Where is the United States on the Map? An Overview of the USA’s Geography

The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country primarily located in North America. With a total area of 3.8 million square miles, the US is the world’s third or fourth-largest country by total area. But where exactly is the United States located on the map?

The Continental United States

The continental United States also referred to as the Lower 48, consists of the 48 adjoining states located on the continent of North America as well as the District of Columbia. This covers the area between Canada to the north and Mexico to the south.

West Coast

The West Coast of the continental US consists of states bordering the Pacific Ocean including California, Oregon, and Washington. This region contains dense urban areas like Los Angeles and San Francisco in California as well as natural wonders like the Redwood forests and the Cascade Mountains.

Midwest

The Midwestern states make up the north-central part of the country with states like North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. This agriculturally fertile region contains the Great Lakes system and reaches from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada.

Northeast

The Northeast region includes states located in the upper eastern part of the country including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. This is one of the most densely populated parts of the country containing major cities like New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C.

South

The Southern states make up a large portion of the southeastern part of the country with states like Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and parts of Texas. This region has a diversity of geographical features like the Appalachian Mountains, the Gulf of Mexico coast, subtropical climate zones, and forested areas.

Southwest

The Southwestern states include Arizona, New Mexico, most of Texas, Oklahoma, and parts of southern California. This arid region contains ecological zones like deserts and canyonlands as well as major cities like Phoenix, Albuquerque, and El Paso.

Alaska and Hawaii

In addition to the continental states, the United States includes the non-contiguous states of Alaska and Hawaii.

Alaska

Alaska is located on the northwest edge of the North American continent, bordering Canada and separated from the Lower 48 by Canada. At over 650,000 square miles, Alaska accounts for more than 17% of the total U.S. land area, making it the largest state. It contains spectacular wilderness and is known for areas like the Inside Passage, Denali National Park, and Glacier Bay.

Hawaii

The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago located in the Pacific Ocean approximately 2,000 miles from the U.S. mainland. Hawaii became the 50th and most recent state to join the Union in 1959. This tropical and volcanic island chain contains idyllic beaches, rainforests, and volcanoes like Mauna Loa and Kilauea.

U.S. Territories

In addition to the 50 states, the United States has sovereignty over 14 territories located around the world.

Caribbean Territories

The Caribbean territories under U.S. control include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Navassa Island. Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have a territorial status, while Navassa Island is considered an unorganized unincorporated territory.

Pacific Territories

The U.S. territories scattered across the Pacific Ocean include American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Palmyra Atoll, and Wake Island. These all have territorial status except for the minor outlying islands.

Where is the United States on a World Map?

Looking at a map of the world, the continental United States is situated in the middle latitudes of North America. Alaska extends into the far north towards the Arctic Circle, while Hawaii lies far out in the central Pacific Ocean. Collectively, the U.S. stretches across a vast geographic area from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans and from Canada to Mexico.

In Summary

• The continental United States refers to the 48 adjoining states plus D.C. located on the North American continent between Canada and Mexico.
• Alaska and Hawaii are non-contiguous states separated from the Lower 48 states.
• The U.S. also has sovereignty over several territories in the Caribbean and Pacific oceans.
• On a world map, the United States covers a large latitudinal distance spanning from the Arctic Circle to the tropics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many states are there in the United States?

A: There are 50 states in the United States. The last state to join was Hawaii in 1959.

Q: What are the northernmost, southernmost, easternmost, and westernmost points of the continental United States?

A: The northernmost point is the Northwest Angle in Minnesota, the southernmost point is Ballast Key off the coast of Florida, the easternmost point is West Quoddy Head in Maine, and the westernmost point is Cape Alava in Washington.

Q: What is the largest state by land area?

A: Alaska is the largest state, covering over 650,000 square miles.

Q: How many time zones are there in the United States?

A: There are 9 time zones covering the United States and its territories. These include the Hawaii-Aleutian Time Zone, Alaska Time Zone, Pacific Time Zone, Mountain Time Zone, Central Time Zone, Eastern Time Zone, Atlantic Time Zone, Chamorro Time Zone (Guam/Northern Marianas), and Samoa Time Zone.

Q: Which regions does the United States Census Bureau define?

A: The Census Bureau divides the US into 4 official regions – West, Midwest, South, and Northeast. It further divides these into 9 divisions.