What states are considered the Lower 48?
James Williams
Updated on March 02, 2026
The United States is made up of 50 states, but 48 states – also known as the conterminous states, the lower 48, or the contiguous states – are adjoined. Two of the states – Alaska and Hawaii – are not part of the lower 48 states….Lower 48 States 2021.
| State | 2021 Pop. |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | 581,075 |
What is the 48 states called?
contiguous United States
In its strictest sense, “contiguous United States” refers to the lower 48 states in North America (including the District of Columbia), and “continental United States” refers to 49 states (including Alaska and the District of Columbia). However, the terms are often confused and used inconsistently.
What 2 states are not part of the continental US?
The definition of “continental United States” that we and most other major survey organizations use includes the 48 contiguous states but not Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the other U.S. territories.
What is considered the continental United States?
Continental United States: The 49 States (including Alaska, excluding Hawaii) located on the continent of North America, and the District of Columbia. Although the official reference applies the term “conterminous,” many use the word “contiguous,” which is almost synonymous and better known.
What do Alaskans call the lower 48?
Lower 48: Alaska’s residents refer to the continental United States as the lower 48. Mukluks: Mukluks are a soft boot made of caribou or sealskin and typically worn by the Inuit.
What states are in the continental US?
It includes 49 of the 50 states (48 of which are located south of Canada and north of Mexico, known as the “lower 48 states”, the other being Alaska) and the District of Columbia, which contains the federal capital, Washington, D.C. The only state which is not part of this is Hawaii (as they are islands in the Pacific …
Are there 52 states in the United States of America?
States of the U.S. There are fifty (50) states and Washington D.C.The last two states to join the Union were Alaska (49th) and Hawaii (50th). Both joined in 1959.
Why is Alaska not part of the continental US?
Alaska is unique among the US states as it is part of the North American continent, meaning it is attached via Canada, and so is part of the “Continental United States”. However, Alaska is not part of the “Contiguous United States”, because it is not attached directly to the lower 48 states.
Why are they called the Lower 48 states?
“Lower 48” means lower numerically as in the first 48 states to join the union. Alaska being the 49th state and Hawaii the 50th state. This is convenient way to denote the 48 contiguous states of the USA for various purposes such as shipping rates, weather, etc.
How many states make up the lower 48?
(US, geography) the contiguous continental states area of the United States of America, comprising 48 states in number, and the District of Columbia, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
What does lower 48 mean in Urban Dictionary?
“I’m fixin’ to go to the lower 48, cause there are no jobs in the winter .” Get a lower 48 mug for your guy Zora. sending two texts in a row without a reply inbetween. Rachel: whats up? Tessa: not to much! hbu ?
Is the lower 48 the contiguous or conterminous states?
The lower 48 The term lower 48 is also used to refer to the conterminous United States. The National Geographic style guide recommends the use of contiguous or conterminous United States instead of lower 48 when the 48 states are meant, unless used in the context of Alaska.
What is the average temperature in the lower 48 states?
However, each month in the STEO, EIA models oil production for certain states and regions within the Lower 48 states. The average temperature in the lower 48 states was 75.7 degrees Fahrenheit, a whole 2.1 degrees above the 20th century average.
