Fifty states are a lot to learn at once. Geographers make it easier by grouping states that are near each other into regions.
Key idea
The U.S. Census Bureau divides the states into four regions: the Northeast, the Midwest, the South and the West. Inside them are nine smaller divisions, such as New England and the Pacific.
Why it works
Why group states? States near each other often share land, weather, history and ways of making a living. Grouping them lets you learn a few at a time and compare one part of the country with another. The Census Bureau uses its regions to report facts about people, so many maps and charts use them too.
| Region | Divisions | States |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast | New England; Middle Atlantic | 9 |
| Midwest | East North Central; West North Central | 12 |
| South | South Atlantic; East South Central; West South Central | 16 and D.C. |
| West | Mountain; Pacific | 13 |
Worked example: Which region?
Is Maryland in the Northeast or the South?
- Maryland is just south of Pennsylvania, on Chesapeake Bay.
- The Census Bureau puts it in the South Atlantic division.
- So, by the Census Bureau, Maryland is in the South.
Answer: The South.
Common mistake
Students expect one official way to divide the country. There isn't one. Many textbooks use five regions, adding a Southeast and a Southwest, and some put Maryland or Delaware in the Northeast. This ladder uses the Census Bureau's four regions and nine divisions. Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Texas surprise people: all are in the South.