States division

Question

Hi.The states in US are divided into 6 categories namely, East coast states , Central states , Mountain statesand Pacific states, Alaska and Hawaii.I have heard people use West coast in lieu of Pacific states , I don't know whether it is a common mistake or it is an alternative for that.Thank youHamid

JohnParis · Accepted Answer

Personally, when I hear "west coast" I think of California.
But that's just me.
Technically, the west coast of the US is comprised of California, Oregon and Washington.

Prajwalkr · Answer

hrsaneiI have heard people use West coast in lieu of Pacific states , I don't know whether it is a common mistake or it is an alternative for that.

Hi Hamid
I know that I don't know anything about the states in the US, but Wikipedia gives the information to me.

US west coast

US Pacific States

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Coast_of_the_United_States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_States

I suppose that everything is clear from the first paragraphs of both the links.(please read carefully)
Both pics seem to indicate almost the same region for both names.

You can clarify any further doubts.

Prajwal

Enoon · Answer

As a lifelong resident of the United States, I'm going to play the "I know what I'm talking about" card here. Alaska and Hawaii are not West Coast states. Not at all. No way. Don't let anybody, especially Wikipedia, tell you different. The West Coast is California, Oreg... OK, we have to include Oregon and Washington, but we mean California. Washington and Oregon are the Pacific Northwest or the Northwestern states. The term "Pacific states" does not resonate. I have to guess what it means, not that it's very hard.

The regions you name are not formally recognized, by the way; I can name all 50 states, but I wouldn't be able to name the Central States. There are more regions, too: the South, the Northern Tier (the states bordering Canada), the Gulf States, the Great Basin, the Northeast, New England, the Plains states, the Midwest, the Southwest maybe more.

CalifJim · Answer

hrsaneiThe states in US are divided into 6 categories namely, East coast states , Central states , Mountain statesand Pacific states, Alaska and Hawaii.

Well, that's one way of dividing them up, but there are plenty of other ways of making such divisions. For example, I'd put Alaska, Washington, and Oregon in the category "Pacific Northwest", and I'd put Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama in the "Deep South", but not Florida, which is even farther south!

CJ

Prajwalkr · Answer

enoon. Alaska and Hawaii are not West Coast states. Not at all. No way.

Would you please clarify a doubt? To which 'category' do Alaska and Hawaii belong to?
http://www.eia.gov/emeu/reps/maps/us_census.html

Prajwal

Ivanhr · Answer

enoonI can name all 50 states, but I wouldn't be able to name the Central States. There are more regions, too: the South, the Northern Tier (the states bordering Canada), the Gulf States, the Great Basin, the Northeast, New England, the Plains states, the Midwest, the Southwest maybe more.

What about the Great Lakes states? (or you just consider them to be a part of the Northern tier)

Enoon · Answer

prajwalkr enoon. Alaska and Hawaii are not West Coast states. Not at all. No way.Would you please clarify a doubt? To which 'category' do Alaska and Hawaii belong to?http://www.eia.gov/emeu/reps/maps/us_census.html Prajwal

You have linked to the US Census. Those regions are theirs for the one purpose of taking the census—nobody else uses that set of divisions. I am talking about regions that the average person would think he knew of.

I would say that Alaska is just Alaska. If it was a country, it would be like the 17th largest on earth. It is its own region.

Hawaii is so far away, it's like Pluto, and it's made up of small pieces. We're thinking of downgrading it from state to territory (just kidding). It isn't part of any region, though, it's just Hawaii.

Enoon · Answer

IvanhrWhat about the Great Lakes states? (or you just consider them to be a part of the Northern tier)

The Great Lakes states is a recognized grouping. They are also in the Northern Tier, by definition, of course.

I am not saying that certain states are in certain regions, I am naming regions that the average American has some idea of. For instance, the only time I use "Northern Tier" is when I am talking about accents. When you get up near Canada, at least east of the Rockies, you start to hear traces of the Canadian "aboat" for "about".

The best-defined region is New England, all the states northeast of New York. The South is pretty good, too, it being the old Confederacy, but where does that leave Kentucky and West Virginia? I guess the Midwest begins at Ohio, but does it, and where does it become the West? Colorado, I guess. Is Texas the West or the South or both or neither? It's all guesswork.

The regions of the United States are not like the regions of the Old World countries with defining ethnic and linguistic characters and ancient boundaries and self-identities. They are loose concepts used to refer to rough geographic location, historical coincidence and incidental cultural differences. The simultaneous diversity and unity of the US is a miracle I marvel at daily. That aspect, at least, of the dream of the Founding Fathers has come true.

States division

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