McGraw-Hill SocialStudies 2003 Return to Unit List
Grade 4
Lesson Review Lesson Review
Unit 6: The West
Chapter 12: History and Economy of the West
Lesson 4: The West Today
 
Type your name:

 
Population Changes

According to the 2000 , the West is still a growing region. Most of the Western states grew by about one fifth of their population between 1990 and 2000. was the country's fastest growing state during this time period. Its population grew by 66 percent. The Census also found that Hispanics and Asians were the two fastest growing groups of people in the West.

Leading Industries

Companies that made movies were originally located in the Northeast, but filming required a lot of space and good . Producers began to move to California. Los Angeles and are now the center of the movie and television industry. In the late 1900s, parts of the Northern California and Washington became known for their and science colleges. Many students stayed in the area to work or start their own businesses with computers that used silicon chips. So many of these computer companies moved to one part of central California that it became known as .

Effects of Change

The rapid growth of the West has presented many challenges. One issue is land use. As more land is used for buildings, the region's and wildlife can be threatened. Many towns are trying to limit . This is the uncontrolled spread of buildings. City planners are trying to make public more available. Government officials are looking for new ways to get the energy the region needs while encouraging energy .

Check Answers