The United States of America is also called the USA, US, United States or sometimes America.

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was issued, establishing the United States of America.
The US is the 4th largest country in the world by land area and 3rd by population.
On February 25, 2013, the estimated population of the US was 315,568,000.
The US is a diverse country with a multicultural society.
The US has the world's largest economy.
The US developed the first nuclear weapons, using them on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
near the end of World War 2.
The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers combine to form the longest river system in the US and the fourth
longest in the world.
The tallest mountain the US is Mt McKinley, located in the state of Alaska it reaches 20,320 ft (6,194 m)
above sea level.
Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867 and is the largest state in the US by land area.
Hawaii is the most recent of the 50 states in the US (joining in 1959) and is the only one made up entirely of
islands.
Most of the world's tornadoes occur in the Midwest region of the US known as Tornado Alley.
The most populated city in the US is New York City, followed by Los Angeles and Chicago.
English is the most commonly spoken language in the US, followed by Spanish.
The first man to walk on the moon was American Neil Armstrong (July 21, 1969).
The US was the leading force behind the development of the Internet.
The US consumes more petroleum than any other country in the world.
The most popular team sports in the US are American football, baseball, basketball and ice hockey.
For more information, check out maps of the United States or take a closer look at the US flag.

FAST FACTS

OFFICIAL NAME: United States of America

FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Constitution-based federal republic
CAPITAL: Washington, D.C.
POPULATION: 318,892,103
LANGUAGES: English, Spanish (no official national language)
MONEY: U.S. dollar
AREA: 3,794,083 square miles (9,826,630 square kilometers)
MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Rocky Mountains, Appalachian Mountains
MAJOR RIVERS: Mississippi, Missouri, Colorado
 GEOGRAPHY

The United States of America is the world's third largest country in size and nearly the third largest in terms
of population. Located in North America, the country is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and to
the east by the Atlantic Ocean. Along the northern border is Canada and the southern border is Mexico.
There are 50 states and the District of Columbia.

More than twice the size of the European Union, the United States has high mountains in the West and a
vast central plain. The lowest point in the country is in Death Valley which is at -282 feet (-86 meters) and
the highest peak is Denali (Mt. McKinley) at 20,320 feet (6,198 meters).

NATURE

The landscape varies across the large country from tropical beaches in Florida to peaks in the Rocky
Mountains, from rolling prairie lands and barren deserts in the West to dense wilderness areas in the
Northeast and Northwest. Interspersed throughout are the Great Lakes, the Grand Canyon, the majestic
Yosemite Valley, and the mighty Mississippi River.

The wildlife is as diverse as the landscape. Mammals such as bison once roamed freely across the plains,
but now live only in preserves. Black bears, grizzlies, and polar bears are the largest carnivores. There are
over 20,000 flower species and most came from Europe. There are more than 400 areas which are protected
and maintained by the National Park Service, and many other parks in each state.

The bald eagle is the national bird and symbol of the United States and is a protected species.

PEOPLE & CULTURE

Throughout its history, the United States has been a nation of immigrants. The population is
diverse with people from all over the world seeking refuge and a better way of life. The
people of the United States are very diverse. The people come from many different
cultures and backgrounds and practice many different religions. The American people are
dedicated to the pursuit of happiness and freedoms of speech and religion.

HISTORY
For centuries native peoples lived across the vast expanse that would become the United States. In the early
17th century, settlers moved from Europe to the New World, established colonies, and displaced the native
peoples.

Native Americans had lived in America for many centuries before it was discovered. Gradually,
settlers from mostly Europe and Mexico populated the lands and drove off the Native Americans
from the lands where they had lived for many thousands of years. Even though Native
Americans were the first people to live on the land of The United States, the Native American
population is only 1% of the total population of the country. Many state and city names come
from Native American words. For example, Mississippi comes from the word misi which means
big and sipi which means river.
 The settlers fought for their independence from Britain in the late 18th century and formed a union of states
based on a new constitution. The nation continued to expand westward and although the country is a
relatively young nation, it has become a global power since declaring independence from Britain on July 4,
1776.

The USA's Holidays and Celebrations

Thanksgiving is celebrated on November 29th. It is a time to give thanks for the harvest. The
holiday was started in the 1600's with the Pilgrims who first came to America. President Lincoln
declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.

On Thanksgiving it is tradition to celebrate with a big meal. Most Americans serve turkey or ham,
cranberry sauce, potatoes, corn, and pumpkin pie as well as many other foods. Families usually
try to have Thanksgiving together.

The USA's Cities and Landmarks

The Statue of Liberty was a special gift that was given to the United States by the country of
France. The statue is located on a small island off the coast of New York and New Jersey. The
statue has been a symbol of freedom to Americans since it welcomed many immigrants on their
way in to Ellis Island.

Curious facts

One out of every eight Americans have been employed by McDonald's at some point.

Apple has more money than the U.S. Treasury.

1 American consumes the same amount of resources as 32 Kenyans.

The first person to own a slave in America was a black man.

1 out every 3 Americans is obese.

If you have $10 in your pocket and no debt, you are wealthier than 25% of Americans.

40% of births in America are from unmarried women.

22 million chickens are consumed in the US every day.