Continental United States

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The continental United States commonly refers to the 48 contiguous states located on the central part of the North American continent, plus the District of Columbia, and so does not include Alaska and Hawaii.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Because Alaska is also on the North American continent, the term, if interpreted literally, would also include that state, so the term is sometimes qualified with the explicit inclusion or exclusion of Alaska to resolve any ambiguity.[2][8] This ambiguity existed long before Alaska became a state in 1959.[9]

Some other terms which are equivalent in common usage are:

  • contiguous United States
  • coterminous (or conterminous) United States
  • the lower 48[10]
  • CONUS[5]

The 48 states and D.C. together have an area of 3,119,884.69 square miles (8,080,464.25 km²). Of this, 2,959,064.44 sq mi (7,663,941.71 km²) is land, comprising 83.65% of U.S. land area. Officially, 160,820.25 sq mi (416,522.38 km²) is water area, comprising 62.66% of the nation's water area. Its 2000 census population was 279,583,437, comprising 99.35% of the nation's population. Its population density was 94.484 inhabitants/sq mi (36.48/km²), compared to 79.555/sq mi (30.716/km²) for the nation as a whole. [11]

[edit] Alaska and Hawaii

Some places, because of their own location relative to the contiguous United States, have their own unique labels for it. In Hawaii and overseas American territories, for instance, the term "the Mainland" or "U.S. Mainland" is used to refer to the continental United States.

In Alaska, the term "continental United States" is almost never used when referring to just the contiguous 48 states, perhaps because some Alaskans consider it a slight to exclude them from the continent. Instead, the term "Lower 48" is sometimes used, but more often, long-time residents use "Outside",[12][13][14] although this can also refer to all areas other than Alaska.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ continental, adj., "being the part of the United States on the North American continent; also : being the part of the United States comprising the lower 48 states"
    Merriam-Webster, Inc. (2003). Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed.. Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, Inc.. ISBN 0877798095. 
  2. ^ a b Random House (1991). Random House Webster's College Dictionary. New York: Random House. ISBN 0679401105. 
  3. ^ "The area … is continental United States, by which is meant that part of the United States lying on the continent of North America south of the Canadian boundary. It thus excludes Alaska and the recent insular accessions of Hawaii, …" Abstract of the 1900 Census (1902), p.xi
  4. ^ These maps show the contiguous 48 states and D.C., but not Alaska and Hawaii.
  5. ^ a b "CONUS" seems to be used primarily by the American military and the Federal government and those doing business with them.
    • 'CONUS - "Continental United States." CONUS refers to the 48 contiguous states.' U.S. Navy Style Guide
    • "CONUS move: A PCS move where both the current and new duty stations are defined as being within the continental United States (CONUS). CONUS includes only the 48 contiguous states, not Alaska and Hawaii." Military Assistance Program glossary
  6. ^ "… merchandise to foreign countries from continental United states, Puerto Rico, and the territories of Alaska and Hawaii." United States Foreign Trade (1950-1953)
  7. ^ However, there are exceptions:
  8. ^
  9. ^ "That is a question of interpretation. I would not think that Alaska would be a part of continental United States. It is not a part of the contiguous territory that makes out these United States. But that is purely a question upon which there may be a difference of opinion." Joint commission on unification of the Methodist Episcopal church and the Methodist Episcopal church, South (1918)
  10. ^ "In Alaskan context, lower forty-eight may be used." National Geographic Style Manual
    The term "lower 48 states" to exclude Alaska and Hawaii is also not strictly accurate, since Hawaii is further south than all other states. The District of Columbia, while not a state, is generally understood to be included in the "lower 48".
  11. ^ Population and land area from Census of 2000 United States Census Bureau
  12. ^ Alaska Answers weblog
  13. ^ Speak Alaskan
  14. ^ About Alaska

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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