Facts and maps of United States of America
Table of contents
U.S.A. basics
Government
Federal Republic since 1789. Gained independence from the U.K. in 1776. The USA has 50 States and the District of Columbia (as in ‘Washington, DC'), which lies between Maryland and Virginia. President Barack Obama since 2009.
Language
English, with significant Spanish-speaking minorities (10.7%).
Religion
Protestant majority (52%) with Roman Catholic, Mormon, Jewish and many ethnic minorities.
Electricity
110 volts AC, 60Hz. Plugs are of the flat two-pin type. European electrical appliances not fitted with dual-voltage capabilities will require a plug adaptor, which is best purchased before arrival in the USA.
Time
The USA is divided into six time zones. Daylight Savings Time (DST) is between the second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November. Hawaii does not observe summertime hours:
Eastern Standard Time: GMT - 5 (GMT - 4 DST).
Central Standard Time: GMT - 6 (GMT - 5 DST).
Mountain Standard Time: GMT - 7 (GMT - 6 DST. Arizona does not observe DST).
Pacific Standard Time: GMT - 8 (GMT - 7 DST).
Alaska: GMT - 9 (GMT - 8 DST).
Hawaii: GMT - 10.
Area
9,826,630 sq km (3,794,083 sq miles). About half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; more than twice the size of the European Union.
Shared borders
Canada and Mexico.
Population
301 million (official estimate 2007). Population density is 32.5 per sq km.
Capital
Washington, D.C. Population: 581,530 (2006).
Over 25 other cities have a population larger than that of Washington, DC. New York is the largest city, with a population of 8.3 million (2006). Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio and San Diego had populations ranging from 1.2 - 3.8 million in 2005.
Map and geography
Geography
Covering a large part of the North American continent, the USA shares borders with Canada to the north and Mexico to the south and has coasts on the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The State of Alaska, in the northwest corner of the continent, is separated from the rest of the USA by Canada, and Hawaii lies in the central Pacific Ocean. The third-largest country in the world (after the Russian Federation and Canada), the USA has an enormous diversity of geographical features. The climate ranges from subtropical to Arctic, with a corresponding breadth of flora and fauna. For a more detailed description of each region's geographical characteristics, see the individual state sections.
Business hours
In most places, businesses keep hours from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Bank hours are open 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Thursday, until 5:30pm Friday. There are some major bank branches and post offices that are open from 9am to noon or 1pm on Saturdays.
Stores are open 10am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, noon to 5pm Sunday. In malls and downtown shopping areas, hours may be extended to 8pm or even 10pm. Grocery stores and supermarkets are normally open from 8am to 8pm, and in any city of there will be a number of 24 hour supermarkets. Note that in some parts of the country, all businesses except a few restaurants may close on Sunday.
Restaurant hours vary so widely that they are impossible to generalize; they can fluctuate with seasonal demand and owner whim. High season restaurant hours are usually longer, at times significantly, than low season. In low season especially, it can be a good idea to call ahead or ask around before making a trip or plans.
Bars and pubs are usually open from 5pm to midnight daily, extending to 2am on Friday and Saturday. Nightclubs and dance clubs generally open at 9pm and close at 2am Wednesday to Saturday. ours may be longer in larger cities.