"What state is" is an incomplete question, but it usually refers to which U.S. state or its abbreviation, like CA for California, or asks for a list of the 50 U.S. states, their capitals (e.g., Sacramento for CA), or location on a map. You might also mean the status of a country becoming a state (statehood) or the definition of a state as a government/territory, but most often, people are looking for info on the American states, of which there are 50.
The oldest state in the U.S. is Delaware, nicknamed "The First State" because it was the first to ratify the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787, becoming the first of the original thirteen colonies to join the Union. It's followed by Pennsylvania and New Jersey, making the early states primarily located on the East Coast.
Several U.S. states have populations around 3 million people, including Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, Iowa, Nevada, Utah, and Connecticut, with recent estimates placing states like Utah (around 3.5M), Nevada (3.2M), and Iowa (3.2M) closest to or just over the 3 million mark, while Arkansas (3.08M) is right at it**.
The 48th state admitted to the U.S. was Arizona, joining the Union on February 14, 1912, and was the last of the contiguous states to become a state. Its admission followed New Mexico (47th state) and preceded Alaska (49th) and Hawaii (50th), completing the lower 48 states.
The 45th state admitted to the U.S. was Utah, joining the Union on January 4, 1896, after a long territorial period marked by disputes with the federal government, primarily over polygamy, which Utah agreed to outlaw to gain statehood.
World Population Clock: 8.3 Billion People (LIVE, 2025) - Worldometer.
Mississippi is consistently ranked as the poorest state in the U.S., having the lowest median household income and one of the highest poverty rates, with significant challenges like high child poverty, food insecurity, and lower life expectancy, often alongside states like Louisiana, West Virginia, and Arkansas in the bottom rankings, according to data from sources like World Population Review and U.S. Census Bureau.
WCCO CBS reported, "The study found that Minnesota is the friendliest state." This edged out Texas and other notoriously friendly-seeming states in that region (depending on who you ask).
Florida is the flattest U.S. state, followed by Illinois, North Dakota, Louisiana, and Minnesota, according to studies measuring topography, with Kansas often mistakenly believed to be the flattest but ranking lower. Researchers use relief (difference between highest and lowest points) or percentage of flat land to determine flatness, and Florida consistently tops the list with very low elevation change.
The newest U.S. states are Alaska, admitted as the 49th state on January 3, 1959, and Hawaii, admitted as the 50th state on August 21, 1959, making Hawaii the most recent addition to the Union.
As of early 2026, India is the world's most populous country, having surpassed China, with over 1.4 billion people, followed closely by China, the United States, Indonesia, and Pakistan, according to sources like the U.S. Census Bureau and World Population Review. While India leads, both nations have massive populations, with India experiencing faster growth and China's growth slowing.
63 million people died in 2025.
Atlanta has the most black millionaires in the United States. This group of black people has a history of organizations and activities that distinguish it from other classes within the black community, as well as from the white upper class.
Top Types Of African American Jobs
Michigan has the highest percentage of water area among U.S. states, at 41.5%. Alaska has the largest total water area, while Michigan leads in Great Lakes water area. Michigan's large percentage of water area is significantly influenced by its portion of the Great Lakes.
The Name. This state was named by Dutch explorer Adrian Block. He named it "Roodt Eylandt" meaning "red island" in reference to the red clay that lined the shore. The name was later anglicized when the region came under British rule.