The definition of “continental United States” that we and most other major survey organizations use includes the 48 contiguous states but not Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the other U.S. territories.
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Is Puerto Rico considered in the continental US?
The terms exclude the non-contiguous states of Alaska and Hawaii and all other offshore insular areas, such as American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.The contiguous United States would be placed fifth on the list of countries and dependencies by area.
What is included in the continental United States?
Continental United States: The 49 States (including Alaska, excluding Hawaii) located on the continent of North America, and the District of Columbia.
What states are not in the continental US?
Each of the U.S states is contiguous with one or more other states, except for two: Alaska and Hawaii. Alaska and Hawaii are, therefore, not contiguous.
How is Puerto Rico part of the United States?
In 1898, following the Spanish–American War, the United States acquired Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since 1917, and can move freely between the island and the mainland.Puerto Rico is represented federally solely by one non-voting member of the House called a Resident Commissioner.
What is the status of Puerto Rico?
As a territory of the United States, Puerto Rico’s 3.2 million residents are U.S. citizens. However, while subject to U.S. federal laws, island-based Puerto Ricans can’t vote in presidential elections and lack voting representation in Congress. As a U.S. territory, it is neither a state nor an independent country.
What is the difference between Continental and contiguous?
In its strictest sense, “contiguous United States” refers to the lower 48 states in North America (including the District of Columbia), and “continental United States” refers to 49 states (including Alaska and the District of Columbia).
What is the area of the continental United States?
3,119,884.69 square miles
Together, the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia occupy an area of 3,119,884.69 square miles. Of this area, 2,959,064.44 square miles is contiguous land, composing 83.65% of total U.S. land area, similar to the area of Australia.
How many continents are they?
seven continents
There are seven continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia (listed from largest to smallest in size). Sometimes Europe and Asia are considered one continent called Eurasia.
What was the final addition to the continental United States?
Alaska, the last major acquisition in North America, was purchased from Russia in 1867.
Why is Alaska not part of the continental US?
Alaska is unique among the US states as it is part of the North American continent, meaning it is attached via Canada, and so is part of the “Continental United States”. However, Alaska is not part of the “Contiguous United States”, because it is not attached directly to the lower 48 states.
What are two countries that border the United States?
The United States shares international land borders with two nations:
- The Canada–United States border to the north of the Contiguous United States and to the east of Alaska.
- The Mexico–United States border to the south.
Which two states are not attached to the rest of the country?
Alaska and Hawaii are the only states that are not physically connected to other states; Maine is the only state that borders only one other state ( New Hampshire).
Do Puerto Ricans pay US taxes?
While the Commonwealth government has its own tax laws, Puerto Rico residents are also required to pay US federal taxes, but most residents do not have to pay the federal personal income tax.
What country is Puerto Rico a part of?
the United States
Puerto Rico, an island in the Caribbean Sea, has been a territory of the United States since 1898, after the U.S. defeated Spain in the Spanish-American war. It’s classified as an “unincorporated territory,” meaning the island is controlled by the U.S. government but is separate from the mainland.
Do you need a passport to go to Puerto Rico from the US?
American Visitors
When you travel from the United States to Puerto Rico, if you’re an American citizen or a permanent resident, you do not need to bring your passport, you only need to present some form of government-issued photo ID or Permanent Resident card.
When did the US take control of Puerto Rico?
October 18, 1898
On October 18, 1898, American troops fighting in the Spanish-American War raised the United States flag in Puerto Rico formalizing U.S. control of the former Spanish colony.
What country owned Puerto Rico during the American Revolution?
After the war ended, Spain officially ceded the island to the United States under the terms established in the Treaty of Paris of 1898. Puerto Rico became a United States territory and the “Porto Rico Regiment” (Puerto Rico’s name was changed to Porto Rico) was established on the island.
Are Puerto Ricans Spanish?
Puerto Rican Spanish (español puertorriqueño [espaˈɲol pweɾtoriˈkeɲo]) is the Spanish language as characteristically spoken in Puerto Rico and by millions of people of Puerto Rican descent living in the United States and elsewhere.
| Puerto Rican Spanish | |
|---|---|
| IETF | es-PR |
How many Americans live in the continental US?
More than 330 million people live in the United States, but that doesn’t mean the population is distributed evenly.
Is Florida a continental state?
The one state that is not part of the continental US is the one and only Hawaii. Sometimes, when listing the states that are not included as part of the continental US, people tend to list Alaska as well.
Continental United States 2021.
| State | Florida |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | FL |
| Capital | Tallahassee |
| Date Established | 1845-03-03 |
| 2021 Pop. | 21,944,577 |
