Geology and Election 2000

Steven I. Dutch

Natural and Applied Sciences

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin 54311-7001

High Black Population

Low White Population

Poverty

Election 1996

Election 1976

Election 1984

Election 1968

Election 1964

Patterns

Population Density

Cotton

Tenant Farming, 1992

Tenant Farming, 1910

Black Settlement

Cotton Production 1859

Cotton Production 1899

Cotton Ginned, 1913

Cotton Production 1921

Fertilizer

Components of the Arc

• Alabama-Mississippi: “Black Belt” of favorable soils and topography for cotton farming

• Georgia: “Fall Line,” Remained somewhat marginal as production shifted from Piedmont to Coastal Plain?

• South Carolina: Voting patterns anti-correlated to Cretaceous, correlated with lower Tertiary. Explanation?

Factors in Development of the Arc

• Pre-Civil War spread of agriculture and slavery

• Disruption by Civil War

• Realignment of agricultural patterns after boll weevil

• Black emigration

• Advent of fertilizers and shift of production from Piedmont to Coastal Plain.

Questions

• Why does black population linger along this feature?

• What is the connection in South Carolina?