Elevations and Distances in the United States
The information in this booklet was compiled to answer inquiries received by the U.S. Geological Survey from students, teachers, writers, editors, publishers of encyclopedias, almanacs, and other reference books, and people in many other fields of work.
The elevations of features and distances between points in the United States were determined from surveys and topographic maps of the U.S. Geological Survey or obtained from other sources. In most cases, the elevations were determined from surveys and from 1:24,000- and 1:25,000-scale, 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle maps. In Alaska, information was taken from 1:63,360-scale, 15-minute topographic quadrangle maps. In a few cases, data were obtained from older, 1:62,500-scale, 15-minute maps; these maps have been replaced with larger scale 7.5-minute coverage.
Further information about U.S. Geological Survey products can be obtained from: U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Science Information Center, 507 National Center, Reston, VA 20192 or phone 1-888-ASK-USGS, E-mail: ask@usgs.gov, TDD: 703-648-4119.
| Top | Main Table of Contents |
Elevations of the 50 Largest Cities (by population, 1980 Census)
City | State | Rank | High Feet | Low Feet |
---|---|---|---|---|
New York | New York | 1 | 410 | Sea Level |
Chicago | Illinois | 2 | 673 | 1579 |
Los Angeles | California | 3 | 5,074 | Sea Level |
Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | 4 | 441 | Sea Level |
Houston | Texas | 5 | 83 | Sea Level |
Detroit | Michigan | 6 | 672 | 1575 |
Dallas | Texas | 7 | 686 | 390 |
San Diego | California | 8 | 823 | Sea Level |
Phoenix | Arizona | 9 | 1,160 | 1,058 |
Baltimore | Maryland | 10 | 489 | Sea Level |
San Antonio | Texas | 11 | 1,000 | 505 |
Indianapolis | Indiana | 12 | 845 | 664 |
San Francisco | California | 13 | 934 | Sea Level |
Memphis | Tennessee | 14 | 335 | 195 |
Washington | D.C. | 15 | 410 | 1 |
Milwaukee | Wisconsin | 16 | 799 | 1579 |
San Jose | California | 17 | 2,125 | Sea Level |
Cleveland | Ohio | 18 | 1,050 | 1571 |
Columbus | Ohio | 19 | 893 | 685 |
Boston | Massachusetts | 20 | 330 | Sea Level |
New Orleans | Louisiana | 21 | 25 | -8 |
Jacksonville | Florida | 22 | 40 | Sea Level |
Seattle | Washington | 23 | 520 | Sea Level |
Denver | Colorado | 24 | 5,470 | 5,130 |
Nashville-Davidson County | Tennessee | 25 | 1,160 | 385 |
St. Louis | Missouri | 26 | 614 | 385 |
Kansas City | Missouri | 27 | 1,020 | 720 |
El Paso | Texas | 28 | 4,080 | 3,695 |
Atlanta | Georgia | 29 | 1,086 | 738 |
Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | 30 | 1,370 | 710 |
Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | 31 | 1,334 | 1,050 |
Cincinnati | Ohio | 32 | 960 | 433 |
Fort Worth | Texas | 33 | 766 | 513 |
Minneapolis | Minnesota | 34 | 980 | 687 |
Portland | Oregon | 35 | 1,073 | Sea Level |
Honolulu | Hawaii | 36 | 4,020 | Sea Level |
Long Beach | California | 37 | 360 | -7 |
Tulsa | Oklahoma | 38 | 810 | 620 |
Buffalo | NewYork | 39 | 699 | 1571 |
Toledo | Ohio | 40 | 627 | 1571 |
Miami | Florida | 41 | 30 | Sea Level |
Austin | Texas | 42 | 1,080 | 406 |
Oakland | California | 43 | 1,754 | Sea Level |
Albuquerque | New Mexico | 44 | 6,120 | 4,946 |
Tucson | Arizona | 45 | 2,950 | 2,250 |
Newark | New Jersey | 46 | 278 | Sea Level |
Charlotte | North Carolina | 47 | 784 | 519 |
Omaha | Nebraska | 48 | 1,272 | 960 |
Louisville | Kentucky | 49 | 761 | 382 |
Birmingham | Alabama | 50 | 1,060 | 496 |
1Water level, International Great Lakes Datum.
| Top | Main Table of Contents |
State or possession |
Highest point | County or subdivision |
Elevation feet |
Lowest Point | County or subdivision |
Elevation feet |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | Cheaha Mtn. | Cleburne | 2,407 | Gulf of Mexico | - - | Sea Level |
Alaska | Mt. McKinley | - - | 20,320 | Pacific Ocean | - - | Sea Level |
Arizona | Humphreys Peak | Coconino | 12,633 | Colorado River | Yuma | 70 |
Arkansas | Magazine Mtn. | Logan | 2,753 | Ouachita River | Ashley-Union | 55 |
California | Mt. Whitney | Inyo-Tulare | 114,494 | Death Valley | Inyo | -282 |
Colorado | Mt. Elbert | Lake | 14,433 | Arikaree River | Yuma | 3,315 |
Connecticut | Mt. Frissell on south slope at State line |
Litchfield | 2,380 | Long Island Sound | - - | Sea Level |
Delaware | On Ebright Road at Delaware-Pennsylvania State line |
New Castle | 1448 | Atlantic Ocean | - - | Sea level |
District of Columbia | Tenleytown at Reno Reservoir |
- - | 410 | Potomac River | - - | 1 |
Florida | Britton Hill | Walton | 345 | Atlantic Ocean | - - | Sea level |
Georgia | Brasstown Bald | Towns-Union | 4,784 | Atlantic Ocean | - - | Sea level |
Guam | Mt. Lamlam | Agat District | 1,332 | Pacific Ocean | - - | Sea level |
Hawaii | Pu'u Wekiu, Mauna Kea | Hawaii | 13,796 | Pacific Ocean | - - | Sea level |
Idaho | Borah Peak | Custer | 12,662 | Snake River | Nez Perce | 710 |
Illinois | Charles Mound | Jo Daviess | 1,235 | Mississippi River | Alexander | 2279 |
Indiana | Hoosier Hill | Wayne | 1,257 | Ohio River | Posey | 2320 |
Iowa | Hawkeye Point | Osceola | 1,670 | Mississippi River | Lee | 480 |
Kansas | Mt. Sunflower | Wallace | 34,039 | Verdigris River | Montgomery | 679 |
Kentucky | Black Mtn. | Harlan | 4,145 | Mississippi River | Fulton | 2257 | Louisiana | Driskill Mtn. | Bienville | 535 | New Orleans | Orleans | -8 |
Maine | Mt. Katahdin | Piscataquis | 5,268 | Atlantic Ocean | - - | Sea level |
Maryland | Backbone Mtn. | Garrett | 3,360 | Atlantic Ocean | - - | Sea level |
Massachusetts | Mt. Greylock | Berkshire | 3,491 | Atlantic Ocean | - - | Sea level |
Michigan | Mt. Arvon | Baraga | 1,979 | Lake Erie | - - | 2571 |
Minnesota | Eagle Mtn. | Cook | 2,301 | Lake Superior | - - | 2601 |
Mississippi | Woodall Mtn. | Tishomingo | 806 | Gulf of Mexico | - - | Sea level |
Missouri | Taum Sauk Mtn. | Iron | 1,772 | St. Francis River | Dunklin | 2230 |
Montana | Granite Peak | Park | 12,799 | Kootenai River | Lincoln | 1,800 |
Nebraska | Panorama Point | Kimball | 5,424 | Missouri River | Richardson | 840 |
Nevada | Boundary Peak | Esmeralda | 13,140 | Colorado River | Clark | 479 |
New Hampshire | Mt. Washington | Coos | 6,288 | Atlantic Ocean | - - | Sea level |
New Jersey | High Point | Sussex | 31,803 | Atlantic Ocean | - - | Sea level |
New Mexico | Wheeler Peak | Taos | 13,161 | Red Bluff Reservoir | Eddy | 2,842 |
New York | Mt. Marcy | Essex | 5,344 | Atlantic Ocean | - - | Sea level |
North Carolina | Mt. Mitchell | Yancey | 6,684 | Atlantic Ocean | - - | Sea level |
North Dakota | White Butte | Slope | 3,506 | Red River | Pembina | 750 |
Ohio | Campbell Hill | Logan | 1,550 | Ohio River | Hamilton | 2455 |
Oklahoma | Black Mesa | Cimarron | 4,973 | Little River | McCurtain | 289 |
Oregon | Mt. Hood | Clackamas- Hood River |
11,239 | Pacific Ocean | - - | Sea level |
Pennsylvania | Mt. Davis | Somerset | 3,213 | Delaware River | Delaware | Sea level |
Puerto Rico | Cerro de Punta | Ponce District | 4,390 | Atlantic Ocean | - - | Sea Level |
Rhode Island | Jerimoth Hill | Providence | 812 | Atlantic Ocean | - - | Sea level |
Samoa | Lata Mtn. | Tau Island | 3,160 | Pacific Ocean | - - | Sea level |
South Carolina | Sassafras Mtn. | Pickens | 3,560 | Atlantic Ocean | - - | Sea level |
South Dakota | Harney Peak | Pennington | 7,242 | Big Stone Lake | Roberts | 966 |
Tennessee | Clingmans Dome | Sevier | 6,643 | Mississippi River | Shelby | 2178 |
Texas | Guadalupe Peak | Culberson | 8,749 | Gulf of Mexico | - - | Sea level |
Utah | Kings Peak | Duchesne | 13,528 | Beaverdam Wash | Washington | 2,000 |
Vermont | Mt. Mansfield | Chittenden | 4,393 | Lake Champlain | - - | 95 |
Virginia | Mt. Rogers | Grayson-Smyth | 5,729 | Atlantic Ocean | - - | Sea level |
Virgin Islands | Crown Mtn. | St. Thomas Island | 1,556 | Atlantic Ocean | - - | Sea level |
Washington | Mt. Rainier West | Pierce | 14,411 | Pacific Ocean | - - | Sea level |
West Virginia | Spruce Knob | Pendleton | 4,863 | Potomac River | Jefferson | 240 |
Wisconsin | Timms Hill | Price | 1,951 | Lake Michigan | - - | 2579 |
Wyoming | Gannett Peak | Fremont | 13,804 | Belle Fourche River | Crook | 3,099 |
United States | Mt. McKinley, AK |
- - | 20,320 | Death Valley | Inyo, CA | -282 |
1National Geodetic Survey. 2Corps of Engineers. 3State Surveys.
| Top | Main Table of Contents |
Elevations of Named Summits Over 14,000 Feet Above Sea
Level
Summit | State | Quadrangle2 | Date | Elevation feet |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mt. McKinley | AK | Mt. McKinley A-3 | 1954 | 20,320 |
Churchhill Peaks | AK | Mt. McKinley A-3 | 1954 | 20,320 |
North Peak | AK | Mt. McKinley A-3 | 1954 | 19,470 |
South Peak | AK | Mt. McKinley A-3 | 1954 | 20,320 |
Mt. St. Elias | AK | Mt. St. Elias B-8 | 1985 | 18,008 |
Mt. Foraker | AK | Talkeetna D-3 | 1958 | 17,400 |
Mt. Bona | AK | McCarthy B-2 | 1959 | 16,500 |
Mt. Blackburn | AK | McCarthy C-7 | 1959 | 16,390 |
Mt. Sanford | AK | Gulkana A-1 | 1959 | 16,237 |
Mt. Vancouver | AK | Mt. St. Elias A-2 | 1985 | 15,979 |
South Buttress | AK | Mt. McKinley A-2 | 1954 | 15,885 |
Mt. Churchill | AK | McCarthy B-2 | 1959 | 15,638 |
Mt. Fairweather | AK | Mt. Fairweather D-5 | 1961 | 15,300 |
Mt. Hubbard | AK | Mt. St. Elias B-3 | 1985 | 14,950 |
Mt. Bear | AK | McCarthy B-1 | 1959 | 14,831 |
East Buttress | AK | Mt. McKinley A-2 | 1954 | 14,730 |
Mt. Hunter | AK | Talkeetna D-3 | 1958 | 14,573 |
Browne Tower | AK | Mt. McKinley A-2 | 1954 | 14,530 |
Mt. Alverstone | AK | Mt. St. Elias B-3 | 1985 | 14,500 |
Mt. Whitney | CA | Mt. Whitney | 1985 | 114,494 |
University Peak | AK | McCarthy B-3 | 1959 | 14,470 |
Mt. Elbert | CO | Mt. Elbert | 1967 | 114,433 |
Mt. Massive | CO | Mt. Massive | 1967 | 14,421 |
Mt. Harvard | CO | Mt. Harvard | 1982 | 14,420 |
Mt. Rainier | WA | Mt. Rainier West | 1971 | 14,410 |
Mt. Williamson | CA | Mt. Williamson | 1984 | 14,370 |
La Plata Peak | CO | Mt. Elbert | 1967 | 14,361 |
Blanca Peak | CO | Blanca Peak | 1967 | 14,345 |
Uncompahgre Peak | CO | Uncompahgre Peak | 1963 | 14,309 |
Crestone Peak | CO | Crestone Peak | 1967 | 14,294 |
Mt. Lincoln | CO | Alma | 1970 | 14,286 |
Grays Peak | CO | Grays Peak | 1958 | 14,270 |
Mt. Antero | CO | Mt. Antero | 1983 | 14,269 |
Torreys Peak | CO | Grays Peak | 1958 | 14,267 |
Castle Peak | CO | Hayden Peak | 1960 | 14,265 |
Quandary Peak | CO | Breckenridge | 1970 | 14,265 |
Mt. Evans | CO | Mt. Evans | 1957 | 14,264 |
Longs Peak | CO | Longs Peak | 1961 | 14,255 |
Mt. Wilson | CO | Mt. Wilson | 1953 | 14,246 |
White Mt. Peak | CA | White Mt. Peak (15') | 1962 | 14,246 |
North Palisade | CA | North Palisade | 1982 | 14,242 |
Mt. Cameron | CO | Alma | 1970 | 14,238 |
Mt. Shavano | CO | Maysville | 1983 | 14,229 |
Mt. Belford | CO | Mt. Harvard | 1982 | 14,197 |
Mt. Princeton | CO | Mt. Antero | 1982 | 14,197 |
Crestone Needle | CO | Crestone Peak | 1967 | 14,197 |
Mt. Yale | CO | Mt. Harvard | 1982 | 14,196 |
Mt. Bross | CO | Alma | 1970 | 14,172 |
Kit Carson Mtn. | CO | Crestone Peak | 1967 | 14,165 |
Mt. Wrangell | AK | Gulkana A-1 | 1959 | 14,163 |
Mt. Shasta | CA | Shasta | 1986 | 14,162 |
El Diente Peak | CO | Dolores Peak | 1953 | 14,159 |
Point Success | WA | Mt. Rainier West | 1971 | 14,158 |
Maroon Peak | CO | Maroon Bells | 1960 | 14,156 |
Tabeguache Peak | CO | St. Elmo | 1982 | 14,155 |
Mt. Oxford | CO | Mt. Harvard | 1982 | 14,153 |
Mt. Sill | CA | North Palisade | 1982 | 14,153 |
Mt. Sneffels | CO | Mt. Sneffels | 1967 | 14,150 |
Mt. Democrat | CO | Climax | 1970 | 14,148 |
Capitol Peak | CO | Capitol Peak | 1960 | 14,130 |
Liberty Cap | WA | Mt. Rainier West | 1971 | 14,112 |
Pikes Peak | CO | Pikes Peak | 1951 | 14,110 |
Snowmass Mtn. | CO | Snowmass Mtn. | 1960 | 14,092 |
Mt. Russell | CA | Mt. Whitney | 1985 | 14,088 |
Mt. Eolus | CO | Mt. Whitney | 1985 | 14,083 |
Windom Peak | CO | Columbine Pass | 1973 | 14,082 |
Mt. Columbia | CO | Mt. Harvard | 1982 | 14,073 |
Mt. Augusta | AK | Mt. St. Elias | 1985 | 14,070 |
Missouri Mtn. | CO | Winfield | 1982 | 14,067 |
Humboldt Peak | CO | Crestone Peak | 1967 | 14,064 |
Mt. Bierstadt | CO | Mt. Evans | 1957 | 14,060 |
Sunlight Peak | CO | Storm King Peak | 1964 | 14,059 |
Split Mtn. | CA | Split Mtn. | 1984 | 14,058 |
Handies Peak | CO | Handies Peak | 1955 | 14,048 |
Culebra Peak | CO | Culebra Peak | 1955 | 14,047 |
Mt. Lindsey | CO | Blanca Peak | 1967 | 14,042 |
Ellingwood Point | CO | Blanca Peak | 1967 | 14,042 |
Little Bear Peak | CO | Blanca Peak | 1967 | 14,037 |
Mt. Sherman | CO | Mt. Sherman | 1961 | 14,036 |
Redcloud Peak | CO | Redcloud Peak | 1964 | 14,034 |
Mt. Langley | CA | Mt. Langley | 1982 | 14,026 |
Conundrum Peak | CO | Hayden Peak | 1960 | 14,022 |
Mt. Tyndall | CA | Mt. Williamson | 1984 | 14,019 |
Pyramid Peak | CO | Maroon Bells | 1960 | 14,018 |
Wilson Peak | CO | Mt. Wilson | 1953 | 14,017 |
Wetterhorn Peak | CO | Wetterhorn Peak | 1963 | 14,015 |
North Maroon Peak | CO | Maroon Bells | 1960 | 14,014 |
San Luis Peak | CO | San Luis Peak | 1986 | 14,014 |
Mt. Muir | CA | Mt. Whitney | 1985 | 14,012 |
Middle Palisade | CA | Split Mtn. | 1984 | 14,012 |
Mt. of the Holy Cross | CO | Mt. of the Holy Cross | 1970 | 14,005 |
Huron Peak | CO | Winfield | 1982 | 14,003 |
Thunderbolt Peak | CA | North Palisade | 1982 | 14,003 |
Sunshine Peak | CO | Redcloud Peak | 1964 | 14,001 |
1National Geodetic Survey
2USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle map in the conterminous United States
unless otherwise indicated and 15-minute maps in Alaska unless otherwise indicated.
| Top | Main Table of Contents |
Elevations of Selected Summits East of the Rocky Mountains
Summit | State | County | Quadrangle3 | Date | Elevation Feet |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
White Mountains, Presidential Range: | |||||
Mt. Washington | NH | Coos | Mt. Washington | 1982 | 6,288 |
Mt. Adams | NH | Coos | Mt. Washington | 1982 | 5,774 |
Mt. Jefferson | NH | Coos | Mt. Washington | 1982 | 5,712 |
Mt. Sam Adams | NH | Coos | Mt. Washington | 1982 | 5,584 |
Mt. Clay | NH | Coos | Mt. Washington | 1982 | 5,532 |
Boott Spur | NH | Coos | Mt. Washington | 1982 | 5,492 |
Mt. Quincy Adams | NH | Coos | Mt. Washington | 1982 | 5,394 |
Mt. Monroe | NH | Coos | Mt. Washington | 1982 | 5,374 |
Mt. Madison | NH | Coos | Mt. Washington | 1982 | 5,367 |
Mt. Lafayette | NH | Grafton | Franconia | 1967 | 5,249 |
Mt. Lincoln | NH | Grafton | Franconia | 1967 | 5,089 |
Mt. Franklin | NH | Coos | Crawford Notch (15') | 1946 | 5,004 |
South Twin Mtn. | NH | Grafton | South Twin Mtn. | 1967 | 4,902 |
Summit | State | County | Quadrangle3 | Date | Elevation Feet |
Adirondack Mountains, Mt. Marcy area: | |||||
Mt. Marcy | NY | Essex | Mt. Marcy | 1979 | 5,344 |
Algonquin Peak | NY | Essex | Mt. Marcy | 1979 | 5,115 |
Mt. Haystack | NY | Essex | Mt. Marcy | 1979 | 4,961 |
Mt. Skylight | NY | Essex | Mt. Marcy | 1979 | 4,925 |
Whiteface Mtn. | NY | Essex | Lake Placid | 1978 | 4,865 |
Iroquois Peak | NY | Essex | Mt. Marcy | 1979 | 4,849 |
Boundary Peak | NY | Essex | Mt. Marcy | 1979 | 4,829 |
Gray Peak | NY | Essex | Mt. Marcy | 1979 | 4,826 |
Basin Mtn. | NY | Essex | Mt. Marcy | 1979 | 4,826 |
Dix Mtn. | NY | Essex | Mt. Marcy | 1979 | 4,822 |
Little Marcy | NY | Essex | Mt. Marcy | 1979 | 4,744 |
Gothics | NY | Essex | Keene Valley | 1979 | 4,734 |
Summit | State | County | Quadrangle3 | Date | Elevation Feet |
Catskill Mountains: | |||||
Slide Mtn. | NY | Ulster | Peekamoose | 1969 | 4,180 |
Hunter Mtn. | NY | Greene | Hunter | 1945 | 4,040 |
Black Dome | NY | Greene | Freehold | 1943 | 3,980 |
Blackhead | NY | Greene | Freehold | 1943 | 3,940 |
Thomas Cole Mtn. | NY | Greene | Hensonville | 1945 | 3,940 |
West Kill Mtn. | NY | Greene | Lexington | 1960 | 3,880 |
Graham Mtn. | NY | Ulster | Seager | 1945 | 3,868 |
Cornell Mtn. | NY | Ulster | Phoenicia | 1950 | 3,860 |
Doubletop Mtn. | NY | Ulster | Seager | 1945 | 3,860 |
Table Mtn. | NY | Ulster | Peekamoose Mtn. | 1969 | 3,847 |
Peekamoose Mtn. | NY | Ulster | Peekamoose Mtn. | 1969 | 3,843 |
Plateau Mtn. | NY | Greene | Hunter | 1945 | 3,840 |
Summit | State | County | Quadrangle3 | Date | Elevation Feet |
Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains: | |||||
Mt. Mitchell1 | NC | Yancey | Mt. Mitchell | 1946 | 6,684 |
Mt. Craig | NC | Yancey | Mt. Mitchell | 1946 | 6,647 |
Clingmans Dome | NC-TN | Swain-Sevier | Clingmans Dome | 1964 | 6,643 |
Mt. Guyot | NC-TN | Haywood-Sevier | Mt. Guyot | 1964 | 6,621 |
Balsam Cone | NC | Yancey | Mt. Mitchell | 1946 | 6,600 |
Cattail Peak | NC | Yancey | Mt. Mitchell | 1946 | 6,600 |
Mt. Le Conte | NC | Sevier | Mt. Le Conte | 1964 | 6,593 |
Big Tom | NC | Yancey | Mt. Mitchell | 1946 | 6,526 |
Mt. Gibbes | NC | Yancey | Montreat | 1942 | 6,520 |
Potato Hill | NC | Yancey | Mt. Mitchell | 1946 | 6,440 |
Mt. Chapman | NC-TN | Swain-Sevier | Mt. Guyot | 1964 | 6,417 |
Old Black | NC-TN | Haywood-Cocke- Sevier |
Mt. Guyot | 1964 | 6,370 |
Celo Knob | NC | Yancey | Celo | 1960 | 6,327 |
Summit | State | County | Quadrangle3 | Date | Elevation Feet |
Ozark-Ouachita Mountains: | |||||
Magazine Mtn. | AR | Logan | Blue Mountain | 1966 | 2,753 |
Rich Mtn. | AR | Polk | Rich Mountain | 1958 | 2,681 |
Poteau Mtn. | AR | Sebastian | Cauthron | 1958 | 2,669 |
Black Fork Mtn. | AR | Polk | Mountain Fork | 1958 | 2,586 |
Sugar Loaf Mtn. | OK | Le Flore | Hartford | 1947 | 2,564 |
Buffalo Lookout | AR | Newton | Fallsville | 1967 | 2,561 |
Wilton Mtn. | OK | Le Flore | Page | 1981 | 2,558 |
Lynn Mtn. | OK | Le Flore | Lynn Mountain | 1981 | 2,480 |
Turner Ward Knob | AR | Newton | Fallsville | 1947 | 2,463 |
Kiamichi Mtn. | OK | Le Flore | Muse | 1966 | 2,451 |
Winding Stair Mtn. | OK | Le Flore | Big Cedar | 1981 | 2,451 |
Reeves Mtn. | AR | Newton | Boxley | 1968 | 2,440 |
Summit | State | County | Quadrangle3 | Date | Elevation Feet |
Black Hills: | |||||
Harney Peak2 | SD | Pennington | Custer | 1957 | 7,242 |
Bear Mtn. | SD | Pennington | Berne | 1954 | 7,166 |
Crooks Towner | SD | Lawrence | Crooks Tower | 1956 | 7,137 |
Terry Peak | SD | Lawrence | Lead | 1961 | 7,064 |
Crows Nest Peak | SD | Pennington | Crows Nest Peak | 1956 | 7,048 |
White Tail Peak | SD | Pennington | Deerfield | 1956 | 6,962 |
Flag Mtn. | SD | Pennington | Deerfield | 1956 | 6,937 |
Medicine Mtn. | SD | Pennington | Medicine Mountain | 1956 | 6,878 |
Nipple Butte | SD | Pennington | Deerfield | 1956 | 6,810 |
Custer Peak | SD | Lawrence | Minnesota Ridge | 1956 | 6,804 |
Mt. Rushmore | SD | Pennington | Mt. Rushmore | 1954 | 5,725 |
Devils Tower | WY | Crook | Devils Tower | 1984 | 5,112 |
1Highest summit east of the Mississippi River.
2Highest summit east of the Rocky Mtns.
3USGS 7.5-minute or 7.5-minute by 15-minute quadrangle map unless
otherwise
indicated.
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Because there is no generally accepted definition of a geographic center and no completely satisfactory method of determining it, there may be as many geographic centers of a State or county as there are definitions of the term.
The geographic center of an area may be defined as the center of gravity of the surface, or that point on which the surface of an area would balance if it were a plane of uniform thickness.
Curvature of the Earth, large bodies of water, irregular surfaces, and other factors affect the determination of center of gravity.
In determining the centers of the States, islands adjacent to their coastlines and large bodies of water were excluded.
The geographic centers and positions listed below should be considered as approximations.
State | County | Locality |
---|---|---|
Alabama | Chilton | 12 miles southwest of Clanton |
Alaska | 63°50' N., 152°00' W., 60 miles northwest of Mt. McKinley | |
Arizona | Yavapai | 55 miles east-southeast of Prescott |
Arkansas | Pulaski | 12 miles northwest of Little Rock |
California | Madera | 38 miles east of Madera |
Colorado | Park | 30 miles northwest of Pikes Peak |
Connecticut | Hartford | At East Berlin |
Delaware | Kent | 11 miles south of Dover |
District of Columbia | NA | Near Fourth and L Streets N.W. |
Florida | Hernando | 12 miles north-northwest of Brooksville |
Georgia | Twiggs | 18 miles southeast of Macon |
Hawaii | Hawaii | 20°15' N., 156°20' W., off Maui Island |
Idaho | Custer | At Custer, southwest of Challis |
Illinois | Logan | 28 miles northeast of Springfield |
Indiana | Boone | 14 miles north-northwest of Indianapolis |
Iowa | Story | 5 miles northeast of Ames |
Kansas | Barton | 15 miles northeast of Great Bend |
Kentucky | Marion | 3 miles north-northwest of Lebanon |
Louisiana | Avoyelles | 3 miles southeast of Marksville |
Maine | Piscataquis | 18 miles north of Dover |
Maryland | Prince Georges | 4 1/2 miles northwest of Davidsonville |
Massachusetts | Worcester | North part of City of Worcester |
Michigan | Wexford | 5 miles north-northwest of Cadillac |
Minnesota | Crow Wing | 10 miles southwest of Brainerd |
Mississippi | Leake | 9 miles west-northwest of Carthage |
Missouri | Miller | 20 miles southwest of Jefferson City |
Montana | Fergus | 11 miles west of Lewistown |
Nebraska | Custer | 10 miles northwest of Broken Bow |
Nevada | Lander | 26 miles southeast of Austin |
New Hampshire | Belknap | 3 miles east of Ashland |
New Jersey | Mercer | 5 miles southeast of Trenton |
New Mexico | Torrance | 12 miles south-southwest of Willard |
New York | Madison | 12 miles south of Oneida and 26 miles southwest of Utica |
North Carolina | Chatham | 10 miles northwest of Sanford |
North Dakota | Sheridan | 5 miles southwest of McClusky |
Ohio | Delaware | 25 miles north-northeast of Columbus |
Oklahoma | Oklahoma | 8 miles north of Oklahoma City |
Oregon | Crook | 25 miles south-southeast of Prineville |
Pennsylvania | Centre | 2 1/2 miles southwest of Bellefonte |
Rhode Island | Kent | 1 mile south-southwest of Crompton |
South Carolina | Richland | 13 miles southeast of Columbia |
South Dakota | Hughes | 8 miles northeast of Pierre |
Tennessee | Rutherford | 5 miles northeast of Murfreesboro |
Texas | McCulloch | 15 miles northeast of Brady |
Utah | Sanpete | 3 miles north of Manti |
Vermont | Washington | 3 miles east of Roxbury |
Virginia | Buckingham | 5 miles southwest of Buckingham |
Washington | Chelan | 10 miles west-southwest of Wenatchee |
West Virginia | Braxton | 4 miles east of Sutton |
Wisconsin | Wood | 9 miles southeast of Marshfield |
Wyoming | Fremont | 58 miles east-northeast of Lander |
Geographic Area | Locality | Latitude (N) |
Longitude (W.) |
---|---|---|---|
Conterminous United States (48 States) |
Near Lebanon, Smith County, Kansas | 39°50' | 98°35' |
Continental United States (49 States) |
Near Castle Rock, Butte County, South Dakota | 44°59' | 103°38' |
The United States (50 States) |
West of Castle Rock, Butte County, South Dakota | 44°58' | 103°46' | North American Continent | 6 miles west of Balta, Pierce County, North Dakota | 48°10' | 100°10' |
No marked or monumented point has been established by any government agency as the geographic center of either the 50 States, the conterminous United States, or the North American continent. However, a monument was erected in Lebanon, Kansas, by a group of citizens who hired engineers to determine the position of the "geographic center" of the United States.
Sometimes confused with geographic center of the United States is the triangulation station "Meades Ranch," located at latitude 39°13'26.686" North and longitude 98°32'30.506" West, about 12 miles north of Lucas, Kansas. This was the primary reference point for the North American Datum of 1927, the standard on which all the latitude and longitude lines for North America were based. This datum is being replaced by the North American Datum of 1983, which is not hinged to a single point of reference.
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Distances From Extreme Points to Geographic Centers
Extreme Point | Coordinates | Direction from geographic centers |
50 States* Statute Miles |
49 States** Statute Miles |
48 States*** Statute Miles |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Latitude (N) |
Longitude (W.) |
|||||
Point Barrow, AK | 71°23' | 156°29' | Northwest | 2,507 | 2,509 | 2,940 |
Pochnoi Point, Semisopochnoi, AK |
51°57' | 179°52'(E.) | Northwest | 3,372 | 3,377 | 3,802 |
West Point of Amatignak Island, AK |
51°17' | 179°09' | Northwest | 3,352 | 3,357 | 3,780 |
Cape Wrangell, Attu Island, AK |
52°55' | 172°27'(E.) | Northwest | 3,625 | 3,630 | 4,061 |
Lake of the Woods Projection, MN |
49°23' | 95°09' | Northeast | 507 | 501 | 1682 |
North end, (N-S boundary) ME-New Brunswick, Canada | 47°04' | 67°47' | Northeast | 1,719 | 1,713 | 1,613 |
West Quoddy Head, ME | 44°49' | 66°57' | East | 1,788 | 1,782 | 21,643 |
Key West, FL | 24°32' | 81°48' | Southeast | 1,873 | 1,869 | 1,439 |
Cape Sable, FL | 25°07' | 81°05' | Southeast | 1,867 | 1,863 | 1,437 |
Log Point, Elliot Key, FL | 25°29' | 80°11' | Southeast | 1,882 | 1,877 | 1,455 |
East Point, St. Croix, VI | 17°45' | 64°34' | Southeast | 2,938 | 2,932 | 2,540 |
Extreme south point of TX | 25°50' | 97°24' | South | 1,370 | 1,369 | 971 |
Steps Point, America Samoa |
14°23'(S.) | 170°46' | Southwest | 5,859 | 5,866 | 5,954 |
Orote Point, Guam | 13°27' | 144°37'(E.) | Southwest | 6,579 | 6,584 | 6,974 |
Kure Island, HI | 28°25' | 178°20' | Southwest | 4,142 | 4,148 | 4,486 |
Ka Lae, HI | 18°55' | 155°41' | Southwest | 3,463 | 3,470 | 3,664 |
Cape Mendocino, CA | 40°26' | 124°24' | West | 1,091 | 1,098 | 1,361 |
Cape Alava, WA | 48°10' | 124°44' | West | 1,018 | 1,024 | 1,414 |
*West of Castle Rock, Butte County, South Dakota. 44°58' N. -
103°46' W.
1General direction to Lake of the Woods Projection is north.
**Near Castle Rock, Butte County, South Dakota. 44°59' N. - 103°38' W.
***Near Lebanon, Smith County, Kansas. 39°50' N. - 98°35' W.
2General direction to West Quoddy Head is northeast.
| Top | Main Table of Contents |
Extreme Distances (computed to mean sea level)
From | To | Statute Miles |
---|---|---|
West Quoddy Head, ME, along the parallel | Pacific Ocean | 2,742 |
West Quoddy Head, ME | Cape Wrangell, AK | 4,831 |
West Quoddy Head, ME | Kure Island, Hawaii | 5,797 |
West Quoddy Head, ME | Point Arena, CA (farthest points, 48 States) | 2,892 |
Log Point, Elliot Key, FL | Kure Island, Hawaii (farthest points, 50 States) | 5,859 |
Log Point, Elliot Key, FL | Cape Wrangell, AK | 5,505 |
Soldier Key, FL | Kure Island, Hawaii | 5,859 |
Soldier Key, FL | Cape Wrangell, AK | 5,503 |
Rivera Beach, FL | Kure Island, Hawaii | 5,823 |
East Point, St. Croix, VI | Cape Wrangell, AK | 6,501 |
East Point, St. Croix, VI | Orote Point, Guam (longest distance including outlying areas) | 9,514 |
Approximately 10 miles south of Brunswick, GA | Approximately 12 miles south of San Diego, CA (shortest coast-to-coast distance, 48 States) | 2,089 |
North end of ME-New Brunswick, Canada boundary | Orote Point, Guam | 7,747 |
Point Barrow, AK | Steps Point, Tutuila Island, American Samoa | 5,971 |
Southern Point of TX, due north | 49th parallel | 1,602 |
West point of Amatignak Island, AK | Pochnoi Point, Semisopochnoi Island, AK (distance between the most easterly and the most westerly points in the United States with reference to the 180° meridan) | 63 |
| Top | Main Table of Contents |
Lengths of United States Boundaries
Boundary | Statute Miles |
---|---|
Northern boundary of conterminous United States | 3,987 | Canada-Alaska boundary | 1,538 | Southern boundary of conterminous United States | 1,933 |
This booklet was originally published and printed in 1995 and revised and reprinted in 2001. The online edition contains the full text from the printed publication. This document has undergone official review and approval for publications established by the National Mapping Division, U.S. Geological Survey.
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