Contiguous United States facts for kids

A map showing the contiguous United States

The contiguous United States refers to the 48 states that are connected to each other. It also includes the District of Columbia. These states are all located in central North America.

This term helps us understand which parts of the United States are physically connected. It does not include Alaska or Hawaii. These two states are separated from the main group of states. Alaska is further north, and Hawaii is a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term also excludes other U.S. areas like Puerto Rico or Guam.

People sometimes call the contiguous United States the Lower 48. This is especially true when talking about Alaska. In Hawaii, people often say The Mainland.

The contiguous United States covers a huge area. It is about 3.1 million square miles (8.1 million square kilometers). This makes it similar in size to Australia. If it were its own country, it would be the fifth largest in the world. The population of this area was over 328 million people in 2020. This means almost everyone in the U.S. lives in these 48 connected states.

This map shows how Alaska and Hawaii are located compared to the contiguous United States. Alaska is in red at the top, and Hawaii is in red on the far left. The contiguous U.S. is in the center in pale colors.

Understanding Different Names for the U.S.

Sometimes, people use different names to talk about the connected parts of the United States. These terms can be a little confusing, but we can clear them up!

Continental United States: What Does It Include?

The term continental United States is often used. This term includes the 48 connected states and Washington, D.C.. It also includes Alaska. Alaska is part of the North American continent, even though it's separated by Canada. However, this term does not include Hawaii or other U.S. islands.

The "Lower 48": A Common Nickname

You might hear people say the Lower 48. This is a popular nickname for the contiguous United States. It refers to the 48 states that are all connected. People in Alaska often use this term when they talk about the rest of the country.

CONUS: A Government Term

The U.S. government and military sometimes use the term CONUS. This is a shorter way to say "Continental United States." It usually means the 48 connected states and Washington, D.C.. When something is OCONUS, it means it's "Outside of Continental United States."

How Non-Connected U.S. Areas Talk About the Mainland

People living in places like Alaska, Hawaii, and other U.S. territories have special ways to refer to the contiguous United States. This is because they are not physically connected to it.

Alaska's View: The "Lower 48" or "Outside"

Alaska became the 49th U.S. state in 1959. It is far to the northwest of the main group of states. It is separated by British Columbia, a part of Canada. Alaskans often call the contiguous United States the Lower 48. They might also use the term Outside to mean any place not in Alaska.

Hawaii's View: "The Mainland"

Hawaii became the 50th U.S. state in 1959. It is a beautiful group of islands in the Pacific Ocean. Hawaii is about 2,200 miles (3,500 km) from North America. People in Hawaii often call the contiguous United States the Mainland or U.S. Mainland.

Puerto Rico: "The Mainland" for Citizens

Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory in the Caribbean Sea. It is about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of Miami, Florida. People born in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens. They can move freely to the mainland United States. They also use terms like "the mainland" to refer to the connected states.

Small U.S. Areas Only Reachable Through Canada

There are a few small parts of the contiguous United States that you can only reach by driving through Canada! These are like little islands of U.S. land surrounded by another country. For example, Point Roberts, Washington, and the Northwest Angle in Minnesota are two such places.

List of the Contiguous U.S. States

Here are the 48 states that are connected to each other:

The District of Columbia is also part of the contiguous United States.

See also

In Spanish: Estados Unidos contiguos para niños

• Extreme points of the United States
• Mainland