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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, 1959, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names issued the following definitions, which defined the Continental United States as "the 49 States on the North American Continent and the District of Columbia..." The BGN reaffirmed these definitions on May 13, 1999.
United States: The 50 States and the District of Columbia.
Continental United States: The 49 States (including Alaska, excluding Hawaii) located on the continent of North America, and the District of Columbia.
Conterminous United States: The 48 States and the District of Columbia; that is, the United States prior to January 3, 1959 (Alaska Statehood), wholly filling an unbroken block of territory and excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Although the official reference applies the term "conterminous," many use the word "contiguous," which is almost synonymous and better known.
Learn more:U.S. Board on Geographic Names
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What is the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)?
The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN), which maintains cooperative working relationships with State Names Authorities to standardize geographic names for Federal use. GNIS contains information about the official names for places, features, and areas in the 50 states, the...
link
What is the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)?
The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN), which maintains cooperative working relationships with State Names Authorities to standardize geographic names for Federal use. GNIS contains information about the official names for places, features, and areas in the 50 states, the...
Learn More
What are the official definitions of regions in the United States like "the Midwest," "the South," or the “East Coast”?
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names does not define the extents of geographic regions, nor are they recorded in Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). The names and boundaries of regions are application-driven; that is, defined by a specific entity on a case-by-case basis according to a specific need, characteristics, or perception. Individuals might agree on the core of a region, but the...
link
What are the official definitions of regions in the United States like "the Midwest," "the South," or the “East Coast”?
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names does not define the extents of geographic regions, nor are they recorded in Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). The names and boundaries of regions are application-driven; that is, defined by a specific entity on a case-by-case basis according to a specific need, characteristics, or perception. Individuals might agree on the core of a region, but the...
Learn More
Does the Geographic Names Information System database contain entries for obsolete names and geographic features that no longer exist?
Yes, the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) includes features that no longer exist and names that are no longer used. If a feature no longer exists on the landscape, or the name has fallen out of use, the entry is marked “historical”. The designation “historical” has no reference to age, size, condition, extent of habitation, type of use, or any other factor. Examples of historical...
link
Does the Geographic Names Information System database contain entries for obsolete names and geographic features that no longer exist?
Yes, the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) includes features that no longer exist and names that are no longer used. If a feature no longer exists on the landscape, or the name has fallen out of use, the entry is marked “historical”. The designation “historical” has no reference to age, size, condition, extent of habitation, type of use, or any other factor. Examples of historical...
Learn More
1984-1986 - AVHRR Mosaic of United States
1984-1986 - AVHRR Mosaic of United States
1984-1986 - AVHRR Mosaic of United States
link
1984-1986 - AVHRR Mosaic of United States
AVHRR data were collected by the second antenna at the Center and provided daily global coverage.
By
EROS History Project
1984-1986 - AVHRR Mosaic of United States
link
1984-1986 - AVHRR Mosaic of United States
link
AVHRR data were collected by the second antenna at the Center and provided daily global coverage.
By
EROS History Project
1974 Geologic Map of the United States.
1974 Geologic Map of the United States.
1974 Geologic Map of the United States.
link
1974 Geologic Map of the United States.
King and Beikman's 1974 Geologic Map of the United States (1974 Geologic Map of the United States)
By
National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program
1974 Geologic Map of the United States.
link
1974 Geologic Map of the United States.
link
King and Beikman's 1974 Geologic Map of the United States (1974 Geologic Map of the United States)
By
National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program
The National Map - geographic names
The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. 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 Antarctica. It is the geographic names component of Th
Authors
Lou Yost, William J. Carswell
New Land Cover Maps Depict 15 Years of Change across America
New Land Cover Maps Depict 15 Years of Change across America
Today, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) released the latest edition of the National Land Cover Database (NLCD) for the U.S. – the most comprehensive...
Read Article
Mapping Public Lands in the United States
Mapping Public Lands in the United States
The Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) is the official inventory of public parks and other protected areas in all U.S. states and...
Read Article
Volunteering to Map the Nation
Volunteering to Map the Nation
As the USGS continues to celebrate “Mapping Month”, we again promote noteworthy contributors to The National Map Corps “crowdsourcing” project.
Read Article
The National Map and National Atlas Merge
The National Map and National Atlas Merge
Duringthis year,National Atlas of the United StatesandThe National Mapwill transition intoa combined single source for geospatial and...
Read Article
Related Content
What is the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)?
The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN), which maintains cooperative working relationships with State Names Authorities to standardize geographic names for Federal use. GNIS contains information about the official names for places, features, and areas in the 50 states, the...
link
What is the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)?
The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN), which maintains cooperative working relationships with State Names Authorities to standardize geographic names for Federal use. GNIS contains information about the official names for places, features, and areas in the 50 states, the...
Learn More
What are the official definitions of regions in the United States like "the Midwest," "the South," or the “East Coast”?
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names does not define the extents of geographic regions, nor are they recorded in Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). The names and boundaries of regions are application-driven; that is, defined by a specific entity on a case-by-case basis according to a specific need, characteristics, or perception. Individuals might agree on the core of a region, but the...
link
What are the official definitions of regions in the United States like "the Midwest," "the South," or the “East Coast”?
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names does not define the extents of geographic regions, nor are they recorded in Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). The names and boundaries of regions are application-driven; that is, defined by a specific entity on a case-by-case basis according to a specific need, characteristics, or perception. Individuals might agree on the core of a region, but the...
Learn More
Does the Geographic Names Information System database contain entries for obsolete names and geographic features that no longer exist?
Yes, the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) includes features that no longer exist and names that are no longer used. If a feature no longer exists on the landscape, or the name has fallen out of use, the entry is marked “historical”. The designation “historical” has no reference to age, size, condition, extent of habitation, type of use, or any other factor. Examples of historical...
link
Does the Geographic Names Information System database contain entries for obsolete names and geographic features that no longer exist?
Yes, the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) includes features that no longer exist and names that are no longer used. If a feature no longer exists on the landscape, or the name has fallen out of use, the entry is marked “historical”. The designation “historical” has no reference to age, size, condition, extent of habitation, type of use, or any other factor. Examples of historical...
Learn More
1984-1986 - AVHRR Mosaic of United States
1984-1986 - AVHRR Mosaic of United States
1984-1986 - AVHRR Mosaic of United States
link
1984-1986 - AVHRR Mosaic of United States
AVHRR data were collected by the second antenna at the Center and provided daily global coverage.
By
EROS History Project
1984-1986 - AVHRR Mosaic of United States
link
1984-1986 - AVHRR Mosaic of United States
link
AVHRR data were collected by the second antenna at the Center and provided daily global coverage.
By
EROS History Project
1974 Geologic Map of the United States.
1974 Geologic Map of the United States.
1974 Geologic Map of the United States.
link
1974 Geologic Map of the United States.
King and Beikman's 1974 Geologic Map of the United States (1974 Geologic Map of the United States)
By
National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program
1974 Geologic Map of the United States.
link
1974 Geologic Map of the United States.
link
King and Beikman's 1974 Geologic Map of the United States (1974 Geologic Map of the United States)
By
National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program
The National Map - geographic names
The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. 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 Antarctica. It is the geographic names component of Th
Authors
Lou Yost, William J. Carswell
New Land Cover Maps Depict 15 Years of Change across America
New Land Cover Maps Depict 15 Years of Change across America
Today, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) released the latest edition of the National Land Cover Database (NLCD) for the U.S. – the most comprehensive...
Read Article
Mapping Public Lands in the United States
Mapping Public Lands in the United States
The Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) is the official inventory of public parks and other protected areas in all U.S. states and...
Read Article
Volunteering to Map the Nation
Volunteering to Map the Nation
As the USGS continues to celebrate “Mapping Month”, we again promote noteworthy contributors to The National Map Corps “crowdsourcing” project.
Read Article
The National Map and National Atlas Merge
The National Map and National Atlas Merge
Duringthis year,National Atlas of the United StatesandThe National Mapwill transition intoa combined single source for geospatial and...
Read Article
