How many states are there?
Administrative divisions of the United States: (50 states and the District of Columbia)
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida,
Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska,
Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota,
Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota,
Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Source:The CIA Factbook
The last two states to join the Union were Alaska (49th) and Hawaii (50th). Both joined in 1959.
What is Washington D.C. if it isn't a state?
Washington D.C. is a federal district under the authority of Congress. Local government is run by a mayor and 13 member city council. Washington DC is represented in Congress by an elected, nonvoting Delegate to the House of Representatives and residents have been able to vote in Presidential elections since 1961.
What is Puerto Rico if it isn't a state?
Puerto Rico is a commonwealth associated with the U.S. Its indigenous inhabitants are U.S. citizens. Puerto Ricans are unable to vote in U.S. Presidential elections but they do elect a nonvoting resident commissioner to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Other Dependent Areas of the U.S:
American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman
Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto
Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island
NOTE: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US has administered the Trust Territory
of the Pacific Islands, but recently entered into a new political relationship with all
four political units: the Northern Mariana Islands is a Commonwealth in political union
with the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association
with the US (effective 1 October 1994); the Federated States of Micronesia signed a
Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the
Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 21
October1986)
Source:The CIA Factbook
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