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
