Understanding US Geographic Regions and Divisions

The United States is commonly divided into geographic regions and divisions for statistical analysis and regional understanding. These classifications, established by the U.S. Census Bureau, help organize the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on their location, and characteristics. This article provides a comprehensive overview of these regions and their constituent divisions and states, as of March 22, 2026.

Geographic Regions: The Four Major Divisions

The U.S. Census Bureau recognizes four primary geographic regions:

• Northeast: This region encompasses the northeastern states.
• Midwest: Covering the north-central part of the country.
• South: Including the states in the southern portion of the U.S.
• West: Encompassing the western states.

Geographic Divisions: Nine Sub-Regions

Within these four regions lie nine geographic divisions, each comprising a group of states:

New England

Includes: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Middle Atlantic

Includes: New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

East North Central

Includes: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

West North Central

Includes: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

South Atlantic

Includes: Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

East South Central

Includes: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

West South Central

Includes: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Mountain

Includes: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

Pacific

Includes: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington.

State Abbreviations

For quick reference, here are the standard two-letter abbreviations for each state:

• Alabama (AL)
• Alaska (AK)
• Arizona (AZ)
• Arkansas (AR)
• California (CA)
• Colorado (CO)
• Connecticut (CT)
• Delaware (DE)
• District of Columbia (DC)
• Florida (FL)
• Georgia (GA)
• Hawaii (HI)
• Idaho (ID)
• Illinois (IL)
• Indiana (IN)
• Iowa (IA)
• Kansas (KS)
• Kentucky (KY)
• Louisiana (LA)
• Maine (ME)
• Maryland (MD)
• Massachusetts (MA)
• Michigan (MI)
• Minnesota (MN)
• Mississippi (MS)
• Missouri (MO)
• Montana (MT)
• Nebraska (NE)
• Nevada (NV)
• New Hampshire (NH)
• New Jersey (NJ)
• New Mexico (NM)
• New York (NY)
• North Carolina (NC)
• North Dakota (ND)
• Ohio (OH)
• Oklahoma (OK)
• Oregon (OR)
• Pennsylvania (PA)
• Rhode Island (RI)
• South Carolina (SC)
• South Dakota (SD)
• Tennessee (TN)
• Texas (TX)
• Utah (UT)
• Vermont (VT)
• Virginia (VA)
• Washington (WA)
• West Virginia (WV)
• Wisconsin (WI)
• Wyoming (WY)

Applications of Geographic Divisions

These geographic divisions are used for a variety of purposes, including:

• Statistical analysis by the U.S. Census Bureau and other government agencies.
• Market research and regional economic planning.
• Geographic studies and environmental monitoring.

Understanding these divisions provides a framework for analyzing regional trends and characteristics within the United States.