Category: Spotlight on States

Up next in our Spotlight on States series: New Jersey!

New Jersey is one of the original 13 colonies and became a state on December 18, 1787. It is one of the smallest states in land area, but has one of the highest population densities. The estimated population in 2024 was 9,500,851. It is bordered by New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and the Atlantic Ocean. New Jersey was named …

New Hampshire was the 9th state to join the union on June 21, 1788. Concord is the state capital and Manchester is its largest city. New Hampshire is the 46th largest state in the U.S. and is bordered by the states of Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the estimated population of New Hampshire is 1,409,032 (July 2024 est.); it ranks as the 42nd …

Up next in our Spotlight on States series: Nevada!

Nevada became the 36th state on Oct. 31, 1864. It ranks seventh among our states in total land area. Nevada shares borders with Oregon and Idaho to the north, Utah to the east, Arizona to the southeast, and California to the west.

In the early 21st century, Nevada was one of the fastest-growing states in population. Its estimated population …

Nebraska was the 37th state to join the union on March 1, 1867. Lincoln is the state capital and its largest city is Omaha.

Nebraska is the 16th largest state in the U.S. and is bordered by the U.S. states of Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, and Wyoming. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the estimated population of Nebraska is 2,005,465 (July 2024 est.); it ranks as …

Up next in our Spotlight on States series: Montana!

Montana became a state on Nov. 8, 1889. It was the 41st state, and it’s the fourth-largest state in land area. Montana shares borders with Canada, North & South Dakota, Wyoming, and Idaho. The state’s name is derived from the Spanish montaña, meaning mountain or mountainous region.

Montana ranks 48th out of 50 states in population density. Its …

Missouri was the 24th state to join the union on August 10, 1821. Jefferson City is the state capital and its largest city is Kansas City. Missouri is the 21st largest state in the U.S. and is bordered by the U.S states of Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

According to the US Census Bureau, the estimated population of Missouri is 6,196,156 (July 2023 est.); …

Up next in our Spotlight on States series: Mississippi!

Mississippi became the 20th state on Dec. 10, 1817. Its name comes from a native American word meaning “great waters” or “father of waters.” The low-lying state is bordered by Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, and the Gulf of Mexico. Mississippi’s western boundary is largely defined by the Mississippi River. It is the 32nd largest state by area.

Jackson is …

Minnesota was the 32nd state to join the union on May 11, 1858. St. Paul is the state capital and its largest city is Minneapolis. Minnesota is the 12th largest state in the U.S. and is bordered by the states of Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the estimated population of Minnesota is 5,737,915 (July 2023 est.); it ranks as the …

Up next in our Spotlight on States series: Michigan!

Michigan joined the Union on January 26, 1837, as the 26th state. It is located in the Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest and is bordered by Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio. Michigan is also bordered by four of the five Great Lakes and has the longest freshwater coastline in the United States, as well as the second-most water …

Massachusetts was the 6th state to join the union on February 6, 1788. It was one of the original 13 colonies. Boston is the state capital and its largest city. Massachusetts is the 44th largest state in the U.S. and is bordered by Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

According to the US Census Bureau, the estimated population of Massachusetts is 7,001,399 (July 2023 est.); …