How To Draw The States Of The Usa

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Wondering how many states are in the US? Across the country, young students learn how many states are in the Us (United states of america). While many U.South. residents know there are 50 states, other folks however wonder if there are actually 52 states of America. So, where's that confusion coming from? While the U.s.a. contains 50 states, it also oversees 14 territories, including a federal district and some island nations.

While Delaware, the first land, was established back in 1787, the "newest," Hawai'i, attained its statehood in 1959. Of the 50 states, 48 of them are referred to equally being "face-to-face," which simply means that they're touching or continued. Every bit of now, the only non-contiguous states are Alaska, which touches Canada, and Hawai'i, which is a chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Still, why exercise people call back in that location are 52 U.s.a. of America? Near oftentimes, this fault stems from people wrongly including Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., also known as the District of Columbia, in their count.

The District of Columbia

The District of Columbia is not considered to be one of the states, nor is information technology a territory. Officially, it's a federal commune — and dwelling house to the land's upper-case letter city, Washington, D.C. According to Merriam-Webster, a federal district is defined equally "a district set apart equally the seat of the fundamental government of a federation." The Commune of Columbia has its ain council and mayor, but Congress has jurisdiction over the commune. Recently, the button for D.C. to achieve statehood has gained momentum.

Puerto Rico

Many people error Puerto Rico for a land, but it'due south actually a territory. Located in the Caribbean Ocean, Puerto Rico'southward main island is home to nearly iv million people, while many more than live on the territory's smaller islands, which include Culebra, Mona, and Vieques. Although Puerto Rico is a territory, its residents hold American citizenship. Similarly to D.C., some folks want Puerto Rico to attain statehood — while others are fighting for Puerto Rico's independence.

Other U.s.a. Territories

Including Puerto Rico, 14 territories are overseen by the United States. Some of these territories, such as Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.South. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa, are inhabited. Additionally, Midway Atoll and Palmyra Atoll are as well inhabited, merely have populations of less than 100 people. The other, uninhabited territories include Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Wake Island, and Navassa Island. The majority of these territories are located in the Pacific Ocean.

Other Must-Know Facts About the States

Between 1797 and 1790, 13 states were ratified by officials. Known as the thirteen original colonies, these states include Delaware, New Bailiwick of jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, S Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, Northward Carolina, and Rhode Isle.

Four of the l states include the term "Commonwealth" in their official names, which references the English term for a political community founded for the common adept. Those iv states are Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky.