How many southeastern states are there

Some only include contiguous , while others may include the U. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The American Association of Geographers has defined the Southeast region to include the following states:. The U. Geological Survey the Southeast slightly differently.

Under this definition, the following states make up this region:. Puerto Rico and the U. Virgin Islands are also included as part of the Southeast under this definition.

Other definitions also include Delaware , Maryland, and the District of Columbia. The Southeastern United States has a total area of over , square miles with a population of over 97 million. These states have individual personalities, but share some overlapping commonalities, such as climate, geographical features, history and culture. The southern region was settled by British colonists in the 17th century who established plantations that were populated with slaves from Africa.

The ancestry of most southerners is predominantly British and African, although some have Scottish, Germanic, French and Arcadian roots as well. The southeastern region enjoys a relatively long growing season, which makes it a key producer of many types of crops, including cotton, soybeans, fruits and vegetables.

With the increasing demand for technological goods, energy supplies and services, southerners responded by producing manufacturing and consumer goods such as machines, cars and paper products and by undertaking large-scale research operations. The southeast is also home to several prominent colleges and universities.