Unlike other nations, the United States is a union of separate sovereign elements. Each state in the United States has its constitution and set of laws, though they still adhere to federal regulations, the Supreme Court, and the power of the executive levels of government.

The states and federal government, though, have exclusive and concurrent powers that assist in explaining the negotiation over the balance of power between them. Concurrent powers include levying taxes, setting up the court system, and spending. These are necessary for maintaining public facilities.

Forming the United States

At the beginning of the nation, following the American Revolution, there were only 13 states:

MA
Massachusetts
VA
Virginia
NC
North Carolina
SC
South Carolina
NJ
New Jersey
PA
Pennsylvania
GA
Georgia
DE
Delaware
RI
Rhode Island
CT
Connecticut
MD
Maryland
NY
New York

From 1776, the nation began to expand westward and gain new states to the nation. The expansion was a mixed blessing, though, as while white settlers found new opportunities and added states to the union, the displacement of Mexicans as well as Indian tribes was detrimental to their communities.

Unfortunately, the internal conflict became significant in the mid-1850s due to the call for the abolition of slavery in the South. This eventually led to the Civil War. After the settlement and mass exploration to the west, the final states to join the union were Alaska and in 1959.

The People Who Call the United States Home

Considering the United States was built on the principle of immigration, the demographics of ethnicity are widely spread. It is also equally distributed regarding economic performance, employment, and income, with small variations. Population-wise, the states also vary due to the number of cities and size. The largest state in America is Alaska, which is 665,384 square miles, though it is sparsely populated because of its geographic location. Rhode Island is the smallest state in America, covering an area of 1,545 square miles. New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the country, with 1,259 people every square mile. Unsurprisingly, Alaska is the least densely populated, with 1.3 people per square mile.

As of the most recent data, the population of the United States is estimated to be around 331 million. This population can be broken down into different demographic categories:

Gender:

The population is almost evenly divided between men and women, with women constituting approximately 50.8% of the population and men making up about 49.2%.

Men
49.2%
Women
50.8%

Age Groups:

Children (0-14 years):
Around 18.4% of the population falls into this category.

Adults (15-64 years):
This is the largest group, comprising about 65.3% of the population.

Senior Citizens (65 years and older):
They make up about 16.3% of the population.

Children
18.4%
Adults
65.3%
Senior
16.3%

These numbers reflect a diverse and aging society, with a significant proportion of the population in the working age, which has implications for the workforce and economy.

Moreover, the U.S. is characterized by its ethnic diversity, with no single ethnic group holding a majority. The largest ethnic groups include White Americans (including Hispanic and non-Hispanic whites), Black or African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and others, each contributing to the rich cultural mosaic of the nation.

Economically, the United States exhibits significant variation across different states and regions, influenced by factors like industrial history, natural resources, and access to ports. States like California and New York are known for their large economies and high per capita incomes, whereas others may have economies more reliant on agriculture or manufacturing.

What OurStates Can Help Provide

OurStates.org strives to provide detailed information on every state, including:

Eemographics
Education
Employment
Income

You can get to know everything about a particular state, including the estimated population, current governor, crime rate, and the percentage of people who have a high school diploma or higher.

Prospective homeowners and renters can compare data from different states, such as the number of owner-occupied units, the average number of people per household, or the home’s valuet.

Our platform shows the most common offenses and the percentage by which they have risen or fallen in the previous years. OurStates provides information on bankruptcy rates as well, describing the percentage change every year and the cause. You may also find weird laws on the books in different states and the most famous names used by some of its residents.