Rust Belt

The Rust Belt is a term that refers to an area of the northern United States. The area is mostly the states near the Great Lakes, and some of them are considered to be Midwest states. This area was once known for steel production and heavy industry. That industry has greatly decreased since the middle of the 20th century. As the name might imply, the area has sort of turned to "rust", like what happens to old steel. Much of this decrease in industry is because of the United States using manufacturers from other countries. It became an Industrial hub because of its proximity to The Great Lakes, canals, and rivers which companies used to access raw materials and ship out products.  

Most Rust Belt cities, for example, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Youngstown, Ohio, have had a very large decrease in their population since the 1950s and 1960s. 

Some "Rust Belt" cities include:

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Youngstown, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Steubenville, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Gary, Indiana
Flint, Michigan
McKeesport, Pennsylvania
Wheeling, West Virginia
Detroit, Michigan
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Buffalo, New York
Rock Island, Illinois
Niagara Falls, New York
Rochester, New York
Grand Rapids, Michigan
South Bend, Indiana
Chicago, Illinois
Charleston, West Virginia
St. Louis, Missouri
Camden, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Lansing, Michigan
Newark, New Jersey
Jersey City, New Jersey
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Springfield, Illinois
Watertown, New York
Akron, Ohio
Warren, Ohio
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Anderson, Indiana

Category:Regions of the United States
Category:Economic geography