The geographic boundary of the Mississippi River has long been an object of fascination, with some of the greatest American poets and authors advancing a romantic notion of it. To this day, it still applies an imperative impact on the state landscape of the United States. The Mississippi River divides the country into two distinct regions, the Eastern and Western States, and two-thirds of states are located east of the Mississippi.
The Eastern States are composed of areas east of the Mississippi River, beginning in the Southwest with Texas and heading northeast until reaching the Atlantic Coast. It encompasses 15 states in total, with the area including states from the Deep South such as Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, to other regions in the Midwest like Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, and carrying on to the Northeast with states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.
The states located east of the Mississippi River account for an even larger portion of the United States’ total population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 121 Million of the nation’s 309 Million people live in these 15 states, accounting for nearly 40 percent of the population.
The states located east of the Mississippi River also significantly contribute to the United States’ economic success, as it produces nearly 50% of the total Gross Domestic Product. These states are responsible for fuelling its powerhouse industries such as finance, energy and biotechnology, among others.
It cannot be denied that the Mississippi River had a great impact on the history and culture of the United States. It has been an integral part in shaping the country’s legacy and values over hundreds of years. It’s crossroads of cultures, commerce, culture, industry and more brought these states together and created an incredibly unique region within the United States.
The East of the Mississippi region is a bustling hub of industry and culture, with some of the largest cities such as New York City, Chicago, and Detroit located within it. The region also contains some of the United States’ most renowned natural wonders and parks, from the famous Appalachian Mountains to the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri.
In summary, 15 U.S. states are located east of the Mississippi River. This region makes up nearly 40% of the population and 50% of the Gross Domestic Product. Moreover, it is hugely influential in the country’s history and culture, and is home to some of its top cities, tourist attractions, and natural wonders.
Political Impact
As the majority of US states are located east of the Mississippi, it has also had a significant impact on US politics. This is largely due to the significantly larger population in the eastern states, which can be credited to their centrality in the nation and their influential industries. When the nation votes in presidential and congressional elections, the east of the Mississippi states generally have a larger sway, as they contain more Electoral College votes.
This even has been increasingly evident in recent years, as most of the east of Mississippi states have tended to lean Democratic, whereas many of the western states tend to vote Republican, creating a purple map of electoral results in the US.
The east of Mississippi River states have their own political legacy and their own distinct voting patterns. In the 2016 presidential election, for example, eight of these states chose Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton. Similarly, in the 2018 midterms, the east of Mississippi states largely went blue, and many of these states flipped from their traditional Republican voting patterns to win key congressional seats in the House of Representatives.
The influence of the east of Mississippi states is clear to see in US politics. As the east of Mississippi region has become increasingly populated and influential, it is likely that its states will continue to play a key part in US politics in the years to come.
Cultural Contribution
As the area east of the Mississippi has a longer history of development than the Western US states, it has also retained a more culturally traditional atmosphere. This can be seen in the prevalence of traditional music, art, and architecture in the region, which captivate tourists from around the world.
From the soulful rhythms and blues of the Jazz and Delta Blues genres, which have a long history of originating in the coastal cities of the deep south, to the artistic styles explored in the paintings of the Hudson River School painters, the East of Mississippi has a robust cultural treasure cove.
This is also visible in the area’s architecture, from the Colonial Style homes prominent in many of the coastal states such as North and South Carolina, to the iconic skyscrapers of New York City. The traditional French Creole style also had a strong influence in the region, seen in Louisiana in its plantation style homes.
Due to this more traditional atmosphere, the states located east of Mississippi River are some of the most popular tourist destinations in the US, accounting for over two-thirds of all tourists visiting the US in 2019. From the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Niagara Falls, as well as some of the nation’s most popular cities like Boston, New York, and Washington DC, the east of the Mississippi region is no doubt rich in culture and history.
Economic Outlook
With the largest population in the US and some of the most influential industries, the east of the Mississippi River States have a great deal of economic power. This region has become an increasing driver of the nation’s economy, with the collective GDP of these states accounting for 18.8 trillion dollars in 2019, which is over half of the nation’s GDP.
The economic outlook in the area remains strong. These states are home to influential industries, such as finance, energy, technology, and biotechnology, as well as traditional industries like farming and manufacturing. The presence of large cities and metropolitan areas means that the area is also home to a large number of start-up companies, with many innovative products and services being developed.
Moreover, with a large portion of the nation’s population living in these states, it means that the region is determined to remain globally competitive. This will ensure that the area enjoys an increasingly strong economic outlook in the years to come.
Environmental Impact
The states located east of the Mississippi River are also responsible for some of the nation’s worst environmental incidents. These states are home to many of the pollutant sources and industrial facilities that are responsible for the nation’s air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions.
Furthermore, issues like deforestation, over-grazing, urbanization and soil erosion are common in the area. In addition, since many of the industrial plants in the region are outdated, they cannot provide sufficient energy in an environmentally friendly manner. All of these factors contribute to the area’s poor environmental conditions.
Nevertheless, there are many efforts in place in the east of Mississippi region to try and tackle these environmental concerns. Some of these include the introduction of new renewable energy sources, the implementation of stricter environmental regulations, the reduction of waste production and the improvement of the nation’s water and air quality.
The states located east of the Mississippi River have long been a major contributor to the nation’s environmental issues, but with many initiatives in place to mitigate this, significant progress can be made to ensure that the region sees a cleaner, healthier tomorrow.
Conclusion of the River
The Mississippi River is an integral part of the US landscape, both geographically and culturally speaking. Spanning the US from the Gulf of Mexico up to the Great Lakes region, the River divides the Eastern and Western US states. These east of Mississippi states constitute 15 of the US’s states, with 40% of the population living in this region and producing approximately half of the country’s total GDP.
The east of Mississippi region also has a rich cultural legacy, with its traditional music, art, and architecture influencing modern day society. It also has a large number of tourists due to its many attractions, from its mountain ranges to its iconic cities. The region is also a significant contributor to the US’s politics and environmental issues, revealing a great deal about the nation’s values and its challenging issues about the future.
