In North America, cellars usually are found in rural or older homes on the coasts and in the South. However, full basements are commonplace in new houses in the Canadian and American Midwest and other areas subject to tornado activity or requiring foundations below the frost line.

Where are basements most common?

THE WEST. The Western part of the country (including the Midwest) is the area where basements are most popular. One region in particular – the West North Central States – is the heartland of basements. This region consists of the states west of the Mississippi and east of the Rockies.

Why are there no basements in the South?

The chief culprit of most missing basements in the South is damp soil. ... Even in drier climates, the clay composition in the soil can make basements impractical or even dangerous. While this kind of soil doesn't have enough water in it to cause flooding, mold, or rot, it can play havoc with the basement walls.