Southernmost Point In The United States

This is a list of points in the United States that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location in the country. Also included are extreme points in elevation, extreme distances and other points of peculiar geographic interest.

Northernmost points

*Point Barrow, Alaska  – northernmost point in the United States
* Utqiaġvik, Alaska  – northernmost incorporated place in all U.S. territory, population about 4,000
* Fairbanks, Alaska  – northernmost city of more than 20,000 residents, and northernmost incorporated city with public road access
*Anchorage, Alaska  – northernmost city of more than 100,000 residents
*Juneau, Alaska  – northernmost capital city in the United States
* Northwest Angle Inlet in Lake of the Woods, Minnesota  – northernmost point in the 48 contiguous states
*Sumas, Washington  – northernmost incorporated place in the 48 contiguous states
* Lynden, Washington  – northernmost city of more than 10,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
* Bellingham, Washington  – northernmost city of more than 50,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
* Everett, Washington  – northernmost city of more than 100,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
* Spokane, Washington  – northernmost city of more than 200,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
* Seattle, Washington  – northernmost city of more than 500,000 residents in the United States
* Olympia, Washington  – northernmost capital city in the 48 contiguous states
* Chicago, Illinois  – northernmost city of more than 1,000,000 residents in the United States
* Alaska has the northernmost geographic center of all the states. North Dakota has the northernmost geographic center of the 48 contiguous states.

Southernmost points

* Rose Atoll, American Samoa  – southernmost point in the United States
* Futiga, American Samoa  – southernmost town in the United States
* Pago Pago, American Samoa  – southernmost capital city in the United States
* Palmyra Atoll, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands  – southernmost point in all U.S. incorporated territory
* San Juan, Puerto Rico  – southernmost city of more than 250,000 residents in all U.S. territory
* Ka Lae, Hawaii  – southernmost point in the 50 states
*Discovery Harbour, Hawaii - southernmost settlement in the 50 states
* Nā'ālehu, Hawaii  – southernmost town in the 50 states
*Hilo, Hawaii  – southernmost place with a population over 25,000 in the 50 states
* City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii  – southernmost U.S. state capital and southernmost incorporated place in the 50 states (Hawaii's only incorporated place)
*Western Dry Rocks, Florida Keys, Florida  – southernmost point in the 48 contiguous states occasionally above water at low tide
*Ballast Key, Florida  – southernmost point in the 48 contiguous states continuously above water
*Key West, Florida  – southernmost incorporated place in the contiguous 48 states
* Cape Sable, Florida  – southernmost point on the U.S. mainland
* Florida City, Florida  – southernmost municipality in the contiguous U.S.
* Miami, Florida  – southernmost major metropolitan city in the 48 contiguous states
* Cameron County, Texas  – southernmost point on the Mexico–United States border.
* San Antonio, Texas  – southernmost city of more than 1,000,000 residents in the United States
* Austin, Texas  – southernmost capital city in the 48 contiguous states
* Hawaii has the southernmost geographic center of all the states. Florida has the southernmost geographic center of the 48 contiguous states.

Easternmost points

*Point Udall, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands  – easternmost point in the United States, by direction of travel
* Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands  – easternmost town in the United States, by direction of travel
* Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands  – easternmost capital city in the United States, by direction of travel
* San Juan, Puerto Rico  – easternmost major city of more than 250,000 residents in all U.S. territory
*Sail Rock, Lubec, Maine  – easternmost point in the 50 states, by direction of travel and easternmost incorporated place in the 50 states
* West Quoddy Head, Maine  – easternmost point on the U.S. mainland
*Bangor, Maine  – easternmost city of more than 20,000 residents in the 50 states
*Augusta, Maine  – easternmost U.S. state capital
* Portland, Maine  – easternmost city of more than 50,000 residents in the 50 states
* Boston, Massachusetts  – easternmost city of more than 500,000 residents in the United States
* New York City, New York  – easternmost city of more than 1,000,000 residents in the United States
*Pochnoi Point, Semisopochnoi Island, Alaska  – easternmost point in all U.S. territory by longitude
*Peacock Point, Wake Island  – first sunrise (at equinox) in all U.S. territory
* Northern Islands Municipality, Northern Mariana Islands  – easternmost municipality in all U.S. territory, by longitude
* Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands  – easternmost capital city in the United States, by longitude
* Maine has the easternmost geographic center of the 50 states.

Westernmost points

*Point Udall, Santa Rita, Guam () – westernmost point and westernmost town in the United States, by direction of travel
* Hagåtña, Guam  – westernmost capital city in the United States, by direction of travel
*Peaked Island, offshore from Cape Wrangell, Attu Island, Alaska  – westernmost point in the 50 states by direction of travel, and last sunset (at equinox) in all U.S. territories. West of it passes the International Date Line, after which come Russian territorial islands.
*Amatignak Island, Alaska  – westernmost point in all U.S. territories by longitude
* Adak, Alaska  – westernmost incorporated city in the 50 states
* Pago Pago, American Samoa  – westernmost capital city in the United States, by longitude
* Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska  – westernmost point on the North American continent
* Unalaska, Alaska  – westernmost city of more than 2,500 residents in the 50 states
* Honolulu, Hawaii  – westernmost U.S. state capital
* Anchor Point, Alaska () – westernmost point on the continuous road system of North America
*Umatilla Reef, offshore from Cape Alava, Washington  – westernmost point in the 48 contiguous states occasionally above water at low tide
*Bodelteh Islands, offshore from Cape Alava, Washington  – westernmost point in the 48 contiguous states continuously above water
*Cape Alava, Washington  – westernmost point on the U.S. mainland (contiguous)
* Neah Bay, Washington  – westernmost town in the 48 contiguous states
* Port Orford, Oregon  – westernmost incorporated place in the 48 contiguous states
* Brookings, Oregon  – westernmost city of more than 5,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
* Coos Bay, Oregon  – westernmost city of more than 10,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
* Eureka, California  – westernmost city of more than 25,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
*Corvallis, Oregon  – westernmost city of more than 50,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
*Eugene, Oregon  – westernmost city of more than 100,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
*Salem, Oregon  – westernmost capital city in the 48 contiguous states
* Portland, Oregon  – westernmost city of more than 500,000 residents in the United States
* San Jose, California  – westernmost city of more than 1,000,000 residents in the United States
* Hawaii has the westernmost geographic center of all the states. Oregon has the westernmost geographic center of the 48 contiguous states.

Interpretation of easternmost and westernmost

There are three methods for reckoning the eastern and western extremes of the United States.

One method is to use the Prime Meridian as the dividing line between east and west. This meridian running through Greenwich, London, is defined as zero degrees longitude and could be called the ''least eastern'' and ''least western'' place in the world. The 180th meridian, on the opposite side of the globe, is therefore the ''easternmost'' and ''westernmost'' place in the world.

Another method is to use the International Date Line as the easternmost–westernmost extreme. On the equinox, the easternmost place would be where the day first begins, and the westernmost is where the day last ends.

Still another method is to first determine the geographic center of the country and from there measure the shortest distance to every other point. All U.S. territory is spread across less than 180° of longitude, so from any spot in the U.S. it is more direct to reach the easternmost point, Point Udall, U.S. Virgin Islands, by traveling east than by traveling west. Likewise, there is not a single point in U.S. territory from which heading east is a shorter route to the westernmost point, Point Udall, Guam, than heading west would be, even accounting for circumpolar routes. The two different Point Udalls are named for two different men: Mo Udall (Guam) and Stewart Udall (Virgin Islands), brothers from the Udall family of Arizona who both served as U.S. Congressmen.

Highest points

* Denali, Alaska  – highest summit in the United States, all US territories, and North America at
*Mount Whitney, California  – highest point in the 48 contiguous states at
* Grays Peak, Colorado  – highest point on the Continental Divide of North America at
*Mauna Kea, Hawaii  – highest island summit in all U.S. territory and the entire Pacific Ocean at
* Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico  – highest village limits in all U.S. territory at (No residents of Taos Ski Valley live above )
* Winter Park, Colorado  – highest city limits in all U.S. territory at (No residents of Winter Park live above )
* San Juan County, Colorado  – highest U.S. county based on a mean elevation ()
* Alma, Colorado  – highest town in all U.S. territory at ; contiguous residential areas extend to .
*Leadville, Colorado  – highest city in all U.S. territory at . (No residents of Leadville live above )
* Woodland Park, Colorado  – highest city of more than 5,000 residents in all U.S. territory at .
* Laramie, Wyoming  – highest city of more than 10,000 residents in all U.S. territory at .
*Santa Fe, New Mexico  – highest city of more than 50,000 residents and highest capital city in all U.S. territory at .
*Colorado Springs, Colorado  – highest city of more than 100,000 residents in all U.S. territory at .
* Denver, Colorado  – highest major city of more than 500,000 residents in all U.S. territory at .
* Lake County Airport, Colorado  – highest airfield in all U.S. territory and North America at
* New Mexico State Capitol, Santa Fe  – highest state capitol in the United States at
* Colorado  – highest U.S. state based on an average elevation of
* Mount Mitchell, North Carolina  – highest point in eastern United States at
*Mount Washington, New Hampshire  – highest point in northeastern United States at
* Arikaree River, Yuma County, Colorado at Kansas state line  – highest U.S. state low point at
* Beech Mountain, North Carolina  – highest incorporated community east of the Mississippi River at an elevation of 5,506 feet (1,678 m).
*Boone, North Carolina  – highest elevation (3,333 feet, 1015.9 m) east of the Mississippi River of any town of its size (over 10,000 population).
* Eisenhower Tunnel, west of Denver, Colorado  – highest point on the Interstate Highway System, at .

Lowest points

* Badwater Basin, Death Valley, California,  – lowest surface point in all U.S. territory and North America, at
* Salton Sea, California,  – lowest lake in all U.S. territory and North America, at
*Furnace Creek Airport, California  – lowest airfield in all U.S. territory and Western Hemisphere, at
* Furnace Creek, California,  – lowest settlement in all U.S. territory and Western Hemisphere, at
* Calipatria, California,  – lowest city in all U.S. territory and Western Hemisphere, at
*9th Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana,  – lowest surface point in eastern United States, at
* New Orleans, Louisiana,  – lowest city over 250,000 population in all U.S. territory and Western Hemisphere, with an average elevation of
* Delaware  – lowest state, with an average elevation of
*Britton Hill, Florida,  – lowest state high point, at
* Lake Superior bottom, Michigan,  – lowest freshwater point in all U.S. territory, at
* Puget Sound bottom, Washington,  – lowest seawater point in the interior of the United States, at

Other points

*Most remote point in the 50 states: Ipnavik River, National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska, ; from nearest habitation.
* Geographic center of the 50 states: approximately north of Belle Fourche, South Dakota,
* Geographic center of the 48 contiguous states: approximately west of Lebanon, Kansas,
*Closest to the equator: Baker Island is at .
*The geographic center of North America is at , about west of Balta, in Pierce County, North Dakota.
*The North American pole of inaccessibility (distant from ocean access) is at , about 11 miles (18 km) southeast of the town of Kyle, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, in Bennett County, South Dakota, from the nearest coastline.
*The southwesternmost point of the contiguous United States is Border Field State Park, California.
*The northwesternmost point of the contiguous United States is Cape Flattery, Washington.
*The northeasternmost point of the contiguous United States is Van Buren, Maine, 47°14.140'N, 68°01.233'W

Islands

* Island of Hawaii, Hawaii  – most extensive island in all U.S. territory at and tallest island in all U.S. territory and the entire Pacific Ocean at .
* Kodiak Island, Alaska  – most extensive Gulf of Alaska island at .
* Island of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico  – most extensive island of U.S. Caribbean territory at .
* Prince of Wales Island, Alaska  – most extensive island of the Alexander Archipelago at .
*Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska  – most extensive Bering Sea island at .
* Unimak Island, Alaska  – most extensive Aleutian island at .
*Long Island, New York  – most extensive island of the U.S. Atlantic coast at .
* Padre Island, Texas  – most extensive Gulf of Mexico island at and longest barrier island on Earth at .
* Isle Royale in Lake Superior, Michigan  – most extensive island in a lake in all U.S. territory at .
* Whidbey Island, Washington  – most extensive island of Puget Sound at .
* Santa Cruz Island, California  – most extensive of the Channel Islands of California at .
*The most remote islands in the United States are within the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands (namely, islands such as Palmyra Atoll and Johnston Atoll).

Lakes

* Lake Michigan-Huron  – largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area, at , of which is within the United States.
* Lake Superior – Lying along the Canada–United States border, it is the second largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area, at 31,700 sq mi (82,100 km²), of which is within the United States. It is also North America's largest lake by volume, at 2,900 cu mi (12,000 km³); it is commonly called the largest lake by surface area when Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are not considered one lake.
*Great Salt Lake, Utah,  – most extensive endorheic lake, at .
* Crater Lake, Oregon,  – deepest lake, at .

Rivers

* Mississippi River  – most extensive river basin at .
* Mississippi- Missouri- Jefferson Rivers  – longest river system at .
* Missouri River  – longest main stem river at .
* Mississippi River  – longest Gulf of Mexico main stem river at .
* Yukon River  – longest Bering Sea main stem river at .
* Colorado River  – longest Gulf of California main stem river at .
*Columbia River  – longest Pacific Ocean main stem river at .
* Saint Lawrence River  – longest Atlantic Ocean main stem river at .
* Bear River  – longest endorheic basin main stem river at .

Extreme distances

*Greatest east–west distance in the 48 contiguous states: 2,800 miles (4,500 km)
*Greatest north–south distance in the 48 contiguous states: 1,650 miles (2,660 km).
*Greatest distance between any two points in U.S. territory: , from Point Udall, Guam, to Point Udall, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (formerly known as Orote Point and East Point, respectively).
*Greatest distance between any two points in the 50 states: , from Kure Atoll, Hawaii, to Log Point, Elliott Key, Florida.
*Greatest distance between any two points in the contiguous 48 states: , from North Farallon Island, California, to Sail Rock, east of West Quoddy Head, Maine.
*Greatest driving distance between any US territory in contiguous lower 48 states (via US highway system): , from Fort Zachary Taylor, Key West, Florida, to Cape Flattery, Washington.
*Greatest distance between any two mainland points in the contiguous 48 states (linear distance): , from Point Arena, California, to West Quoddy Head, Maine.
*Greatest east–west distance in U.S. territory , from Kure Atoll, Hawaii, to Riviera Beach, Florida.
:''Some map projections make diagonal lines appear longer than they actually are. The diagonal line from Kure Atoll, Hawaii, to West Quoddy Head, Maine, is ; and the diagonal from Cape Wrangell, Attu Island, Alaska, to Log Point, on Elliott Key, Florida, is .''

See also

* Borders of the United States
** Border irregularities of the United States
* Geography of the United States
*Extreme points of the Earth
**Extreme points of the Americas
***Extreme points of North America
**** List of extreme points of Canada
***** Extreme points of Canadian provinces
***** Extreme communities of Canada
**** Extreme points of Greenland
**** List of extreme points of Mexico
****Extreme points of the United States
***** List of extreme points of U.S. states and territories
*****Extreme points of New England
**** Extreme points of Central America
**** Extreme points of the Caribbean
*****Extreme points of Cuba
*** Extreme points of South America

Notes

References

{{North America topic, Extreme points of, state=expand

Extreme points of the United States
Extreme