Research: What makes a place distinct?

GOAL: Try to find a niche to base my thesis around.

1. Religion
2. Topography
3. Race
4. Flags
5. Population
6. Climate
7. Plant life
8. Animals life
9. Ideology
10. Healthcare - Canada
11. Skyscrapers
12. Fashion
13. Language
14. Diseases
15. Festivals – mardi gras
16. Mineral resources
17. Manufacturing – Detroit
18. Scenic views
19. Character of homes – Adobe, Cape Cod Style, Mediterranean
20. Insects
21. Historical sites
22. Military
23. Reputation
24. Education
25. State slogans
26. Elevation
27. Population density
28. Time zones
29. Relationship to the equator
30. Activities of the people
31. Crime
32. Dialect
33. Traditions
34. Natural disasters - hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes
35. Immigrants
36. Public Transportation
37. Monuments- the Leaning Tower of Pisa
38. Economy
39. Libraries – NY Public Library
40. Real estate
41. Government
42. Diversity
43. Agriculture
44. Power usage – nuclear, solar, wind
45. Airports
46. Museums – the Louvre
47. Places of interest
48. Neighboring states
49. Traffic
50. Types of jobs available
51. Landmarks – Eiffel Tower, Christ the Redeemer
52. State symbols – state bird, state flower
53. Livestock
54. Water supply
55. Sewage disposal
56. Railroads
57. Sports – NASCAR, Soccer
58. Diets of the natives
59. Styles of food
60. Novelties
61. Capitals - Trenton
62. Effectiveness of the law
63. Stadiums – Yankee Stadium
64. Bridges – Golden Gate Bridge
65. Jails - Alcatraz
66. Total Area of state or country
67. Names of the cities and towns and the cultural significance
68. How fertile the soil is
69. Breeds of pets
70. Mountain ranges
71. Proximity to another country
72. Environmentalists
73. Deserts
74. Aliens – Roswell
75. Famous people
76. Canals – Panama Canal
77. Building materials available – ice for igloos
78. Music – jazz, country
79. Footwear – havaianas, cowboy boots, moccasins
80. Wealth
81. Is the town walk able?
82. Rainfall – Seattle
83. Types of trees – bamboo, palm, oak
84. Types of fish – piranha, trout
85. Fresh water or salt water
86. Technology – Tokyo
87. Martial Arts – Jiu-jitsu. Mui Thai
88. Legal to have firearms? England vs. USA
89. Rivers – Mississippi
90. Availability of the Internet
91. Farms and ranches
92. Trade exports and imports
93. Radio personalities
94. Number of representatives in the US House of Representatives
95. Famous speeches that show the character of a nation – “Give me liberty or give me death” Patrick Henry
96. State newspapers
97. Decorative motifs
98. Drinking habits – Russia and Ireland
99. Paved roads, dirt roads, gravel roads or trails?
100. Cost of Living
101. Democrat or Republican
102. Significant writers – Shakespeare
103. Inventors – Albert Edison
104. Nuclear weapons capability
105. Unemployment
106. Value of family vs. independence
107. Safety regulations – USA vs. China
108. Oil
109. Stock market
110. Cars
111. Pollution and emissions
112. King or elected president
113. Heritage
114. Tolerance for same sex couples
115. Comfort level with sex in general
116. Acceptance of slang - Ebonics
117. Age of the country or state
118. Olympics
119. The build / body types of the natives
120. Romantic appeal
121. Parks – Yellowstone, Central Park
122. Beaches - Copacabana beach
123. Theme parks – Coney Island, Disneyworld
124. Volcanoes
125. Civil War
126. Woman’s rights or lack of
127. Dance Styles – Samba, Square dancing, Tango
128. Slavery or freedom – Union vs. Confederates
129. Shipping ports – NJ
130. Ancient artifacts – Greece
131. Hunting game – Africa
132. Crops - cotton
133. Gambling – Las Vegas
134. Taxes – NJ
135. Historical Documents – Declaration of Independence
136. Television networks – MTV, CNN
137. Style of Furniture
138. Famous Churches – Sistine Chapel
139. Famous Musicians – Springsteen
140. Ballet – Russia
141. Opera – Italy
142. Formal writing – Chinese calligraphy
143. Universities – Yale, Princeton, Harvard
144. Art movements
145. Wines
146. Palaces – Buckingham Palace, the Kremlin
147. Motion picture production – Hollywood
148. Modernity
149. Leaders – George Bush, Mikhail Gorbachav
150. Anthems – “Star-spangled banner” Francis Key
151. Textiles – Turkish prayer rug