Editing Contiguous United States

{{Short description|48 states of the US apart from Alaska and Hawaii}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2015}}
[[File:National-atlas-blank-state-outlines.png|thumb|A map showing the contiguous [[United States]] and (in insets at the lower left) the two states that are not contiguous]]
[[File:Alaska and Hawaii.jpg|thumb|Map highlighting [[Alaska]] and [[Hawaii]]'s geographical relationship to the contiguous United States.  Alaska in red is in the upper part of the map, while Hawaii is the islands also in red to the far left. Contiguous US is near center in pale color.]]
The '''contiguous United States''', officially referred to as the '''conterminous United States''', consists of the 48 adjoining [[U.S. state]]s and the [[District of Columbia]] of the [[United States]] in central [[North America]].<ref name="usgs.gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-constitutes-United-States-what-are-official-definitions|title=What constitutes the United States, what are the official definitions?|website=U.S. Geological Survey|access-date=January 30, 2019|archive-date=November 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116081238/https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-constitutes-united-states-what-are-official-definitions|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unitedcargo.com/help/glossary.jsp?pageIndex=C |title=United Airlines website |quote=''Contiguous United States'': The 48 adjoining states and the District of Columbia. |access-date=April 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402170349/http://www.unitedcargo.com/help/glossary.jsp?pageIndex=C |archive-date=April 2, 2012 }}</ref> The term excludes the only two non-[[geographic contiguity|contiguous]] states, which are [[Alaska]] and [[Hawaii]] (they are also the last two states to be [[admission to the Union|admitted to the Union]]), and all other offshore [[insular area]]s, such as the [[Territories of the United States|U.S. territories]] of [[American Samoa]], [[Guam]], the [[Northern Mariana Islands]], [[Puerto Rico]], and the [[U.S. Virgin Islands]].<ref name="rhwcd">{{Cite book | last=Random House | title=Random House Webster's College Dictionary | url=https://archive.org/details/randomhousewebst00newy | url-access=registration | year=1991 | publisher=Random House | location=New York | isbn=0-679-40110-5}}</ref><ref>These maps show the contiguous 48 states and D.C., but not Alaska and Hawaii.
* {{cite web
| url=http://www.nps.gov/nagpra/documents/basesmilitarymap.htm
| title=Military Bases in the Contiguous United States
| publisher=National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
| access-date=November 28, 2012
| archive-date=December 26, 2018
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226045652/https://www.nps.gov/nagpra/documents/basesmilitarymap.htm%0A
| url-status=live
}}
* {{cite web
| url=http://soils.usda.gov/use/thematic/moist_regimes.html
| title=Soil Moisture Regimes of the Contiguous United States
| publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture
| access-date=November 28, 2012
| archive-date=May 13, 2013
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513164925/http://soils.usda.gov/use/thematic/moist_regimes.html
| url-status=dead
}}</ref> The colloquial term '''''Lower'''{{Nbsp}}'''48'''''<ref name=ngstyle>{{Cite web |url=http://stylemanual.ngs.org/home/A/Alaska |title=National Geographic Style Manual: Alaska |access-date=December 6, 2013 |archive-date=October 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028012639/http://stylemanual.ngs.org/home/A/Alaska |url-status=dead |quote=The continental United States includes Alaska. [...] In Alaska context, ''lower forty-eight'' or ''lower 48'' may be used. Do not hyphenate ''lower 48'' as an adjective. The term ''outside'' may be put in quotes on first reference if ambiguous. To distinguish the 48 states from the 49 or 50, use ''contiguous'' or ''conterminous''.}}</ref> is also used, especially in relation to Alaska.

The related but distinct term '''''continental United States''''' includes [[Alaska]], which is also on North America, but separated from the 48 states by [[British Columbia]] in Canada, but excludes [[Hawaii]] and all the insular areas in the [[Caribbean]] and the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]].<ref name="usgs.gov" /><ref>{{cite book |last=Hyslop |first=Stephen G. |title=Political Geography of the United States |publisher=[[Guilford Press]] |date= April 5, 1996 |page=90}}</ref>

The greatest distance on a [[great-circle distance|great-circle]] route entirely within the contiguous U.S. is 2,802 miles (4,509&nbsp;km), coast-to-coast between [[Florida]] and [[Washington (state)|Washington state]];<ref>{{cite web | url=http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/pickover/pc/american-line.html | title=The Longest Line in America! | first=Cliff | last=Pickover | publisher=University of Wisconsin | access-date=October 15, 2013 | archive-date=June 9, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140609104907/http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/pickover/pc/american-line.html | url-status=live}}</ref> the greatest north–south line is 1,650 miles (2,660&nbsp;km).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://geography.howstuffworks.com/united-states/geography-of-united-states1.htm | title=HowStuffWorks "Geography of the United States - Geography" | publisher=Geography.howstuffworks.com | date=March 30, 2008 | access-date=October 29, 2013 | archive-date=January 19, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119172456/http://geography.howstuffworks.com/united-states/geography-of-united-states1.htm | url-status=dead}}</ref> The contiguous United States occupies an area of {{convert|3,119,884.69|sqmi|km2}}. Of this area, {{convert|2,959,064.44|sqmi|km2}} is actual land, composing 83.65 percent of the country's total land area, and is comparable in size to the area of Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/279.html#as|work=The World Factbook|publisher=cia.gov|title=Field Listing: Area|access-date=June 13, 2019|archive-date=July 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707180005/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/279.html#as|url-status=dead}}</ref> Officially, {{convert|160,820.25|sqmi|km2}} of the contiguous United States is water area, composing 62.66 percent of the nation's total water area.

The contiguous United States, if it were a country, would be fifth on the [[list of countries and dependencies by area]], behind [[Russia]], [[Canada]], [[China]], and [[Brazil]]. However, the total area of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, ranks third or fourth. Brazil is {{convert|431,000|km2|sqmi|sp=us|order=flip}} larger than the contiguous United States, but smaller than the entire United States including Alaska, Hawaii and overseas territories. The [[2020 United States census|2020 U.S. census]] population of the area was 328,571,074, comprising 99.13 percent of the nation's total population, and a density of 111.04 inhabitants/sq mi (42.872/km<sup>2</sup>), compared to 93.844/sq mi (36.233/km<sup>2</sup>) for the nation as a whole.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-dens-text.php |title=Resident Population Data - 2010 Census |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028061117/http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-dens-text.php |archive-date=October 28, 2011 |df=mdy}}</ref>

== Other terms ==
While ''conterminous U.S.'' has the precise meaning of ''contiguous U.S.'' (both adjectives meaning "sharing a common boundary"), other terms commonly used to describe the 48 contiguous states have a greater degree of ambiguity.

=== Continental and mainland United States ===
{{Redirect|Continental United States|the continental shelf|Continental shelf of the United States}}
Because [[Alaska]] is also a part of [[North America]], the term '''''continental United States''''' also includes that state, so the term is qualified with the explicit inclusion of Alaska to resolve any ambiguity.<ref name="rhwcd" /><ref>{{cite web |quote=The ''continental United States'' comprises the 48 contiguous, or conterminous, states plus Alaska. |url=http://stylemanual.ngs.org/home/C/conterminous-contiguous-continental |title=National Geographic Style Manual |access-date=April 4, 2012 |archive-date=January 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102075245/http://stylemanual.ngs.org/home/C/conterminous-contiguous-continental |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unitedcargo.com/help/glossary.jsp?pageIndex=C |title=United Cargo website |quote=''Continental United States'': The 48 adjoining states, Alaska and District of Columbia. |access-date=April 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402170349/http://www.unitedcargo.com/help/glossary.jsp?pageIndex=C |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |df=mdy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alaskaair.com/as/mileageplan/AwardsUSACanada.asp |title=Alaska Airlines website |quote=The Continental U.S. includes the lower 48 states as well as the State of Alaska, unless otherwise specified. |access-date=April 4, 2012 |archive-date=February 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221004501/http://www.alaskaair.com/as/mileageplan/awardsUSACanada.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> On May 14, 1959, the [[United States Board on Geographic Names]] issued the following definitions based partially on the reference in the Alaska Omnibus Bill, which defined the continental United States as "the 49 States on the North American Continent and the District of Columbia..." The Board reaffirmed these definitions on May 13, 1999.<ref name=usgs.gov/> However, even before Alaska became a state, it was properly included within the continental U.S. due to being an [[Territories of the United States#Incorporated vs. unincorporated territories|incorporated territory]].<ref>"In the absence of any such statement, Alaska would be regarded as a part of the continental United States." [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.74425 <!-- quote=alaska "continental united states". --> Inland Marine and Transportation Insurance (1949)]</ref>

The term '''''mainland United States''''' is sometimes used synonymously with ''continental United States'', but technically refers only to those parts of states connected to the landmass of North America, thereby excluding not only [[Hawaii]] and overseas [[insular area]]s, but also islands which are part of continental states but separated from the mainland, such as the [[Aleutian Islands]] ([[Alaska]]), [[San Juan Islands]] ([[Washington (state)|Washington]]), the [[Channel Islands (California)|Channel Islands]] ([[California]]), [[Florida Keys|the Keys]] ([[Florida]]), the [[barrier island]]s ([[Gulf Coast of the United States|Gulf]] and [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]] states), and [[Long Island]] (New York).<ref>{{cite book|last=Hyslop|first=Stephen G.|title=Political Geography of the United States|publisher=[[Guilford Press]]|date= April 5, 1996|pages=105–110}}</ref>

=== CONUS and OCONUS ===
{{Redirect|CONUS|the sea snail|Conus{{!}}''Conus''|other uses|Conus (disambiguation)}}

''CONUS'', a technical term used by the [[United States Department of Defense|U.S. Department of Defense]], [[General Services Administration]], [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA/National Weather Service]], and others, has been defined both as the continental United States, and as the 48 contiguous states.<ref name="GSA">{{cite web | url=http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/21287 | publisher=United States General Services Administration | title=Per Diem Rates (CONUS and OCONUS) | access-date=September 21, 2010 | archive-date=September 21, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921092405/http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/21287 | url-status=live }} <!-- Actually, this source defines CONUS as CONTINENTAL U.S., but includes D.C. by extension (not by definition) --></ref><ref name="conus_military">{{cite web | url=http://www.navy.mil/tools/view_styleguide_all.asp | title=U.S. Navy Style Guide | quote=CONUS - "Continental United States." CONUS refers to the 48 contiguous states. It is not synonymous with United States. CONUS is acceptable on first reference. | access-date=November 24, 2008 | archive-date=March 11, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311014216/http://www.navy.mil/tools/view_styleguide_all.asp | url-status=dead }} "CONUS" seems to be used primarily by the American military and the Federal government and those doing business with them.</ref>  The District of Columbia is not always specifically mentioned as being part of ''CONUS''.<ref name="conus_military" /><!-- as well, GSA does not define CONUS, but gives a list.-->

''OCONUS'' is derived from CONUS with ''O'' for outside added, thus referring to Outside of Continental United States.<ref name="GSA" /><ref>{{cite web | quote="OCONUS:  Outside Continental United States | url=https://www.army.mil/aps/2003/extras/glossary/ | title=Glossary of Army Terms | access-date=April 4, 2012 | archive-date=June 25, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625031942/http://www.army.mil/aps/2003/extras/glossary/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== The lower 48 ===

The term ''lower 48'' is also used to refer to the conterminous United States. The ''[[National Geographic (magazine)|National Geographic]]'' style guide recommends the use of ''contiguous'' or ''conterminous United States'' instead of ''lower 48'' when the 48 states are meant, unless used in the context of Alaska.<ref name=ngstyle/><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://stylemanual.ngs.org/home/C/conterminous-contiguous-continental |title=National Geographic Style Manual: conterminous, or contiguous, continental, continental United States |access-date=September 22, 2011 |archive-date=January 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102075245/http://stylemanual.ngs.org/home/C/conterminous-contiguous-continental |url-status=live |quote= Use contiguous, or conterminous, for the 48 states. The continental United States comprises the 48 contiguous, or conterminous, states plus Alaska.}}</ref> Almost all of Hawaii is south of the southernmost point of the conterminous United States in Florida.

=== Zone of the Interior ===

During [[World War II]], the first four [[numbered Air Force]]s of the [[United States Army Air Forces]] (USAAF) were said to be assigned to the ''[[USAAF#Emblems|Zone of the Interior]]'' by the American military organizations of the time—the future states of [[Alaska]] and [[Hawaii]], then each only [[Organized incorporated territories of the United States|organized incorporated territories]] of the Union, were respectively covered by the [[Eleventh Air Force#Origins|Eleventh Air Force]] and [[Seventh Air Force#Origins|Seventh Air Force]] during the war.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

== Terms used in the non-contiguous U.S. jurisdictions ==

Residents of Alaska, Hawaii and off-shore [[Territories of the United States|U.S. territories]] have unique labels for the contiguous United States because of their own locations relative to them.

=== Alaska ===
The vast territory of [[Alaska]] became the 49th state of the United States on January 3, 1959. Alaska is the northwest extremity of the North American continent, separated from  the [[West Coast of the United States|U.S. West Coast]] by the [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Canadian province]] of [[British Columbia]]. The term ''Lower 48'' has, for many years, been a common Alaskan equivalent for "contiguous United States";<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.princesslodges.com/tips-language.htm|title=Learn to Speak Alaskan - Alaskan Language Tips - Princess Lodges|work=princesslodges.com|access-date=March 2, 2009|archive-date=September 14, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914131733/http://www.princesslodges.com/tips-language.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100126095610/http://election.nationaljournal.com/states/ak.htm | url=http://election.nationaljournal.com/states/ak.htm | title=ALASKA: State Profile | archive-date=January 26, 2010 | access-date=December 6, 2013}}</ref> some Alaskans may use the term ''[[Outside (Alaska)|Outside]]'' for those states, though some may use ''Outside'' to refer to any location not within Alaska.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findingmyalaska.blogspot.com/2017/06/speaking-alaskan-words-alaskans-say.html|title=Speaking Alaskan: Words Alaskans Say|first=Copper River Country|last=Journal|access-date=August 20, 2018|archive-date=August 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820105843/http://findingmyalaska.blogspot.com/2017/06/speaking-alaskan-words-alaskans-say.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Hawaii ===

The territory of [[Hawaii]], consisting of the entire [[Hawaiian Islands]] archipelago except for [[Midway Atoll]],{{efn|Midway is an unorganized and unincorporated territory of the United States.}} became the 50th state of the United States on August 21, 1959. It is the southernmost U.S. state, and the latest one to join the Union. Not part of any continent, Hawaii is located in the [[Pacific Ocean]], about {{convert|2200.|mi|km}} from North America and almost halfway between North America and [[Asia]]. In Hawaii and [[Insular area|overseas American territories]], for instance, the terms ''the Mainland''  or ''U.S. Mainland'' are often used to refer to the 49 states in North America.<ref>Edles, Laura Desfor (2003). [https://books.google.com/books?id=aAdzAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA241 {{"'}}Race,' 'Ethnicity,' and 'Culture' in Hawai'i: The Myth of the 'Model Minority' State"]. In Loretta I. Winters and Herman L. DeBose (ed.) ''New Faces in a Changing America: Multiracial Identity in the 21st Century''. SAGE Publications. p. 241. {{ISBN|9780761923008}}.</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Hyslop|first=Stephen G.|title=Political Geography of the United States|publisher=[[Guilford Press]]|date= April 5, 1996|page=65}}</ref>

=== Puerto Rico ===

Puerto Rico is an [[unincorporated territories of the United States|unincorporated territory]] of the United States located in the northeast [[Caribbean Sea]], approximately {{convert|1,000.|mi}} southeast of [[Miami]], [[Florida]]. Puerto Ricans born in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens and are free to move to the mainland United States. The term ''[[Stateside Puerto Rican]]'' refers to residents of any U.S. state or the District of Columbia who were born in, or can trace their family ancestry to, Puerto Rico.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20131218092749/http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/prnt_ed/five-million-puerto-ricans-now-living-in-the-mainland-u.s.-8675.html ''Five million Puerto Ricans now living in the mainland U.S.'']}} Caribbean Business. 27 June 2013. Vol 41. Issue 24. Retrieved 13 December 2013.</ref>

=== U.S. Virgin Islands ===

The [[U.S. Virgin Islands]] is a [[Territories of the United States|U.S. territory]] located directly to the east of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States-Virgin-Islands |encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica |title=United States Virgin Islands |access-date=July 2, 2020 |archive-date=July 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731181154/https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States-Virgin-Islands |url-status=live }}</ref> The term ''stateside'' is used to refer to the mainland, in relation to the U.S. Virgin Islands<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.frommers.com/destinations/virgin-islands/planning-a-trip/health--safety |website=Frommers.com |title=U.S. Virgin Islands - Health and Safety |access-date=July 2, 2020 |archive-date=July 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703060138/https://www.frommers.com/destinations/virgin-islands/planning-a-trip/health--safety |url-status=live }}</ref> (see [[Stateside Virgin Islands Americans]]).

=== American Samoa ===
{{further|Samoan Americans}}

[[American Samoa]] is a [[Territories of the United States|U.S. territory]] located in the [[South Pacific Ocean]] in [[Polynesia]], south of the equator — it is {{convert|2,200|miles}} southwest of [[Hawaii]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/American-Samoa |encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica |title=American Samoa |access-date=July 2, 2020 |archive-date=August 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831145326/https://www.britannica.com/place/American-Samoa |url-status=live }}</ref> In American Samoa, the contiguous United States is called the "mainland United States" or "the states"; those not from American Samoa are called ''palagi'' (outsiders).<ref>{{cite book |first=Doug |last=Mack |title=The Not-Quite States Of America |pages=67, 88, 91}}</ref>

== Non-contiguous areas within the contiguous United States ==
{{seealso|Canada–United States border#Practical exclaves of the United States}}
Apart from off-shore [[list of islands of the United States by area|U.S. islands]], a few continental portions of the contiguous United States are accessible by road only by traveling through Canada. [[Point Roberts, Washington]]; [[Elm Point, Minnesota]]; and the [[Northwest Angle]] in [[Minnesota]] are three such places. [[Alburgh (town), Vermont|Alburgh, Vermont]], is not directly connected by land, but is accessible by road via bridges from within Vermont and from New York.<ref>{{cite news | last=Ross | first=Oakland | title=Orphans of the atlas | url=https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/1002539--orphans-of-the-atlas | access-date=June 5, 2011 | newspaper=Toronto Star | date=June 3, 2011 | archive-date=June 8, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608215534/http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/1002539--orphans-of-the-atlas | url-status=live }}</ref> By contrast, [[Hyder, Alaska]], is physically part of contiguous Alaska and its easternmost town, but the only practical access is by road through Canada or by seaplane.

== List of contiguous U.S. states ==
The 48 contiguous states are:
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* [[Alabama]]
* [[Arizona]]
* [[Arkansas]]
* [[California]]
* [[Colorado]]
* [[Connecticut]]
* [[Delaware]]
* [[Florida]]
* [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
* [[Idaho]]
* [[Illinois]]
* [[Indiana]]
* [[Iowa]]
* [[Kansas]]
* [[Kentucky]]
* [[Louisiana]]
* [[Maine]]
* [[Maryland]]
* [[Massachusetts]]
* [[Michigan]]
* [[Minnesota]]
* [[Mississippi]]
* [[Missouri]]
* [[Montana]]
* [[Nebraska]]
* [[Nevada]]
* [[New Hampshire]]
* [[New Jersey]]
* [[New Mexico]]
* [[New York (state)|New York]]
* [[North Carolina]]
* [[North Dakota]]
* [[Ohio]]
* [[Oklahoma]]
* [[Oregon]]
* [[Pennsylvania]]
* [[Rhode Island]]
* [[South Carolina]]
* [[South Dakota]]
* [[Tennessee]]
* [[Texas]]
* [[Utah]]
* [[Vermont]]
* [[Virginia]]
* [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
* [[West Virginia]]
* [[Wisconsin]]
* [[Wyoming]]
}}

In addition, the [[Washington, D.C.|District of Columbia]] is within the contiguous United States.

== See also ==

{{Portal|United States}}

* [[Extreme points of the United States]]
* [[Mainland]]
* [[Metropolitan France]], nicknamed "l'Hexagone", an analogous concept in France

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==

{{reflist}}

== External links ==

{{Wikivoyage|Contiguous United States}}

* Definition of [http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=continental ''continental'']
* Definition of [http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=contiguous ''contiguous'']
* Definition of [http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=coterminous ''coterminous''] and [http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=conterminous ''conterminous'']

{{United States topics}}

[[Category:Contiguous United States| ]]
[[Category:Metropolitan or continental parts of states|United States]]
[[Category:Northern America]]