Final answer:
The Rust Belt is the name given to the formerly industrial centers located in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic states of the United States, characterized by its decline due to deindustrialization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The name given to portions of the northeastern and mid-Atlantic states traditionally known as industrial centers of the country is the Rust Belt. This term came into use to describe the decline of the manufacturing regions, which had once been the heart of industrial productivity in the United States. Located in the northeastern part of the United States and Midwest states, the Rust Belt includes a wide belt of industrial cities from St. Louis to Chicago and across Ohio to Pittsburgh.
The region has been affected by deindustrialization, contributing to the abandonment of factories and the subsequent accumulation of rust on their structures. The Industrial Revolution took hold in this area during the 19th century, with the Manufacturing Belt emerging around the Great Lakes, starting with textiles in New England, moving to steel in Pennsylvania, and later dominated by the manufacturing of automobiles in Michigan.
Over time, factors such as cheaper labor costs in the South and overseas, weak labor unions, and less stringent safety and environmental laws led many companies to move their operations from the Rust Belt. This has had a profound impact on the local economies and the labor force that was once dependent on these industries. The region, which also forms part of the northeastern core of the United States, was home to an abundant supply of natural resources, such as coal and iron ore, which were critical for the traditional industries that it supported.