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The term contiguous United States refers to the 48 contiguous U.S. states located on the North American continent south of the border with Canada, plus the District of Columbia.[1] The term excludes the states of Alaska and Hawaii and all off-shore U.S. territories and possessions. Another term with the same meaning is coterminous United States. The two terms are each more precise than the term Continental United States, which sometimes includes Alaska[2] and sometimes does not.[3] The two terms are also clearer than the term lower 48, which may or may not include the District of Columbia (which is not part of any of the 48 states), and may or may not exclude Hawaii (which is the southern-most U.S. state). The National Geographic style guide recommends the use of contiguous when the 48 states are meant.[4]

Together, the 48 contiguous states and D.C. have an area of 3,119,884.69 square miles (8,080,464.25 km²). Of this, 2,959,064.44 sq mi (7,663,941.71 km²) is land, comprising 83.65% of U.S. land area. Officially, 160,820.25 sq mi (416,522.38 km²) is water area, comprising 62.66% of the nation's water area. Its 2000 census population was 279,583,437, comprising 99.35% of the nation's population. Its population density was 94.484 inhabitants/sq mi (36.480/km²), compared to 79.555/sq mi (30.716/km²) for the nation as a whole.[5]

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Notes

  1. ^ "United Airlines website". Retrieved on 2008-11-25. "Contiguous United States: The 48 adjoining states and the District of Columbia."
  2. ^
    • "National Geographic Style Manual". Retrieved on 2008-11-25. "The continental United States comprises the 48 plus Alaska."
    • "UnitedCargo glossary". Retrieved on 2008-11-25. "Continental United States: The 48 adjoining states, Alaska and District of Columbia."
    • "United Airlines website". Retrieved on 2008-11-25. "Continental United States: The 48 adjoining states, Alaska and District of Columbia."
    • "Alaska Airlines website". Retrieved on 2008-11-25. "The Continental U.S. includes the lower 48 states as well as the State of Alaska, unless otherwise specified."
    • "Inland Marine and Transportation Insurance" (1949 ). Retrieved on 2008-11-25. "In the absence of any such statement, Alaska probably would be regarded as a part of the continental United States."
  3. ^ "U.S. Navy Style Guide". Retrieved on 2008-11-25. "CONUS - "Continental United States" CONUS refers to the 48 contiguous states."
  4. ^ "National Geographic Style Manual". Retrieved on 2008-11-25. "Use contiguous or conterminous for the 48 states. The continental United States comprises the 48 plus Alaska. In Alaskan context, lower forty-eight may be used."
  5. ^ "Population and land area from Census of 2000". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-11-25.

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