Discover

The 'Southwestern United States'; commonly referred to as the 'American Southwest' or the 'The Southwest'; is a region of the western United States. Its population is less dense than neighboring areas (even its cities have relatively low population density), and with significant Spanish American, Mexican American, and American Indian populations, it is also more ethnically varied than neighboring areas. Contained within this region is the 'Desert Southwest' consisting mainly of Arizona and New Mexico. Southern Nevada, Southern Utah, Western Texas, Western Oklahoma, Southern California, and Southwestern Colorado may be considered part of the Southwest, although the precise definition varies widely. Generally, people from the Eastern United States are more prone to consider Texas and Oklahoma part of the Southwest, while people from California, Arizona, and New Mexico are likely to consider most of Texas, perhaps with the exception of far western Texas (e.g., El Paso), to be part of the South. Los Angeles is the most populous city in the Southwestern United States (and second most populous in the nation); and Phoenix ranks among the United States' ten largest cities. San Antonio ranks in the top ten as well, with Fort Worth in the top 20. Many of the urban areas in this region (e.g., Las Vegas, Phoenix and Fort Worth) have witnessed some of the fastest population growth in the United States over the past decade. This region is known for its bold art. Tex-Mex cuisine was popularized in South Texas (San Antonio), although more traditional Southwestern cuisine can be found west of Texas.