United States

The United States is a federal republic in North America spanning fifty states from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, with mountains, plains, deserts and long coastlines. Each state administers its own laws and institutions under a shared constitution that organizes the political framework.

On July 4, 1776, thirteen British colonies declared their separation from Great Britain and founded a constitutional democracy built on individual rights. Over the following centuries, the territory expanded through land purchases, treaties and conflicts to its present reach.

English shapes daily life almost everywhere, while waves of immigration from Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America continue to influence how people live, eat and celebrate. Local festivals, neighborhood kitchens and community gatherings reflect traditions carried across oceans and handed down through generations.

Each state sets its own traffic rules, opening hours and access regulations, so preparing for regional differences helps plan a visit. National holidays and local festivals influence how easily places can be reached and how daily routines unfold.

Yellowstone, established in 1872, became the first national park anywhere and served as a model for protected areas on every continent. Today the National Park Service oversees more than four hundred sites, including forests, volcanoes, battlefields and historic buildings.

Location: Decatur County

Inception: July 4, 1776

Capital city: Washington, D.C.

Part of: North America

Shares border with: Mexico, Canada, Russia, Cuba, The Bahamas, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Federated States of Micronesia, Japan, Kiribati, Haiti, Samoa, Tonga, Russian Empire

Address: United States

Website: http://usa.gov

GPS coordinates: 39.78373,-100.44588

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:54