The United States is a large country in North America, bordered by two oceans, two countries, and shaped by some of the continent’s most significant mountain ranges and river systems. The geography facts in this subchapter are among the most directly tested in the entire civics curriculum — concise, specific, and entirely learnable.
How Many States?
The United States today has 50 states. That number is reflected in one of the most visible symbols of the nation: the American flag has 50 stars, with one star representing each state. When the United States first became a country in 1776, there were just 13 original states, all located on the East Coast. The country grew steadily over the following two centuries. The most recent state to join was Hawaii, which became the 50th state on August 21, 1959.
U.S. Borders: Oceans and Neighboring Countries
The United States is located in North America and is bordered by water on both its East and West Coasts. The ocean on the West Coast is the Pacific Ocean. The ocean on the East Coast is the Atlantic Ocean.
The U.S. also shares land borders with two countries. To the north, the United States borders Canada. To the south, the United States borders Mexico.
East Coast → Atlantic Ocean | West Coast → Pacific Ocean | North → Canada | South → Mexico
States That Border Canada
There are 13 states in the United States that share a border with Canada. They are: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Alaska.
The 13 States 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 United States that share a border with Mexico. They are: California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
Mountain Ranges
The United States has two major mountain ranges. The Appalachian Mountains A large mountain range in the eastern United States, running roughly from Alabama in the south to Maine in the north. are located in the eastern United States. The Rocky Mountains A large mountain range in the western United States, running from New Mexico in the south through states including Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and Montana. are located in the western United States. These two ranges are the dominant geographical features on either side of the country’s interior plains.
Major Rivers
The United States has many rivers, but two stand out as the longest. The Mississippi River One of the two longest rivers in the United States. It runs from north to south and is located in the middle of the country. runs from north to south through the middle of the country. The Missouri River One of the two longest rivers in the United States. It connects to the Mississippi River and runs across several states in the West. connects to the Mississippi River and flows across several states in the western part of the country.
The Two Longest Rivers in the U.S.
Mississippi River — Runs north to south through the middle of the country.
Missouri River — Connects to the Mississippi River and runs across several western states.
Wrapping Up
The key geography facts for the civics test are precise and learnable: 50 states, 50 stars on the flag, Hawaii as the 50th state in 1959, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans on either coast, Canada to the north and Mexico to the south, 13 states bordering Canada and 4 bordering Mexico, the Appalachian Mountains in the east and the Rocky Mountains in the west, and the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers as the country’s two longest. Getting these details right on the test is simply a matter of having them firmly memorized.
Why does Alaska border Canada even though it is not connected to the other U.S. states?
Alaska is a U.S. state located in the far northwest of North America, physically separated from the other 48 contiguous states by Canada. Because it shares a land border with the Canadian provinces and territories to its east and south, it counts among the 13 states that border Canada. Alaska became a state in 1959 — the same year as Hawaii.
What is the difference between a state and a territory?
A U.S. territory is an area that is part of the United States but is not a state. The U.S. has five territories. Territories are governed by U.S. law and their residents are U.S. nationals, but territories do not have the same representation in Congress as states and are not counted among the 50 states. The five U.S. territories are covered in the next subchapter.
Which mountain range is located in the eastern United States?
- The United States has 50 states. The American flag has 50 stars — one per state.
- Hawaii became the 50th state on August 21, 1959.
- The original 13 states were all on the East Coast.
- East Coast is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean; West Coast by the Pacific Ocean.
- Canada borders the U.S. to the north; Mexico borders the U.S. to the south.
- 13 states border Canada: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Alaska.
- 4 states border Mexico: California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
- Appalachian Mountains — eastern United States.
- Rocky Mountains — western United States.
- The two longest rivers: Mississippi River (north-south, middle of the country) and Missouri River (connects to the Mississippi, runs across western states).