How are major southern cities distinctive from northern cities in terms of economics?

The economies of major southern cities can be less generalized than those of cities in the northeast. Miami, for example, is a major port city but is also a major city in tourism and the cruise industry. Atlanta has become a center of finance and business.

Houston's location on the Gulf of Mexico allowed it's economy to gain strength from oil. Dallas grew as a result of the livestock business. New Orleans, ravaged recently by Hurricane Katrina, was a great cultural center and tourist destination. The city is struggling to repair itself.