How many u.s. states are there

All of the fifty states have their own charms and selling points. However, by some metrics, some states are the "most" and some are the "least. See how the states stack up with our lists below. Did you know California's name was taken from a popular Spanish adventure story? Did you know that the state fruit of New Hampshire is the pumpkin or that the pumpkin is a fruit? Whether you want to impress your friends at trivia night or just want to learn something new, follow the links below for more fun facts about the states.

The United States is a lot more than just serious statistics and boring textbook history. America exists in the day to day through ball games, hamburgers and apple pie, and all that jazz.

Learn more about some off the eccentricities and quirky locales that dot the country. Travel in the United States is a nearly trillion-dollar industry. Learn more about travel distances, the ways people travel, and some information about the places they go.

Think you know your U. Take the challenge and see if you can recognize each of these U. Updated November 12, Infoplease Staff. Capital The U. Washington, DC Government The United States government, from its very beginnings, was built around representing the fifty states both equally in the Senate and proportionally in the House. Capital: District of Columbia State Abbreviations and State Postal Codes History The history of human societies within the states' territory stretches back millennia, but the history of the United States itself is quite recent.

History Timeline U. Constitution Primer Confederate States States by Order of Entry into Union Population and Geography Perhaps more than in countries with stable long-term populations and settlement patterns, the United States has grown in leaps and bounds. Territories More U. Geography Maps and Flags Maps and flags both have played important historic roles in economic matters and in matters of identity.

State Flags Regions The regions of the U. Regions of the U. Caseload: The number of confirmed new cases is shrinking , with 4, for the seven days ending November 5 compared to 5, the seven days prior.

Doug Borgum on April 30 rescinded North Dakota's state of emergency. North Dakota's mask mandate expired Jan. Stay-at-home order: Never issued. Affected sectors: Retail, Cosmetology. Caseload: The number of confirmed new cases is shrinking , with 3, for the seven days ending November 5 compared to 3, the seven days prior. Capacity and distancing limits for busineses, indoor events and gatherings were removed May Beginning May 7, limits were lifted for most outdoor dining, and on early closing times for bars and restaurants.

Stay-at-home order: Started March 27, ; ended on May 4, Caseload: The number of confirmed new cases is growing , with 27, for the seven days ending November 5 compared to 17, the seven days prior. At the end of March, the Wisconsin Supreme Court declared the statewide mask mandate invalid and blocked Gov. Tony Evers from issuing any new public health emergency orders mandating face masks without the legislature's approval.

Several cities have since lifted their local mask mandates. Wisconsin eased restrictions to allow more indoor visitation in nursing homes March Stay-at-home order: Started March 25, ; ended on May 26, Affected sectors: Parks, Retail. Caseload: The number of confirmed new cases is growing , with 17, for the seven days ending November 5 compared to 14, the seven days prior.

The Michigan Senate approved a series of bills Tuesday aimed at curtailing or banning COVID vaccine and mask mandates for students and others participating in activities pertaining to K schools. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed two bills Sept. That legislation attempted to prevent the Whitmer administration from using the public threat alert system to send out notifications regarding new mask rules, gathering restrictions or similar health and safety orders.

Michigan ended all restrictions to masking and gathering requirements June Stay-at-home order: Started March 24, ; ended on June 5, Caseload: The number of confirmed new cases is growing , with 34, for the seven days ending November 5 compared to 28, the seven days prior.

New York City restaurants and other some indoor spaces now require proof of vaccination for entry. Retail stories, restaurants, offices, gyms, amusement centers, hair salons can now make it optional to have capacity and social distancing restrictions, as well as ease COVID disinfection protocols. The state of emergency expired June Stay-at-home order: Started March 22, ; ended on May 15, Affected sectors: Outdoor recreation, Health.

Caseload: The number of confirmed new cases is growing , with 27, for the seven days ending November 5 compared to 26, the seven days prior. Connecticut's Department of Public Health said Aug. Effective Aug.

Stay-at-home order: Started March 23, ; ended on May 20, Caseload: The number of confirmed new cases is growing , with 2, for the seven days ending November 5 compared to 2, the seven days prior.

Mobility: For the seven days ending March 15, , the share of residents leaving their homes was about 5. All health-care workers in all state-licensed health facilities will be required to be vaccinated by Oct. Dan McKee announced. On May 21, Rhode Island lifted almost all of its remaining coronavirus limitations, a week earlier than originally planned. Restrictions on "higher risk" activities, including indoor performances and night clubs, were lifted June Since May 18, fully vaccinated Rhode Islanders — those two weeks past their final dose — are no longer required to cover their faces or observe social distance, indoors or outdoors, in most situations.

Stay-at-home order: Started March 28, ; ended on May 8, Affected sectors: Restaurants, Retail. Charlie Baker on July 30 recommended fully vaccinated Massachusetts residents wear masks in certain public indoor settings, but did not institute a new mask mandate. The state had dropped its mask mandate and all remaining coronavirus restrictions May Baker on May 25 filed legislation to extend certain emergency measures currently in place via executive orders, which expired June Stay-at-home order: Started April 24, ; ended on May 18, Caseload: The number of confirmed new cases is growing , with 9, for the seven days ending November 5 compared to 9, the seven days prior.

Masks are required in most public outdoor settings as of Aug. Weeks ago, Gov. Kate Brown had institued a mask mandate for indoor spaces, which started Aug. Oregon had previously lifted mask mandates, social distancing and other restrictions June Stay-at-home order: Started March 23, Affected sectors: Schools, Health.

Caseload: The number of confirmed new cases is shrinking , with 7, for the seven days ending November 5 compared to 7, the seven days prior. A previous directive from Gov. Stay-at-home order: Started March 31, ; ended on May 15, Caseload: The number of confirmed new cases is growing , with 5, for the seven days ending November 5 compared to 3, the seven days prior.

Statewide public health orders ended in late May. Moving forward, specific protocols for K schools during the pandemic will be determined at the district level. Public health restrictions on indoor gatherings of more than people were lifted. Mark Gordon lifted Wyoming's mask mandate March 16, and resumed "normal operations" for bars, restaurants, theaters and gyms. Affected sectors: Cosmetology, Fitness.

Caseload: The number of confirmed new cases is shrinking , with 2, for the seven days ending November 5 compared to 2, the seven days prior. Mobility: For the seven days ending March 15, , the share of residents leaving their homes was about 9. Kristi Noem has repeatedly said she won't issue a statewide mask requirement or lockdown and has voiced doubts about health experts who say face coverings prevent infections from spreading. Noem's "Back to Normal Plan" laid out actions for residents, employers, schools and health care providers once four criteria categories are met, including a downward trajectory of documented coronavirus cases for 14 days in an area with sustained community spread.

Affected sectors: Retail, Health. A federal judge ordered the state of Iowa to immediately halt enforcement of a law that prevents school boards from ordering masks to be worn to help prevent the spread of COVID Kim Reynolds lifted the state's limited mask requirement Feb. Affected sectors: Health, Restaurants. Caseload: The number of confirmed new cases is growing , with 7, for the seven days ending November 5 compared to 7, the seven days prior. A new statewide indoor mask mandate went into effect Aug.

Illinois had entered Phase 5 of reopening June 11, which removed all remaining capacity limits and restrictions on all sectors of the economy. Stay-at-home order: Started March 21, ; ended on May 30, Affected sectors: Health, Outdoor recreation. Eric Holcomb renewed the state's public health emergency order once again Sept. Holcomb removed the mask mandate June 1 in most state facilities.

Face masks were required in public schools through June 30, but beginning July 1, local school boards have the power to enact measures for their school districts. Indiana's mask mandate ended April 6. Stay-at-home order: Started March 25, ; ended on May 1, Affected sectors: Health, Gatherings.

Caseload: The number of confirmed new cases is growing , with 11, for the seven days ending November 5 compared to 10, the seven days prior. As cases from the delta variant of COVID continue to rise in Ohio and around the country, a growing number of places are upping their restrictions: either through reissued mask mandates or with vaccine requirements.

The Ohio Department of Health recommended COVID vaccinations for staff and eligible students in K schools, mask-wearing for non-vaccinated individuals and other prevention measures. Ohio lifted the state mask mandate and all remaining coronavirus health orders except those for nursing homes and assisted living facilities on June 2. Mike DeWine lifted the state's state of emergency June Stay-at-home order: Started March 23, ; ended on May 30, Caseload: The number of confirmed new cases is growing , with 25, for the seven days ending November 5 compared to 23, the seven days prior.

Masks are required in all Pennsylvania K schools, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Aug. The Department of Health order took effect Tuesday, Sept.

Pennsylvania had previously ended its mask mandate June The state eliminated all capacity limits on businesses on Memorial Day and relaxed its COVID restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherings May 17, allowing for greater numbers of people to attend events like proms, graduations and fairs, festivals or concerts.

Stay-at-home order: Started April 1, ; ended on May 8, Caseload: The number of confirmed new cases is growing , with 28, for the seven days ending November 5 compared to 27, the seven days prior. In late July, Gov. Phil Murphy and Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli issued a statement that said they "strongly recommend" masks for everyone in indoor situations of "increased risk. On May 17, he lifted New Jersey's travel restrictions and said schools would be back in person next school year.

Most capacity limits at restaurants, stores, offices and a host of other sites were lifted May 19 in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut in a coordinated effort by the hardest-hit region in the U. Stay-at-home order: Started March 21, Affected sectors: Outdoor recreation, Parks. Caseload: The number of confirmed new cases is shrinking , with 8, for the seven days ending November 5 compared to 8, the seven days prior.

As of July 28, California recommends all individuals wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status; some individual counties have mask mandates. On June 15, California retired the color-coded tier system that since has set occupancy limits at businesses and imposed other rules aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus.

Most businesses are allowed to resume normal operations and the state's mask mandate was lifted for vaccinated individuals. Stay-at-home order: Started March 19, Affected sectors: Health, Schools. Caseload: The number of confirmed new cases is growing , with 44, for the seven days ending November 5 compared to 43, the seven days prior. Mobility: For the seven days ending March 15, , the share of residents leaving their homes was about 8. Read more: vcstar.

The statewide mask mandate ended April Affected sectors: Gatherings, Restaurants. Caseload: The number of confirmed new cases is shrinking , with 10, for the seven days ending November 5 compared to 10, the seven days prior. The Colorado health department is preparing for the possibility of a statewide mask or vaccine mandate.

The state lifted all capacity limits for large indoor gatherings June 1. Stay-at-home order: Started March 26, ; ended on May 8, Caseload: The number of confirmed new cases is growing , with 19, for the seven days ending November 5 compared to 19, the seven days prior. Mobility: For the seven days ending March 15, , the share of residents leaving their homes was about Pete Ricketts announced during his last COVID press conference in May that he signed an executive order suspending previous executive orders made during the pandemic.

The state's emergency order ended June Nebraska transitioned its state-wide mask mandate to an advisory in April. Affected sectors: Restaurants, Cosmetology.

Caseload: The number of confirmed new cases is growing , with 6, for the seven days ending November 5 compared to 4, the seven days prior. Missouri lifted its mask mandate for everyone in outdoor areas in April and for fully vaccinated people in indoor areas in May.

Mike Parson enacted a law June 15 limiting the duration of local public health restrictions and barring governments from requiring proof of COVID vaccination to use public facilities and transportation. Parson let his statewide social distancing order lapse June 9, , leaving it to local governments to impose limits on public life amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Employees in the News. Emergency Management. Survey Manual. Geographically and as a general reference , the United States of America includes all areas considered to be under the sovereignty of the United States, but does not include leased areas.

On May 14, , the U. Although the official reference applies the term "conterminous," many use the word "contiguous," which is almost synonymous and better known.

Board on Geographic Names BGN , contains information about the official names for places, features, and areas in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the territories and outlying areas of the United States, including Today, the U.

During this year period, 7. During this year, National Atlas of the United States and The National Map will transition into a combined single source for geospatial and cartographic information. The importance of electric power is demonstrated by this view from space of lights across the continental United States at night. Credit: NASA. A map of the lower 48 states of the United States showing land cover overlayed with ecoregion boundaries.

Skip to main content. Search Search. Mapping, Remote Sensing, and Geospatial Data. Apply Filter.