MexAmerica extends the entire US-Mexican border along the Rio Grande, stopping at the Gulf of Mexico. It encompasses large metropolitan regions, including Phoenix, Tuscon, El Paso, and San Antonio; populated rural areas in Texas; and miles of uninhabited desert.
Weather & Climate
MexAmerica is an extremely dry region. Based on elevation, summer temperatures often reach over 100 degrees, and winters are cooler, with an average high of 65 degrees. Due to the climatic conditions of this area, many farmers grow frost-sensitive crops here, including citrus fruits.
Economy
A mainstay in the economic development of MexAmerica is maquiladoras. Maquiladoras are foreign-owned (mainly American-owned) manufacturing operations located on the US-Mexican border. These operations allow the operators to achieve as much production at a lower cost, while simultaneously increasing job opportunities to Mexican citizens. These maquiladoras are located in free trade zones, as set up and regulated by NAFTA, or the North American Free Trade Agreement. NAFTA helps to facilitate export and import between the three countries of North America: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The major maquiladora centers of MexAmerica are located in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez. This is what maquiladoras produce:
Cultural Diversity
Like New York City, the region of MexAmerica has become a center of cultural diversity. There has been a significant influence on the cuisine, music, dress, and overall culture on this part of the United States due to the amount of Mexican-born, Mexican-heritage, and Spanish-heritage Latinos that now inhabit the region. A new culture has formed within the region, a blending of the cultures of those who live in MexAmerica.
Works Cited -
http://mexamerica.net/site/
http://www.garreau.com/main.cfm?action=chapters&id=43
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