Section 2 A Nation of Cities Titan Blaster

Section 2 – A Nation of Cities Titan Blaster: What large city have you visited in the past few years? What was the attraction for you to go to that city?

Urbanization �Service industries have taken over as the most common jobs in the United States. Jobs in fields like health care, education, entertainment, banking and sports are service jobs. �By the 1890’s, many small towns were almost abandoned by people who moved to big cities. �The growth of cities occurs when the city has available transportation, job opportunities, and things that people want and need.

Metropolitan Areas The USA has more than 250 metropolitan areas. A metropolitan area includes a major city and its suburbs. The Jackson metropolitan area includes 1, 000 to 10, 000 <1, 000 10, 000 to 25, 000 Brandon Canton Clinton Madison Pearl Ridgeland Byram Crystal Springs Edwards Flora Florence Flowood Hazlehurst Magee Mendenhall Pelahatchie Raymond Richland Wesson Beauregard Bolton Braxton D'Lo Georgetown Learned Puckett Terry Utica

Transportation Affects Patterns of Settlement In the beginnings of our nation, cities served as a place where trading with Europe took place. Sailing ships were fastest. Major cities included Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore.

The Erie Canal A system of canals were built in the 1800 s. The governor of New York proposed a plan to build the Erie Canal. It was 363 miles long. This connected the Great Lakes to New York City. Thanks to the new trade routes opened by the canal, new major cities emerged – Cleveland, Detroit and Buffalo.

Railroads and Automobiles The first successful railroads were built in the 1830 s. By 1840, there were over 1, 000 miles of tracks. The railroad hubs grew in size. Chicago and New York City were the early hubs.

Railroads and Automobiles

Railroads and Automobiles Since the invention of automobiles made anywhere possible to visit, more than 8, 000 new cars were produced in the USA in each year of the 1950 s. • Suburbs grew thanks to cars and the ability of driving to work.

The Impact of Migration on the Nation All the advances in transportation allowed people the freedom to live where they wanted, not where they had to live. This allowed Southern cities to grow thanks to mild winters and less people than the Northeast. New industries attract people to the Gulf Coast.

TUGBOAT Do not try this at home. Remember, this is a professional captain. The towboat is approaching the bridge with barges loaded with coal.

This frame gives you an idea of how fast the river is running. Obviously at or near flood stage

The bridge didn't open and the boat can't stop. Notice that the tug has released the barges. He is backing as hard as possible to try and avoid a collision with the bridge.

Can't back down enough against the current.

The current has swung the boat around sideways.

About right now, the cook thinks maybe something isn't quite right.

The wheelhouse door and the door in the second deck are now open. Look close at the bottom righthand side of the picture and you will see that the bridge guardrail is underwater.

Look at the smoke coming from the exhausts. This thing is running!

The boat is upright and back under power. Just another day on the river.

Cities and Towns 80% of Americans live in metropolitan areas 20 % live in small towns and communities Geographers often talk about the nation’s urban places in terms or hierarchy or rank according to their function. Large cities are called metropolises Metropolis – largest city in a region Their hinterlands, or areas that they influence, are large. City – offers special goods and services Large Town – visited weekly for supplies Village – visited daily for supplies Farm – much distance between homes/farms

Primary economic activity - harvesting Secondary economic activity - canning Quaternary economic activity - managing Tertiary economic activity - transporting