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State Boundaries of the United States |
What this map layer shows:
The boundaries of the United States of America.
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Background Information |
Sample Map
A State is the primary legal subdivision of the United States, and
State boundaries translate this concept into a geographic framework
for our Nation. A State can be discussed in terms of the many roles
it plays in national, regional, and local government and in terms
of its history, geography, and demographics. Each State has a unique
identity evidenced by those of us who carry a lifelong allegiance to
the place where we grew up, our home State.
The Government of the United States is based on the concept of federalism,
where power is shared between the National Government and the State
Governments. This relationship is defined by the Constitution
of the United States. Under this system, State Governments have exclusive powers to
issue licenses, regulate intrastate businesses, conduct elections, establish
local governments, ratify amendments to the Constitution, and take
measures for public health and safety. States may exert powers that are
not delegated to the National Government. States may exert powers not
explicitly prohibited by the Constitution. Sharing power between National
and State governments allows us to enjoy the benefits of a unified government,
while retaining many rights at the State and local levels.
States are often grouped or described by their geography. Forty-eight
of the fifty States form the conterminous United States (States within
a common boundary). The remaining two States are Alaska and Hawaii.
Canada separates Alaska from the conterminous United States, and
Hawaii is located in the Pacific Ocean.
The State Boundaries of the United States map layer includes boundaries
for the fifty States and for three State equivalents: the District
of Columbia, the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, and the U.S.
Virgin Islands. These State equivalents are not States but are governmental
units treated as if they were States for purposes of data presentation.
State names, two-letter State abbreviations, the Federal
Information Processing Standards (FIPS) codes for each State, and the date and
order of State admission for each State are included. FIPS codes
are standardized numeric codes used to ensure the uniform identification
of geographic entities through all Federal Government agencies. This map
layer was compiled by the National Atlas of the United States®.
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