Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
not a new phenomenon, the importance of “coastal” regions has increased since
1930. While total population grew by 140% between 1930 and 2005, that of coastal
regions increased by 176%, and that of inland areas by 114%. If we exclude the
Great Lakes and only consider counties located along the coasts of the Atlantic, Gulf
of Mexico or Pacific, the coastal population, as defined in its most traditional sense,
increased from 24 million in 1930 to nearly 84.5 million in 2005, representing an
increase of 250%, and a density of 165 inhabitants/km².
The first seven chapters of this topic are devoted to identifying the factors which
explain today's map of the population, and to exploring the diversity of these
factors.
1.2. Major geographical areas
E
le
vation
3,000
1,000
500
Projection Lambert Conformal Conic for the Continental U.S.
Designed and made by JM Zaninetti, University of Orleans, CEDETE Institute
0
meters
Figure 1.3.
Topography of the United States of America
Land topography has as much influence on settlement as do climate and the
presence of waterways. Topography influenced settlement patterns from the very
beginnings of westward expansion, as well as the development of regions by
