For those not familiar with the term “Banana Belt,” it relates to those areas of a state or region that are traditionally milder than the rest of the vicinity, especially during the winter months. My first experience with the term came from the Escanaba area of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula –while no one will be growing bananas there, the catch phrase has hung on and it surprising universal across much of the country.
Having heard/read about the term again recently in both Colorado and South Dakota, it seems like a good time to identify the Banana Belts of the United States. From a topographic standpoint, most (not all) Banana Belts tend to be located on the east side of a mountain range, which allows it to be protected from colder/wetter weather.
So here is the list. Please feel free to pass along any others that may have been missed. Peace!
Banana Belts of the USA – Created with mygooglemaps.com
- Central Colorado’s Arkansas River Valley – protected by mountains, this area including Salida, Poncha Springs, and Buena Vista eastward to Pueblo is spared the heaviest snows of winter.
- DuBois Region of Wyoming – protected by the Tetons, it has a milder winter climate than much of Wyoming.
- Eastern Shores of the Finger Lakes of New York – sunnier side of these long, slender lakes.
- Eastern Slope of South Dakota’s Black Hills – protected by the mountains, Rapid City, Custer, and Hot Springs offer milder winter weather than nearby areas.
- Escanaba Region of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – tends to not get as cold or as snowy as other parts of the U.P. and is protected some by the higher slopes to the north and west. Lake Michigan also provides a moderating effect on temperatures. This area also includes Menominee, Iron Mountain, and Manistique.
- Lake Champlain Region of Vermont – because of the longer growing season there.
- Lake Michigan Coastline of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula – often considerably warmer than Wisconsin and inland areas of the Lower Peninsula, though the lake effect snows can be daunting at times.
- Lewiston-Clarkston area of Idaho and Washington – nicknamed “The Banana Best of the Inland Pacific Northwest.”
- Lovelock area of Nevada – an area of soil and climate that differs from the balance of Nevada
- Oregon’s Southwest Pacific Coast – milder weather in the Brookings and Gold Beach areas leads to this area being known as a Banana Belt.
- Portions of Southern and Southeast Alaska, including Angoon – protected by mountains to the north
- Sausalito, California – due to its limited fog compared to similar areas near San Francisco.
- Southeastern Minnesota – generally southeast of the Twin Cities in the Winona area along the Mississippi River
- Southwestern North Dakota – milder weather than the balance of the state.
- The Treasure Valley Region of southwest Idaho – including Boise and surrounding cities.
- Tobacco and Bitterroot Valleys of Montana – areas around Eureka and the Ten Lakes Scenic Area
SOURCES:
https://panethos.wordpress.com/2024/06/15/banana-belts-across-the-united-states/
Greg Cocks 
