I think that one of the most devistating terrorist attacks could be to the midwest. Consider an attack near Omaha, Nebraska. Sure it sounds like a nothing city (it is ranked only #42 in population), in the middle of nowhere. But it's central location is vital to transportation in the US. Since we are considering attacks that are large, lets consider an attack that took out Omaha, Des Moines, and Kansas City.
Note: 20% of Americans live within 500 miles of Omaha, so if we are considering a really large attack, the damage could be substantial. Add to that list above the Twin Cities, Chicago, Denver, St. Louis, and Oklahoma City. Indianapolis, Memphis, and Nashville are almost in that radius. But, I'll only focus on the Omaha area.
I won't focus on the obvious destruction of crops, but on things that will truely affect all Americans in ways that they don't expect.
Interstates: That attack would wipe out I-80, I-70, I-29, and I-35. That is half of the major east-west interstates in the whole US. It is also half of the important north-south interstates on the western half of the US. I'd estimate that 10%-15% of all freight movement within the US would end or be seriously harmed by the destruction of those interstates.
Railroads: There goes the transcontinental railroad and just about any railroad moving north/south through the heart of the country. Also, say goodbye to many railroad headquarters. There goes another ~15%-20% of all freight movement in the US.
River: The Missouri river transportation would end, and possibly the Mississippi. Nothing from the gulf coast could reach the rest of the US through river. River transportation is less important, but that will take another 5%-10% of all freight movement away.
Basically, half of all freight shipments would end. People on the east coast say goodbye to any west coast product (computers) or anything from Asia. People on the west coast say goodbye to any east coast or European product. And almost no one would get gulf coast products.
Oil: Two of I think three major pipelines running from Canada to the US will be destroyed in the narrower area and all Canadian pipelines would be gone if we include the 500 mile radius. Half of the gulf coast oil pipelines will be gone as well in the 500 mile radius.
Other headquarters: At least at one point (it may not still be true since I haven't kept up with it), Omaha was the center for other key industries. Think military weather prediction, missile storage, air traffic centers, etc. That will all be gone.
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