Contiguous United States

The contiguous United States (officially the conterminous United States) consists of the 48 adjoining U.S. states and the District of Columbia of the United States of America.[1][2] The term excludes the only two non-contiguous states, which are Alaska and Hawaii (they are also the last two states to be admitted to the Union), and all other offshore insular areas, such as the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.[3][4] The colloquial term "Lower 48"[5] is also used, especially in relation to Alaska.

A map showing the contiguous United States and, in insets at the lower left, the two states that are not contiguous
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 related but distinct term continental United States includes Alaska, which is also on the continent of North America but separated from the 48 states by British Columbia in Canada, but excludes the Hawaiian Islands and all Territories of the United States in the Caribbean and the Pacific.[1][6]

The greatest distance (on a great-circle route) entirely within the contiguous U.S. is 2,802 miles (4,509 km), between Florida and the State of Washington;[7] the greatest north–south line is 1,650 miles (2,660 km).[8] The contiguous United States occupies an area of 3,119,884.69 square miles (8,080,464.3 km2). Of this area, 2,959,064.44 square miles (7,663,941.7 km2) is actual land, composing 83.65 percent of the country's total land area, and is comparable in size to area of Australia.[9] Officially, 160,820.25 square miles (416,522.5 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. However, the total area of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, ranks third or fourth. In land area only, the country ranks fourth, behind Russia, Canada, and China, but ahead of Brazil and Australia.[10] Brazil is 431,000 square kilometers (166,000 sq mi) larger than the contiguous United States, but smaller than the entire United States, while Russia, Canada, and China are the only countries larger than both. The 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/km2), compared to 93.844/sq mi (36.233/km2) for the nation as a whole.[11]

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
"Continental United States" redirects here. For the continental shelf, see 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.[3][12][13][14] 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.[1] However, even before Alaska became a state, it was properly included within the continental U.S. due to being an incorporated territory.[15]

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 areas, but also islands which are part of continental states but separated from the mainland, such as the Aleutian Islands (Alaska), San Juan Islands (Washington), the Channel Islands (California), the Keys (Florida), the barrier islands (Gulf and East Coast states), and Long Island (New York).[16]

CONUS and OCONUS
"CONUS" redirects here. For the sea snail, see Conus. For other uses, see Conus (disambiguation).

CONUS, a technical term used by the U.S. Department of Defense, General Services Administration, NOAA/National Weather Service, and others, has been defined both as the continental United States, and as the 48 contiguous states.[17][18] The District of Columbia is not always specifically mentioned as being part of CONUS.[18]

OCONUS is derived from CONUS with O for outside added, thus referring to Outside of Continental United States (OCONUS).[17][19]

The lower 48

The term lower 48 is also used to refer to the conterminous United States. The 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.[5][20] 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 Forces of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) were said to be assigned to the 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 Union, were respectively covered by the Eleventh Air Force and Seventh Air Force during the war.

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

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

Alaska
Main article: Outside (Alaska)

Alaska became the 49th state of the United States on January 3, 1959. Alaska is on the northwest end of the North American continent, but separated from the rest of the United States West Coast by the Canadian province of British Columbia. The term Lower 48 has, for many years, been a common Alaskan equivalent for "contiguous United States";[21][22] today, many Alaskans use the term "Outside", though a few persons may use "Outside" to refer to any location not within Alaska.[23]

Hawaii

Hawaii (consisting of nearly all the Hawaiian Islands) became the 50th state of the United States on August 21, 1959. It is the southernmost and so far, the latest state to join the Union. Not part of any continent, Hawaii is located in the Pacific Ocean, about 2,200 miles (3,541 km) from North America and almost halfway to Asia. In Hawaii and 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.[24][25]

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the northeast Caribbean Sea, approximately 1,000 miles (1,609 km) 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 a U.S. state or the District of Columbia, who were born in or trace family ancestry to Puerto Rico.[26]

U.S. Virgin Islands

The U.S. Virgin Islands is a U.S. territory located directly to the east of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea.[27] The term "stateside" is used to refer to the mainland, in relation to the U.S. Virgin Islands[28] (see Stateside Virgin Islands Americans).

American Samoa
Further information: Samoan Americans

American Samoa is a U.S. territory located in the South Pacific Ocean in Polynesia, south of the equator — it is 2,200 miles (3,500 km) southwest of Hawaii.[29] 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).[30]

Non-contiguous areas within the contiguous United States
See also: Canada–United States border § Practical exclaves of the United States

Apart from off-shore 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, Vermont, is not directly connected by land, but is accessible by road via bridges from within Vermont and from New York.[31] 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:

In addition, the District of Columbia is within the contiguous United States.

See also

References
  1. "What constitutes the United States, what are the official definitions?". U.S. Geological Survey. Archived from the original on November 16, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  2. "United Airlines website". Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2012. Contiguous United States: The 48 adjoining states and the District of Columbia.
  3. Random House (1991). Random House Webster's College Dictionary. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-679-40110-5.
  4. These maps show the contiguous 48 states and D.C., but not Alaska and Hawaii.
  5. "National Geographic Style Manual: Alaska". Archived from the original on October 28, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2013. 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.
  6. Hyslop, Stephen G. (April 5, 1996). Political Geography of the United States. Guilford Press. p. 90.
  7. Pickover, Cliff. "The Longest Line in America!". University of Wisconsin. Archived from the original on June 9, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  8. "HowStuffWorks "Geography of the United States - Geography"". Geography.howstuffworks.com. March 30, 2008. Archived from the original on January 19, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  9. "Field Listing: Area". The World Factbook. cia.gov. Archived from the original on July 7, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  10. "Is China Bigger than the United States?". www.worldatlas.com. May 13, 2019. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  11. "Resident Population Data - 2010 Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 28, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  12. "National Geographic Style Manual". Archived from the original on January 2, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2012. The continental United States comprises the 48 contiguous, or conterminous, states plus Alaska.
  13. "United Cargo website". Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2012. Continental United States: The 48 adjoining states, Alaska and District of Columbia.
  14. "Alaska Airlines website". Archived from the original on February 21, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2012. The Continental U.S. includes the lower 48 states as well as the State of Alaska, unless otherwise specified.
  15. "In the absence of any such statement, Alaska would be regarded as a part of the continental United States." Inland Marine and Transportation Insurance (1949)
  16. Hyslop, Stephen G. (April 5, 1996). Political Geography of the United States. Guilford Press. pp. 105–110.
  17. "Per Diem Rates (CONUS and OCONUS)". United States General Services Administration. Archived from the original on September 21, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  18. "U.S. Navy Style Guide". Archived from the original on March 11, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2008. CONUS - "Continental United States." CONUS refers to the 48 contiguous states. It is not synonymous with United States. CONUS is acceptable on first reference. "CONUS" seems to be used primarily by the American military and the Federal government and those doing business with them.
  19. "Glossary of Army Terms". Archived from the original on June 25, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2012. "OCONUS: Outside Continental United States
  20. "National Geographic Style Manual: conterminous, or contiguous, continental, continental United States". Archived from the original on January 2, 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2011. Use contiguous, or conterminous, for the 48 states. The continental United States comprises the 48 contiguous, or conterminous, states plus Alaska.
  21. "Learn to Speak Alaskan - Alaskan Language Tips - Princess Lodges". princesslodges.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2009. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  22. "ALASKA: State Profile". Archived from the original on January 26, 2010. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  23. Journal, Copper River Country. "Speaking Alaskan: Words Alaskans Say". Archived from the original on August 20, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  24. Edles, Laura Desfor (2003). "'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.
  25. Hyslop, Stephen G. (April 5, 1996). Political Geography of the United States. Guilford Press. p. 65.
  26. Five million Puerto Ricans now living in the mainland U.S. Archived 2013-12-18 at the Wayback Machine Caribbean Business. 27 June 2013. Vol 41. Issue 24. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  27. "United States Virgin Islands". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Archived from the original on July 31, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  28. "U.S. Virgin Islands - Health and Safety". Frommers.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  29. "American Samoa". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  30. Mack, Doug. The Not-Quite States Of America. pp. 67, 88, 91.
  31. Ross, Oakland (June 3, 2011). "Orphans of the atlas". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
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