Date of Award

Spring 5-2015

Degree Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Geography and Geology

Committee Chair

Clifton V. Dixon

Committee Chair Department

Geography and Geology

Committee Member 2

Jerry Bass

Committee Member 2 Department

Geography and Geology

Committee Member 3

David Cochran

Committee Member 3 Department

Geography and Geology

Abstract

The settlement geography of the Gulf Coast of the United States possesses and shares unique cultural and historical characteristics. The thesis analyzes three selected towns along the coast: Indianola, Texas; Pascagoula, Mississippi; and Apalachicola, Florida. The thesis focuses on describing each town’s historical background and early efforts at permanent settlement, the expansion of the settlement using various modes of transportation such as shipping and railroads, the economic and agricultural base that was used to improve the settlement’s reputation, the characteristics of the settlement’s concept of folk housing, and the impact and recovery of the settlement from disasters such as fire and hurricanes. In other words, the thesis examined the settlement histories of three towns, and the importance of geographic site and situation to settlement success or failure.

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