Southern United States

The Southern United States or the South constitute a distinctive region covering a large portion of the United States. Due to the region's unique cultural and historic heritage, the South has developed its own customs, literature, musical styles (such as country music and jazz), and cuisine. The South has also been prominently involved in numerous issues faced by the United States as a whole, including slavery, the American Civil War, and Presidential politics (with the majority of the recent Presidents of the United States having come from the region).

Geography

As defined by the Census Bureau, the Southern region of the United States includes 16 states, and is split into three smaller units, or divisions: The South Atlantic States, which are Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia (plus the District of Columbia); the East South Central States of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee; and the West South Central States of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

Related Topics:
Census Bureau - Region - United States - South Atlantic States - Delaware - Florida - Georgia - Maryland - North Carolina - South Carolina - Virginia - West Virginia - District of Columbia - East South Central States - Alabama - Kentucky - Mississippi - Tennessee - West South Central States - Arkansas - Louisiana - Oklahoma - Texas

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However, not all definitions of the South are based on geographic divisions, with culture and history also playing a large role in defining what is the South. For example, the Deep South is a cultural and geographic subregion of the American South which consists of the South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana (the six founding members of the Confederate States of America). In addition, the South can also refer to the Old South, which are the Southern States represented in the original thirteen American colonies. The Old South includes South Carolina, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, and often Georgia. The Deep South and the Old South used to be known colloquially as Dixie (and is still referred to nostalgically as such).

Related Topics:
Deep South - South Carolina - Mississippi - Florida - Alabama - Georgia - Louisiana - Confederate States of America - Old South - Maryland - North Carolina - Virginia - Delaware - Dixie

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Despite these definitional differences, when most people today refer to the South they mean to the region as designated by the U.S. Census. This region currently contains a number of the twenty-five largest metropolitan areas in the United States. In order of size they are: Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, Washington, Houston, Atlanta, Baltimore, Tampa/St. Petersburg. The Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area would be the largest metropolitan area in the South, but is no longer officially recognized by the census burearu—although it is still in popular use. If Missouri is considered to be part of the South, St. Louis' metro would also be included. While not one of the largest metro areas in the South, San Antonio is notable for being one of only three cities in the South with a city proper population of over a million, the others being Dallas and Houston. Oklahoma City, Memphis, New Orleans, and Nashville are also principal cities of the region.

Related Topics:
Twenty-five largest metropolitan areas in the United States - Dallas/Fort Worth - Miami - Washington - Houston - Atlanta - Baltimore - Tampa/St. Petersburg - Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area - St. Louis - San Antonio - City proper - Oklahoma City - Memphis - New Orleans - Nashville

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The South is a vast region, having numerous climatic zones ranging from temperate, to sub-tropical, to tropical, to arid. Many crops grow easily in its soils and can be grown without frost for at least six months of the year. Some parts of the South, particularly the Southeast, have landscape characterized by the presence of live oaks, magnolia trees, jessamine vines, and flowering dogwoods. Another common enviroment is the bayous and swampland of the Gulf Coast, especially in Louisiana, which looms large in American film history. The South is famously a victim of kudzu, a fast-growing vine which covers large amounts of land.

Related Topics:
Live oak - Magnolia - Jessamine - Dogwood - Bayou - Kudzu

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