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U.S. state

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

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What is a U.S. State?

A state in the United States is one of the 50 parts that make up the country. Each state has its own little government, and the people living there are citizens of both the United States and their state. Moving between states is usually easy and simple.

How States Work

Each state has its own government with three main parts: one that makes rules, one that carries them out, and one that makes sure they are fair. States are divided into smaller areas called counties. Every state helps choose leaders for the whole country and can agree to changes in important rules.

The Story of States

The United States started with 13 states and now has 50, all with the same rights. Each state joined the country in a special way, and they all work together under the United States Constitution.

Meet the 50 States

Here is a list of all 50 states, in alphabetical order, with their flags:

Images

Animation showing the order in which U.S. states joined the United States, with each state changing color as it becomes part of the nation.
Map showing areas of land owned by the U.S. federal government, including some lands held in trust for Native American tribes.
Map showing where the names of US states come from around the world!

Related articles

United States
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on U.S. state, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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