Manufacturing of today.

15.4.1. The leading categories of U.S. manufactured goods of today are chemicals, industrial machinery, electronic equipment, processed foods, and transportation equipment. The chemical industry accounts for about 11 percent of the overall annual value added by manufacturing. Texas and Louisiana are leaders in chemical manufacturing. Industrial machinery includes engines, farm equipment, as well as various kinds of construction machinery, computers, and refrigeration equipment. California led all states in the production of industrial machinery.

15.4.2. Factories in the United States build millions of computers, and the United States occupies second place in the world in the production of electronic components (semiconductors, microprocessors, and computer equipment). Electronic equipment is one of the fastest growing manufacturing sectors. High-technology research and production facilities have developed in the Silicon Valley of California, south of San Francisco; the area surrounding Boston; and the area around Austin, Texas. In addition, the United States has world leadership in the development and production of computer software. Leading software producers are located in areas around Seattle, Boston, and San Francisco.

15.4.3. Food processing is an important industry in several states noted for the production of food crops and livestock, or both. California has a large fruit- and vegetable-processing industry. Meat-packing is important to agriculture in Illinois and dairy processing is a large industry in Wisconsin.

Transportation equipment includes passenger cars, trucks, airplanes, space vehicles, ships and boats, and railroad equipment. Michigan, with its huge automobile industry, is a leading producer of transportation equipment.

The manufacture of fabricated metal and primary metal is concentrated in the nation’s industrial core region. Iron ore from the Lake Superior district, plus that imported from Canada and other countries, and Appalachian coal are the basis for a large iron and steel industry. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan are leading states in the value of primary metal output. The fabricated metal industry, which includes the manufacture of cans and other containers, hardware, and metal forgings and stampings, is important in the same states.

15.4.4. Printing and publishing is a widespread industry, with newspapers published throughout the country. New York, with its book-publishing industry, is the leading state, but California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania also have sizable printing and publishing industries. The manufacture of paper products is important in several states, particularly those with large timber resources, especially softwood trees used to make most paper. The manufacture of paper and paperboard contributes significantly to the economies of Wisconsin, Alabama, Georgia, Washington, New York, Maine, and Pennsylvania. Other major U.S. manufactures include textiles, clothing, precision instruments, lumber, furniture, tobacco products, leather goods, and stone, clay, and glass items.

LECTURE 16

Date: 2015-12-18; view: 694