The United States is made up of 50 individual states that vary greatly in size. When talking about land area, Rhode Island ranks as the smallest. Yet, when we discuss population, Wyoming—the 10th largest state by area—comes in with the smallest population. All information used in this article is from World Atlas.
The 5 Smallest States by Land Area
If you're familiar with U.S. geography, you might be able to guess which are the smallest states in the country. Notice that four of the five smallest states are along the eastern coast where the states seem to be crammed into a very small area.
1) Rhode Island—1,045 square miles (2,707 square kilometers)
- Rhode Island is only 41 miles in length and 20 miles wide(66x 22 kilometers).
- Rhode Island has over 384 miles (618 kilometers) of shoreline.
- The highest point is Jerimoth Hill in Foster at 812 feet (247.5 meters).
2) Delaware—1,954square miles (5,061square kilometers)
- Delaware is 96 miles (154 kilometers) in length. At its thinnest point, it is only 9 miles (14 kilometers) wide.
- Delaware has 381 miles of coastline.
- The highest point is Ebright Azimuth at 447 feet (136 meters).
3) Connecticut—5,567 square miles (12,548 square kilometers)
- Connecticut is approximately 110 miles long and 70 miles wide (177 x 113 km).
- Connecticut has 618 miles (994.5kilometers)of coastline.
- The highest point is the southern slope ofMt. Frissell at 2,380 feet (725 meters).
4) Hawaii—6,423square miles (16,635 square kilometers)
- Hawaii is a chain of 136 islands, eight of which are considered principal islands. These include Hawaii (4,028 squaremiles), Maui (727 squaremiles), Oahu (597 squaremiles), Kauai (562 square miles), Molokai (260 squaremiles), Lanai (140 square miles), Niihau (69 squaremiles), and Kahoolawe (45 squaremiles).
- Hawaii has 1,052 miles of coastline.
- The highest point is Mauna Kea at13,796 feet (4,205 meters).
5) New Jersey—7,417 square miles (19,210 square kilometers)
- New Jerseyis only 165miles long and 40 miles wide (266 x 80 kilometers).
- New Jersey has 1,792 miles (2884kilometers)of shoreline.
- The highest point is High Point at 1,803 feet (549.5 meters).
The 5 Smallest States by Population
When we turn to look at the population, we get an entirely different perspective ofthe country. With the exception of Vermont, the states with the lowest population are among the largest by land area and they're all in the western half of the country.
A low population with a large amount of land means a very low population density (or people per square mile).
1) Wyoming—585,501 people
- Ranks as the ninth largest in land area -97,093 square miles (251,470 square kilometers)
- Population density: 6.0 people per square mile
2) Vermont—624,594
- Ranks as the43rdlargest in land area -9,217square miles (23,872 square kilometers)
- Population density: 67.8 people per square mile
3) North Dakota—755,393
- Ranks as the17thlargest in land area—69,000square miles (178,709 square kilometers)
- Population density: 11.0 people per square mile
4) Alaska—741,894
- Ranks as the largest state inland area—570,641square miles (1,477,953 square kilometers)
- Population density: 1.3people per square mile
5) South Dakota—865,454
- Ranks as the16thlargest inland area—75,811 square miles (196,349 square kilometers)
- Population density: 11.3people per square mile
Additional Reference
- US Census Bureau. “Census.gov.”Census Bureau QuickFacts,
Sure, I'd be happy to dive into this information! I've spent a significant amount of time studying geography and have a deep interest in U.S. states, their demographics, and land areas.
The article you've shared discusses two significant aspects of the United States: land area and population size across its states. It highlights the variation in size and population density among the states.
Let's break down the concepts used in the article:
Land Area of Smallest States:
- Rhode Island - Smallest state by land area with 1,045 square miles. Notably small at 41 miles in length and 20 miles wide, with a considerable shoreline of over 384 miles.
- Delaware - Second smallest state with 1,954 square miles. It measures 96 miles in length and, at its narrowest point, is just 9 miles wide. Delaware also boasts 381 miles of coastline.
- Connecticut - Slightly larger at 5,567 square miles. Its dimensions are about 110 miles long and 70 miles wide, with a coastline spanning 618 miles. The highest point is the southern slope of Mt. Frissell.
- Hawaii - A collection of islands totaling 6,423 square miles. It consists of principal islands, the largest being Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau, and Kahoolawe. Mauna Kea stands as its highest point.
- New Jersey - Among the smallest states by land area but larger than the others mentioned, with 7,417 square miles. It measures 165 miles long and 40 miles wide, boasting 1,792 miles of shoreline and High Point as its highest elevation.
Population in Smallest States:
- Wyoming - Despite being the 9th largest in land area, it has the smallest population among the states, with 585,501 people. This results in an incredibly low population density of 6.0 people per square mile.
- Vermont - Ranks 43rd in land area but has a slightly higher population of 624,594, leading to a population density of 67.8 people per square mile.
- North Dakota - With 755,393 people, it's the 17th largest in land area, resulting in a population density of 11.0 people per square mile.
- Alaska - Despite being the largest state in land area, it has a population of only 741,894, resulting in an incredibly low population density of 1.3 people per square mile.
- South Dakota - With a population of 865,454, it ranks 16th in land area, leading to a population density of 11.3 people per square mile.
This data showcases the striking differences in both land area and population density among the various states in the United States, offering a fascinating insight into the country's geographical and demographic diversity.
The Census Bureau, as referenced in the article, serves as a reliable source for such demographic information, offering comprehensive data on various aspects of the United States' population and geography.
