What this chapter covers
- U.S. states and territories.
- The U.S. borders.
- Mountains and rivers in the United States.
- The U.S. capital.
States and territories
When the U.S. first became a country in 1776, there were 13 original states. All of the 13 original states are located on the East Coast of the United States.
Today, the U.S. has 50 states. This is why the American flag has 50 stars: there is one star for each state.
On August 21, 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state to join the United States.
The U.S. also has five territories. A U.S. territory is an area that is part of the United States, but a territory is not a state.
The 13 original states
- New Hampshire
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut
- New York
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Delaware
- Maryland
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Georgia
The five U.S. territories
- Guam
- Virgin Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Northern Mariana Islands
- American Samoa
U.S. borders
The United States is located in North America, and it is bordered by an ocean on the East Coast and the West Coast. The ocean on the West Coast is called the Pacific Ocean. The ocean on the East Coast is called the Atlantic Ocean.
The U.S. is also bordered by one country to the north and another country to the south. The country that borders the U.S. to the north is called Canada. The country that borders the U.S. to the south is called Mexico.
States that border Canada
There are 13 states in the U.S. that border Canada:
- Maine
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Ohio
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- North Dakota
- Montana
- Idaho
- Washington
- Alaska
States that border Mexico
There are four states in the U.S. that border Mexico:
- California
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Texas
Mountains and rivers
There are two large mountain ranges in the United States. The Appalachian Mountains are in the eastern United States, and the Rocky Mountains are in the western United States.
There are also many rivers in the United States. The two longest rivers are the Mississippi River and the Missouri River.
The Mississippi River runs north to south, and it is located in the middle of the country. The Missouri River connects to the Mississippi River, and it runs across several states in the West.
Washington, D.C.
The capital of the United States is called Washington, D.C. It is named after George Washington. George Washington was the first President of the United States, and he is also known as the “Father of Our Country.”
The letters “D.C.” mean “District of Columbia.” Washington, D.C., is not part of a state. It is located between the states of Maryland and Virginia, and it is controlled by the federal government.
Each state in the United States also has a state capital.
The civics test may ask for the capital of your state. The answer depends on where you live, so look it up before your interview. Residents of Washington, D.C., should answer that D.C. is not a state and does not have a state capital.
What to remember
- The U.S. has 50 states and five territories.
- The 13 original states are on the East Coast; Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959.
- Canada borders the U.S. to the north, and Mexico borders it to the south.
- The Atlantic Ocean is on the East Coast, and the Pacific Ocean is on the West Coast.
- The Appalachian Mountains are in the East, and the Rocky Mountains are in the West.
- The Mississippi and Missouri are the two longest rivers.
- Washington, D.C., is the U.S. capital, and it is not part of a state.