3 ms·

> We are a mostly flat country Eh? The US is the opposite of "mostly flat". And large swaths of the mostly flat part have low population density. The country i

> We are a mostly flat country Eh? The US is the opposite of "mostly flat". And large swaths of the mostly flat part have low population density. The country is also very regional with considerable local diversity in what is produced and available locally. The US produces a lot of very local artisanal products throughout the country that don't travel very far that are based on local tradition and history. That's been true everywhere I've lived in the US.

gottorf 3y ago
> The US is the opposite of "mostly flat". And large swaths of the mostly flat part have low population density. Eh? Most of the population lives in the Atlantic coastal, Gulf coastal, and Midwest plains. Only a minority of Americans live in places that could be considered "mostly mountainous", methinks. Even Denver, the most populous city in (arguably) the most mountainous state, is actually a Great Plains city.
OkayPhysicist 3y ago
The big flat areas have low population density BECAUSE of all economy of scale farming. Look at California: You've got 4 metropolitan areas, 2 of which (the Bay Area and Los Angeles) are in coastal areas that have geographically convenient access to the big flat area with farms, one (San Diego) in a big flat desert, and one on the river in the big flat area (Sacramento). Chicago's surrounding areas are flat farmland. Portland and Seattle likewise have river access to their state's big flat areas. What's between the Rockies and Appalachia? Big flat farms.