50 states. 50 stories. Here are the ones that will genuinely surprise you.
everybody knows there are 50 states in the USA. but here are the facts that most people don't know:
the USA has MORE states than Europe has countries. 50 states vs 44 countries in all of Europe. let that sink in.
the country started with just 13 colonies that declared independence from Great Britain in 1776. those 13 became 50 through a combination of purchases (Louisiana Purchase, 1803), treaties, wars, and direct annexation — over 183 years.
the last state to join? Hawaii. August 21, 1959. before that, Alaska (January 3, 1959). both were admitted the same year.
here are the facts that actually blow people's minds:
Alaska is so big (665,384 sq mi) that if it were a country, it would be the 18th largest nation on earth. bigger than Texas, California, and Montana combined.
Rhode Island is the smallest state at just 1,545 sq mi. you could fit 430 Rhode Islands inside Alaska.
Texas (268,596 sq mi) is larger than France. the entire country of France fits inside Texas with room to spare.
California has a higher GDP than most countries — including the United Kingdom.
The Grand Canyon (Arizona) is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and over a mile deep — carved by the Colorado River over 5–6 million years.
Alaska's Denali is the tallest mountain in North America at 20,310 feet — taller than any peak in the contiguous 48 states by more than 8,000 feet.
Seattle, Washington is where the first Starbucks opened in 1971 at Pike Place Market.
each state in the USA has its own government, constitution, laws, culture, identity — and in many cases its own motto, state bird, state flower, and flag. it's essentially 50 separate countries operating under one federal framework.
The USA Leaders published the complete guide with all 50 states, their capitals, and individual facts: https://theusaleaders.com/blog/how-many-states-is-in-usa/
