Actually, big-picture geologists have used the name "Cascadia" for this
region since at least the early 1970s (cf. McKee, Bates. 1972.
Cascadia -- the geologic evolution of the Pacific Northwest). The Cascadia
subduction zone lies off the coast and extends from southern BC to
northern CA and is named for the mountain range it parallels (and whose
existence it is ultimately responsible for). Also, there is a book called
"Cascadia Wild...," ca. 1993, that uses the name to identify the regional
ecosystem.

David Wright
dwright at u.washington.edu

On Wed, 5 Oct 1994, Michael Price wrote:

> Hi Tweeters,
>
> re: Pacific Northwest
>[preamble deleted]
> Practically, I'd like to suggest discussing a more generally regional
> approach to terminology describing our shared and lovely region. Most
> suggestions were politically and culturally neutral. Gary Duvall suggests
> adopting Pojar & MacKinnon's regional-unity term, 'northern Pacific coastal
> region'; Charles Easterberg recommends 'central west coast' or
> 'mid-Pacific'; Doug Canning's and David Wright's 'Cascadia' is a delicious
> idea and has my vote even over 'Mid-Pacific Coast' (and Doug's reminder
> that Canada's "Northwest Territories" are both north and east without
> including the true northwestern territory, the Yukon, was a startling
> reminder: that one was staring me in the face all these years...cracked me
> up, too); David Wright's 'Clearcut West' may be mordantly accurate, but--
>
> Cascadia, hmmm....
>
> Anyway, thanx again for the discussion. I've really appreciated the
> thoughtful and good-natured tone of discourse.
>
>
> Michael "North o' 49" Price
> Vancouver BC Canada
> michael_price at mindlink.bc.ca
>
>