- Frost Belt
The Frost Belt is a region of the
United States generally considered to include theNortheastern United States , the Great Lakes Region and much of theUpper Midwest . The region is known for its cold,frost -producing winters and heavy snowfall.The Frost Belt was for many years the epicenter of American economic activity, and the most populous part of the United States. A shift away from domestic manufacturing beginning in the 1980s dealt a heavy blow to the region's economy. For most of the latter 20th century, the Frost Belt had already been experiencing a stagnating population as Americans relocated to the more temperate Southern and Western regions of the country. This shift was caused by economic factors as well as social developments; the desegregation of the South and easing of racial tensions in that area made it a more welcoming place for African-Americans and other minorities. Even the advent of air conditioning played a role; the South and Southwest, once uninhabitable for some parts of the year, became a more viable alternative to the colder climates of the Northeast and Midwest. Census results for the past several decades have indicated a population shift from the Frost Belt to the
Sun Belt . [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CYZ/is_1_31/ai_n6065947]
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