepts from the learning graph:

Oklahoma
Oregon
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
State Capitals
Washington DC
State Borders
State Symbols
State Flags

Prerequisites¶

This chapter builds on concepts from:

Introduction to Regions and Organization¶

Now that we've traveled across all 50 states, let's step back and look at how the United States is organized. States are grouped into regions, each state has a capital city, and borders mark where one state ends and another begins.

In this chapter, we'll also learn about the remaining states and explore what makes each state unique through its symbols and flags.

Completing Our Tour of the 50 States¶

Let's explore the remaining states we haven't covered in detail yet.

Texas¶

Texas is the second-largest state in area (after Alaska) and the second most populous (after California). Texans are proud of their state, which was once an independent country!

Texas is known for:

Size: You can fit many states inside Texas
Cowboys and ranching: Cattle ranching is a major industry
Oil: Texas produces more oil than any other state
Diverse cities: Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin
Food: Barbecue and Tex-Mex cuisine

The Lone Star State

Texas is called "The Lone Star State" because its flag has one star. This represents Texas's history as an independent republic (1836-1845) before joining the United States.

Oklahoma¶

Oklahoma is known as the "Sooner State." The name comes from settlers who entered the territory "sooner" than they were supposed to during the 1889 Land Run.

Oklahoma is known for:

Native American heritage (more Native Americans live here than any other state)
Tornado Alley (many tornadoes occur here)
Oil and natural gas production
The musical "Oklahoma!"

Oregon¶

Oregon is a Pacific Northwest state with beautiful scenery:

Coast: Rocky beaches and tide pools
Mountains: The Cascade Range with Mount Hood
Forests: Dense evergreen forests
Portland: The state's largest city, known for being eco-friendly
Crater Lake: The deepest lake in the United States

Oregon was the destination for pioneers traveling the Oregon Trail in the 1800s.

Washington¶

Washington (the state, not Washington DC!) is in the far northwest corner of the continental US. It's known for:

Seattle: A major city with the Space Needle
Technology: Home to Microsoft and Amazon
Mount Rainier: A beautiful snow-capped volcano
Rain: The western part of the state is very rainy
Apples: Washington grows more apples than any other state

Utah¶

Utah has dramatic landscape including:

The Great Salt Lake (the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere)
Five national parks (Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef)
Salt Lake City, headquarters of the LDS Church
Beautiful red rock formations

Wyoming¶

Wyoming is the least populous state—fewer than 600,000 people live there! But it has incredible natural wonders:

Yellowstone National Park (mostly in Wyoming)
Grand Teton National Park
Wide open prairies
Cowboys and ranching

Tennessee¶

Tennessee stretches across the state from the Appalachian Mountains in the east to the Mississippi River in the west. It's known for:

Nashville: Country music capital of the world
Memphis: Blues, rock and roll, and Elvis Presley's Graceland
Great Smoky Mountains: The most visited national park in America
Music history: Where country, blues, and rock music began

South Carolina¶

South Carolina was one of the original 13 colonies. It's known for:

Charleston, a beautiful historic city
Beaches along the Atlantic coast
Southern hospitality and cuisine
Rich history from colonial times through the Civil War

West Virginia¶

West Virginia is the only state entirely within the Appalachian Mountains. It's known for:

Mountain scenery
Coal mining history
White-water rafting
Beautiful autumn colors

West Virginia separated from Virginia during the Civil War and became its own state in 1863.

Wisconsin¶

Wisconsin is in the upper Midwest and is known for:

Dairy farming—it's called "America's Dairyland"
Cheese production (more than any other state)
The Green Bay Packers football team
Beautiful lakes

South Dakota¶

South Dakota is home to two famous landmarks:

Mount Rushmore: Faces of four presidents carved into a mountain
Badlands National Park: Dramatic rock formations

The state also has rich Native American heritage, including the Lakota Sioux nation.

State	Capital	Famous For
Texas	Austin	Second largest state, oil, cowboys
Oklahoma	Oklahoma City	Native American heritage
Oregon	Salem	Crater Lake, Oregon Trail
Washington	Olympia	Seattle, apples, technology
Utah	Salt Lake City	Great Salt Lake, five national parks
Wyoming	Cheyenne	Yellowstone, least populous state
Tennessee	Nashville	Country music, Memphis blues
South Carolina	Columbia	Charleston, beaches
West Virginia	Charleston	Appalachian Mountains
Wisconsin	Madison	Cheese, dairy farming
South Dakota	Pierre	Mount Rushmore

Diagram: Remaining States¶

US States Completion Map **Type**: microsim **Learning Objective**: Students will identify (L1) all 50 states and locate (L1) their capitals on a US map. **Bloom Level**: Remember **Bloom Verbs**: identify, locate, name

MicroSim Description: A complete map of the United States where students can click any state to see its name, capital, region, and key facts. A progress tracker shows which states students have explored. A quiz mode tests students on identifying states when given their names or capitals.

UI Complexity: Medium - Complete US map with progress tracking and quiz mode

Instructional Rationale: A comprehensive interactive map reinforces learning from all previous chapters and allows students to review any state they need to practice.

State Capitals¶

Every state has a capital city where the state government meets. The capital is not always the largest city in the state!

Surprising Capitals¶

Many people are surprised to learn which cities are actually state capitals:

State	Capital	Larger City
New York	Albany	New York City
California	Sacramento	Los Angeles
Texas	Austin	Houston
Florida	Tallahassee	Miami
Illinois	Springfield	Chicago
Pennsylvania	Harrisburg	Philadelphia

Why Aren't the Biggest Cities Capitals?¶

When states chose their capitals, they often picked:

A central location so everyone could reach it more easily
A smaller city that wouldn't dominate state politics
A historical site important to the state's founding

Learning State Capitals

There are 50 state capitals to learn! Try grouping them by region and learning a few at a time. Some capitals share the state's name, which makes them easier to remember: Oklahoma City (Oklahoma), Indianapolis (Indiana).

Washington DC: The Nation's Capital¶

Washington DC is the capital of the entire United States, but it's not a state! DC stands for "District of Columbia."

What Makes DC Special?¶

Located between Maryland and Virginia
Home to the President (the White House)
Where Congress meets (the Capitol Building)
Home to the Supreme Court
Contains many important monuments and museums

Famous DC Landmarks¶

Landmark	What It Is
The White House	Home of the President
Capitol Building	Where Congress meets
Washington Monument	Tall obelisk honoring George Washington
Lincoln Memorial	Memorial to President Lincoln
Smithsonian Museums	Free museums with art, history, science

DC Is Not a State

People who live in Washington DC pay taxes and follow US laws, but they don't have voting representatives in Congress. Many people think DC should become a state!

State Borders¶

State borders are the lines that separate one state from another. Some borders are straight lines, while others follow natural features.

Natural Borders¶

Many state borders follow rivers, mountains, or other natural features:

Mississippi River: Forms the border between many states
Ohio River: Separates Ohio from Kentucky and West Virginia
Rio Grande: Forms the border between Texas and Mexico
Appalachian Mountains: Divide eastern states

Straight Line Borders¶

Western states often have straight-line borders because they were created later, when people used surveying tools to draw boundaries:

Colorado is a perfect rectangle
Wyoming is almost a perfect rectangle
Many borders in the West follow lines of latitude or longitude

Unusual Borders¶

Some state borders are surprising:

The Four Corners: The only place where four states meet (Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah)
West Virginia: Has a strange shape because it separated from Virginia during the Civil War
Michigan: Split into two parts (Upper and Lower Peninsulas)

Diagram: State Borders¶

State Borders Interactive Map **Type**: microsim **Learning Objective**: Students will distinguish (L4) between natural and straight-line borders and explain (L2) why borders are located where they are. **Bloom Level**: Analyze **Bloom Verbs**: distinguish, explain, classify

MicroSim Description: An interactive map showing US state borders with the ability to toggle between viewing natural borders (rivers, mountains) and straight-line borders. Students can click on borders to learn why they're located there. Special features highlight the Four Corners, states with unusual shapes, and borders that follow rivers or mountain ranges.

UI Complexity: Medium - Toggle layers showing different border types with explanatory information

Instructional Rationale: Understanding why borders are located where they are helps students see the connection between geography and political organization.

State Symbols¶

Every state has official state symbols that represent something special about that state. These symbols often reflect the state's history, geography, or natural features.

Common State Symbols¶

Most states have these official symbols:

Symbol Type	Examples
State Bird	Cardinal (7 states), Mockingbird (5 states)
State Flower	Rose (several states), Bluebonnet (Texas)
State Tree	Oak (many states), Redwood (California)
State Animal/Mammal	Bear, deer, bison, elk
State Song	Varies by state
State Motto	Short phrase representing the state

Why State Symbols Matter¶

State symbols:

Show what makes each state unique
Teach about the state's natural environment
Connect people to their state's identity
Appear on state flags, signs, and documents

California's Symbols

State Bird: California Quail
State Flower: California Poppy (golden orange!)
State Tree: California Redwood
State Animal: California Grizzly Bear
State Motto: "Eureka" (I have found it!)

State Flags¶

Every state has its own state flag that represents its identity and history. State flags often include:

The state seal or coat of arms
Colors that have special meaning
Symbols of the state's history or geography
The state name or motto

Famous State Flags¶

Some state flags are especially well-known:

Texas: The "Lone Star" flag with one white star
California: A bear walking across a red star
Maryland: A complex pattern of yellow, black, red, and white
Alaska: The Big Dipper constellation and North Star
New Mexico: A red sun symbol on yellow background

Unique Flag Designs¶

State	Flag Description
Texas	Red, white, and blue with one star
California	Bear, red star, green ground
Maryland	Black and gold/red and white pattern
Alaska	Stars of the Big Dipper on blue
New Mexico	Red sun symbol (Zia) on yellow
Ohio	Only state flag that isn't rectangular!

Ohio's Unique Flag

Ohio is the only state with a flag that isn't rectangular. It's shaped like a pennant (called a "burgee") and was designed in 1901.

Understanding Regions¶

Let's review the major regions of the United States:

Region	States Included	Characteristics
Northeast	New England + Mid-Atlantic	History, cities, fall foliage
Southeast	Southern states	Warm climate, agriculture, music
Midwest	Great Lakes + Great Plains	Farming, manufacturing
Southwest	Desert states	Dry climate, Hispanic culture
West	Mountain + Pacific states	Mountains, natural wonders

Each region has:

Similar geography (climate, landforms)
Shared history and culture
Common industries and products
Connections through rivers, roads, and trade

Key Takeaways¶

What You Learned

State capitals are not always the largest cities in each state
Washington DC is the nation's capital but is not a state
State borders follow natural features (rivers, mountains) or are straight survey lines
Each state has official symbols (bird, flower, tree, flag) that represent its identity
The US is divided into five main regions based on geography and culture

Review Questions¶

Why is Washington DC not a state? What makes it special?

Washington DC is not a state because the Constitution created it as a special district for the national government. It's special because:

It's the nation's capital where the federal government is located
The President lives there (in the White House)
Congress meets there (in the Capitol Building)
The Supreme Court is located there
It contains many monuments and museums (Smithsonian)

DC stands for "District of Columbia." People who live there don't have voting representatives in Congress.

Name three state capitals that are NOT the largest city in their state.

Examples include:

New York: Capital is Albany, but New York City is much larger
California: Capital is Sacramento, but Los Angeles and San Francisco are larger
Texas: Capital is Austin, but Houston and Dallas are larger
Florida: Capital is Tallahassee, but Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville are larger
Illinois: Capital is Springfield, but Chicago is much larger

What is the difference between natural borders and straight-line borders?

Natural borders follow geographic features like:

Rivers (Mississippi, Ohio, Rio Grande)
Mountains (Appalachians)
Lakes or coastlines

Straight-line borders are drawn using surveying tools and often follow:

Lines of latitude (east-west)
Lines of longitude (north-south)

Western states tend to have straight-line borders because they were created later, while eastern states often have natural borders.

What is the Four Corners, and which states meet there?

The Four Corners is the only place in the United States where four states meet at a single point. The four states are:

Arizona (southwest corner)
New Mexico (southeast corner)
Colorado (northeast corner)
Utah (northwest corner)

You can stand in all four states at once at this location!

Name three types of state symbols and give an example of each.

Three types of state symbols:

State Bird: Examples include the Cardinal (Virginia, Ohio, and others), California Quail (California), or Mockingbird (Texas)
State Flower: Examples include the Bluebonnet (Texas), California Poppy (California), or Rose (New York)
State Tree: Examples include the Redwood (California), Sugar Maple (New York), or Pecan (Texas)

Other symbols include state animals, state songs, and state mottos.

What makes Texas's flag special, and why is it called the 'Lone Star State'?

Texas's flag is called the Lone Star Flag because it has just one white star on a blue background, with red and white stripes. It's special because:

The single star represents Texas's history as an independent republic from 1836 to 1845
Texas was its own country before joining the United States
The flag design reflects this proud independent heritage
Texans call their state the "Lone Star State" in honor of this history