7) The Opposite of the Bypassed East

Chapter 7 discusses the region of northeast North America called The Bypassed East.  This region is described as being a relatively cold and bleak place.  Malibu is almost the polar opposite of the Bypassed East.

While the Bypassed East is cold and receives substantial precipitation, Malibu is generally warm throughout the year and receives very little precipitation.  While both the Bypassed East and Malibu are very mountainous, they are quite different in nature.  The mountains of the east only contain civilization in their lowlands and valleys, whereas in Malibu, residences and business are built right into the hillside.

In the Bypassed East, farming was never easy, and has only been in decline.  In Malibu, farming was never significant, but there are several small wineries scattered across hillsides that offer locally made wine.

While commercial fishing is a large industry in the Bypassed East, in Malibu, this is not the case.  There is some private fishing, but not nearly on the same scale as in the east.  One theme remains the same between the two regions.  Pollution is endangering the fishing industry in the East.  While there is no business industries in danger due to pollution, it is still a big concern in Malibu due to the wildlife being put at risk.

In the Bypassed East, half the population lives in small cities, while the offer half lives in rural areas.  There is no real "city" type of densely populated area in Malibu, so just about all of Malibu is considered rural.  There are, however, areas that are more rural than others.  While some homes are built in small development communities, there are others that are standalone homes built into the hillside.  These homes are set back into the hills and are very unique.

The demographic and economic patterns of the Bypassed East are undergoing transformation and the future is uncertain.  In Malibu, it is quite the opposite.  The demographics remain the same as they have for several decades.  Malibu is a home to a predominantly white population, and largely households without children.  It is a city made for upper class, wealthy people who enjoy their freedom.