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United States | History, Capital, Language, Flag, Facts & Geography of United States

History of United States:

The United States is the 3rd largest country in the world by area and almost the third largest by population. Located in North America, the country is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. It has Canada on its northern border and Mexico on its southern border. There are 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The United States is more than twice the size of the European Union, with high mountains in the west and vast plains in the center. The lowest point in the country is Death Valley at -282 feet (-86 meters) and the highest is Denali (Mount McKinley) at 20,320 feet (6,198 meters).

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Information about United States:

Capital Washington, DC (capital)
Population 340,259,825 (Source: 2023 worldometer)
Major Cities Washington, DC (capital), New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia
Borders Canada in the north and has a 3,155 km long border to Mexico in the south & maritime borders with the Bahamas, Cuba, and Russia
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) $25,462,700,000,000 (2022 worldometer)
Currency US dollar (USD)

Flag of United States:

Flag Description: The current United States flag was adopted on July 4, 1960. The original 13-star version was introduced on June 14, 1777. The flag has 13 red and white horizontal stripes. It has 7 red stripes and 6 white stripes. In the upper left corner is a blue rectangle (box) with 50 white pentagrams. The 13 stripes represent the 13 British colonies that made up the country. The 50 stars represent her current 50 states.

United States Economy Key Industries:

United States Major Industries: leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified and technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining

United States Agricultural Products: wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish; forest products

United States Natural Resources: coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber

United States Major Exports: agricultural products (soybeans, fruit, corn) 9.2%, industrial supplies (organic chemicals) 26.8%, capital goods (transistors, aircraft, motor vehicle parts, computers, telecommunications equipment) 49.0%, consumer goods (automobiles, medicines) 15.0% (2003)

United States Major Imports: agricultural products 4.9%, industrial supplies 32.9% (crude oil 8.2%), capital goods 30.4% (computers, telecommunications equipment, motor vehicle parts, office machines, electric power machinery), consumer goods 31.8% (automobiles, clothing, medicines, furniture, toys) (2003)

The Geography of United States:

Total Size of United States: 9.834 million km² (source: 2022 worlddatainfo)

Geographical Low Point of United States: Death Valley -86 m

Geographical High Point of United States: Mount McKinley 6,194 m

Climate of United States: mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains

General Terrain of United States: vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii

Major Landforms: Rocky Mountains, Appalachian Mountains, Sierra Nevada Mountains, Cascade Mountains, Mount McKinley, Great Plains, Mojave Desert, Hawaiian Islands

Major Bodies of Water: Great Lakes including Superior, Michigan, Erie, Huron, and Ontario. Great Salt Lake, Mississippi River, Missouri River, Yukon River, Rio Grande, Gulf of Mexico, Bering Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Arctic Ocean

World Region or Continent of United States:  North America

Geographical Coordinates: 38 00 N, 97 00 W

The People of  United States & Culture

United States Government Type: Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition

United States Nationality: American(s)

United States National Holiday: Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

United States Other Holidays: New Years’ Day (January 1), Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday, Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day (November 11), Thanksgiving, Christmas (December 25)

United States Independence: 4 July 1776 (from Great Britain)

United States National Symbol:

  • Bird – Bald Eagle
  • Flower – Rose
  • Tree – Oak tree
  • Motto – In God We Trust
  • Colors – Red, white, and blue
  • Other symbols – Great Seal of the United States, Liberty Bell, Statue of Liberty, Uncle Sam

United States National Anthem or Song: The Star-Spangled Banner

United States Languages Spoken: English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census)

United States Religions: Protestant 52%, Roman Catholic 24%, Mormon 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%, other 10%, none 10% (2002 est.)

United States Famous Places: 

Statue of Liberty,
Times Square in New York City,
Yosemite National Park,
Yellowstone National Park,
Empire State Building,
Golden Gate Bridge,
The Grand Canyon,
Disney World,
Hollywood,
Washington Mall,
Mount Rushmore

Interesting Facts about United States:

The American flag consists of 13 stripes, representing the original 13 colonies.

The United States has the world’s largest gold reserves.

The United States was declared free from foreign rule on July 2nd, but it was not until July 4th that John Hancock signed the declaration for the first time.

It has been observed in states such as Iox, Montana, and North Dakota. There are more cows than people.

The great Statue of Liberty is actually in New Jersey, not New York. Atlantic City has the longest boardwalk in the world.

Philadelphia was the first capital of the country.

The United States was the first country to gain freedom from European power in her 1783.

Delaware was the first state to adopt the Constitution, and the New Hemisphere was the ninth.

High school student Robert G. Hoeft designed the modern U.S. flag

Harvard University is the first university established in the United States. George Washington wasn’t the first person to appear on a dollar bill.

New Amsterdam is the original name of New York, which he later changed in the 17th century.

In the 19th century Alaska was part of Russia.

The American Liberty Bell is in London.

The United States has 43 giant presidential chiefs in Texas. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is considered the most visited museum in the United States.

New Jersey is known for having the tallest roller coaster in the world.

In 1920, American women finally won the right to vote.

Alaska’s coastline is longer than all of her other 49 states in the United States combined.