There are 50 states in the United States. No, not 52; I see that this is a popular question with several thousands of searches every month. There are 52 playing cards in a pack if that’s where your confusion is coming from!
There are 50 states, just like there are 50 stars on the American flag. Count them on the map below if you don’t believe me.
The 50 states list
Here is a list of the 50 states in alphabetical order, with their abbreviations and their state capitals.
| State Name | State Abbreviations | State Capitals |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | AL | Montgomery |
| Alaska | AK | Juneau |
| Arizona | AZ | Phoenix |
| Arkansas | AR | Little Rock |
| California | CA | Sacramento |
| Colorado | CO | Denver |
| Connecticut | CT | Hartford |
| Delaware | DE | Dover |
| Florida | FL | Tallahassee |
| Georgia | GA | Atlanta |
| Hawaii | HI | Honolulu |
| Idaho | ID | Boise |
| Illinois | IL | Springfield |
| Indiana | IN | Indianapolis |
| Iowa | IA | Des Moines |
| Kansas | KS | Topeka |
| Kentucky | KY | Frankfort |
| Louisiana | LA | Baton Rouge |
| Maine | ME | Augusta |
| Maryland | MD | Annapolis |
| Massachusetts | MA | Boston |
| Michigan | MI | Lansing |
| Minnesota | MN | Saint Paul |
| Mississippi | MS | Jackson |
| Missouri | MO | Jefferson City |
| Montana | MT | Helena |
| Nebraska | NE | Lincoln |
| Nevada | NV | Carson City |
| New Hampshire | NH | Concord |
| New Jersey | NJ | Trenton |
| New Mexico | NM | Santa Fe |
| New York | NY | Albany |
| North Carolina | NC | Raleigh |
| North Dakota | ND | Bismarck |
| Ohio | OH | Columbus |
| Oklahoma | OK | Oklahoma City |
| Oregon | OR | Salem |
| Pennsylvania | PA | Harrisburg |
| Rhode Island | RI | Providence |
| South Carolina | SC | Columbia |
| South Dakota | SD | Pierre |
| Tennessee | TN | Nashville |
| Texas | TX | Austin |
| Utah | UT | Salt Lake City |
| Vermont | VT | Montpelier |
| Virginia | VA | Richmond |
| Washington | WA | Olympia |
| West Virginia | WV | Charleston |
| Wisconsin | WI | Madison |
| Wyoming | WY | Cheyenne |
Download a printable list of the 50 states.
United States map
The United States is divided into five regions: Northeast, Midwest and West region, Southwest and Southeast region. Our printable United States maps show the exact location of each state.
How to memorize the 50 states
There are several ways to memorize the 50 states in the US.
Worksheets aid learning
Worksheets require learners to actively participate in the learning process by solving problems, answering questions, or labeling diagrams. This hands-on approach improves focus and boosts information retention.
I personally used the worksheets below to help me learn the names and locations of US states in about an hour.
Repetition is key to mastering new skills. Worksheets offer a structured way for learners to practice concepts repeatedly, helping them solidify their understanding over time.
I’m giving away my worksheets for free so you can also learn the states quickly!
Play our 50 states game
After all that learning, you should reward yourself with a fun game! You can now challenge yourself with our 50 states quiz. Earn a spot on the leaderboard by finding the US state on the map as quickly as possible.
Find all 50 states on the map.
YouTube
Another way to remember state names is to listen to songs or explanations on YouTube. Many have found success by repeatedly singing the state names with their kids.
Songs for learning the state names:
I also found this clever video which seems like an effective way for adult learners to memorize the states (me, included!):
Up next: US capital and state flags
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. A teacher for seven years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.