Eastern Seaboard

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Eastern Seaboard

region, United States

Also known as: Atlantic Seaboard

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Jun 12, 2025 • Article History

Also called:: Atlantic Seaboard

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Eastern Seaboard, region of the eastern United States, fronting the Atlantic Ocean and extending from Maine in the north to Florida in the south. Not merely a geographic term, the Eastern Seaboard is, historically, the part of the United States that was first settled by European immigrants and from which most westward American settlement originated. In popular usage, the Eastern Seaboard connotes the coastal settlements from Boston to Philadelphia, an area of heavy urbanization, in which are islands of great poverty and conspicuous wealth, business and financial centres, major educational institutions, and a high level of social and cultural sophistication.

Keep Learning

How did the original 13 colonies shape American history?
Why are so many major U.S. cities located along the Eastern Seaboard?
How does the climate vary from Maine to Florida along the Eastern Seaboard?
What are the most important ports and harbors along the Eastern Seaboard?
How has the Eastern Seaboard influenced American culture and politics?

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica