About This Quiz
There are a lot of factors that are used to compare states. Whether it is the size of the state's population or the political parties that represent the state, you will find that each state in the United States has its own identity and personality. For this quiz, we are going to be looking at the size of each state, by square mileage, in order to tell the difference between each one.
A state's size tells a lot about it. Whether you delve into the past of the properties owned by high-level landowners before all of the lines were drawn on the maps, or you consider how densely populated each state was when the maps of the United States were created, you'll find that state size directly reflects the history of the land that is identified in that region.Â
Remember, this quiz is all about the smallest to the largest. We care about those smaller states, and it's important for them to get representation early on. We will be going in order, so the best way to pass this quiz is to remember the names of each state and about how big they actually are. By the time you're done answering these questions, you'll be able to label yourself a geography master or a geography dud.Â
Coming in at only 1,034 square miles, Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States. You can find it on the East Coast between Massachusetts and Connecticut. It is best known for it's small, wholesome and colonial towns.
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Founded in 1787, Delaware is an East Coast state that is well-known for its beautiful scenery and seemingly endless landmarks. The state might be small, but it does attract tourists who are looking for history lessons.
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Connecticut is over twice the size of Delaware, but still only comes in at just under 5,000 square miles. This state is the home of Yale University as well as the Seaport museum in Mystic.
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When you look at a map, you might think that Hawaii is the smallest state in the US, but it actually comes in at number four. The 6,423 square miles of the state encompasses all of the eight major islands added together.
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Northern New Jersey is very close to New York City, and is home to many of the people who work in the city. This state is full of commerce and industry, as well as some pretty fine beaches that lie on the East Coast.
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Massachusetts might be a small state, but it has a rather large population, thanks to the city of Boston and the great universities within the 7,838 square miles that make up the state.
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If you're wondering which state looks like it's giving you the thumbs up, it's New Hampshire. This state was founded in 1776. so it isn't technically new, but it's newer than the old Hampshire.
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Vermont is only slightly larger than New Hampshire, but it snuggles up next to it. Vermont is known for cheese, maple syrup and being in the shape of a V (for Vermont). It is also home to some of the best landscapes in the United States.
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Maryland might be small, but it is well known for its intricate waterways and incredibly long coastline (by mile). For such a small state, a major portion of its border is touching some form of water.
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Home to Civil War battles and historic monuments, West Virginia is a state that is rich with historical facts. For those who love to learn when they travel, West Virginia is the perfect destination.
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In South Carolina's 30,111 square miles, you will find Fort Sumpter (where the Civil War began), plantations and historic housing. Additionally, there are over 60 miles of coastline to dig your toes in the sand.
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If you're thinking about lobster, Stephen King and lighthouses right now, you are not alone. Maine is pretty famous for all of these things. Maine is also the easternmost state in the US and very close to Canada.
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Indiana might seem bigger than it actually is, but that's because it is right between two larger states: Illinois and Ohio. The state was founded in 1816 as the 19th state in the United States.
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Virginia has a lot of historic monuments, museums, battlegrounds, tours and sight-seeing. In addition, it boasts some pretty beautiful landscape that includes coastlines and mountain ranges.
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Those who have never traveled to Kentucky might be surprised to know that the landscape there is both mountainous and beautiful. There are also several caves and trails for explorers who are interested in outdoor activities.
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As one of the Great Lake states, Ohio is often visited by tourists in the summer months. Not only does it have excellent landscapes to view, it also is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
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Reaching 41,220 square miles, Tennessee is the 17th smallest state in the US. It actually looks much smaller than it is because it is a very mountainous state. It also boasts great nightlife and country Elvis Presley's Graceland.
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While many states boast various cultures, Louisiana brings in several cultures to make its own. In New Orleans, you can find a mix of African, Canadian, Creole and Cajun cultures surrounding the city.
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If you're looking for a state that has it all, Pennsylvania is where you want to be. You can tour candy factories, work in coal mines or go on historical tours throughout the state.
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Mississippi has a pretty volatile past, but it is also a state that is rich with historical events that we should all remember. Should you visit, consider checking out preserved Civil War sites and the Delta Blues Museum.
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When you think of New York, you probably think of the huge city with giant skyscrapers, but the state is so much more. It is connected to both a Great Lake and the Atlantic Ocean. Additionally, its landscape upstate has a lot of offer adventurers and outdoorsy types.
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North Carolina is approximately 1,500 square miles bigger than New York state, coming in at 48,718 square miles. It's another state that is rich in historic sites and landmarks, and always worth a visit.
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When researching the history of the United States, you cannot discuss the Civil Rights Movement without discussing Alabama. The state is home to the Rosa Parks Museum as well as Martin Luther King, Jr.'s church.
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Arkansas is most well-known for its wilderness areas, beautiful scenery and southern hospitality. It's also the home of former president Bill Clinton, but the Ozarks are what everyone really talks about there.
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Florida seems like a very large state, and that is because it isn't surrounded by other states. However, Florida is only about 5,3997 square miles, making it the 25th smallest state in the United States.
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If you ever have the pleasure of driving through Wisconsin, you'll notice that there are two major things to see: forests and farms. This state has rich soils that are perfect for planting.
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While most think of the city of Chicago when they think of Illinois, the majority of the state is covered in farmland. Corn and soy are the two major crops that come out of this state.
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Iowa doesn't necessarily look like a large state, especially when you compare it to Illinois and Wisconsin. However, it is just under 300 square miles larger than Illinois, owning 55,875 square miles of land.
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Michigan has the part that looks like a mitten and then the upper peninsula. These two bodies of land are separated by Lake Michigan, but they are considered a part of the same state.
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Surprisingly, Georgia is much larger than Florida. As a matter of fact, Georgia comes in at 57.919 square miles while Florida is only 53,997 square miles. Additionally, Georgia is considered one of the most historically rich states in the US.
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Washington is the smallest of the states that touch the Pacific Ocean, and by quite a bit, too. It is also one of the states that sees the most rain throughout the year, but it is beautiful and rich with scenery.
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Oklahoma is well-known for the terrible weather that goes through it. The warm air coming off the Gulf of Mexico mixes with the cold air coming off the Rocky Mountains, and it all lands in Oklahoma, making some of the most turbulent weather in the country.
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In 1904, the Louisiana Purchase Exposition was hosted in St. Louis Missouri. As with all World's Fairs, a large attraction was created (the arch), and it still stands today. In order to finance the event, $15 million was raised from local, state and federal taxes.
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North Dakota stands in the Midwest as one of the least populated states in the country. It is also a pretty large state, boasting 68,994 square miles of land that is mostly used for ranching and farming.
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With only two major highways running through it, South Dakota seems like a pretty inaccessibly place. However, it is a place that attracts a lot of tourists, as it is home to the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore.
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Nebraska is home to nearly 2 million people, and is rich in farmland. It also has dramatic landscapes with intense rock formations throughout the state. It boasts a whopping 76,878 square miles of land.
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Everyone knows that there are tons of lakes in Minnesota, but few actually realize that with all that water comes all of those mosquitoes. However, the land is beautiful and the seasonal changes are even more beautiful.
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When you think of Kansas, you might think of Dorothy and her dog being swept away to Munchkinland, but this state produces wheat, corn, soy and hay, along with several other crops for the United States.
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Utah is known for a lot of things. The Great Salt Lake is probably the first thing to come to your mind. However, the natural rock formations, mountains and all-around gorgeous scenery keep tourists coming in year-round.
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Most well-known for its potato production, Idaho is also home to a lot of protected Native American land. While many think Idaho is a part of the Midwest, it is actually considered a part of the Pacific Northwest.
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Oregon is a coveted state to live in. It is rich in modern culture and outdoor activities. It is also rich in volcanoes, as it is home to 19 of them, four of which are active and considered a very high threat.
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Although it is one of the larger states in the country, Wyoming is the smallest state when it comes to population. As a matter of fact, it's considered one of the most sparsely populated states in the country.
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Although the Rocky Mountain range cuts through several states, the highest peak resides in Colorado. This is one of the major reasons that Colorado is most often associated with the Rockies more than any other states.
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There are few large cities in Nevada. The majority of the state is desert landscape, and home to some pretty treacherous climates. It's no wonder that the population of the entire state is only around 3 million people.
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With 113,642 square miles of land, Arizona is one of the largest states in the country. Although many associate Arizona with the desert, it does have several larger cities as well as Flagstaff, a mountain town.
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Founded in 1912, New Mexico might not look like much, but it has a diverse landscape and an interesting past. It is home to the Georgia O'Keefe Museum and the Santa Fe Opera, an open-air opera.
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From mountains to the Great Plains, Montana seems to have it all. It is a gorgeous and huge state that ranges a staggering 145,556 square miles of land. However, this land is susceptible to wildfire due to a drought that has plagued it.
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California is home to a lot of things: Hollywood, some of the most beautiful beaches, desert and mountains. With a state that has 155,973 square miles of land, it only makes sense that it has so many different terrains.
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Everything is bigger in Texas, even if Texas isn't the biggest state. It is the largest state in the continental US, coming in at 264,914 square miles, dwarfing California by quite a bit.
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Alaska might be the largest state in the US, but it doesn't have that big of a population. While it has over 570,000 square miles of land, it only has about 750,000 people living in it. Of course, Texans say their state will be bigger when Alaska melts.
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