Course on Regions of the United States

An important element of geographical studies is the concept and use of regions. Basically, a region is a geographical area defined by shared characteristics which can be physical (like climate or landscape) or human (like language, religion, or culture). Regions are used to organize and understand the world, as they help to simplify complex areas into smaller, more manageable units.

In this course, “Regions of the United States,” sponsored by the Center for Lifelong Learning (CLL), geographer-instructor Tom Conger will lead participants on a journey across America, delving into 12 regions that make up the U.S.A. These varied landscapes represent the vast physical and cultural diversity of our land. For details and registration information, see the Classes and Seminars section of this edition of Leisure World News.

About the Course

The regions to be discussed include: Appalachia, Agricultural Core, Manufacturing Core, Great Plains, Southwest Border Region, Empty Interior, Southern Coastlands, Emerging South, Megalopolis, Bypassed East, California and the West Coast, Alaska and Hawaii.

One example is the region Leisure World is in called Megalopolis. This is a large, densely populated urban area that consists of several interconnected cities and suburbs, forming a continuous metropolitan region. Stretching from south of Washington, D.C. to north of Boston, Massachusetts, 50 million people live in in this Megolpolis of 50,000 square miles. It is one of the most important networks of urban communities in the world.

Course begins on Wednesday September 3, 2025 and ends on October 1, 2025 from 1:00pm to 2:00pm. This course will be conducted in Clubhouse 1. There is a $15.00 fee.