The US Explained

If there’s one thing you know about Rhode Island, it’s probably that it is very, very small. In fact, 622 different counties, nearly one fifth of all the counties in the United States, take up more land than Rhode Island. The state at its length is 48 miles. That’s barely more than the average American commute to work. Despite this, the state packs a large punch. It’s the second most densely popul...

It’s hard to characterize North Carolina. It’s a southern state, home to regional barbecue sauces, a bluegrass and country blues tradition, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. At the same time, it contains vast regional differences, stretching from the mountains in the west to the swamps and islands in the east, with millions of people living in between. It’s home to beautiful scenery, a diverse populati...

Throughout US history, the country has been dominated by an urbanized string of cities stretching along the coast of the Northeastern United States. Home to a stunning 52 million people, an enormous chunk of the US population, the Megalopolis, as it’s referred to, has guided and exerted influence over much of American culture, history, politics and business for centuries, and likely will continue...

Virginia. It’s where the North meets the South. It’s home to the wealthiest part of the United States - leafy suburbs of the nation’s capital where business is booming - as well as struggling coal mining towns in the hills and mountains of Appalachia. Tobacco is still grown in much of the state, on farmland where enslaved people once toiled and Civil War soldiers fought. You can still visit the si...

It’s a land of stunning mountains, vast forests, numerous lakes, and a beautiful coastline. It’s a rural state in an urbanized part of the country, and small towns and cities dot it’s landscape, even as one of the largest urban areas in the US sits not far across state lines. Despite being home to less than two million people, it plays an essential role in electing the US president every four year...

South Carolina is the first predominantly rural, the first reliably red state I’ve discussed in this series, and the most Republican-leaning state on the entire east coast. It’s the first state in the US Explained that has a national park, and one of the first whose population is not centered around one or two major urban areas, but is instead spread out between several smaller, similar-sized citi...

Only eight states are smaller than Maryland, which takes up less land than Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, or the Solomon Islands. But within that relatively small area, it fits a cross-section of the Eastern United States, home to the peaks and valleys of Appalachia, two of the largest urban areas in the US, and the country’s 9th largest coastline, stretching along the marshes of the country’s largest...

Geographically, it’s a very small state, with a drive from the coast to its Western edge taking just a few hours. Yet few other parts of the country have had as much of a historical and modern impact on the United States as Massachusetts. It takes up less land than seven different counties in the US, and can fit into Alaska 63 times over, but is home to nearly seven million people, and contains th...

Connecticut. By area it’s the third smallest state in the entire United States, yet is home to millions of residents. An old and historic state, it’s today a center of the US financial industry. Despite its small size, Connecticut has a unique culture, divided between New England and the New York metro area. Home to a beautiful coastline, densely populated urban areas, as well as plenty of country...

Georgia - It’s home to tall mountains and vast swamps. Farm after farm as well as one of the largest cities in the country. Long suffering some of the worst racism in the country, it played a central role in the Civil Rights Movement, and is today a center of Black art, music, and business. Georgia is a unique and fascinating state, and is the fourth place I will talk about in The US Explained, a...

New Jersey. Despite being the fourth smallest state in the union, it is home to nearly 9 million people. While not having a single city whose city limits contain more than 300,000 people, it is the most densely populated state in the US, even more so than far smaller states like Rhode Island and Delaware. And with much of its land divided between two major urban areas, it still manages to contain...

Pennsylvania, the second state to join the Union, has always played a major role in the United States, and continues to do so as one of the most populous states in the country. With enormous cities and spectacular natural areas, a major regional divide and interesting history, Pennsylvania is a fascinating state and will be the second place I will cover in this 56 part series on every state, terri...

Delaware. It’s the second smallest state in the US, the 6th most densely populated, and was the first to ratify the US Constitution. Though small, Delaware is a fascinating state, and will be the first place I will cover in this 56 part series on every state, territory, and federal district in the United States.

Carter, Quinn, and Brett bring on Kyle, the host of YouTube's Geography King, to talk geography, road tripping, and his channel.