The United States course
Facts about United States, for your next trip
Explore the United States through ten illustrated topics, from its landscapes and history to food and everyday life. Play the facts rounds beside each topic and continue through the course.
Capital Washington D.C. · North America · 10 topics · 20 rounds · 80 questions · 20 seconds each
Play the United States challengeMap the United States by states, cities, watersPractice 2025 editionPractice 2008 edition
The United States is the third largest country in the world by both area and population, and the largest economy. It is a federal union of 50 states with genuinely different laws, climates and cultures, which is why generalising about the country is harder than its global visibility suggests.
The contiguous states run about 4,500 kilometers coast to coast across four time zones, with Alaska and Hawaii adding two more. The worn Appalachians edge the east, the much younger Rockies and Sierra Nevada dominate the west, and between them lie the Great Plains and the Mississippi basin, one of the largest continuous stretches of fertile farmland on Earth.
New York is the financial and media center, Los Angeles the entertainment one, Chicago anchors the Midwest, and Washington DC holds the federal government and comparatively little else. The technology industry clusters around San Francisco and Seattle, while Houston, Atlanta, Phoenix and Miami have grown fastest as population shifts south and west. Visitors tend to divide between the cities and the national parks, a system that began with Yellowstone in 1872, the first anywhere in the world, and now runs to 63 designated parks including the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Zion.
- Population
- 335 million
- Area
- 9,833,520 km²
- Currency
- US dollar ($)
- Official language
- English
- States
- 50 states, 1 federal district
- Highest point
- Denali, 6,190 m
United States · Geography
Geography of the United States
From the Appalachians to the Rockies, explore the mountains, plains and coasts that connect the Atlantic and Pacific. Alaska and Hawaii take the landscape into the Arctic and the tropics.
Commonly asked
- Which countries border the United States?
- Canada lies to the north of the contiguous states and Mexico to the south. Alaska also shares a land border with Canada.
- What is the capital of the United States?
- Washington, DC, is the national capital. It is a federal district separate from the 50 states.
United States · History
History of the United States
Begin with Indigenous nations, then follow the thirteen colonies through independence, westward expansion and the Civil War. The civil rights movement reshaped the struggle for equality in the twentieth century.
Commonly asked
- When did the United States declare independence?
- The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. Britain recognised American independence in 1783.
- When was the American Civil War?
- The Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865. Slavery was central to the conflict, and the Thirteenth Amendment abolished it in 1865.
United States · Language
Languages of the United States
American English has its own spellings, vocabulary and regional accents. Spanish and Indigenous languages, alongside languages brought by immigration, add to the voices heard across the country.
Commonly asked
- How does American English differ from British English?
- Common differences include color instead of colour, elevator instead of lift and apartment instead of flat. Pronunciation also varies widely across American regions.
- Which languages besides English are spoken in the United States?
- Spanish is widely spoken, alongside languages such as Chinese, Tagalog and Vietnamese. Indigenous languages include Navajo, Cherokee and the Hawaiian language.
United States · Culture
American culture and traditions
Jazz, blues, film and sport connect American communities to audiences around the world. Regional traditions give New England, the Deep South, the Southwest and the Pacific Northwest distinct identities.
Commonly asked
- Which music traditions developed in the United States?
- Jazz, blues, country, rock and hip hop all developed in the United States. African American musicians and communities played a foundational role in many of these traditions.
- What is Hollywood known for?
- Hollywood is a district of Los Angeles closely associated with the American film industry. Its name is also used as shorthand for that industry.
United States · Economy
The American economy
Explore the connections between technology, finance, farming and manufacturing. New York, California and the industrial and agricultural regions each tell a different part of the economic story.
Commonly asked
- What currency does the United States use?
- The US dollar, divided into 100 cents. Its symbol is $, and its international currency code is USD.
- What is Silicon Valley?
- Silicon Valley is a region around the southern San Francisco Bay known for technology companies, startups and research. Its name comes from the silicon used in computer chips.
United States · Politics
Politics of the United States
The Constitution divides federal power among the presidency, Congress and the courts. A union of states adds another layer, with state governments responsible for many decisions in everyday life.
Commonly asked
- What are the three branches of the federal government?
- The executive branch is led by the president, Congress forms the legislative branch, and the federal courts form the judicial branch.
- What are the two chambers of Congress?
- The Senate and the House of Representatives. Every state has two senators, while representation in the House is based on population.
United States · Nature & Wildlife
Nature and wildlife of the United States
Meet bison on the plains, alligators in southern wetlands and giant sequoias in California. National parks protect landscapes ranging from geyser basins to deserts and mountain forests.
Commonly asked
- When was Yellowstone established?
- Yellowstone became a national park in 1872. It is known for its geysers, hot springs and wildlife, including bison and bears.
- What makes giant sequoias remarkable?
- Giant sequoias are the largest trees by volume. They grow naturally on the western slopes of California’s Sierra Nevada.
United States · Food & Cuisine
American food and regional cooking
Regional kitchens bring Indigenous, African, European and Asian influences together. Follow Louisiana’s Creole and Cajun cooking, borderland Tex-Mex and the different barbecue traditions of the South.
Commonly asked
- How does American barbecue vary by region?
- Texas is closely associated with beef brisket, the Carolinas with pork, and Kansas City with a range of smoked meats and thick sauces. Techniques and preferences vary within each region too.
- Where does Tex-Mex come from?
- Tex-Mex developed in Texas through Mexican and Mexican American cooking traditions. It includes dishes such as chili con carne and cheese enchiladas.
United States · Landmarks
Landmarks of the United States
From the Statue of Liberty to the Grand Canyon, American landmarks tell stories of migration, engineering and deep geological time. Explore the monuments in Washington and the bridges and skylines of its cities.
Commonly asked
- Where did the Statue of Liberty come from?
- It was a gift from France, dedicated in New York Harbor in 1886. It became a symbol of freedom and welcome for immigrants.
- Where is the Grand Canyon?
- The Grand Canyon is in northern Arizona. The Colorado River carved the canyon through layers of rock that reveal a long geological history.
United States · People & Society
People and society in the United States
Indigenous nations, generations of immigration and movement between regions have shaped American society. Cities, suburbs and rural communities offer very different experiences of life in the same country.
Commonly asked
- What are some of the major American cities?
- New York, Los Angeles and Chicago are major urban centres. Washington, DC, is the capital, while cities such as Houston, Miami and Seattle have distinct regional roles.
- What does the term Native American refer to?
- It refers to Indigenous peoples of the United States, encompassing many distinct nations, cultures and languages. Specific nation names are more precise when discussing a particular community.
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