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