North America's Industrial Areas
Although the Industrial Revolution would begin in the United Kingdom and arrive later to North America, industry would explode in the United States specifically due to embargoes, tariffs, natural resources, and an expanding global market. By the start of the American Civil War, the US would be the second largest industrial nation behind the United Kingdom.
United States geography also helped when the Industrial Revolution began. The US is rich in natural resources, major waterways, and a new infrastructure that could be built new and not have to be modified for railroads and later, roadways.
New England: This region, led by Boston, became wealthy due to the textile industry where raw goods from the South would be manufactured and then sent to the global market.
Mid-Atlantic: This is the largest market in the US due to multiple cities (Richmond, Philadelphia, and New York City). New York City will become the capital of the financial and entertainment industries in this region and is still one of the largest ports on the East Coast. Virginia, including Washington, D.C., holds many jobs and industry in the government sector including the largest naval base in the US.
Mohawk Valley: Buffalo leads this region in the steel industry and food processing. This is because of the easy access to Lake Ontario, the Erie Canal, and cheap electricity generated from Niagara Falls.
Pittsburgh-Lake Erie: This area has long held the nation in steel production due to its proximity to inputs such as coal and iron. When there was an interregional shift in steel production, Pittsburgh needed to diversify its economy and now attracts many companies in the computer industry to set up shop.
Western Great Lakes: The main city for this region is Chicago and the city has become a major hub for transportation because of its location on Lake Michigan. Many railroads run through this city to deliver goods to be shipped across the Great Lakes and eventually to the Atlantic Ocean. Detroit also has become a city synonymous with the automobile industry and is now attempting to diversify its economy also due to international shifts within the automobile industry.
Southern California: Cities in this region (San Diego, Los Angeles), lead the country in industrial capacity outside the Northeast region. With access to the Pacific trade markets and Mexico, Los Angeles has become a leading manufacturer of textiles, entertainment, and food processing. It also boasts one of the largest ports in North America.
Southeastern Ontario: This is the leading industrial area in Canada because of its use of the network highways of the Great Lakes and the electricity produced by hydroelectric power from Niagara Falls. Aluminum factories, textiles, and paper mills make up a large portion of this area's capabilities.
United States geography also helped when the Industrial Revolution began. The US is rich in natural resources, major waterways, and a new infrastructure that could be built new and not have to be modified for railroads and later, roadways.
New England: This region, led by Boston, became wealthy due to the textile industry where raw goods from the South would be manufactured and then sent to the global market.
Mid-Atlantic: This is the largest market in the US due to multiple cities (Richmond, Philadelphia, and New York City). New York City will become the capital of the financial and entertainment industries in this region and is still one of the largest ports on the East Coast. Virginia, including Washington, D.C., holds many jobs and industry in the government sector including the largest naval base in the US.
Mohawk Valley: Buffalo leads this region in the steel industry and food processing. This is because of the easy access to Lake Ontario, the Erie Canal, and cheap electricity generated from Niagara Falls.
Pittsburgh-Lake Erie: This area has long held the nation in steel production due to its proximity to inputs such as coal and iron. When there was an interregional shift in steel production, Pittsburgh needed to diversify its economy and now attracts many companies in the computer industry to set up shop.
Western Great Lakes: The main city for this region is Chicago and the city has become a major hub for transportation because of its location on Lake Michigan. Many railroads run through this city to deliver goods to be shipped across the Great Lakes and eventually to the Atlantic Ocean. Detroit also has become a city synonymous with the automobile industry and is now attempting to diversify its economy also due to international shifts within the automobile industry.
Southern California: Cities in this region (San Diego, Los Angeles), lead the country in industrial capacity outside the Northeast region. With access to the Pacific trade markets and Mexico, Los Angeles has become a leading manufacturer of textiles, entertainment, and food processing. It also boasts one of the largest ports in North America.
Southeastern Ontario: This is the leading industrial area in Canada because of its use of the network highways of the Great Lakes and the electricity produced by hydroelectric power from Niagara Falls. Aluminum factories, textiles, and paper mills make up a large portion of this area's capabilities.
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Related Links: Industry- Industry Origins and the Most Industrial Regions of the World Quiz Origins of Industry AP Human Geography Quizzes AP Human Geography Notes |