Question

Why are parts of the northeastern United States known as the Rust Belt?

Answer 1

The northeast used to be the leading area of heavy industries like steel and auto manufacturing as these factories shut down they rusted.

Explanation:

The rust belt is a play on words. Not only did the factories when they shut down began to actually rust it is a figure of speech in English.

To rust as a figure of speech means to fall apart. It signifies something that was good and productive become bad and useless.

The North Eastern States used to be some of the most prosperous in the United States. Now the rust belt states have some of the highest poverty rates in the United States.

For example Detroit was the center of car manufacturing in the United States. It was by per capita the richest city in the U.S. Recently Detroit filed for bankruptcy.