through the Hudson-Mohawk valleys. San handled $325 million in trade, most of Geography Francisco, likewise, controls an incredible which was cotton. But imports were West Coast harbor at the entrance to San increasing exponentially. By the late 1800s, In The Francisco and Oakland bays and the New Orleans was second only to New Central Valley of California that makes up York in the volume of fruits imported. News™ part of its hinterland. New Orleans is in a World War II and its aftermath in the similar geographic position on the U.S. 1940s brought a particular growth spurt to Gulf Coast. the Port of New Orleans and the growth Neal G. Hurricane Katrina devastated New has continued unabatedly. The Port of Orleans' port and the support facilities New Orleans now owns more than 1,000 Lineback associated with it, including the rail acres along the city's industrial canal and network, storage warehouses, cargo yards another 450 along the Mississippi River THE PORT OF and offices. The Port of New Orleans Gulf outlet. Up until the disaster created serves an incredibly large U.S. hinterland, by Hurricane Katrina, the State of Louisi- NEW ORLEANS particularly for outgoing agricultural ana claimed the Port of New Orleans as goods and incoming manufactured goods. the largest U.S. port and the third largest AND ITS Grain, wood products and chemicals are in the world. According to the Miami prevalent exports, but New Orleans Herald (Sept 8, 2005), nearly 60 percent of HINTERLAND clearly controls the flow of water transpor- U.S. exported grain production went tation for the entire Mississippi Valley. through the Port of New Orleans before Much has been reported recently about How did the city achieve dominance Hurricane Katrina hit the area. Hurricane Katrina's tragic impacts on among Gulf ports? New Orleans and it citizens. Little, With the U.S. agricultural harvests now however, has been said about the potential Since the earliest French settlements under way, the loss of the Port of New impacts of the loss of the Port of New and New Orleans' establishment in 1718, Orleans, even temporarily, is creating a Orleans on the city's hinterland. the city was considered the gateway to the major disruption, as export companies Mississippi Valley. By the early 1800s, struggle to get their products to interna- The term hinterland is a geographic term sugar and cotton were arriving down- tional markets. Although the 2005 wheat that refers to the surrounding area of harvest has ended, corn and interaction, also called a trade soybean harvests are just or service area. These are Navigating the Mississippi beginning. In addition, somewhat imperfect terms, Mississippi River Basin railroad traffic patterns will as it is often difficult to draw have to be changed to accom- a line around the geographi- Navigable Heads of Water

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e Pittsburgh sector of the economy, as including gasoline sales at r neighborhood filling industries accustomed to Ri r io v e utilizing the Port of New stations, brain surgery at a h O nsas R Orleans to export their goods regional hospital and Arka i v r e ve international trade opportu- r Ri now must adjust to whatever e Knoxville new transportation patterns nities at ports and free trade Tulsa se Tenn es zones. they can find. While citizens won't travel Without even mentioning far to purchase fuel, they the Port of New Orleans' in might travel great distances 0 400 mi situ losses of goods and 0 400 km equipment to Katrina, the to receive major medical New procedures or have access to Orleans loss or diminished availabil- ity of the port through this international trade. Thus, the ©2005 Source: University of Texas fall may present an extreme ranges of goods and services Geography in the News 9/23/05 Department of Geography and the Environment C. Knoll vary according to the economic hardship on all demands for them. The sectors of the economy across combined total influence of Sources: the South, Midwest and Great these goods and services and http://www.portno.com/PortRecord.pdf Plains. Consequently, special emphasis on bringing the port the city's competitive advan- http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/12585180.htm tage over its neighboring cities back to full operation will be an help determine its hinterland. essential part of New Orleans' recovery from Katrina. Most cities are situated in some favor- stream by steamboat for shipment to able geographic location that allows them Europe and to New England. In 1896, the And that is Geography in the News™. advantages over competing cities in Louisiana Assembly established the Port September 23, 2005. #799. serving their hinterlands. For example, of New Orleans to administer the develop- (The author was formerly Dean of the New York City inarguably occupies the ment of wharves and handle trade and College of Arts & Sciences and is currently best harbor and port on the U.S. East Coast traffic. By the 1860s, the port was visited Professor Emeritus of Geography at Appala- with a convenient route to the Midwest by more than 3,500 steamboats and chian State University.) ©2005 Maps.com