Lecture 7 Population and regions of usa

Plan:

1. Population of the USA

2. The Northeast region of USA

3. The Southeast region of USA

4. The Midwest region of USA

5. The Southwest region of USA

6. The West region of USA

7. Alaska

8. Hawaii

The United States population is projected by the U.S. Census Bureau to be 309,589,000, including an estimated 11.2 million illegal immigrants. The third most populous nation in the world, after China and India, the United States is the only industrialized nation in which large population increases are projected. With a birth rate of 13.82 per 1,000, 30% below the world average, its populatin growth rate is 0.98%, significantly higher than those of Western Europe, Japan, and South Korea.

In fiscal year 2009, 1.1 million immigrants were granted legal residence. Mexico has been the leading source of new residents for over two decades; since 1998, China, India, and the Philippines have been in the top four sending countries every year.

The United States has a very diverse population—thirty-one ancestry groups have more than a million members. White Americans are the largest racial group; German Americans, Irish Americans, and English Americans constitute three of the country's four largest ancestry groups. African Americans are the nation's largest racial minority and third largest ancestry group. Asian Americans are the country's second largest racial minority; the two largest Asian American ethnic groups are Chinese American and Filipino American. In 2008, the U.S. population included an estimated 4.9 million people with some American Indian or Alaskan native ancestry (3.1 million exclusively of such ancestry) and 1.1 million with some native Hawaiian or Pacific island ancestry (0.6 million exclusively).

Race/Ethnicity (2008)
White	79.8%
African American	12.8%
Asian American	4.5%
Native Ametican and Alaskan native	1.0%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander	0.2%
Multiracial	1.7%
Hispanic (of any race)	15.4%

The population growth ofHispanic and Latino Americans (the terms are officially interchangeable) is a major demographic trend. The 46.9 million Americans of Hispanic descent are identified as sharing a distinct "ethnicity" by the Census Bureau; 64% of Hispanic Americans are of Mexican descent. Between 2000 and 2008, the country's Hispanic population increased 32% while the non-Hispanic population rose just 4.3%. Much of this growth is from immigration; as of 2007, 12.6% of the U.S. population was foreign-born, with 54% of that figure born in Latin America. Fertility is also a factor; the average Hispanic woman gives birth to three children in her lifetime. The comparable fertility rate is 2.2 for non-Hispanic black women and 1.8 for non-Hispanic white women (below thereplacement rate of 2.1). Minorities (as defined by the Census Bureau, all those beside non-Hispanic, non-multiracial whites) constitute 34% of the population; they are projected to be the majority by 2042.

About 82% of Americans live in urban arears (as defined by the Census Bureau, such areas include the suburbs); about half of those reside in cities with populations over 50,000. In 2008, 273 incorporated places had populations over 100,000, nine cities had more than 1 million residents, and four global cities had over 2 million (New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston). There are fifty-two metropolitan arears with populations greater than 1 million. Of the fifty fastest-growing metro areas, forty-seven are in the West or South. The metro areas ofDallas, Houston, Atlanta, andPhoenix all grew by more than a million people between 2000 and 2008.

The Northeast

Stretching down the Atlantic coast from Maine to Delaware, the Northeast is home to some of the country’s oldest settlements and most densely populated areas in the nation. Early colonists The Southwest from Europe built settlements along harbors and rivers. Residents of Boston were among the first to advocate and act upon American Independence. The Revolutionary War took place here, and many events from the war are remembered at historic sites throughout the region.

The coastline varies from sandy beaches in New Jersey to the rocky shores of Maine. Inland, the Appalachian Mountains stretch from Maine through western Pennsylvania and southward.

The Southeast

Many geographic features are represented in the Southeast. Extensive uplands, including the Appalachians, Blue Ridge Mountains, and Great Smoky Mountains, extend across the region. The Coastal Plain separates these mountains from the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Emptying into the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River creates a finger-like delta at the tip of Louisiana. There are many swamps in the humid lowlands, such as the Louisiana bayous, the Okefenokee Swamp, and the Florida Everglades.

The Midwest

Rolling hills, grassy plains, and fertile croplands spread across the wide-open land of the Midwest. The region extends from the Great Lakes to the high plains alongside the Rocky Mountains. Glaciers smoothed the land millions of years ago, and also carved out the Great Lakes, which contain ninety-nine percent of all fresh water in the nation. Most of the Midwest is drained by the Mississippi River and two of its tributaries, the Ohio and the Missouri. Plentiful rain fall in the eastern two-thirds, and well water is widely pumped in the drier portions. This reliable water supply provides good conditions for growing corn, wheat, and soybeans. This region is also a source of beef, pork, milk, and cheese.

The Southwest

The Southwest is a mostly dry landscape of mountains, plains, and deserts. Flowing through the Colorado Plateau, the Colorado River has carved vast gorges such as the Grand Canyon, revealing beautiful layers of rock. The towering, snow-capped Rocky Mountains in the west contrast with the plains in the east, where wheat fields and cattle ranches can be found. Ancient Native American cliff dwellings, as well as Spanish and Mexican settlements called “pueblos”, tell the story of the past inhabitants of the region. Descendants of these peoples still live in the Southwest, including the Navajo, Native Americans famous for their silver, turquoise jewelry, and hand-woven rugs.

The West

The West is home to the country’s highest mountains and deepest canyons. Many national parks are scattered throughout the Rocky Mountains as well as the Pacific states, where active volcanoes and fault lines make this a changing landscape. Valuable resources – gold, silver, and oil – have long lured residents to the West. Many westerners raise sheep and cattle and grow crops like wheat and potatoes. Vast forests in Oregon and Washington provide jobs in the timber industry, and California is known for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables.

Alaska

Although Alaska is quite large in area, its population is relatively small. Hunting and fishing using traditional methods are still practiced by natives, such as the Inuits. Mt. McKinley is located in Denali National Park and it’s the highest peak in the United States, standing at 20,320 ft.

Hawaii

Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii is almost 2,500 miles from the U.S. mainland. The state is actually a chain of 132 volcanic islands, although only eight of these form a majority of the territory. The islands are known for their rugged sea cliffs, tropical beaches, and beautiful flower.

Control Questions:

1. What is the total area and population of the country?

2. How many states does the USA consist of? What do you know about their capitals?

3. Speak about the regions of the United States of America.

4. What fields of industry and what natural resources can be found in every US region?

5. What is the difference between “Migration” and “Immigration”?

6. What ethnic groups of American people do you know?