The
Northwest region of the United
States is composed of two smaller areas: the Pacific Northwest and
the northern part of the Great Plains. The Pacific Northwest
includes Washington and Oregon while the Great Plains states of the
Northwest include Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
Climate
The
coastal states of Oregon and
Washington have warm summers and rainy but mild winters. The western
section of Idaho tends to have a similar climate since the border is
only 300 miles from the Pacific Ocean. As for the rest of Idaho,
Montana, and Wyoming, the summers are dry and hot while the long
winter months are bitter cold and snowy.
Northwest
Cities
Seattle, Washington
- Seattle has a population of more than 582,000 people with an
additional 3.2 million in the surrounding metro area. Also known as the
"Emerald City," Seattle is famous for grunge rock music, coffee, and
its cloudy and rainy climate (it has an average of 58 clear, sunny days
every year).
Portland,
Oregon - Population of the city of Portland is roughly
537,000 with 2 million more in the Portland metro area and surrounding
suburbs. Portland is known the world over as "The City of Roses" since
its climate is ideal for growing roses. It is also home to numerous
small breweries.
Other
primary cities in the region are
quite a bit smaller including Boise, Idaho; Billings, Montana; and
Cheyenne, Wyoming. The sizes of these cities are much smaller in
comparison mostly because theses states have some of the lowest state
populations in the country.
Industries
Oregon
and Washington are well-known
for agriculture and their major cities of Portland and Seattle are
home to numerous financial institutions, biotechnology companies, and
the headquarters of various retail corporations.
The
key industries of Idaho, Montana,
and Wyoming include mineral extraction, lumber, agriculture, and
sheep and cattle ranching.
Major
Northwest Interstates
Interstate 90 (which
runs east and west across the entire length of the U.S.) passes through
the Northwest states of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and finally
Washington.
Interstate 15 is a
major north and south corridor in Montana and Wyoming. It is vital
because it links the two states to the rest of the western region.
Interstate 5 runs along the Pacific Coast of Oregon and
Washington.
