CLEP US History II

Answer: D - The central Northern states, despite being known for their wide-open expanses, are the most sparsely populated states in the country. Wyoming, Montana, and the Dakotas have the least population density outside of Alaska. One cause for this is the high frequency of extreme weather in the region. Also, when the states were settled, some residents quickly acquired vast tracts of land for farming or ranching, uses for which much of that land is still designated. In some cases, extreme topographical qualities prohibit convenient residential and commercial development.