1.7 Region Defined

“Region” can have many meanings, and is often used synonymously with “place” or “space,” especially in conversational language. Place, space, scale, and region are all related and interconnected concepts within geography. [Recall “regional” was one of the scales described in our discussion of scales.] It is, however, important to recognize the distinctions between and among them. 

Well, it’s hard to discuss the nuances without first having a definition to frame our discussion. Let’s start there:

Merriam-Webster (n.d.) defines a region as “a broad geographic area distinguished by similar features.” While general and broad, this definition makes two things clear: the areal nature of regions and the fact that what defines them are some similar feature or attribute that is shared throughout the space they occupy. Let’s focus on what this means for the discipline of geography.

A Dictionary of Human Geography (Castree et al., 2013) defines a region as “A relatively bounded area regarded as meaningful for geographic analysis by virtue of either one or more distinctive features or a high level of functional integration.”  There are some clear similarities between this definition and the Merriam-Webster definition, as they focus on the same two similar characteristics. Where this goes a step further is its discussion of the integration of regions. Castreel et al. (2013) go on to note other properties of regions to include that regions can be “integrated and relatively bounded, or discontinuous, disvided, and porous.” Clear as mud, right?

Regions seek to categorize areas based on certain criteria, and can be considered social constructs resulting from power struggles (Entrikin, 2011; Paasi 2009). Regions can be seen as “containers for places” (Entrikin, 2011). The defining criteria can make the definition of regions subjective in nature, often meeting the needs of the delineator (Entrikin, 2011). The criteria could be based on physical geography, linguistic similarities, ethnic similarities, or any number of other characteristics or combinations of characteristics. There is also a scalar aspect to regions (Paasi, 2009). You can have regions at very local scales (such as ethnic regions within a city) to more broad scales (such as supranational regions like the EU). We’ll discuss this more in depth when we discuss borders and boundaries later in the course.

Types of Regions

There are many different taxonomies associated with regions, with various authors noting different types of regions (Montello, 2003). For the purpose of this class, we’ll focus on the taxonomy that divides regions into three categories that are generally agreed upon by human geographers when discussing regions or discussing them in a theoretical context:

• Formal: A Dictionary of Human Geography (Castree et al., 2013) defines a formal region as “characterized by the uniformity of some feature such as climate or language.” As noted by this definition, the uniformity can be in relation to human or physical geographic characteristics. The European Union is a great example of a formal region, where the criterion defining the region is government or administration. Member nations go through an admissions process before being formally admitted. Other examples of formal regions include the Colorado River Watershed, Francophone Canada, the region of Iraq where Shia Islam is the dominant religion, or the US Rust Belt. Our first exercise will deal with formal regions: country, state, and county. 
• Functional: Castree et al. (2013) define functional regions as regions that are “integrated by interaction or linkages” and the interaction is centered on a central node. A local scale example of a functional region would be school districts, with the schools acting as a central node. Metropolitan areas are another common example of functional regions. These are centered on a major city, with the region defined as the area where economic and social activities are strongly integrated with that city. Note that functional regions sometimes cross the boundaries of formal regions -- e.g., the New York metropolitan area includes parts of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. (Remember: states and provinces are considered formal regions.) 
• Vernacular (perceptual): Vernacular regions are typically derived by subjective feelings that may or may not be true and may vary from person to person. If you’ve ever asked somebody from New York to define the regions of New York, the answers will likely vary based on where that person is from. Somebody from Long Island may call everything that’s not Long Island “Upstate,” but somebody from Syracuse would likely take issue with that definition. In some cases, the geographic distinction is based on some other criterion. For example, some people may base their definition of "Upstate" on some income threshold. Others may define it based on the presence of certain shops, like Duane Reade. Likewise, the delineation of what makes up the US “South” or the “Midwest” might cause some differences in opinion. Please read this article from Thirillist that demonstrates the various definitions of the “South” from a sample of individuals.

To help you better understand the differences and interrelationships between regions, here is an example that incorporates all three types. Pennsylvania is a formal region defined by its administrative boundary (i.e., the state boundary) and its shared government structure (i.e., all of Pennsylvania shares a governor). It is made up of smaller formal regions (counties), each of which have their own local governance, but all of them are still subject to the state government. The Greater Pittsburgh area is a functional region that consists of eight counties within Pennsylvania that are strongly linked to Pittsburgh with regard to economic and social activity. Pittsburgh is located in Western Pennsylvania, which is a vernacular region whose borders and characteristics depend on the person or agency defining it.

As we noted above, regions exist at a variety of scales, and regions can contain (or be contained by) other regions. So: Squirrel Hill is a neighborhood (a formal region) within the City of Pittsburgh (a formal region), which is itself set within Allegheny County—a formal region within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (another formal region). Pennsylvania is variously considered part of the vernacular regions of the Mid-Atlantic, the South, or the Northeast, depending on who you ask. All of these exist within the broader-scale formal region of the United States. The United States, meanwhile, exists within the broader regions of North America, the Western Hemisphere, and the Global North (though the use of formal, functional and vernacular becomes less obvious as such grand scales).

Challenges of Regions 

While the concept of regions can be incredibly helpful in characterizing the world, there are also certain theoretical challenges that continue to be discussed to this day. 

One such challenge is the “artificial sense of permanence” that regions exhibit (Entrikin, 2011). You’ll see through the course, many of the concepts we discuss are fluid and dynamic, constantly changing and evolving with the world around it. Regions are one such concept that can be seen as fluid and dynamic. Regions change and evolve over time; even administrative boundaries have changed. In 2011, the nation of South Sudan had its borders delineated at the international level. Internal boundaries, such as provinces, also change, which can make spatio-temporal analyses challenging. The pace of the change may vary, but one thing is certain: regions are dynamic.

So where does this “artificial sense of permanence” associated with regions arise? Perhaps it is their connection with cartography and spatial analysis that reinforces this “artificial sense of permanence?” Pickles (2004) discusses ‘cartographic impulses’ that seek to depict the world spatially. Regions are central to the ability to depict complex social and physical processes on maps. Regions, often depicted with solid lines in cartographic representations, further signify a permanence connotation, rather than other cartographics depictions that may bely greater fluidity (for example, dashed lines or gradient lines).  

Another challenge associated with regions is the subjectivity that sometimes surrounds their delineation, especially considering vernacular regions. Different delineators may shape their regions differently, even if they think they are using the same criteria. We’ll discuss this in greater depth when we discuss boundaries later in the course.

While challenging to define, regions, like place, space, and scale, are a core concept in geography, and especially human geography, that have a role, in combination with the other core concepts, in many of the other concepts we’ll discuss throughout the course.

Related concepts:

• Borders 
• States
• Nations