True or false: how well do you know the USA?
Some well-known 'facts' about America are wrong, and some surprising ones are true. Six true-or-false statements, from easy to hard, with explanations.
Did you know?
- Rhode Island is not an island. Most of the state is on the mainland, although it includes several islands in Narragansett Bay, including Aquidneck Island, which may be how the name began.
- The United States has no single official time zone. It uses six standard time zones across the 50 states, and more when territories such as Guam and Puerto Rico are included.
- The Liberty Bell and the Statue of Liberty are often mixed up, but they are in different cities. The Liberty Bell is in Philadelphia, while the Statue of Liberty stands in New York Harbor.
Why myths about America spread
Many people learn facts about the United States from movies, maps and conversations rather than from official sources, so small mistakes spread easily. Some myths come from maps that distort sizes and positions, and others from old information that is no longer true. Checking a statement against reliable sources, such as the US Census Bureau or the National Park Service, is the best way to separate fact from fiction.
Maps can mislead
Common world maps stretch areas far from the equator, making Alaska look even larger than it is and shrinking southern places. Hawaii and Alaska are often shown in small boxes near Mexico, which hides their real positions and sizes.
Federal district, not a state
Washington, D.C., was created as a separate federal district so that no single state would control the national capital. It has its own mayor and city council, and it covers only about 68 square miles.
Population is concentrated
The US population is spread unevenly. A handful of large states hold a big share of the people, while many states in the Great Plains and Mountain West have fewer residents than a single large city.
Wildlife surprises
Many visitors assume the bald eagle is America's only eagle, or that bison and buffalo are the same animal. In fact, American bison are only distantly related to true buffalo, which live in Africa and Asia.
Extremes in every direction
Different states hold different geographic records. Alaska is the northernmost and westernmost state, Hawaii is the southernmost, and Maine's West Quoddy Head is the easternmost point of the contiguous United States.
Checking facts
Official agencies publish free data on population, geography and parks. Using them helps avoid repeating myths, and it often turns up facts that are more surprising than the myths themselves.
Size surprises
Americans sometimes underestimate how large their country is. The contiguous United States is about 2,800 miles wide, and a flight from New York to Honolulu takes longer than a flight from New York to London.