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Southwestern United States

The Southwestern area of the United States could be defined as the states south, or for the most part west of the Mississippi River, with the qualification of a certain northern limit, such as the 37, or 38, or 39, or 40 degree north line.

Geography

The Southwestern United States is a region of the western United States, and home to over 50 million residents. The USGS does not define regions so regional definitions vary from source to source.^[1] The Southwest always includes New Mexico and Arizona, but often takes in western Texas.

The population density of the region is less than three people per square mile. The Southwest is also more ethnically varied than neighboring regions, with significant European American, Mexican American, and American Indian populations.

The Southwest contains many large cities and metropolitan areas of the country, despite the low population density of the region as a whole. Phoenix, Los Angeles, Dallas, San Antonio, San Diego and Houston all rank among the top ten most populous cities in the country^[2]. Fort Worth and Austin are in the top 20 ^[2]. Many of the states in this region, such as Nevada, New Mexico and Arizona, have witnessed some of the highest population growth in the United States. Urban areas in this region, like Las Vegas, Albuquerque and Phoenix are some of the fastest growing cities in the country.

Cuisine

Tex-Mex cuisine was popularized in Texas^[3], and has spread to many other areas, both in Texas and in other nearby western states. New Mexican cuisine, includes a notable focus on its respective regional emphasis on chile spice, more particularly the famous "Hatch Green Chile". Arizona's very popular Arizona-Sonoran cuisine, holds its own meld of northern Mexican states' love of heavy sauces, as well as that regional respect for chile heat. And, the San Francisco burrito and "Fresh Mex" or Baja California-style of Mexican food is also commonly associated with the Southwest.

Notes

External links

• American Southwest, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary