You’d think the answer to "what are US states" would be a simple number. Fifty. Done. But honestly, it is so much messier than that once you start digging into how the country actually functions. A state isn't just a lines-on-a-map kind of thing; it’s a semi-sovereign entity that shares power with the federal government in a way that makes the United States feel more like a collection of tiny countries rather than one giant, uniform block.
Think about it.
You can drive across a bridge from one state to another and suddenly the laws for how you drive, how much you pay in taxes, and even who you can marry or what you can buy change instantly. That’s because, under the U.S. Constitution—specifically the Tenth Amendment—any power not explicitly given to the federal government belongs to the states. Or the people. It’s a tug-of-war that’s been going on since 1776.
The Basic Breakdown of the Fifty
So, what are US states exactly? At their core, they are the primary administrative subdivisions of the United States. We have 50 of them. They range from Rhode Island, which is so small you can drive across it in about 45 minutes, to Alaska, which is so massive it could swallow Texas, California, and Montana combined.
The process of becoming a state isn't some ancient ritual, either. It’s a political grind. To join the union, a territory usually has to have a certain population and a "republican form of government," then petition Congress for admission. Hawaii and Alaska were the last ones in, joining back in 1959. Before that, the map looked very different for a long time. People often forget that for a huge chunk of American history, we were just 13 colonies clinging to the Atlantic coast.
Not Quite States: The Outliers
Here is where people get tripped up. If you live in Washington D.C., you aren't in a state. You're in a federal district. If you live in Puerto Rico, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, you're in a territory.
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These places are part of the U.S., but they don't have the same "state" status. They don't have voting representation in Congress. It’s a weird, lingering quirk of American expansionism that leaves millions of people in a sort of political limbo. They are Americans, but they don't live in a "state."
How State Power Actually Works
The "United" part of the name is the giveaway. Each state has its own constitution, its own governor, and its own court system.
When you ask what are US states in a legal sense, you're talking about laboratories of democracy. That’s a term Justice Louis Brandeis famously used. It means a single state can try out a wacky or innovative law—like legalizing a specific substance or changing how they vote—without ruining things for the whole country. If it works, other states copy it. If it fails, only that state deals with the fallout.
- Governors: They are basically the presidents of their states. They command the state’s National Guard and can veto laws passed by the state legislature.
- Legislatures: Almost every state has a two-house system (like the U.S. Congress), except for Nebraska. Nebraska decided to be "unicameral" back in the 1930s to save money and be more efficient. Just one house. Just one group of people making laws. It’s a very Nebraska thing to do.
The Geography of Identity
States aren't just legal definitions; they are cultural identities. Ask someone from Texas where they are from, and they won’t say "the U.S." They will say "Texas."
This identity is tied to the land. You have the "Original Thirteen"—the Atlantic states like Virginia, New York, and Massachusetts that started the whole thing. Then you have the "Flyover States" (a term Midwesterners generally hate), which provide the bulk of the country's food and manufacturing. Then you have the West Coast, which is basically its own economic superpower. California’s economy alone is often ranked as the fifth largest in the world, beating out entire nations like India or the UK.
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The Great Divide: Borders and Disputes
State borders look clean on a map, but they are often the result of old-school bickering and bad surveying.
Look at the "Notch" between Massachusetts and Connecticut. Or the weird bit of Minnesota that sticks up into Canada (the Northwest Angle). These aren't accidents; they are the result of 18th-century guys with compasses getting lost or politicians making backroom deals. Even today, states sue each other over water rights—Georgia, Florida, and Alabama have been fighting over the same river system for decades.
Why the Number Might Change
Is 50 the final number? Maybe not.
There has been a push for Washington D.C. to become the 51st state for years. Same for Puerto Rico. The problem is purely political. Adding a state means adding two new Senators and more Representatives. Since D.C. is overwhelmingly Democratic, Republicans aren't keen on giving them statehood. Since Puerto Rico’s politics are a complex mix of local issues, both parties are nervous about how they would vote.
It’s not just about adding states, though. Every few years, some disgruntled part of a state tries to break away. "State of Jefferson" supporters in Northern California and Southern Oregon want to form their own rural state. "Greater Idaho" advocates want parts of Eastern Oregon to secede and join Idaho. It almost never happens. The legal hurdles are insane.
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Practical Realities for the Average Person
What does "what are US states" mean for your daily life?
- Taxes: Some states like Florida and Texas have no state income tax. Others, like California or New York, will take a significant bite out of your paycheck.
- Professional Licenses: If you are a lawyer in New York, you can’t just move to California and start practicing law. You usually have to take a new bar exam. The same goes for teachers and doctors, though "compacts" between states are making this easier.
- Education: Most of the big universities in the country are state-funded. If you live in Michigan, you get a massive discount to go to the University of Michigan. If you come from Ohio, you pay "out-of-state" tuition, which is often triple the price.
States are essentially the middle managers of American life. The federal government handles the big stuff like the military and the post office, but the states handle your roads, your schools, and your local police.
Moving Forward with This Knowledge
Understanding the states is about understanding that the U.S. isn't a monolith. If you’re looking to move or do business, don't look at the national averages. Look at the state level.
Check the specific Department of Revenue for any state you're interested in to see the real tax burden. If you're looking at schools, look at state-level Department of Education rankings, because the "American" education system doesn't really exist—it's 50 different systems working in parallel.
The best way to see what states really are is to cross a border. Watch the road quality change. Notice the different license plates. See how the "vibe" shifts as soon as you cross an invisible line. That’s federalism in action. It’s messy, it’s confusing, and it’s exactly how the system was designed to work.