Mid-Atlantic states

Mid-Atlantic Region
Composition	Delaware Washington, D.C. Maryland New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Virginia West Virginia
Metropolitan areas	Baltimore–Washington Buffalo-Niagara Falls Albany-Schenectady-Troy Philadelphia–Wilmington Norfolk–Virginia Beach New York–Newark Allentown–Bethlehem–Easton Pittsburgh Richmond-Petersburg Rochester Syracuse Scranton–Wilkes-Barre Charleston Harrisburg-York-Lebanon
Largest city	New York City
Area
• Total	191,308.5 sq mi (495,487 km2)
Population (2008 est.)[1]
• Total	57,303,316
• Density	300/sq mi (120/km2)
GDP[2]
• Total	$2.962 trillion (2007)

The Mid-Atlantic, also called Middle Atlantic states or the Mid-Atlantic states, form a region of the United States generally located between New England and the South Atlantic States. Its exact definition differs upon source, but the region often includes New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and West Virginia. When discussing climate, Connecticut (especially southern Connecticut) is often included with the Mid-Atlantic region. The Mid-Atlantic has played an important role in the development of American culture, commerce, trade, and industry.^[3]

It has been called "the typically American" region by Frederick Jackson Turner. Religious pluralism and ethnic diversity have been important elements of Mid-Atlantic society from its settlement by Dutch, Swedes, English Catholics, and Quakers through to the period of English rule, and beyond to the current day. After the American Revolution, the Mid-Atlantic region hosted each of the historic capitals of the United States, including the current federal capital, Washington, D.C.

In the early part of the 19th century, New York and Pennsylvania overtook Virginia as the most populous states and the New England states as the country's most important trading and industrial centers. Large numbers of German, Irish, Italian, Jewish, Polish, and other immigrants transformed the region, especially coastal cities such as New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Baltimore, but also interior cities such as Pittsburgh, Albany, and Buffalo.

New York City, with its skyscrapers, subways, and headquarters of the United Nations, emerged in the 20th century as an icon of modernity and American economic and cultural power. By the 21st century, the coastal areas of the Mid-Atlantic were thoroughly urbanized.

The Northeast Corridor and Interstate 95 link an almost contiguous sprawl of suburbs and large and small cities, forming the Mid-Atlantic portion of the Northeast megalopolis, one of the world's most important concentrations of finance, media, communications, education, medicine, and technology.

The Mid-Atlantic is a relatively affluent region of the nation, having 43 of the 100 highest-income counties in the nation based on median household income and 33 of the top 100 based on per capita income. Most of the Mid-Atlantic states rank among the 15 highest-income states in the nation by median household income and per capita income.

Defining the Mid-Atlantic

A USGS Fact Sheet interpretation of the Mid Atlantic.^[4]

An 1897 map displays an inclusive definition of the Mid-Atlantic region, including Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania.

There are differing interpretations as to the composition of the Mid-Atlantic. Sometimes, the nucleus is considered to consist of Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia, with additional states possibly included.^[5] Other sources consider New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania to be the core Mid-Atlantic states, with others sometimes included.^[6] For example, since the 1910 census, the Mid-Atlantic Census Division has included New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, which combined with the New England Division, comprised the Northeast Census Region.^[7] A United States Geological Survey publication describes the Mid-Atlantic Region as all of Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, along with the parts of New Jersey, New York, and North Carolina that drain into the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays and the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds.^[8]

West Virginia and parts of Virginia are atypical of this region in several ways. They are the only states to lie primarily within the Southern American dialect region,^[9] and the major religious tradition in both states is Evangelical Christian, 31% in Virginia and 36% in West Virginia.^[10] Although a few of West Virginia's eastern panhandle counties are considered part of the Washington, D.C. MSA, the major portion of the state is rural, and there are no major or even large cities.^[11]

The "typically American" region

Frederick Jackson Turner wrote in 1893 about the important role the Mid-Atlantic or "Middle region" had played in the formation of the national American culture, and defined it as "the typical American region".^[12]

History

Shipping containers at the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal, part of the Port of New York and New Jersey

Shipping and trade have been important to the Mid-Atlantic economy since the beginning of the colonial era.

The explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano was the first European to see the region in 1524. Henry Hudson later extensively explored that region in 1609 and claimed it for the Dutch, who then created a fur-trading post in Albany in 1614. Jamestown, Virginia was the first permanent English colony in North America seven years earlier in 1607.

From early colonial times, the Mid-Atlantic region was settled by a wider range of European people than in New England or the South. The Dutch New Netherland settlement along the Hudson River in New York and New Jersey, and for a time, New Sweden along the Delaware River in Delaware, divided the two great bulwarks of English settlement from each other. The original English settlements in the region notably provided refuge to religious minorities, Maryland to Roman Catholics, and Pennsylvania to Quakers and the mostly Anabaptist Pennsylvania Dutch. In time, all these settlements fell under English colonial control, but the region continued to be a magnet for people of diverse nationalities.

The area that came to be known as the Middle Colonies served as a strategic bridge between the North and South. The New York and New Jersey campaign during the American Revolutionary War saw more battles than any other theater of the conflict. Philadelphia, midway between the northern and southern colonies, was home to the Continental Congress, the convention of delegates who organized the American Revolution. The same city was the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the United States Constitution in 1787, while the United States Bill of Rights was drafted and ratified, and the first Supreme Court of the United States sat for the first time, in the first capital under the Constitution at New York City.

While early settlers were mostly farmers, traders, and fishermen, the Mid-Atlantic states provided the young United States with heavy industry and served as the "melting pot" of new immigrants from Europe. Cities grew along major ports, shipping routes, and waterways. Such flourishing cities included New York City and Newark on opposite sides of the Hudson River, Philadelphia on the Delaware River, and Baltimore on the Chesapeake Bay.

Cities and urban areas

Baltimore

New York City

Philadelphia

Washington, D.C.

Metropolitan areas

Metropolitan areas with more than 1,000,000 people:

• Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia, DC-MD-VA CSA
• Buffalo-Niagara-Cattaraugus, NY CSA
• Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD CSA
• Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA
• New York-Newark-Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA CSA
• Pittsburgh-New Castle, PA MSA
• Richmond-Petersburg, VA MSA
• Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY CSA

State capitals

• Albany, New York
• Annapolis, Maryland
• Charleston, West Virginia
• Dover, Delaware
• Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
• Richmond, Virginia
• Trenton, New Jersey

Politics of the Mid-Atlantic states

• Bold denotes election winner.

Culture

Sports

The Mid-Atlantic is home to several professional sports franchises in major leagues:

• New York metropolitan area: Giants, Jets (NFL), Yankees, Mets (MLB), Knicks, Nets (NBA), Rangers, Islanders, Devils (NHL)
• Philadelphia: Eagles (NFL), Phillies (MLB), 76ers (NBA), Flyers (NHL)
• Washington, D.C.: Redskins (NFL), Nationals (MLB), Wizards (NBA), Capitals (NHL)
• Baltimore: Ravens (NFL), Orioles (MLB)
• Pittsburgh: Steelers (NFL), Pirates (MLB), Penguins (NHL)
• Buffalo: Bills (NFL), Sabres (NHL)

In addition, the Major League Soccer features four Mid-Atlantic teams: D.C. United, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls and Philadelphia Union, as well as two WNBA teams: New York Liberty and Washington Mystics.

Notable golf tournaments in the Mid-Atlantic include the Barclays, Quicken Loans National and Atlantic City LPGA Classic. The US Open, held at New York City, is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, whereas Washington Open is part of the ATP World Tour 500 series.

Notable motorsports tracks include Watkins Glen International, Dover International Speedway and Pocono Raceway, which have hosted Formula One, IndyCar, NASCAR, World Sportscar Championship and IMSA races. Also, the Englishtown and Reading drag strips such have hosted NHRA national events. Pimlico Race Course at Baltimore and Belmont Park at New York host the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes horse races, which are part of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.

See also

• List of regions of the United States

References

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Mid-Atlantic.

Bibliography

• Bodle, Wayne, "The Mid-Atlantic and the American Revolution", Pennsylvania History 82 (Summer 2015), 282–99.
• Heineman, Kenneth J., "The Only Things You Will Find in the Middle of the Road are Double Yellow Lines, Dead Frogs, and Electoral Leverage: Mid-Atlantic Political Culture and Influence across the Centuries", Pennsylvania History, 82 (Summer 2015), 300–13.
• Landsman, Ned C. Crossroads of Empire: The Middle Colonies in British North America (2010)
• Longhurst, James. "" Typically American": Trends in the History of Environmental Politics and Policy in the Mid-Atlantic Region." Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies 79.4 (2012): 409-427.
• Magoc, Chris J., "In Search of a Useable—and Hopeful—Environmental Narrative in the Mid-Atlantic", Pennsylvania History, 82 (Summer 2015), 314–28.
• Mancall, Peter C., Joshua L. Rosenbloom, and Thomas Weiss. "Exports from the Colonies and States of the Middle Atlantic Region 1720–1800." Research in Economic History 29 (2013): 257-305.
• Marzec, Robert. The Mid-Atlantic Region: The Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Regional Cultures (2004)
• Richter, Daniel K, "Mid-Atlantic Colonies, R.I.P.", Pennsylvania History, 82 (Summer 2015), 257–81.
• Rosenbloom, Joshua L., and Thomas Weiss. "Economic growth in the Mid-Atlantic region: Conjectural estimates for 1720 to 1800." Explorations in Economic History 51 (2014): 41-59.

Regions of the world
Africa	Mediterranean Northern  Gibraltar Arc Maghreb (Barbary Coast) Barbara (region) Atlas Mountains Sahara Sahel Egypt (Upper Egypt, Middle Egypt, Lower Egypt, Bashmur) Nubia (Lower Nubia) Nile Valley Nile Delta Middle East Sub-Saharan Western East East African Rift: Great Rift Valley, Western or Albertine Rift Valley, Eastern or Gregory Rift Valley, Southern Rift Valley, Rift Valley Lakes (Great Lakes) Central Mittelafrika Southern Horn Ethiopian Highlands (Roof of Africa) Sudan (region) Guinea region Rhodesia (region) (Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia) Negroland Mayombe Igboland (Mbaise) Maputaland Congo Basin Chad Basin Swahili coast Pepper Coast Gold Coast Slave Coast Ivory Coast Tropical Africa Islands Madagascar Anglophone Africa Francophone Africa Lusophone Africa Arabophone Africa
North America	Contiguous United States Northern Pacific Northwest Northeastern United States New England Midwest Mid-Atlantic Western United States Southwest Llano Estacado Mountain States South Central United States Southern United States East Coast West Coast Gulf Coast Bible Belt Rust Belt Appalachia Great Plains Great Lakes Eastern Canada Western Canada Canadian Prairies Northern Canada Atlantic Canada North Mexico Gulf of Mexico West Indies Caribbean (Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles, Lucayan Archipelago Western Caribbean Zone Central Isthmus of Panama Mosquito Coast Middle Mesoamerica Aridoamerica Oasisamerica Anglo French Latin (Hispanic) American Cordillera Ring of Fire
South America	Southern Northern (Guianan states) West South America (Andean States) West Indies Patagonia Pampas Pantanal Amazon Amazonia Altiplano Andes Brazilian Highlands Caribbean South America Gran Chaco Llanos Atacama Desert Cerrado Latin (Hispanic) American Cordillera Ring of Fire
Asia	Central Aral Sea Aralkum Desert Caspian Sea Dead Sea Sea of Galilee Transoxiana (Turan) Greater Khorasan Ariana Khwarezm Sistan Kazakhstania Far East Russian Far East Extreme North Eurasian Steppe Pontic–Caspian steppe Wild Fields Yedisan Muravsky Trail Ural (region) Volga region Idel-Ural Kolyma Transbaikal Pryazovia Bjarmaland Kuban Zalesye Ingria Novorossiya Gornaya Shoriya Tulgas Siberia Eastern  Northeastern Inner Asia Manchuria Outer Manchuria Tibet Guanzhong Huizhou (region) Wu (region) Ordos Loop Yangtze River Delta Northern Southern Southeastern Mainland (Indochina) Maritime (Malay Archipelago) East Indies (Greater India) Indian subcontinent Himalayas Mahabharata Range Hindu Kush Ganges Basin Ganges Delta Balochistan Rajputana Punjab (region) Thar Desert Indus Valley Indus River Delta Indo-Gangetic Plain Eastern Coastal Plains Western Coastal Plains Hindi Belt Doab Great Rann of Kutch Little Rann of Kutch Deccan plateau Coromandel Coast Konkan Lakshadweep Andaman and Nicobar Islands Maldive Islands Western Red Sea Middle East (Near East) Arabian Peninsula Persian Gulf Pirate Coast Najd Hejaz Tihamah Eastern Arabia Southern Arabia Hadhramaut Mediterranean Sea Eastern Mediterranean Zagros Mountains Tigris–Euphrates river system Mesopotamia (Upper Mesopotamia, Lower Mesopotamia, Sawad) Canaan Aram (Biblical region) Levant (Mashriq) Southern Levant Levantine Sea Gaza Strip West Bank Galilee Gilead Judea Samaria Arabah Transjordan Jordan Rift Valley Sinai Peninsula Caucasus Transcaucasia Arabian Desert Syrian Desert Fertile Crescent Syria (region) (Greater Syria) Palestine (region) Anatolia (Asia Minor) Cilicia Cappadocia Asia-Pacific Tropical Asia Ring of Fire
Europe	Central Mitteleuropa Danubian countries Prussia (region) Lithuania Minor Northern Nordic Northwestern Scandinavia Scandinavian Peninsula Fennoscandian Peninsula Sápmi Eastern Baltic Crimea Donbass Sloboda Ukraine Southeastern Balkans (Balkan Peninsula) North Caucasus Kabardia Southern Russia European Russia Middle East Southern Italian Peninsula Insular Italy Iberia Gibraltar Arc Southeastern Mediterranean Western Alpine countries Benelux Low Countries Northwestern British Isles Channel Islands Germanic Romance Celtic Slavic countries Eurasian Steppe Pontic–Caspian steppe Wild Fields Pannonian Basin Volhynia Karelia (East Karelia, Karelia (historical province of Finland))
Oceania	Australasia Australia Capital Country Eastern Australia/East Coast of Australia (Eastern Seaboard) Lake Eyre basin Murray–Darling basin Northern Australia Nullarbor Plain Outback Southern Australia Sunraysia Great Victoria Desert New Guinea Zealandia Pacific Islands Micronesia Melanesia Polynesia
Polar	Antarctic Arctic
Oceans	World (Sea) Arctic Atlantic Indian Pacific Great Barrier Reef Mariana Trench Ring of Fire Southern Convergence List of seas
Continents of the world / List of seas / Physical Earth