(See also Basic U.S. Maps, Historical Development Maps, and Political Demography Maps)

(Above) U.S. Census Map Showing the 'Standard' Four Regions: Northeast, South, Midwest, and West
(Alaska and Hawaii are usually considered separately from the 48 'contiguous' states)

(Above Left) Division into "East" and "West" using the Mississippi River as the divider
(Right) Division into "North" and "South" east of the Mississippi based on mid-19th century distinctions
(The light-gray areas west of the river were also associated with the Civil War "South")
(The 3 states comprising the "Southwest" region are shown above-right in red)

(Above Left) The "Deep South" — showing its 'traditional' (red) and 'expanded' (gold) definitions
(Right) Pacific NW (blue), Mountain States (yellow), Great Plains (green), Upper MW (red) & Southeast (gold)

(Above) 'Traditional' Agricultural Belt Areas (Wheat, Corn, Dairy, Sugar, Cotton, Tobacco)

(Above) The Northeastern "megalopolis" area, roughly from Boston through Washington, D.C.

(Above) The Capital Beltway (Interstate 495) around Washington, D.C.