Introduction
The United States is composed of fifty states, each with its own unique size and shape. The sizes of the states vary widely, with the smallest being Rhode Island at approximately 1,545 square miles and the largest being Alaska at a staggering 665,384 square miles. The area of every state in the U.S. combined is over 3 million square miles. While all of these states are held together by the same federal government and constitution, their size was largely determined by historical circumstances. For example, the original thirteen colonies – which eventually became the first thirteen states of America – were created from existing British colonies during the American Revolution. In addition, many later-forming states were shaped through western expansion and Manifest Destiny as well as land cessions from Native American tribes and Mexico during America’s 19th-century growth spurt. Today’s state lines are also influenced by geographical features such as rivers, mountains, and more recently GPS coordinates used to create exact boundaries between two states.
| # | State | Total Area | Federal Land | Federal Land |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | 665,384 mi² | 60.9% | 60.9% |
| 2 | Texas | 268,596 mi² | 1.9% | 1.9% |
| 3 | California | 163,695 mi² | 45.4% | 45.4% |
| 4 | Montana | 147,040 mi² | 29% | 29% |
| 5 | New Mexico | 121,590 mi² | 31.7% | 31.7% |
| 6 | Arizona | 113,990 mi² | 38.6% | 38.6% |
| 7 | Nevada | 110,572 mi² | 80.1% | 80.1% |
| 8 | Colorado | 104,094 mi² | 36.2% | 36.2% |
| 9 | Oregon | 98,379 mi² | 52.3% | 52.3% |
| 10 | Wyoming | 97,813 mi² | 46.7% | 46.7% |
| 11 | Michigan | 96,714 mi² | 10% | 10% |
| 12 | Minnesota | 86,936 mi² | 6.8% | 6.8% |
| 13 | Utah | 84,897 mi² | 63.1% | 63.1% |
| 14 | Idaho | 83,569 mi² | 61.9% | 61.9% |
| 15 | Kansas | 82,278 mi² | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| 16 | Nebraska | 77,348 mi² | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| 17 | South Dakota | 77,116 mi² | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| 18 | Washington | 71,298 mi² | 28.6% | 28.6% |
| 19 | North Dakota | 70,698 mi² | 3.9% | 3.9% |
| 20 | Oklahoma | 69,899 mi² | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| 21 | Missouri | 69,707 mi² | 3.8% | 3.8% |
| 22 | Florida | 65,758 mi² | 12.9% | 12.9% |
| 23 | Wisconsin | 65,496 mi² | 5.3% | 5.3% |
| 24 | Georgia | 59,425 mi² | 12.9% | 12.9% |
| 25 | Illinois | 57,914 mi² | 1.2% | 1.2% |
| 26 | Iowa | 56,273 mi² | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| 27 | New York | 54,555 mi² | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| 28 | North Carolina | 53,819 mi² | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| 29 | Arkansas | 53,179 mi² | 9.4% | 9.4% |
| 30 | Alabama | 52,420 mi² | 2.7% | 2.7% |
| 31 | Louisiana | 52,378 mi² | 4.7% | 4.7% |
| 32 | Mississippi | 48,432 mi² | 5.1% | 5.1% |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | 46,054 mi² | 2.2% | 2.2% |
| 34 | Ohio | 44,826 mi² | 1.2% | 1.2% |
| 35 | Virginia | 42,775 mi² | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| 36 | Tennessee | 42,144 mi² | 4.8% | 4.8% |
| 37 | Kentucky | 40,408 mi² | 4.3% | 4.3% |
| 38 | Indiana | 36,420 mi² | 1.7% | 1.7% |
| 39 | Maine | 35,380 mi² | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| 40 | South Carolina | 32,020 mi² | 4.5% | 4.5% |
| 41 | West Virginia | 24,230 mi² | 7.4% | 7.4% |
| 42 | Maryland | 12,406 mi² | 3.2% | 3.2% |
| 43 | Hawaii | 10,932 mi² | 20.2% | 20.2% |
| 44 | Massachusetts | 10,554 mi² | 1.2% | 1.2% |
| 45 | Vermont | 9,616 mi² | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| 46 | New Hampshire | 9,349 mi² | 14% | 14% |
| 47 | New Jersey | 8,723 mi² | 3.6% | 3.6% |
| 48 | Connecticut | 5,543 mi² | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| 49 | Delaware | 2,489 mi² | 2.4% | 2.4% |
| 50 | Rhode Island | 1,545 mi² | 0.7% | 0.7% |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 68 mi² | 24.7% | 24.7% |
Total Area by State
Alabama
Total Area
52,420 mi²
Ranked in the US
#30
2.7%
Ranked in the US
#36
2.7%
Ranked in the US
#36
Alaska
Total Area
665,384 mi²
Ranked in the US
#1
60.9%
Ranked in the US
#4
60.9%
Ranked in the US
#4
Arizona
Total Area
113,990 mi²
Ranked in the US
#6
38.6%
Ranked in the US
#8
38.6%
Ranked in the US
#8
Arkansas
Total Area
53,179 mi²
Ranked in the US
#29
9.4%
Ranked in the US
#19
9.4%
Ranked in the US
#19
California
Total Area
163,695 mi²
Ranked in the US
#3
45.4%
Ranked in the US
#7
45.4%
Ranked in the US
#7
Colorado
Total Area
104,094 mi²
Ranked in the US
#8
36.2%
Ranked in the US
#9
36.2%
Ranked in the US
#9
Connecticut
Total Area
5,543 mi²
Ranked in the US
#48
0.3%
Ranked in the US
#50
0.3%
Ranked in the US
#50
Delaware
Total Area
2,489 mi²
Ranked in the US
#49
2.4%
Ranked in the US
#37
2.4%
Ranked in the US
#37
District of Columbia
Total Area
68 mi²
Ranked in the US
#51
24.7%
Ranked in the US
#13
24.7%
Ranked in the US
#13
Florida
Total Area
65,758 mi²
Ranked in the US
#22
12.9%
Ranked in the US
#16
12.9%
Ranked in the US
#16
Georgia
Total Area
59,425 mi²
Ranked in the US
#24
12.9%
Ranked in the US
#17
12.9%
Ranked in the US
#17
Hawaii
Total Area
10,932 mi²
Ranked in the US
#43
20.2%
Ranked in the US
#14
20.2%
Ranked in the US
#14
Idaho
Total Area
83,569 mi²
Ranked in the US
#14
61.9%
Ranked in the US
#3
61.9%
Ranked in the US
#3
Illinois
Total Area
57,914 mi²
Ranked in the US
#25
1.2%
Ranked in the US
#43
1.2%
Ranked in the US
#43
Indiana
Total Area
36,420 mi²
Ranked in the US
#38
1.7%
Ranked in the US
#40
1.7%
Ranked in the US
#40
Iowa
Total Area
56,273 mi²
Ranked in the US
#26
0.3%
Ranked in the US
#51
0.3%
Ranked in the US
#51
Kansas
Total Area
82,278 mi²
Ranked in the US
#15
0.5%
Ranked in the US
#49
0.5%
Ranked in the US
#49
Kentucky
Total Area
40,408 mi²
Ranked in the US
#37
4.3%
Ranked in the US
#31
4.3%
Ranked in the US
#31
Louisiana
Total Area
52,378 mi²
Ranked in the US
#31
4.7%
Ranked in the US
#29
4.7%
Ranked in the US
#29
Maine
Total Area
35,380 mi²
Ranked in the US
#39
1.5%
Ranked in the US
#41
1.5%
Ranked in the US
#41
Maryland
Total Area
12,406 mi²
Ranked in the US
#42
3.2%
Ranked in the US
#35
3.2%
Ranked in the US
#35
Massachusetts
Total Area
10,554 mi²
Ranked in the US
#44
1.2%
Ranked in the US
#44
1.2%
Ranked in the US
#44
Michigan
Total Area
96,714 mi²
Ranked in the US
#11
10%
Ranked in the US
#18
10%
Ranked in the US
#18
Minnesota
Total Area
86,936 mi²
Ranked in the US
#12
6.8%
Ranked in the US
#24
6.8%
Ranked in the US
#24
Mississippi
Total Area
48,432 mi²
Ranked in the US
#32
5.1%
Ranked in the US
#27
5.1%
Ranked in the US
#27
Missouri
Total Area
69,707 mi²
Ranked in the US
#21
3.8%
Ranked in the US
#33
3.8%
Ranked in the US
#33
Montana
Total Area
147,040 mi²
Ranked in the US
#4
29%
Ranked in the US
#11
29%
Ranked in the US
#11
Nebraska
Total Area
77,348 mi²
Ranked in the US
#16
1.1%
Ranked in the US
#46
1.1%
Ranked in the US
#46
Nevada
Total Area
110,572 mi²
Ranked in the US
#7
80.1%
Ranked in the US
#1
80.1%
Ranked in the US
#1
New Hampshire
Total Area
9,349 mi²
Ranked in the US
#46
14%
Ranked in the US
#15
14%
Ranked in the US
#15
New Jersey
Total Area
8,723 mi²
Ranked in the US
#47
3.6%
Ranked in the US
#34
3.6%
Ranked in the US
#34
New Mexico
Total Area
121,590 mi²
Ranked in the US
#5
31.7%
Ranked in the US
#10
31.7%
Ranked in the US
#10
New York
Total Area
54,555 mi²
Ranked in the US
#27
0.8%
Ranked in the US
#47
0.8%
Ranked in the US
#47
North Carolina
Total Area
53,819 mi²
Ranked in the US
#28
7.8%
Ranked in the US
#21
7.8%
Ranked in the US
#21
North Dakota
Total Area
70,698 mi²
Ranked in the US
#19
3.9%
Ranked in the US
#32
3.9%
Ranked in the US
#32
Ohio
Total Area
44,826 mi²
Ranked in the US
#34
1.2%
Ranked in the US
#45
1.2%
Ranked in the US
#45
Oklahoma
Total Area
69,899 mi²
Ranked in the US
#20
1.5%
Ranked in the US
#42
1.5%
Ranked in the US
#42
Oregon
Total Area
98,379 mi²
Ranked in the US
#9
52.3%
Ranked in the US
#5
52.3%
Ranked in the US
#5
Pennsylvania
Total Area
46,054 mi²
Ranked in the US
#33
2.2%
Ranked in the US
#38
2.2%
Ranked in the US
#38
Rhode Island
Total Area
1,545 mi²
Ranked in the US
#50
0.7%
Ranked in the US
#48
0.7%
Ranked in the US
#48
South Carolina
Total Area
32,020 mi²
Ranked in the US
#40
4.5%
Ranked in the US
#30
4.5%
Ranked in the US
#30
South Dakota
Total Area
77,116 mi²
Ranked in the US
#17
5.4%
Ranked in the US
#25
5.4%
Ranked in the US
#25
Tennessee
Total Area
42,144 mi²
Ranked in the US
#36
4.8%
Ranked in the US
#28
4.8%
Ranked in the US
#28
Texas
Total Area
268,596 mi²
Ranked in the US
#2
1.9%
Ranked in the US
#39
1.9%
Ranked in the US
#39
Utah
Total Area
84,897 mi²
Ranked in the US
#13
63.1%
Ranked in the US
#2
63.1%
Ranked in the US
#2
Vermont
Total Area
9,616 mi²
Ranked in the US
#45
7.8%
Ranked in the US
#22
7.8%
Ranked in the US
#22
Virginia
Total Area
42,775 mi²
Ranked in the US
#35
9.3%
Ranked in the US
#20
9.3%
Ranked in the US
#20
Washington
Total Area
71,298 mi²
Ranked in the US
#18
28.6%
Ranked in the US
#12
28.6%
Ranked in the US
#12
West Virginia
Total Area
24,230 mi²
Ranked in the US
#41
7.4%
Ranked in the US
#23
7.4%
Ranked in the US
#23
Wisconsin
Total Area
65,496 mi²
Ranked in the US
#23
5.3%
Ranked in the US
#26
5.3%
Ranked in the US
#26
Wyoming
Total Area
97,813 mi²
Ranked in the US
#10
46.7%
Ranked in the US
#6
46.7%
Ranked in the US
#6