The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., the U.S. of A, the States, and America, is a country in North America. A federal republic, the United States shares land borders with Canada and Mexico, and extends from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Its capital is Washington, D.C.

The present-day continental United States has been inhabited for at least 15,000 years by Native Americans. After 16th-century European exploration and settlement, the English established new colonies, and gained control of others, in the eastern portion of the continent in the 17th and early 18th centuries. On 4 July 1776, at war with Britain over fair governance, thirteen of these colonies declared their independence; in 1783, the war ended in British acceptance of the new nation. Since then, the country has more than quadrupled in size: it now consists of 50 states, one federal district, and a number of overseas territories.

At over 3.7 million square miles (over 9.1 million km²), the U.S. is the third largest country by area. It is also the world's third most populous nation, with nearly 300 million people.

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USATODAY.com Nation - Top Stories

Calif. clearance of gay marriage could emphasize issue in election
Fri, 16 May 2008 05:14:24 -0000
A California Supreme Court decision Thursday overturning the state's ban on gay marriage could energize efforts nationwide to ...
Gas costs push commuters to park and pedal
Fri, 16 May 2008 07:42:53 -0000
More commuters are turning to bicycles today for national Bike-to-Work Day as gas prices continue to reach record highs.
Airline fuel cuts concern pilots
Fri, 16 May 2008 02:33:32 -0000
20 pilots filed complaints in the past year with NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System about lack of the fuel for flights.
Mom indicted in 'cyber-bullying' case
Fri, 16 May 2008 06:05:05 -0000
Federal prosecutors have charged a Missouri woman over a MySpace hoax they say led to the suicide of a 13-year-old girl who believed ...
Study: Big gaps in foster vs. traditional homes
Fri, 16 May 2008 01:26:39 -0000
Children in foster care live in poorer, more crowded and less educated homes than kids in other families, a new study shows.
Cities sue home lenders
Fri, 16 May 2008 02:29:36 -0000
Legal claims from federal civil rights laws to city codes are being used to stem tax losses and property declines.

The Economist: United States

The mystery of violence
Thu, 15 May 2008 13:08:34 -0000
Chicago's continuing fight against gangs and guns APRIL was a cruel and bloody month in Chicago. ?We want futures, not funerals!? students shouted at a rally on April 1st. But more funerals followed. The most violent weekend, April 18th-20th, saw no few than 36 shootings?15 of them gang-related?and nine deaths. As Chicago prepares for the summer, when violence usually tends to rise, two questions linger: what has caused this outburst, and what can be done about it? Some believe the shootings were sparked by warmer weather; others blame mounting economic hardship. But searching for a precise reason is pointless. In many neighbourhoods across America, the threat of violence hangs in the air like humidity, sometimes bursting into a deluge. Overall crime rates are far lower than in the early 1990s. But America had 37% more gang-related murders in 2006 than in 2000, according to FBI reports. Half of Chicago's murders in 2006 were linked to gangs. ...
Why not both?
Thu, 15 May 2008 13:08:34 -0000
The dubious case for a Democratic dream team BACK in March Barack Obama compared the Democratic primary to a ?good movie? that has lasted ?half an hour too long?. The movie has long since gone bad, and half an hour has dragged into an eternity. Surely it is high time to roll out the Hollywood ending. And what could be more Hollywood than a dream ticket? This has the support of plenty of senior Democrats such as Mario Cuomo, the former governor of New York, and Ed Rendell, the governor of Pennsylvania. Why stop at having a nominee who has the support of 51% of Democrats, the argument goes, when we could have a dream ticket that has won 100%? A couple of months ago Hillary Clinton signalled that she would be willing to have Mr Obama as her vice-president. Perhaps it is time for her to swallow her pride and take the second spot. ...
Meanwhile, back at the ranch
Thu, 15 May 2008 13:08:34 -0000
A small town prepares for the end of the Bush yearsMANY Americans were disappointed when Jenna Bush decided against a White House wedding. But Jo Staton understands why Miss Bush wanted to have her nuptials, which took place on May 10th, at the family ranch just outside Crawford, Texas. ?She's down to earth,? said Ms Staton. ?She's like her daddy.? That is in contrast to Miss Bush's twin sister, Barbara, who is slightly more ?hoop-de-doo.? Ms Staton has lived in the tiny town of Crawford all her life. George and Laura Bush have been part-time locals since 1999, when they bought their ranch. Cynics suspected that Mr Bush, then the governor of Texas and a presidential candidate, wanted a place to act the cowboy for the benefit of the press. That may have been true. But by now it has become clear that Mr Bush really does enjoy the place. In 2006 he told a German newspaper that the best moment of his presidency was when he caught a seven-and-a-half pound (3.5 kg) largemouth bass on the lake at the ranch. ...
It won't be a walk in the woods
Thu, 15 May 2008 13:08:34 -0000
The race is on in earnest, but his party's chances look grimTHE most interesting election result on May 13th was not Hillary Clinton's 41-point victory over Barack Obama in the Appalachians. It was the Republicans' loss of an ultra-safe seat in a special election in northern Mississippi. West Virginia was the swan-song of a dying campaign. Mississippi was a harbinger of disaster for congressional Republicans in November?and a warning of how difficult it will be for John McCain to win the White House. It is rare for a party to win a third presidential term. The only time it has happened since Harry Truman's time was in 1988. Back then the retiring president, Ronald Reagan, had a job-approval rating in the high 50s. George Bush's job-approval rating is stuck in the low 30s. Nearly three in four Americans tell pollsters that the country is on the ?wrong track?. ...
Bringing Vegas to the east
Thu, 15 May 2008 13:08:34 -0000
An Indian casino hopes to add some grand gambolling to its gambling WITH its turquoise towers bursting from the Connecticut trees, Foxwoods casino is oddly reminiscent of the Wizard of Oz's Emerald City. It has recently added some Las Vegas surreality by going into partnership with MGM Mirage, owner of some of Vegas's biggest casinos, including the Bellagio and Luxor. The opening, planned for May 17th, promises to bring more of that Nevada glitz. John Mayer and Alicia Keys are performing in a new auditorium modelled on Hollywood's Kodak theatre. Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones are coming. Sean ?Diddy? Combs is hosting an exclusive after-party at ?Diddy's Den?. Foxwoods, already North America's largest resort casino, is hoping that its $700m expansion will add glamour, raise hospitality standards and bring in more punters. The partnership is really a licensing agreement. Foxwoods will continue to own and manage the new facility; MGM receives a percentage of the earnings and acts as a consultant. David Schwartz of the Centre for Gaming Research says it will also bring in its player database, specifically its Vegas high-rollers. ...
Primary colour
Thu, 15 May 2008 13:08:34 -0000
His master's voice?I also want to say, on instructions, I've been a Democrat all my life...I'm here to tell you that however these last states come out, my candidates, our family and our supporters will be here to get a victory in November for the Democrats.?Bill Clinton campaigning in Montana. ABCNews.com, May 11th Playing dirty?Swift Boat times five on both sides.?A McCain adviser on how nasty the general election is likely to be. Newsweek, May 19th ...

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