Final answer:
The Cross Timbers region is a geographical feature that, along with division systems such as the grid system or metes and bounds, served to separate and define regions within the United States during its westward expansion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Cross Timbers region serves as a geographical divider within the United States. Traditionally, geographers treat regions based on physical traits like flora and fauna, and cultural patterns are also considered, helping to reveal similarities and patterns. In the case of the American West, the land division systems such as the grid system or metes and bounds were used to divide territories and manage expansion, including the Northwest Territory, as set by the Land Ordinance of 1785. Over time, these systems established geographical distinctions as communities settled and states formed. The development of land ownership maps, whether on a grid or as a jigsaw puzzle of individual properties, contributed to our understanding of the geography as well as socioeconomic structures across different regions.