North America

Territorial Dynamics

I. U.S. Core and PeripheriesA. Main core of the US – Main core of the world– Northeast + Manufacturing Belt

• Political & economic core of US Power• 45% of industrial jobs

– Megalopolis• Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. • #1 world gathering of political, economic, financial & cultural

powers

– Rust Belt• Crisis of traditional heavy industry

– automobile industry in Detroit, textiles

• Industrial redevelopment– Pittsburg, Cleveland, Buffalo

B. Growing integrated periphery• Sun Belt– Oil deposits, high technology, aerospace, robotics,

biotechnologies– Very Attractive & integrated periphery

• Regions of major growth– Major cities & high tech industries

• Silicon Valley in California• Silicon Beach in Miami• Silicon Prairie in Texas• Cascadia around Seattle

• Revitalized old south by tourism (e.g. Miami) and new technologies (Atlanta, Research Triangle Park)

The Sun Belt and Population Growth Trends 2000-2010

C. Margins of US territory used by the core

• Corn Belt and Great Plains:– Agro-industrial core of the US and breakbasket of

the world• Rocky Mountains, natural areas (National

Parks)– Low density of population – Tourism, exploitation of natural resources, energy

• Remote States: – Hawaii (tourism & tropical agriculture)– Alaska (oil deposits and geostrategic location)

II. Territorial Dynamics which demonstrate US world power

A. US power concentrated in urban areas– World/global cities, urban core of the world• NYC, Washington, D.C., LA, Chicago

– Major metropolises with national or international influence

– New metropolises in progress• Attracting millions of inhabitants & diverse economic

activities (service sectors & R&D development)

Revitalization of business & residential areas of urban centers of US cities in late 20th century• Economic factors

– Expansion of service sector, quaternary sector, research facilities– Growth in small businesses – residential districts surrounding city

core– Demand for housing in downtown & inner-city neighborhoods

• Demographic factors– New household forms : DINKS, yuppies, nontraditional

households• Urban policy

– Govt/non-profit orgs to revitalize central cities through public policies and incentives

– City investment policies/tax incentives– Public-private partnerships– Historic preservation

• Sense of place– Emotional attachment to central-city locations based on cultural

amenities, landscape features, lifestyle factors

Video: Dismantling Urban Highways/Reimagining the Commons: Philadelphia

B. Interfaces open the USA to the world

• Main maritime interfaces w/ dynamic ports– San Francisco, Houston, Miami, NYC

• Flows of capital, goods & workers on dynamic cross-border areas– Mexamerica and the maquiladoras– Main Street– Cascadia

• Major intl airports (hubs) What are the 8 major hubs?• Internal migration flows (labor force & capital)

– Strengthen southern periphery• External migration flows (immigration) strengthen the Sun

Belt

C. Regional and global integration of the US

• NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)– Dynamic economic exchanges benefiting the US

• Main waterways linking the US to rest of world– Mississippi, Great Lakes & St Lawrence River)

• Main intl flows w/ Triad– Eastern Asia & Western Europe