Map showing the states and capitals of the United States (more) Map of the United States Written by Michael Ray Michael Ray is an assistant managing editor who has worked at Britannica since 2003. In addition to leading the Geography and History team, he oversees coverage of European history and military affairs.... Michael Ray Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Apr. 28, 2026 •History Map showing the states and capitals of the United StatesEncyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The map of the United States has changed considerably in the 250 years since the country’s founding. From the original 13 colonies on the Eastern Seaboard, European settlements spread west, with the frontier advancing from the fall line to the Appalachians and into the Old Northwest by 1800. In the 19th century the U.S. government acquired vast tracts of land west of...

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