1,237,956 sq miles Population Percentage Over 90% of total US population Approx. The term contiguous 48 states refers to the 48 adjoining states of the United States, excluding Alaska and Hawaii.
Recreation Planning Across the Contiguous 48 States
It represents roughly 80% of the nation's total land area, housing the majority of its population and economic activity. This geographic designation is frequently used in logistics, environmental science, and demographic analysis to simplify discussions about the mainland portion of the nation.
The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 doubled the size of the young nation, while the Oregon Treaty of 1846 established the northern border with Canada. Usage in Modern Contexts Today, the phrase appears frequently in weather forecasting, where meteorologists track storm systems across the unbroken landmass.
Recreation Planning Across the Contiguous 48 States
Another misconception involves the inclusion of Washington, D. The Mississippi River watershed, which drains a significant portion of the country, is entirely contained within this contiguous area, highlighting its critical role in agriculture and water management.
More About Contiguous 48 states
Looking at Contiguous 48 states from another angle can help expand the discussion and give readers a second clear paragraph under the same section.
More perspective on Contiguous 48 states can make the topic easier to follow by connecting earlier points with a few simple takeaways.
