Richard Hartshorne

American geographer

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July 17, 2026

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Richard Hartshorne was an influential American geographer known for his work in the mid-20th century. He is primarily recognized for codifying the regional approach to geography, which emphasizes describing and understanding the unique combination of phenomena in specific places. His seminal work, The Nature of Geography (1939), was heavily influenced by German geographers and defined geography as a science that interprets the "areal differentiation of the world".1

Hartshorne's perspective conceived of regional geography as the ultimate purpose of the discipline, aiming to synthesize various geographical studies into a coherent understanding of specific regions. This approach dominated U.S. geographical practices for several decades, though it faced challenges from other perspectives, such as cultural geography.1

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geography
Geography in the United States
Richard Hartshorne codified this approach. His monograph, The Nature of Geography (1939; reprinted 1976), was much influenced by the work of German authors—notably Alfred Hettner—and it conceived the discipline’s defining characteristics. Geography, he concluded, is
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Richard Hartshorne codified this approach. His monograph, The Nature of Geography (1939; reprinted 1976), was much influenced by the work of German authors—notably Alfred Hettner—and it conceived the discipline’s defining characteristics. Geography, he concluded, is
Read More