What does it mean if a state is outside contiguous or not part of the contiguous US?

Answer 1

The word contiguous means touching or connected. The contiguous US refers to the largest connected piece of American land. This happens to be the land situated between Mexico and Canada, which is also referred to as the Lower 48 because it contains forty-eight states. Therefore, the 48 states that are joined together are considered the contiguous United States, leaving Hawaii and Alaska as stand-alone states.

The contiguous US is sometimes mistaken with the continental US. The continental US refers to the area of the US that is located on the continent of North America. This is just the contiguous US in addition to Alaska. Yet, Hawaii is not a part of the continental US either.

It means it does not physically touch other states. Hawaii has an ocean between itself and other states. Alaska has Another Country- Canada- between it and another state.

Answer 2

The contiguous united States is that part of the Us that can be reached by land transportation without leaving the US. It is also called the "Lower -48" and consists of the first 48 states of the Union. States outside the contiguous Us are Alaska and Hawaii. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and the several other territories and affiliated commonwealths are also outside the Contiguous US.

Answer 3

If a state is outside the contiguous U.S., it means that it is not physically connected to the other 48 states in the mainland. For example, Alaska and Hawaii are states that are not part of the contiguous U.S. They are located separately from the other states.