Economy and Transportation¶

Summary¶

This chapter examines the economic geography of the United States, including agriculture, natural resources, industry, and transportation networks. Students will learn about farming regions like the Corn Belt and Wheat Belt, understand how natural resources are distributed, and explore how interstate highways, railroads, airports, and ports connect the nation. This chapter shows how geography shapes economic activities.

Concepts Covered¶

This chapter covers the following 17 concepts from the learning graph:

Agriculture
Farming Regions
Corn Belt
Wheat Belt
Cotton Belt
Dairy Farming
Ranching
Mining
Oil and Gas
Forestry
Fishing Industry
Manufacturing
Technology Hubs
Silicon Valley
Transportation
Interstate Highways
Railroads

Prerequisites¶

This chapter builds on concepts from:

Introduction to Economic Geography¶

Economic geography studies how geography affects where people work and what they produce. Different parts of the United States are good for different kinds of work because of climate, soil, natural resources, and location.

Think about it: Why do farmers grow oranges in Florida but not in Minnesota? Why are oil wells in Texas but not in Vermont? Why are most technology companies in California? The answers all connect to geography!

Agriculture: America's Farms¶

Agriculture means farming—growing crops and raising animals for food. The United States is one of the world's most productive farming nations, and different regions specialize in different products.

Farming Regions¶

The United States has several major farming regions, each specializing in particular crops based on climate and soil:

Region	Location	Main Crops/Products	Why There?
Corn Belt	Midwest	Corn, soybeans	Rich soil, warm summers
Wheat Belt	Great Plains	Wheat	Dry climate, flat land
Cotton Belt	South	Cotton	Long growing season
Dairy Belt	Northeast, Upper Midwest	Milk, cheese	Cool climate, good pasture
Fruit Belt	California, Florida	Fruits, vegetables	Warm climate, irrigation

The Corn Belt¶

The Corn Belt stretches across the Midwest, including Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, and parts of surrounding states.

Why is corn grown here?

Rich, black soil (some of the best in the world!)
Warm summers with enough rain
Flat land perfect for large farms
Long history of corn farming

Corn Facts

Iowa produces more corn than any other state
Corn is used for food, animal feed, ethanol fuel, and many products
One bushel of corn can make 33 pounds of sweetener or 2.8 gallons of ethanol!

The Wheat Belt¶

The Wheat Belt covers the Great Plains from Texas to Montana. This region is drier than the Corn Belt but perfect for wheat.

States in the Wheat Belt:

Kansas (produces the most wheat)
North Dakota
Montana
Oklahoma
Texas Panhandle

Wheat needs less water than corn, so it grows well in the semi-arid Great Plains.

The Cotton Belt¶

The Cotton Belt stretches across the South, from Texas to the Carolinas. Cotton needs:

A long, hot growing season
Plenty of sunshine
Moderate rainfall

Today, Texas grows more cotton than any other state.

Dairy Farming¶

Dairy farming produces milk, cheese, butter, and other dairy products. Wisconsin is called "America's Dairyland" and produces more cheese than any other state.

Dairy farms are found in:

Wisconsin and Minnesota
New York and Pennsylvania
California (actually produces the most milk!)

Ranching¶

Ranching means raising cattle, sheep, or other livestock on large areas of land. Ranches are common in the West where:

Land is too dry for crops
There's lots of open range
Cattle can graze on grasses

Texas has more cattle than any other state!

Diagram: US Agricultural Regions¶

US Agricultural Regions Map **Type**: microsim **Learning Objective**: Students will identify (L1) major farming regions and explain (L2) why certain crops grow in specific areas. **Bloom Level**: Understand **Bloom Verbs**: identify, explain, classify

MicroSim Description: An interactive map showing major US agricultural regions color-coded by primary product. Students click on regions to learn about the crops grown there and why that region is suitable. A "what grows where" quiz tests students on matching crops to regions. Information panels explain the connection between climate, soil, and agriculture.

UI Complexity: Medium - Color-coded regions with click-to-learn information and quiz mode

Instructional Rationale: Connecting farming regions to climate and geography helps students understand why agriculture is not random—it follows geographic patterns.

Natural Resources¶

Natural resources are materials from nature that people use. The United States is rich in many natural resources, but they're not spread evenly across the country.

Mining¶

Mining extracts minerals and metals from the earth. Important mining in the US includes:

Resource	Main States	Uses
Coal	Wyoming, West Virginia	Electricity, steel
Iron ore	Minnesota, Michigan	Steel
Copper	Arizona, Utah	Wiring, electronics
Gold	Nevada, Alaska	Jewelry, electronics

Oil and Gas¶

Oil and gas are fossil fuels found underground. The United States is one of the world's largest oil producers.

Top oil-producing states:

Texas (produces the most)
New Mexico
North Dakota
Alaska
Colorado

The Gulf of Mexico is also a major source of offshore oil drilling.

Fossil Fuels and the Environment

Burning oil, gas, and coal produces energy but also creates pollution and contributes to climate change. Many people are working to develop cleaner energy sources like solar and wind power.

Forestry¶

Forestry is the industry of growing and harvesting trees for wood and paper products.

Major forestry regions:

Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington) - Giant evergreen forests
Southeast (Georgia, Alabama) - Fast-growing pine trees
Northern forests (Minnesota, Maine) - Mixed hardwood and softwood

Fishing Industry¶

The fishing industry harvests fish and seafood from oceans, lakes, and rivers.

Major fishing areas:

Alaska - Salmon, crab, pollock (the most seafood of any state)
New England - Lobster, cod, clams
Gulf Coast - Shrimp, oysters
Pacific Northwest - Salmon, tuna

Manufacturing and Technology¶

Manufacturing¶

Manufacturing means making products in factories. The United States was once the world's manufacturing leader, especially in:

Cars: Detroit, Michigan ("Motor City")
Steel: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Gary, Indiana
Aircraft: Seattle, Washington (Boeing)
Food processing: Throughout the Midwest

Today, many manufacturing jobs have moved to other countries, but the US still makes aerospace products, machinery, and advanced electronics.

Technology Hubs¶

Technology hubs are places where technology companies cluster together.

Silicon Valley¶

Silicon Valley in California is the world's most famous technology hub. Located south of San Francisco, it's home to:

Apple
Google
Meta (Facebook)
Many startups and tech companies

Why did Silicon Valley develop here?

Stanford University provided talent and research
Good weather attracted workers
Early computer companies started here
Success attracted more companies

Other technology hubs include:

City	Specialty
Seattle, WA	Software (Microsoft, Amazon)
Austin, TX	Technology, gaming
Boston, MA	Biotech, robotics
Raleigh, NC	Research Triangle

Transportation Networks¶

Transportation is how people and goods move from place to place. The United States has an extensive network of highways, railroads, airports, and ports.

Interstate Highways¶

The Interstate Highway System is a network of high-speed roads connecting all major cities. Started in 1956, it now has over 48,000 miles of roads.

How interstate numbers work:

Odd numbers (I-5, I-95) run north-south
Even numbers (I-10, I-90) run east-west
Low numbers are in the south and west
High numbers are in the north and east

Major interstate highways:

Interstate	Route	Connects
I-95	North-South	Maine to Florida (East Coast)
I-10	East-West	California to Florida (South)
I-90	East-West	Seattle to Boston (North)
I-5	North-South	Canada to Mexico (West Coast)

Reading Highway Signs

Interstate signs are shaped like shields. Blue and red signs mean interstate highways. Green signs give directions and distances.

Railroads¶

Railroads were the first way to move goods and people across long distances. Today, railroads mostly carry freight (goods), not passengers.

Railroads transport:

Coal from mines
Grain from farms
Cars from factories
Containers from ports

Amtrak is the passenger railroad, but most Americans travel by car or plane instead.

Diagram: US Transportation Networks¶

US Transportation Networks Map **Type**: microsim **Learning Objective**: Students will trace (L3) major transportation routes and explain (L2) how different transportation methods connect the country. **Bloom Level**: Apply **Bloom Verbs**: trace, explain, identify

MicroSim Description: An interactive map showing major US transportation networks. Students can toggle between viewing interstate highways, major railroads, busy airports, and major ports. Clicking on routes shows what goods or passengers typically travel that way. An animation mode shows freight moving across the country.

UI Complexity: Medium - Layer toggle map with route information and animation option

Instructional Rationale: Seeing transportation networks visually helps students understand how different regions are connected and why location matters for trade.

How Geography Shapes the Economy¶

Geography affects the economy in many ways:

Climate and Agriculture¶

Warm states grow fruits and cotton
Cool states have dairy farms
Rainy areas grow different crops than dry areas

Resources and Industry¶

States with oil have energy industries
States with forests have lumber mills
States with minerals have mines

Location and Trade¶

Coastal states have ports
Central states are hubs for railroads
Border states trade with neighboring countries

Population and Services¶

Big cities have more service jobs
Tourist areas have hospitality jobs
College towns have education jobs

Key Takeaways¶

What You Learned

Different farming regions specialize in crops suited to their climate and soil
The Corn Belt, Wheat Belt, and Cotton Belt are major agricultural regions
Natural resources like oil, coal, and timber are found in specific locations
Silicon Valley is the world's leading technology hub
Interstate highways use a numbering system (odd = north-south, even = east-west)
Geography determines what economic activities happen in each region

Review Questions¶

What is the Corn Belt, and why does corn grow well there?

The Corn Belt is a farming region in the Midwest that includes Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, and surrounding states. Corn grows well there because:

The soil is rich and black, some of the best farmland in the world
Summers are warm with enough rain
The land is flat, making it easy to farm with large machinery
There's a long tradition of corn farming with experienced farmers

Name three natural resources and which states produce them.

Three natural resources and where they're produced:

Oil: Texas (the top producer), New Mexico, North Dakota, Alaska
Coal: Wyoming (most coal), West Virginia
Iron ore: Minnesota, Michigan

Other examples include copper (Arizona, Utah), gold (Nevada, Alaska), and timber (Oregon, Washington, Georgia).

What is Silicon Valley, and why did it become a technology center?

Silicon Valley is a region in California, south of San Francisco, that's home to many of the world's largest technology companies (Apple, Google, Meta).

It became a technology center because:

Stanford University provided educated workers and research
The pleasant weather attracted talented people
Early computer companies started there
Success attracted more companies in a cycle of growth

How does the interstate highway numbering system work?

Interstate highway numbers follow a pattern:

Odd numbers (I-5, I-95) run north-south
Even numbers (I-10, I-90) run east-west
Low numbers are in the south and west
High numbers are in the north and east

For example, I-10 runs east-west across the South, while I-95 runs north-south along the East Coast.

Why do different regions of the US specialize in different types of farming?

Regions specialize in different farming because of geography:

Climate determines what can grow (oranges need warmth, wheat tolerates cold)
Rainfall matters (corn needs more water than wheat)
Soil type affects crops (the Midwest has rich, black soil)
Terrain helps (flat land is easier to farm than mountains)
Growing season length limits options (cotton needs long, hot summers)

Name two ways that transportation networks help the economy.

Transportation networks help the economy by:

Moving goods: Trucks carry products from factories to stores, trains carry grain from farms to ports, ships carry products to other countries
Connecting markets: Farmers can sell crops to distant cities, manufacturers can ship to customers nationwide, businesses can reach customers everywhere
Creating jobs: Truck drivers, railroad workers, pilots, and dock workers all have jobs because of transportation
Enabling trade: Ports connect the US to world markets, highways connect states for domestic trade