REGIONS OF TEXAS

The 4 Regions of Texas• Gulf Coastal Plains• North Central Plains• Great Plains•Mountains and Basins

GULF COASTAL PLAINS REGION

Gulf Coastal Plains

Physical Characteristics

*Largest region in Texas

*varies from flat land in east to rolling hills in the west

*low elevation*trees are abundant

Gulf Coastal Plains

Climate*Mild climate*Humid*Abundant rainfall

(because region is located close the Gulf of Mexico)

*Hurricanes

Gulf Coastal Plains

Economy*Farming*Ranching*Timber*Ports*Oil Industry

Gulf Coastal Plains

Major Cities*Houston*Dallas*San Antonio*Austin

Gulf Coastal Plains

SubregionsPiney Woods

Gulf Coast PlainPost Oak Belt

Blackland PrairieSouth Texas Plain

NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS

North Central Plains

PhysicalCharacteristics

*Part of larger central plains region that stretches from Canada to Texas

*Higher in elevation than Coastal Plains region

*Land covered with grass and brush

North Central Plains

Climate*Colder in winter and

hotter in summer than Coastal Plains

*Receives less rainfall than East Texas

*Area is part of Tornado Alley

North Central Plains

Economy*Large cattle

ranches*Farming*Oil and Gas

North Central Plains

Cities*Forth Worth is

largest city in this region

*Abilene*San Angelo

North Central Plains

SubregionsCross TimbersGrand PrairieRolling Plains

GREAT PLAINS

Great PlainsPhysical

Characteristics*Caprock Escarpment

divides Great Plains from North Central Plains

*Higher in elevation than the Coastal Plains and North Central Plains

*Flat land*Few trees

Great Plains

Climate*Dry climate (far

from Gulf of Mexico)

*Droughts are often a problem

*Cool summers and winters are cold

Great Plains

Economy*Farming- Cotton

and Wheat main crops

*Ranching- Cattle, Goat, and Sheep

*Oil & Gas

Great Plains

Major Cities*Amarillo*Lubbock

Great Plains

SubregionsEdwards Plateau

Llano BasinHigh Plains

MOUNTAINS AND BASINS

Mountains and Basins

Physical Characteristics

*Part of the Rocky Mountain system

*Plateaus and basins*Highest and Driest

Region*Mostly desert area

Mountains and Basins

Climate*Driest part of state

(little rainfall)*Hot days and cool

nights

Mountains and Basins

Economy*Farming (along the

Rio Grande River)*Cotton is main crop*Tourism*Oil and Gas

Mountains and Basins

Major Cities*El Paso is the

largest city in the region

Mountains and Basins

SubregionsNo subregions