50 States: 48 adjoining states plus Alaska (49th) Hawaii and (50th).
Federal District: Washington D.C.
Incorporated Territory: Palmyra Atoll
Unincorporated organized territories
Guam
Northern Mariana Islands
Puerto Rico
U.S. Virgin Islands
Unincorporated unorganized territories
American Samoa
Bajo Nuevo Bank
Baker Island
Howland Island
Jarvis Island
Johnston Atoll
Kingman Reef
Midway Islands
Navassa Island
Serranilla Bank
Wake Island
A map of the U.S. showing territories from 1970.
Extraterritorial Jurisdiction and Associated States
Aside from the major territories, the U.S. includes or has included a number of other locations including extraterritorial jurisdictions like Guantanamo Bay Naval Base (since 1903) and associated states like Federated States of Micronesia (since 1986), Marshall Islands (since 1986), Palau (since 1994).
There Have Also Been a Wide Range of Former Territories, Administered Areas, and Other Zones
Former territories include many areas of land that are now American states like “the Louisiana Territory” as well as some places outside the US. Formally administered areas include places like Haiti from 1915 to 1934, and other zones include sections of countries, such as South Korea during the Korean War.[1]
This video shows U.S. boundaries and territories from 1763 – 2008.
Do Embassies and Bases Count?
When considering US bases and embassies abroad as “U.S. soil” America’s reach extends to many additional parts of the world.
However, According to the Foreign Affairs Manual, 7 FAM §1116.1–4: “Despite widespread popular belief, U.S. military installations abroad and U.S. diplomatic facilities are not part of the United States within the meaning of the 14th Amendment. A child born on the premises of such a facility is not subject to U.S. jurisdiction and does not acquire U.S. citizenship by reason of birth.” [4]
Common myths and misconceptions about America include people mistakenly thinking the U.S. has 51 or 52 states.
This can be due to people thinking that Alaska and Hawaii are the 51st and 52nd states (they are the 49th and 50th).
It could be that people are counting D.C. as a state (it is not).
It can also be because sometimes Puerto Rico or a new major territory can be referred to as a 51st state. This is a term of endearment and not an official fact.
People may also simply be confusing it with something as simple as the number of cards in the deck.
Bottom line; there are 50 states.
Conclusion
There are 50 states in America, this can be easily confirmed by looking at a map and remembering D.C. and Puerto Rico are not states.
Thomas DeMichele is the content creator behind ObamaCareFacts.com, FactMyth.com, CryptocurrencyFacts.com, and other DogMediaSolutions.com and Massive Dog properties. He also contributes to MakerDAO and other cryptocurrency-based projects. Tom's focus in all...
