Map of the United States

This is an interactive map of the United States of America. It shows the location and postal code of each state. It also depicts rivers and cities for context. Hover over the map to see the name, region, and sub-region. Zoom in for more details. Scroll down for more information.

Key
⬤	State or Province Capital	◯	City
	Lake or River	⭕	Country Capital

United States

The United States of America is located on the Western Hemisphere and is a country located in North America.

The conterminous United States is bounded to the north by Canada, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the Gulf of Mexico and Mexico, and to the west by the Pacific Ocean.

The U.S.A. is the fourth largest country after Russia, Canada, and China.

The United States comprises 50 States and the District of Columbia (D.C.). Nevertheless, when it comes to describing and representing the U.S. There are a few distinctions.

The Continental United States includes 49 States. These are the states located on the continent of North America, including Alaska and the District of Columbia. The Continental U.S.A. excludes Hawaii.

Conterminous United States are the 48 States and the District of Columbia; that is, the United States prior to January 3, 1959, when Alaska became a state. Therefore, excluding Alaska and Hawaii.

Although the official reference applies the term "conterminous," many use the word "contiguous," which is the same and better known. Source: USGS.gov

If you are a bit confused, look at the map below.

Map of the conterminous and continental USA

How the States Came to Be

These maps display the states, but they also show U.S. history and US physical geography.

Fortunately, someone already chronicled this process in a book you can find on Amazon. How the States Got Their Shapes is the first book to tackle why our state lines are where they are, from ideological intrigues and religious intolerance to major territorial acquisitions.

For a short version, the shapes of the states in the United States were primarily determined by historical, political, and geographical factors.

Here are some key factors that influenced the shaping of the US states.

Colonial Settlements

The original thirteen colonies were established along the eastern seaboard by European settlers. These 13 colonies were:

New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Connecticut
New York
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Delaware
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia

The boundaries of these colonies were often based on charters, land grants, and territorial disputes between colonial powers.

Land Purchases and Treaties

As the United States expanded westward, it acquired new territories through various means.

Louisiana Purchase

The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 from France resulted in the formation or partial formation of the future states of:

Arkansas
Iowa
Kansas
Missouri
Nebraska
Oklahoma
Colorado
Louisiana
Minnesota
Montana
New Mexico
South Dakota
Wyoming

Alaska Purchase

On March 30, 1867, the United States reached an agreement to purchase Alaska from Russia for a price of $7.2 million.

Oregon Treaty

The Oregon Treaty of 1846 with Britain, resulted in:

Washington
Oregon
Idaho

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

By its terms, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, Mexico ceded 55 percent of its territory.

This treaty ended the Mexican-American War and gave territory that eventually became:

California
Nevada
Utah
New Mexico
Arizona

Texas was annexed from Mexico, and Florida was ceded by Spain.

How the States Were Shaped

We have explained the acquisition of the land. The borders required a bit more work.

For example, the 13 colonies varied widely in shape and size. They were shaped by the first European settlers.

Nevertheless, Thomas Jefferson wanted equality and suggested Congress create states of equal size, based on latitude and longitude.

His ideas were not used at first, but longitude and latitude were eventually used to delineate the Western States.

Geographical Features

Natural geographical features such as rivers, mountains, and coastlines played a role in defining state boundaries.

For example, the Mississippi River formed the border of Mississippi and Arkansas.

The Appalachian Mountains influenced the border of Tennessee and North Carolina.

If you would like to have a map of the United States that shows the states and major geographical features, Amazon has the International Giant Classic USA Mega-Map. This laminated poster is colorful and extra large.

Cultural and Social Factors

Cultural and social factors, including ethnic communities, migration patterns, and economic activities, also influenced state shapes.

For instance, the boundaries of some states in the Midwest were influenced by the settlement patterns of European immigrant communities.

The issue of slavery, helped shape Oklahoma.

Over time, these historical and political processes, along with other considerations, led to the unique shapes and configurations of the states in the United States as we know them today.