Have you ever wonder how many states in the US?I think it is quite logical and natural question for anyone interested in American culture, cinema or English.
In this article I will try to tell in detail not only on how many states in the US, but also to explain why it happened from a historical perspective.In addition, readers will learn many new and interesting facts about the amazing and vast country called the United States of America.
number of states in the US: 50 or 51?
United States - is a huge state, located in the central part of the continent of North America.And to date, the country consists of 50 states, one federal district of Columbia, which is considered an independent federal unit and several island territories and do not belong to any state.
Each federal unit divided into manageable city districts municipalities and rural areas may, among other things, divided also on the townships.
Why states in the US have sometimes such strange names?
Those who speak English, certainly know that the word «state» can be translated as "state", but at the same time as "the state or country."In 1648, when the United States were in the colonial period of formation of the state, especially the word and called the individual colonies.But since 1776, after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the word "State" began to enter the official name of the 46 states (eg, Texas and Idaho).Although it is impossible not to note the fact that the flag, say, California, and to this day can be read "Republic of California."
believed that the basis for the origin of the name of the federal units of eight States have become the main sources.Let us examine each in more detail:
- 26 states have names of Indian origin, though, it is likely to "Idaho" was coined.This conclusion was modern linguists, because they did not manage to still learn its value;
- the name of the northern state (Alaska) came from the ancient language of the Inuit;
- word "Hawaii" in the language of the local population - Hawaiian;
- eleven states have English origin, six - and three Spanish - French;
- name Rhode Island taken from (presumably) Dutch;
- and only Washington has a purely American historical roots.
What is the probability of occurrence of the 51st state?
We seem to have got quite an exhaustive answer to the question, how many states in the US, but why are we then from time to time we hear about a 51-m?What is this mythical federal units and why it is called so?
thing is that this kind of term, which is called the territory of applying for such status (Guyana, Haiti, the Philippines, the Republic of the Rio Grande, Sonora, Yucatan).In addition, they call the country to which the United States has a strong cultural, political or economic influence.For example, Australia, Britain, Georgia, Iraq, Israel, Mexico and other countries.
also US government has repeatedly received the following sentences:
- On creation in the territory of eastern Washington and northern Idaho State Lincoln.
- about providing for purely economic reasons, New York status of a separate state under the name of New York City.
- About allocation Oregon and Idaho in separate State Eastern Oregon.
- about trying offices in the Peninsula of Michigan a separate State Superior.Supporters were made to the proposal, asIt believes that the current government does not pay enough attention to the residents of the neighborhood.
- about a hypothetical merger of several both former and current Pacific territory of the United States and the creation of a unified federal units Pacifica.
That is the basis of the foregoing, the question of how many states in the US, is still open.One thing is for sure - today their 50s, but soon the situation is likely to change.
