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.
Explorer Christopher Columbus (1451–1506) is known for his 1492 ‘discovery’ of the New World of the Americas on board his ship Santa Maria. However, it is debated that he was actually the first with indications Nordish and Spanish explorers had long discovered North America before Columbus.
By issuing the Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the 13 American colonies severed their political connections to Great Britain.
On May 14, 1959, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names issued the following definitions based partially on the Alaska Omnibus Bill, which defined the Continental United States as “the 49 States on the North American Continent and the District of Columbia…” The Board 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 before 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.
The United States currently claims 16 insular areas as territories:
- American Samoa
- Guam
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Puerto Rico
- United States Virgin Islands
- Minor Outlying Islands
The italicized islands are part of a territory dispute with Colombia and are not included in the ISO designation of the USMOI. The United States does not administer these two territories.
