The states are called. Alaska is the largest state in the USA

(VT)

Virginia (V.A.)

Wisconsin (WI)

Hawaii (HI)

Delaware (DE)

Georgia (GA)

West Virginia (W.V.)

Illinois (IL)

Indiana (IN)

California (C.A.)

Kansas (KS)

Kentucky (KY)

Colorado (CO)

Connecticut (C.T.)

Louisiana (L.A.)

Massachusetts (M.A.)

Minnesota (MN)

Mississippi (MS)

Missouri (M.O.)

Michigan (MI)

Montana (M.T.)

Maryland (M.D.)

Maine (M.E.)

Nebraska (NE)

Nevada (N.V.)

New Jersey (NJ)

New Mexico (N.M.)

New Hampshire (N.H.)

NY (NY)

Ohio (OH)

Oklahoma (OK)

Oregon (OR)

Pennsylvania (PA)

Rhode Island (R.I.)

North Dakota (ND)

North Carolina (NC)

Tennessee (TN)

Texas (TX)

Florida (FL)

South Dakota (SD)

South Carolina (S.C.)

Utah (UT)

Federal District

Columbia region (DC)

Island territories

American Samoa

Baker

Guam

Howland

Jarvis

Johnston Atoll

Kingman Reef

Midway Atoll

Navassa

Northern Mariana Islands

Palmyra Atoll

Puerto Rico

Virgin Islands

Wake Atoll

A little about America andstates in the USA

Everyone is well aware of the proud Stars and Stripes flag of the United States of America, which is a global symbol of freedom and democracy, and even any schoolchild knows that there are as many stripes on it as there are US states. Currently, this country represents one of the main forces on the political and economic map of our planet, and forces its opinion to be taken into account, both through respect for its armed forces and nuclear potential, and through expansion into the world market of goods and services. This is also facilitated by the huge size, overpopulation and continental isolation from the turbulent Europe that is always blazing with wars. In the north, the States border with calm, friendly Canada, in the south - with less calm, but madly respecting and fearing its older neighbor, Mexico. The confrontation that existed for many years between the two monsters of world politics, the USSR and the USA, expressed in the arms race and other political and economic actions, subsided with the advent of Perestroika. And now, although these two countries are still rivals, they compete in a completely peaceful way, kindly trying to “outshine” their long-time enemy. The United States has achieved so much in its relatively short history from the point of view of human history that this country inevitably evokes deep respect and interest in its achievements.

One of the largest states in the modern world, ranking third in terms of the number of citizens (313.2 million people) and fourth in terms of territory (9.5 million sq. km) among other countries, from an administrative point of view it is primarily divided into states. The USA consists of 50 states, which can be called absolutely equal components of the federation, with the District of Columbia standing separately. Each state in the USA has its own judicial, executive and legislative powers, and its own constitution. There are 50 states in the United States, as already noted, but to date, discussions are still ongoing about the feasibility of forming the states of Lincoln, New York City, Superior, Eastern Oregon and Southern Utah. Northern Virginia, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico also continue to compete for a place on the list of US states. Therefore the question is How many states are there in the USA, is a rather slippery topic for the Americans themselves, since every resident of all these so-called “51st states” wants him to become more influential and receive more freedoms, on a par with full-fledged US states. And it is possible that in a few years, when asked how many states there are in the United States, schoolchildren in geography lessons all over the world will give a completely different number. Today, in order for the name of a territory to proudly appear as the name of a US state over time, it will have to go through a long and complex procedure, as well as the adoption of its own regional constitution. It is impossible to exclude or independently withdraw from the list of US states. The most populous is still the District of Columbia, and among the legalized states - New York. The largest in terms of territory was Alaska, which was once sold by the Russian Empire to the States.

Such a complex administrative structure has all the reasons for its existence, which have developed both over the long history of this state and based on economic and social benefits. The formation of the union of states in the United States occurred in 1776. Then the British colonies in America announced their desire to leave the power of the crown and form their own free state, and unleashed the War of Independence, which ended in 1783, and already in 1787 a Constitution was approved, which stipulated the existing at that time names of US states. In addition to the approved list of US states , this document contained provisions on the political system, management system, rights and freedoms of citizens of this country, as well as its relations with the outside world. Subsequently, over the years, more and more new ones were added states in the USA. In the same year, the total number of states in the United States became eight with the addition of Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The next year was marked by the appearance of several names of US states at once - Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York and South Carolina joined the federation. By the end of the eighteenth century, the total number of US states became 16 with the founding of North Carolina, Vermont, Kentucky, Rhode Island and Tennessee. In the next century, 29 more states were formed. At this point, the question of how many states there are in the USA did not close - at the beginning of the last century the creation of Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona was officially proclaimed, while the last known to date were Hawaii and Alaska, the annexation of which occurred in the same year .

In addition to the gained independence, it is difficult to even immediately list all the achievements that the Americans have achieved. This includes the abolition of the shameful slave-owning tradition as a result of the conflict between patriarchal southerners and progressive industrialists of the north in the 1860s, and the abandonment of the futile policy of isolationism after the end of the First World War, as well as many other milestones that the long-suffering American power had to go through on the long path to its prosperity. As mentioned earlier, all 50 equal subjects of the federation have full local power within their territory, but cede powers in external relations to federal representative bodies. There are as many flags as there are US states, each has its own local symbols, capital and is very proud of its sovereignty. In addition, it should be noted that, as many states as there are in the USA, there are as many interesting stories behind their names. This country has become a tight ball that has tied together many cultures, nationalities, languages ​​and traditions, which is why the origin of the names of the states comes from six sources. For example, 26 of them have Indian roots, Alaska came from the Eskimo language, Hawaii - from Hawaiian, a total of 11 states are named with English words, 6 - Spanish, 3 - French, and even one, Rhode Island, is taken from Dutch dialects. Only one thing, Washington, can be said to be truly directly related to US history.

The official language in all states, adopted at the state level, is English, although its American variation is slightly different from the classic Shakespearean style. The English-speaking population of the United States of America makes up more than 70% of the total population. After English, the second most common language is Spanish, which is native to 10% of residents. Next come French, Chinese, German, Turkish, Vietnamese, Italian and Korean. The eleventh position in this unique language chart is occupied by the Russian language. Education in the States, despite the widespread propaganda carried out in the world community, leaves much to be desired. For example, in 2003, according to statistics, about a quarter of the population of the corresponding age did not even have completed secondary education. About half of the residents have graduated from college, and about a quarter have a bachelor's degree. The education system has three levels of funding: local, state and federal. And, of course, the material base of educational institutions deserves all praise. The Constitutional Amendment of 1791 speaks of the separation of church and state, but today the United States can be called practically the only country in the world in which the majority of the population perceives religion as an integral part of their lives. About half of the residents profess Protestantism, almost a quarter are Catholics, and a small percentage of Mormons, Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists are also present. No more than 20% of Americans consider themselves atheists, or adherents of an abstract faith without a clear affiliation with a specific concession. There are parishes of the Orthodox Church for our Soviet emigrants.

The United States of America is a country with its own distinctive cultural and scientific tradition; it gave the world such geniuses of the pen as Jack London and Mark Twain, the great scientists James Watson and Thomas Edison. Business sharks who consider their homeland US states, rule the world, and even children have heard about the names of Ford and Rockefeller. America is vast and multifaceted; in order to even begin to understand and study it, you will have to spend more than one year, but, believe me, this country is one of those few that really deserve it.

The United States of America is a huge country that offers a lot of opportunities for tourists of any age, social status and financial situation. There is no type of recreation or entertainment that cannot be found in the United States.

Since the United States covers vast territories located in six time zones, the climate in the states can be very different: from sunny Hawaii to snowy Alaska. This country presents all types of tourism existing in the world, plus several special ones that are characteristic of America.

The capital of the state is Washington, but in this case this does not in any way affect the tourist attractiveness of the city: New York remains the actual center of the United States. The main attraction of the Big Apple is the Statue of Liberty; besides it, travelers rush to see with their own eyes the legendary skyscrapers of the Empire State Building, Woolworths and others, take a walk in Central Park, admire the collection of paintings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and walk along the Museum Mile.

Chicago is considered the most criminal city in the United States; it is the capital of jazz and the financial center of the country; it is also home to the tallest building in the United States - the Willis Tower. Louisiana is the most French state in America; descendants of settlers from Hugo’s homeland still live in New Orleans. Utah is the stronghold of the Mormon sect, Texas amazes with its vast expanses and wild prairies, and the coolest guys in the entire western part of the States still live in Dallas.

Large cities are good for shopping and intercultural communication, but for a beach holiday you need to go to California and Florida. Hawaii remains the constant leader in resort destinations; good coastlines can also be found in South Carolina, Maine, Massachusetts, and Virginia.

Festival Las Vegas invites you to tickle your nerves and plunge into the abyss of excitement; travelers to the state of Arizona are attracted by the primitive power and grandeur of the Grand Canyon. Most of the Indians living in the United States are concentrated in California and Oklahoma; excursions are conducted on the territory of modern reservations and ancient cities of the Incas, Aztecs and Mayans.

Sports lovers will enjoy surfing on the seductive beaches of Miami or skiing at the winter resorts of Aspen, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Vail and others in Colorado.

In almost any more or less large city you can find several international language schools: educational tourism is very developed in English-speaking America.

In addition, travelers come to the States to visit the cultural capital of Los Angeles, admire the landscape beauties of Ohio and Pennsylvania, improve their health in the most progressive clinics in the world, get married in the Hawaiian Islands or get married in an instant in Las Vegas.

The United States of America is 50 states united into one government system. The capital of the USA is Washington. Each US state has its own constitution and legislation. The total area of ​​the USA is 9.5 million sq. km. The total population of the United States is 315 million people.

The largest states of the USA: Alaska and Texas.

The state of Alaska is located in the Northwestern part of America, includes the Alaska Peninsula, the Aleutian Islands, and is separated from other states by the territory of Canada.

The harsh nature of Alaska is very beautiful. You can’t help but be amazed when looking at the snowy peaks or the calm surface of the deep lakes of Alaska. Its glaciers, volcanoes, mountains and endless snow are amazing in their purity. Although this state is quite small in population (only 700 thousand people), its territory occupies almost twice as much as the second largest US state, Texas. The total area of ​​Alaska is 1,717,854 sq. km.

There are a number of myths associated with the sale of the once Russian land of Alaska to America. The most common of them is that Alaska was sold to the Americans by Queen Catherine II. Remember the song by the Lyube group “Don’t be a fool, America!”? So it contains these words: “Ekaterina, you were wrong!” In fact, it was not Catherine who was wrong. The sale of Alaska took place in March 1867.

Grand Duke Constantine and his brother Alexander 2 agreed to a deal, the price of which was 7.2 million dollars in gold, which is about 110 million dollars in gold in modern terms. The deal turned out to be unprofitable for Russia not only because it lost vast territories, but also because gold was soon discovered in Alaska. In the 19th century, Alaska experienced a Gold Rush, and since then numerous tons of gold have been mined. And currently, no less valuable “mines” are being developed in Alaska: oil production and refining is flourishing, which has a positive effect on both the state’s economy and the economy of the state as a whole.

Officially, Alaska became the 49th state of America not so long ago, only in 1959; before that it was called the “District of Alaska.”

Alaska is rich not only in natural resources and minerals, but also in the unique, pristine beauty of its uninhabited, wild and pristine nature. Numerous tourists flock here from May to September to climb to the top of the White Pass and see with their own eyes all the enchanting beauty and splendor of this wild region.

The exciting route along the Yukon Railway, laid through mountains and rocks, will not leave even the most “experienced” tourist indifferent. In summer, tourists are offered fishing as a leisure activity, and in winter – dog sledding. On a frosty night, connoisseurs of celestial beauty will be treated to an amazing sight - the unforgettable northern lights.

Some people are attracted to Alaska by the beauty of Mount McKinley (Denali), whose height is 6,194 meters.

So, the largest state in the USA is Alaska. The largest city in this state, Anchorage, is literally surrounded by various protected areas, where tourists come with pleasure at any time of the year.

The smallest US state by area, Roy Island is located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Its area is only 4002 sq. km, of which the water surface occupies 1295 sq. km. (32.3%). This state was even nicknamed “Little Rhody.” Although in terms of population the situation is not so modest - more than a million citizens live in the state.


The state is the main administrative unit of this state. The states are further divided into counties, and in rural areas into townships. There are 50 states in total. The last of them (Hawaii) was annexed to the United States in 1959. Some confusion arising in the question of how many states there are in the United States arises because there are currently discussions about the possibility of joining the 51st state, but for now That did not happen.

The District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and some other territories are vying for the title of 51st state. The term “51st state” is used to refer to areas with strong American influence (Australia, Mexico, Iraq and others).

Not all administrative divisions are formally states. The commonwealths (eg Kentucky, Pennsylvania) and the District of Columbia differ. The capital of the United States, Washington, is located in Colombia. The principles of government for both states and commonwealths are similar. Colombia, due to the fact that it is not a state, cannot elect its representatives to the Senate. Her struggle for the right to become the 51st state of America is connected with this.

The American flag has 50 stars based on the number of states. If another administrative unit joins the country, the number of stars will increase.

US regions


The US map makes it clear to us that onfns are grouped by region, depending on their location. There are the Northeastern United States, which includes New England and the Mid-Atlantic states, the Midwest, the Southern United States, and the Western United States.

The Northeast includes Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts and other states. This region is considered the most developed and richest in the country.

The Midwest region includes 12 states - Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and others. It has the lowest unemployment rate in the country and well-developed industry and agriculture.

The South of the United States is also called the Black Belt. There is a traditionally large percentage of black Americans here - they were once brought to the South as slaves. The region includes 12 states and one federal district - Columbia. This region has the greatest ethnic and linguistic diversity.

The Western United States is the largest region, occupying more than half of the country's territory. It includes 13 states (Nevada, Hawaii, California and others). It is home to the largest number of minorities in the United States.

Local government

The United States of America is a federal republic. First of all, this is expressed in a high level of local self-government.

Each of the 50 states has:

  • Constitution;
  • governor;
  • Supreme Court;
  • Legislative Assembly;
  • capital.

Any resident of America has, as it were, dual citizenship - the country of the United States and the state in which he lives. In addition, each state has its own flag, animal, product and even insect! All states also have mottos and nicknames, both officially approved and unofficial.

For example, the official name of the state of Indiana is the “Big State,” Missouri is the “Show Me State,” Nebraska is the “Corn Husker State,” and New York, as you know, is the “Big Apple.” There are also interesting unofficial nicknames (so-called nicknames) - “Gopher State” for North Dakota, “Pan Handle State” for West Virginia, “Land of the Midnight Sun” for Alaska and others.

State mottos are widely used in the official symbols of the country: they are minted on coins and engraved on seals. They sound in different languages: Florida - We Trust in God (English), Oklahoma - Labor Conquers All (Latin), Minnesota - North Star (French) and so on.

In the state of Washington, in the city of Seattle, there is a huge wall covered with chewing gum. Oddly enough, this is the wall of a local theater. The phenomenon arose spontaneously, and at first the authorities tried to fight it, but since this failed, they decided to leave it as it was - another attraction appeared.

The state of Kansas invites you to slide down the tallest water slide on the planet: its height exceeds the height of Niagara Falls.

In general, each US state is unique and different from the other. Despite their differences, they still make up one great country - the United States of America.