Chapter 9: The Inland South

This week the topic is The Inland South.  The Inland South includes parts of Virginia, West Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Arkansas, southern Missouri, northern Louisiana, eastern Oklahoma, and east Texas.  Rehoboth Beach is not a part of this region, so we will instead compare and contrast the two regions.

In previous entries, comparing the climates of the two locations have become a recurring theme.  I think the climate of an area is important to understanding the region and what it encompasses.  For this reason, comparing the climates of the two locations will be a continuing theme.  The Inland South features a humid subtropical climate.  Summers are hot and humid, and winters are generally mild with the occasional cold snaps that can bring snowfall.  Rain is common throughout the year, but most common during spring and summer.  These rain storms are often accompanied by thunder and lightning.  Overall, the general climate has multiple similarities to Rehoboth Beach.  First Rehoboth Beach also experiences hot humid summers and cool/mild winters.  That said, the Inland South likely has a higher average summer temperature because there is no body of water to moderate the surrounding area.  Both the Inland South and Rehoboth experience rain and thunderstorms throughout the year; however, the Inland South experiences more rain annually, and it is not as evenly distributed throughout the year as in Rehoboth Beach.  Generally speaking, the two locations have similar climates, but the inland south tends to get a more extreme version of it.

In an effort to compare the inland south to Rehoboth Beach, the topic of vacationers and tourism is important.

Great Smokey Mountains National Park

It has been well documented in previous posts that Rehoboth Beach is a summer hot spot for vacationers looking to get away and hit the beach.  The Inland South has locations that tourist and vacationers flock to as well.  One such place is Great Smoky Mountains National Park, located along the border of North Carolina and Tennessee.  This is the nations most visited National Park and draws millions of tourists each year.  Tourism is beginning to become a mainstay of the Inland South's economy similar to the effect it has on Rehoboth Beach's economy.

Next week the topic will be The Coastal South.  We will once again be comparing The Coastal South to Rehoboth Beach since it is not located in the region
Until next time,
William

Chapter 8: The Great Lakes and Corn Belt

This week the topic is The Great Lakes and Corn Belt.  The Great Lakes and Corn Belt region encompasses Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and parts of, New York, Pensylvania, Missouri, Kansas,Nebraska, and South Dakota.  This region is often referred to as the "heartland" of North America.  Rehoboth Beach is not a part of this region, so this post will seek to compare and contrast the two regions.

The Great Lakes region is located to the west of Delaware.  Right away, there is an obvious difference.  Delaware is located on the eastern coast, and the Great Lakes region is much more inland.  The closest sizable body of water is the Great Lakes in the northern part of the region.  The region features a humid continental climate, with cool-cold winters, and hot summers.  Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year, and therefore is no real dry season.  Northern areas of the region tend to experience colder winters than the more southern areas as one would expected.  The Great Lakes region's climate is different from Rehoboth Beach, but it also shares some similarities.  For example, Rehoboth Beach experiences warm humid summers and rain distributed evenly throughout the year similar to the Great Lakes region.  Regions close to the Great Lakes experience some moderating effects similar to the moderating effects Rehoboth receives from the Atlantic ocean.  However, these places do not have the same climate.  For example,  the region gets colder in the winter, and as a result tends to receive much more snowfall than Rehoboth Beach.  Generally, Rehoboth Beach shares the most climate related similarities with southern states in the region, rather than the northern states.

The Great Lakes region is famous for its large corn growing industry, hence the tern "corn belt".

Corn Fields such as this one line the highways in Delaware, and the
surrounding area of Rehoboth Beach

A map of corn production shows the vast majority of corn is produced in this region.  However, Delaware, more specifically the lower portion of the state, is also a relevant producer of corn.  I have driven through many corn fields in Delaware, and enjoyed many cobs of corn purchased straight from the farmers who grew it.  Rehoboth Beach is not designed to grow corn, but the surrounding areas are filled with fields of corn.  Corn is popular with steamed seafood and crabs specifically at restaurants in Rehoboth Beach.  Despite being in different geographical regions, the two places are surprisingly linked by the production of large quantities of corn.

Next week the topic is The Inland South.  Once again, Rehoboth Beach is not part of this region; therefore we will once again compare and contrast the two regions.
Until next time,
William

Chapter 7: Megalopolis

This week the topic is Megalopolis, which is the region Rehoboth Beach falls into.  The term Megalopolis was coined by the french geographer Jean Grottmann, and is used to describe the densely populated urban corridor of the northeastern United States.  The five major cities that make up Megalopolis are: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. Delaware is not host to any of these cities, but rather located between these major cities and thus it is lumped into the Megalopolis region.  Many of the topics in the chapter have been discussed (climate, historical settlement, summer beach crowds, etc) in earlier blogs, so I will seek to address topics that have not already been mentioned in reference to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Much of Delaware falls into the non-urban places in an urban region category.  However, Delaware is still home to urban cities.

Wilmington, DE City Skyline

For example Wilmington, Delaware is is an industrial center, and also the headquarters of the DuPont chemical company.  Fun fact, many companies like to incorporate in the state of Delaware because of its state taxation policies.  Delaware has no sales tax, so the price you see is the exact price you pay.  I have personally waited until I was on vacation to make bigger purchases so i could take advantage of this.  Nevertheless, much of Delaware falls into the non-urban places category.  Rehoboth Beach is more developed than much of the surrounding areas, but it is still not the "urban" setting most people think when they hear the word city.  For this reason, Rehoboth Beach falls more into the category of non-urban places.  In fact, Rehoboth Beach more specifically, would likely classify as a resort community.  These resort communities are very popular along the atlantic coast, and popular destinations for people looking to get away from the Megalopolis cities.

Check out the above video for a brief tour around part of the boardwalk on a hot summer day in July.  Take note of the wide sidewalks perfect for accommodating the large number of vacationers that flock to Rehoboth Beach in the summer.  The boardwalk is a popular place to visit, and spend an afternoon or evening.  If you ever find yourself in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware I recommend checking out the boardwalk.

Rehoboth beach is not a major city in the Megalopolis region; however, the major cities still serve a purpose for residents of Rehoboth Beach and Delaware as a whole.

Philadelphia: One of the major megalopolis cities

Of the 5 cities Megalopolis includes, I have personally been to 4 (still need to make it to Boston one day).  These cities are the location of major airports that I have personally flown into when visiting Delaware.  From Rehoboth Beach, New York is about a 5-6 hour drive, Washington DC and Boston about 4 hours, and Baltimore and Philadelphia are about 2 and half hours away.  Although the drives are quite time consuming, these major cities provide countless opportunities for residents in the surrounding areas.  Ironically, residents of Rehoboth Beach and surrounding non-urban areas take vacations to these major cities to get a taste of the city life.


Overall, Rehoboth Beach is a resort community for many vacationers looking to escape the Megalopolis cities; however, all the surrounding cities provide countless opportunities for residents of Rehoboth Beach too.  Next week the topic will be The Great Lakes and Corn Belt.  Once again, Rehoboth Beach does not fall into this category so we will compare and contrast the two regions.
Until next time,
William

Chapter 5: The Atlantic Periphery

This week the topic is the Atlantic Periphery.  On the U.S side, the Atlantic Periphery includes all of Vermont, most of Maine and New Hampshire, and northeastern New York State. Rehoboth Beach is not a part of the Atlantic Periphery, so this entry will seek to compare and contrast the major features of the two.

Despite being located on the eastern coast like states in the Atlantic Periphery, Rehoboth Beach experiences much different weather patterns.  The Atlantic Periphery experiences cool to mild summers, with cold and snowy winters.  Rehoboth Beach on the other hand experiences hot summers, with relatively mild winters.  Snowfall in the Atlantic Periphery is also significantly higher than in Rehoboth Beach.  Both places seem very different, but they do share some similarities.  First, both places do not experience a dry season, and get consistent levels of rain throughout much of the year.  Secondly, the Atlantic Ocean does not have a big effect on major weather patterns in the atlantic periphery, but it does have moderating impacts on temperature and precipitation in coastal regions.  This is similar to the moderating effects Rehoboth Beach experiences from the Atlantic Ocean.  Both places are different in climate, but do still share some similarities.

Local fisherman prepare to cast their lines in
Rehoboth Beach, DE

The Atlantic Periphery is known for its large fishing industry that contributes to its economy.  Rehoboth Beach does not have as big of a fishing industry as the Atlantic Periphery, but fishing and crabbing is still very much a part of Rehoboth Beach.  There are many seafood restaurants and crab shacks scattered throughout the city.  In my experience, many people can be seen fishing or crabbing in the bays.  Some people even go clamming in the water as well.  The commercial fishing industry is larger in the Atlantic Periphery, but fishing is still a very relevant enterprise in Rehoboth Beach and the surrounding areas.

Lastly, the Atlantic Periphery is a popular location for vacationers.  However, unlike Rehoboth Beach, the Atlantic Periphery draws vacationers through a longer time frame.  Vacationers are drawn to the Atlantic Periphery during fall to see the beautiful fall foliage.  Additionally, ski resorts are another popular spot for vacationers when the snow starts to fall during the later months and early months of the new year.  Similar to Rehoboth Beach, the Atlantic Periphery draws summer vacationers too.  In Rehoboth Beach, most vacationers come for the beach and nightlife; however, in the Atlantic Periphery most summer vacations go for hiking, camping, fishing, and boating.  Despite differences, the Atlantic Periphery and Rehoboth Beach still share some similarities.

Next week the topic will be Megalopolis.  Rehoboth Beach is a part of the Megalopolis region, so the next chapter will highlight some of the key topics at play in the region.
Until next time,
William

Chapter 4: The North American Political Economy

This week the topic is the political economy of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.  The different economic sectors, effects of suburbanization, and Delaware's political representation will be topics to discuss.  Cities along the coast of Delaware, such as Rehoboth Beach will be shown to differ from the more inland areas of Delaware.

There are four economic sectors, and they are: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, and Quaternary.  The primary sector covers activities associated with the identification and extraction of raw materials.  The secondary sector covers activities associated with the transformation of raw materials into finished products.  The tertiary sector covers the distribution and servicing of finished products, and finally the quaternary sector covers any activities associated with management, planning, technology, research, and development.  As one might expect, Inland areas tend to differ from coastal regions of Delaware like Rehoboth Beach in the sectors they identify mostly with.  Many inland areas of Delaware are flat fields used for agriculture.  I have driven through many corn fields on my trips to Delaware.  Factories can be seen scattered throughout the inland areas as well.  Thus, inland areas tend to be more associated with primary and secondary sectors.  However, a coastal city, such as Rehoboth Beach, is more built up and features numerous shopping centers and businesses rather than agricultural fields.

The Tanger Outlets in Rehoboth Beach, DE

For example, Rehoboth Beach features an outlet mall that spans across both sides of the highway and draws customers from all over.  Additionally, Rehoboth Beach is focused around drawing tourists in for vacations and thus getting them to buy goods and service in the city.  Rehoboth Beach, and other coastal cities nearby tend to be associated with the tertiary sector, rather than the primary and secondary sector.   However, this is not to say all coastal regions are the same, and that all inland areas are different.  For example, Dover, Delaware's capital, is not located right on a coast, but has many shopping centers that are associated with the tertiary sector.

Following the development of more roads and reliable transportation, suburbanization became popular throughout the United States.  With this, came the development of edge cities.

 Rehoboth Beach is not a major city compared to other US cities, but in the context of Delaware, Rehoboth Beach is a moderately sized city.  Because of this, some smaller cities have formed more inland in less urban areas, and residents commute to Rehoboth Beach to visit the outlets, go to restaurants, and go to work.  One such city where people commute into Rehoboth Beach, is Dagsboro, DE.  My grandparents live in Dagsboro, and when visiting we would make many trips into Rehoboth to visit the the outlets, go to dinner, or even see a movie.

Like all states, Delaware has 2 senators in The Senate.  However, Delaware's small size and population only result in one member being sent to the House of Representatives.  Delaware counts for 3 electoral votes in the presidential election and is typically a democratic state.  Despite this, in the 2012 presidential election, Rehoboth Beach residents as a whole favored the republican candidate.

Next week the topic will be the Atlantic Periphery.  Rehoboth Beach is not a part of the Atlantic Periphery, and thus there will be less relevant information in the chapter pertaining to the location.  Despite this, we will compare and contrast the two locations instead.
Until next time,
William

Chapter 3: Historical Settlement of North America

This weeks topic is the historical settlement of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.  The eastern coast of North America was fundamental to european exploration and eventual settlement.  Delaware's intriguing history is intertwined with many events dating back to the exploration and settlement by europeans.  In order to understand how Rehoboth Beach became what it is today, we must see how Delaware came to be formed and later the events that led to the the formation of Rehobeth Beach.

Prior to european exploration Delaware was inhabited by two Eastern Algonquian Native American Tribes known as the Unami Lenape and the Nanticoke.  The Dutch were the first europeans to establish a settlement in present day Delaware.

The Zwaanendael Museum in Lewes, DE

In 1631, the Dutch established a trading post at Zwaanendael near present day Lewes, Delaware.  Rehoboth Beach is a neighboring city to Lewes, and it is likely Dutch settlers explored the areas of present day Rehoboth Beach.  However, the settlement was wiped out after clashing with local tribes nearly a year later.  In 1638 Sweden established settlements in Delaware, but were conquered by Dutch forces reestablishing settlements in 1655.  The Dutch control was short lived however.  In 1664, an English fleet conquered the Dutch and took control of the settlements under the orders of The Duke of York.  The Delaware provinces were later passed on to William Penn in 1682, who had control over settlements in present day Pennsylvania as well.  Delaware remained an English colony from there on until the American Revolution in 1776, at which point they became the 1st state in the United States by being the first to ratify the constitution.

The history of Delaware's Settlement is important to understanding how Rehoboth Beach became the city it is today.  The earliest settlers of Rehoboth Beach were Native Americans who traveled to the area in the summer months to enjoy the weather and abundant seafood.  Between 1650 and 1675, Dutch and then later English settlers established settlements in the area as farmers.  Members of William Penn's early legislatures also resided in the area.  In 1873, Reverend Robert W. Todd formed the Rehoboth Camp Meeting Association on 414 acres he purchased.

Overhead view of part of the city and beach

The city was laid out in a fan shape, with wide streets, parks, and specific building lots.  The design still remains mostly intact today.  The Delaware assembly established a municipality initially naming the territory Henlopen city.  However, it was later renamed to Rehoboth Beach and has stayed that way since.  The popular boardwalk was built in 1873 between the beach and Surf Ave. and ran the full length of ocean front.  Storms, such as the major one in 1962, have affected the boardwalk, but it still stands today and is a mile long.  in 1925 a paved highway connected Rehoboth Beach to Georgetown and thus began to link the city via paved roads to Washington D.C. This marked the beginning of many government officials and legislatures taking vacations to Rehoboth Beach.  Today, many government officials still vacation in Rehoboth Beach, and because of this, the city has become known as the Nation's Summer Capital.  I have made many trips to Rehoboth Beach and can say that it is a very cool city to visit during the summer.  The streets are always full with people walking around, and the boardwalk is always popular too.  If you can get past the massive crowds of people in the summer, Rehoboth Beach is a very fun and exciting place to visit during the summer.  It is amazing to see what it has become and grown into since its humble beginnings hundreds of years ago.

Next weeks Topic will be the Political Economy of Delaware with a focus on Rehoboth Beach specifically.
Until next time,
William

Chapter 2: North America's Environmental Setting

This week the topic is the environmental setting of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.  Despite being a relatively small city, there are still several things to address.  Most notable is the climate, which plays a major role in the prosperity of the city during the summer months.  However, I'd like to begin with a brief overview of some bigger environmental locations in and around Delaware.  These locations are not very far from Rehoboth Beach and give a good idea of the surrounding areas.

First, the entire state of Delaware is located east of the fall line.  Thus, water from rivers flow eastward to the atlantic ocean.

Hawksnest Overlook, Delaware River

Delaware is home to the Delaware River, which provided many benefits for early settlers and residents still today.  The Delaware River is also the location of George Washington's famous crossing of the Delaware in December of 1776.  The next major location is the Chesapeake Bay.  The Chesapeake Bay is a bit of a drive from Rehoboth Beach (About 2 hours actually), but it is a major environmental landmark and therefore worth noting.  Additionally the Chesapeake Bay and Bays found throughout Delaware are estuaries and the home for many different species of animals.  Essentially these bays serve as transitioning areas between rivers and the ocean.  Rehoboth Bay is the northernmost of Delaware's inland Bay's and is connected to the Broadkill River by the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal.

Rehoboth Beach, and the rest of Delaware is located in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain physiographic province.  This province ranges along the eastern coast from New York down to Florida, and then westward along the Gulf of Mexico.  The terrain in the province is some of the flattest terrain on the continent.  Speaking from personal experience, Delaware as a whole is very flat, and there are not mountains in the distant like you can see on clear days in many parts of California.  The area is characterized by swamps, marshes,lagoons, and estuaries as mentioned earlier.

A National Guard tank rolls through a flooded section of
road near the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal during the
storm of 1962

The climate of Rehoboth Beach plays a major role in the city's summer madness.  Rehoboth Beach features a mild humid subtropical climate.  The summers are hot, and the winters are mild compared to locations farther inland.  The Atlantic Ocean plays a role in moderating Rehoboth's weather.  There is no dry season in Rehoboth Beach, like we experience during the summers in California.  Additionally, in Rehoboth Beach it is not uncommon for afternoon thunderstorms to roll in.  Based on experience I can say these storms move fast.  They appear off in the distant and no more than 15 minutes later the wind is swirling and it's overhead.  In 1962, a major storm caused massive flooding and damages to many cities including Rehoboth Beach.  On average Rehoboth Beach gets about 44 inches of rain annually.  This is only slightly above the national average, and thus rain does not ruin most summer

Wreckage in Rehoboth Beach from the 1962 storm.
The boardwalk took the majority of the damage.

beach trips.  Rehoboth has an average temperature of 87 degrees fahrenheit in july, and 30 degrees fahrenheit in January.  This statistic highlights why Rehoboth is such a popular summer destination.  87 with a nice breeze always beat the 105 degree weather California would get while I was on vacation.  The weather is perfect for summer beach days, and it attracts thousands of vacationers each year.  In the winter it cools down to a brisk average of 30 degrees.  The beach is deserted and in some areas it resembles a ghost town.  Despite a below freezing average, snowfall in Rehoboth Beach is relatively less than areas further inland because of the moderating effects the atlantic ocean has on the climate.  Despite this, my cousins who live in Rehoboth Beach can confirm snow days are still very possible.

Next week we will cover the early settlement of Delaware and its connection to the colonies and later United States.
Until next time,
William

Chapter 1: Introduction

Welcome everyone to my Geography 321 Blog.  My blog will focus on Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and how it relates to each chapter we cover in class.  I have chosen this place as the focus of my blog for several reasons.  The main reason being that I have family who live in the area, and have spent a decent amount of time over the years actually visiting the area.  It is a very different atmosphere from my hometown of Santa Clarita, CA and I always enjoyed getting to visit my family in Delaware.

As noted above, Rehoboth Beach is located in Delaware along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.  Delaware itself is a relatively small state; however, its claim to fame is that it was the 1st state to ratify the constitution, and thus became known as the first state in the United States.  Despite the small size, Delaware is home to one of the most popular summertime beach locations nationwide.  This summertime frenzy city is Rehoboth Beach of course.  Rehoboth Beach is only 1.6 square miles in size, and that includes about 0.5 square miles of water.  Rehoboth Beach's population is only 1398 according to 2013 data.  However, this number only counts residents that actually live in the city the majority of the year.

Rehoboth Beach during the Summer

 During summer, this number grows to over 25,000 within the city limits and thousands more in the neighboring areas.  This number may seem small at first, but i can assure you that during summer every inch of Rehoboth Beach's roughly 1 square mile of land is packed with people on vacation.  After the summer season, Rehoboth Beach becomes a rather quiet little city occupied by the roughly 1400 people living in the area.  Many businesses along the coast are seasonal, and those that do remain open often offer big discounts to draw people in.  Besides the beaches, Rehoboth Beach is also home to an outlet shopping mall.  It remains open year round, but the difference from summer to winter is drastic.  

Rehoboth Beach is a unique little city along the coast.  It thrives during the summer and becomes almost desolate in the winter.  Having been there in the both the summer and winter, I can honestly say it goes from being packed with people everywhere along the streets and beach to absolutely deserted.  There are many reasons why this occurs, such as the weather throughout the seasons  Throughout future posts, this idea, and other factors that play into it will be discussed further.  Additionally, we will look at other parts of Rehoboth Beach and see what makes it so unique.  

I hope you enjoy reading future posts and learn more about Rehoboth Beach.  Who knows, you may just want to visit sometime.  Next week's Topic will cover The environmental setting of Rehoboth Beach

Until next time,

William