Why do pine stands exist?

Question

I live in the midwestern United States. I cycle to work, sometimes on heavily wooded roads, and I can't help but notice that in most places within the surrounding deciduous forests Pine and evergreen trees don't seem to be doing so well - the few that exist don't look too happy. In some places, however, there are majestic stands of pines - often completely free of the "seasonal" variety of trees. Why is this? What allows the slow growing pines to out-compete the other arboreal denizens of the forest? And generally in such particular areas? Thanks, this is killin' me...

Answer 1

I'm not sure how exactly this applies to all of the midwest's pines, but here in Toledo, OH we have a huge forest of only pines. Barely any other vegetation grows there and I was always curious. I asked a professor about it and he informed me that it was an old pine plantation. So the pines were purposefully put there for growth and harvest and that's why theres so many pines and practically nothing else. Again, I'm not sure if that's just the case here, or if the same may apply to the ones you have seen. As for competition without human intervention, I'm honestly not sure.