50 States Listed Alphabetically: Complete A–Z List, Abbreviations & Capitals

Looking for all 50 US states listed alphabetically? Whether you're studying for a geography test, helping your children with homework, or planning an American road trip, having a complete list makes things much easier.

The United States consists of 50 states, each with its own capital, postal abbreviation, and unique history.

Below, you'll find all 50 states in alphabetical order, followed by their two-letter abbreviations, state capitals, regional groupings, and a few useful facts.

All 50 States Listed Alphabetically

Here is the complete alphabetical list of the 50 US states:

1. Alabama
2. Alaska
3. Arizona
4. Arkansas
5. California
6. Colorado
7. Connecticut
8. Delaware
9. Florida
10. Georgia
11. Hawaii
12. Idaho
13. Illinois
14. Indiana
15. Iowa
16. Kansas
17. Kentucky
18. Louisiana
19. Maine
20. Maryland
21. Massachusetts
22. Michigan
23. Minnesota
24. Mississippi
25. Missouri
26. Montana
27. Nebraska
28. Nevada
29. New Hampshire
30. New Jersey
31. New Mexico
32. New York
33. North Carolina
34. North Dakota
35. Ohio
36. Oklahoma
37. Oregon
38. Pennsylvania
39. Rhode Island
40. South Carolina
41. South Dakota
42. Tennessee
43. Texas
44. Utah
45. Vermont
46. Virginia
47. Washington
48. West Virginia
49. Wisconsin
50. Wyoming

Alabama is the first state alphabetically, while Wyoming is the last.

This list includes all 50 states but excludes Washington, D.C., and US territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands.

50 US States With Abbreviations and Capitals

If you need more than just the state names, this table includes the official two-letter postal abbreviations and state capitals.

A useful detail to remember is that the largest or most famous city in a state isn't necessarily its capital.

For example, New York City's state capital is Albany, while California's capital is Sacramento rather than Los Angeles.

US States Listed Alphabetically by First Letter

Another useful way to organize the states is by their starting letter.

This can be particularly helpful for quizzes and memorization.

Interestingly, eight states begin with M and another eight begin with N.

No US state begins with B, E, J, Q, X, Y, or Z.

What Are the Four Main US Census Regions?

Although alphabetical lists are useful for reference, the United States can also be grouped geographically.

The US Census Bureau divides the country into four primary regions.

1. Northeast

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

The Northeast is associated with historic cities, Atlantic coastlines, and destinations such as Boston and New York City.

2. Midwest

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

This region includes the Great Lakes, major agricultural areas, and cities such as Chicago and Minneapolis.

3. South

Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The Census Bureau also places Washington, D.C., in the South region, although it isn't a state.

4. West

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

The West includes the Rocky Mountains, Pacific coastline, deserts, and some of America's best-known national parks.

These classifications are useful for geography research and comparing population data.

Interesting Facts About the 50 States

There are some surprisingly interesting details behind the alphabetical list.

The largest state: Alaska is the largest US state by total area, considerably larger than Texas.

The smallest state: Rhode Island is the smallest state by total area.

The most populous state: California has the largest population of any US state.

The newest states: Alaska and Hawaii both joined the United States in 1959, becoming the 49th and 50th states.

The first state: Delaware was the first state to ratify the US Constitution, on December 7, 1787.

Four states begin with A: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, and Arkansas.

Eight states begin with N: That's tied with M for the most states sharing an initial letter.

These facts are particularly useful when preparing for school quizzes or learning American geography.

How to Memorize All 50 States Alphabetically

Memorizing every state might sound difficult, but breaking the list into smaller groups makes it more manageable.

Start by learning the first ten states, from Alabama through Georgia.

Once you're comfortable with those, move on to the next ten.

You can also group states by their initial letters. The eight states beginning with M and the eight beginning with N are especially useful groups to practice.

Another method involves using a blank US map.

Try writing the state names from memory, then check your answers against the alphabetical list.

Finally, practice matching each state with its abbreviation and capital.

Learning a few related facts at a time is often easier than memorizing three separate lists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are There 50 or 52 States in America?

There are 50 states in the United States.

The confusion about 52 states sometimes comes from including Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

However, Washington, D.C., is a federal district, and Puerto Rico is a US territory. Neither is a state.

What Is the First State Alphabetically?

Alabama is the first US state alphabetically.

It is followed by Alaska, Arizona, and Arkansas.

What Is the Last State Alphabetically?

Wyoming is the final state in an alphabetical list of all 50 US states.

Wisconsin comes immediately before Wyoming.

Which State Has the Longest Name?

When counting letters and excluding spaces, Massachusetts and North Carolina each have 13 letters, tying for the longest names among the 50 states.

Which Letters Don't Start Any State Names?

No US states begin with B, E, J, Q, X, Y, or Z.

Is Washington, D.C., Included in the 50 States?

No. Washington, D.C., is the federal capital district.

Washington state, whose capital is Olympia, is included in the 50 states.

What Are the Two Newest US States?

Alaska became the 49th state on January 3, 1959.

Hawaii became the 50th state on August 21, 1959.

Final Thoughts

Having all 50 states listed alphabetically is useful for students, travelers, teachers, and anyone who needs a quick reference.

From Alabama to Wyoming, the alphabetical list makes it easy to find a particular state, check its spelling, or identify its postal abbreviation.

For a more complete reference, bookmark the table of states, abbreviations, and capitals above.

It's a handy resource whenever you need to brush up on American geography.