heartland

[ hahrt-land, -luhnd ]

noun

1. the part of a region considered essential to the viability and survival of the whole, especially a central land area relatively invulnerable to attack and capable of economic and political self-sufficiency.
2. any central area, as of a state, nation, or continent:

   a vineyard in California's heartland.

heartland

/ ˈhɑːtˌlænd /

noun

1. the central region of a country or continent
2. the core or most vital area

   the industrial heartland of England

Word History and Origins

Origin of heartland¹

First recorded in 1900–05; heart + land

Example Sentences

The heartland, then as now, is almost a different state, with different fears.

From Vox

What happened to Chowchilla is the story of a generation-defining crime that briefly shook the world, and the ripple effects it had on the state’s heartland.

From Vox

The manufacturing heartland of the Midwest and the Northeast experienced a massive wave of deindustrialization.

From Washington Post

Both the baseball and softball championships have become marquee events in the heartland cities that host them, with large sellout crowds, and drawing similar audiences on ESPN.

From Washington Post

Breanna Stewart logged in from the industrial heartland of Russia, resting her head on a table as she listened.

From Washington Post

The cities of the heartland came into existence, first and foremost, as economic entities.

From The Daily Beast

In 1994, Rastetter founded Heartland Pork enterprises, ultimately becoming the second largest pork producer in Iowa.

From The Daily Beast

Thus, any Iraqi army offensive in the Sunni Arab heartland is unlikely to succeed without local partners.

From The Daily Beast

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher had an odd warning last week for the Heartland Institute.

From The Daily Beast

Throughout the Sunni heartland, the government has simply imploded.

From The Daily Beast

It was the only area of the heartland—except for the top level casinos—open to every citizen without restriction.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• backwoods