As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural resources. This includes fostering the wisest use of our land and water resources, protecting our fish and wildlife, preserving the environmental and cultural values of our national parks and historical places, and providing for the enjoy­ ment of life through outdoor recreation. The Department assesses our energy and mineral resources and works to assure that their development is in the best interests of all our people. The Depart­ ment also has a major responsibility for American Indian reservation communities and for people who live in Island Territories under U.S. administration.

Elevations and Distancesin the United States

U.S. Department of the Interior/Geological Survey

Elevations and Distancesin the United States

The information in this booklet was compiled to an­ swer inquiries received by the Geological Survey from students-, teachers-, writers-, editors-, pub­

lishers of encyclopedias, almanacs and other refer­ ence 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 Geological Sur­ vey or obtained from other sources. Some of this information, compiled from older maps, will be re­ vised as new surveys are completed. For further information, write to the U. S. Geological Survey, 507 National Center.Reston,Virginia 22092.

Elevations of the 50 Largest Cities (by population, 1970 Census)

City

New YorkChicagoLos AngelesPhiladelphiaDetroitHoustonBaltimoreDallasWashingtonClevelandIndianapolisMilwaukeeSan FranciscoSan DiegoSan AntonioBostonMemphisSt. LouisNew OrleansPhoenixColumbusSeattleJacksonvillePittsburghDenverKansas City

State

New YorkIllinoisCaliforniaPennsylvaniaMichiganTexasMarylandTexasD.C.OhioIndianaWisconsinCaliforniaCaliforniaTexasMassachusettsTennesseeMissouriLouisianaArizonaOhioWashingtonFloridaPennsylvaniaColoradoMissouri

Rank

123456789

1011121314151617181920212223242526

HighFeef

410673

5,074441672

83489686410

1,050845799934823

1,00033033561425

1,16089352040

1,3705,4701,020

LowFeet

Sea level!577

Sea levelSea level

*573

Sea levelSea level

3901

'570

664!578

Sea levelSea level

505Sea level

195385-5

1,058685

Sea levelSea level

7105,130

720

City

AtlantaBuffaloCincinnatiNashville-DavidsonSan JoseMinneapolisFt. WorthToledoNewarkPortlandOklahoma CityLouisvilleOaklandLong BeachOmahaMiamiTulsaHonoluluEl PasoSt.'PaulNorfolkBirminghamRochesterTampa

1 Water level, Great

State

GeorgiaNew YorkOhioTennesseeCaliforniaMinnesotaTexasOhioNew JerseyOregonOklahomaKentuckyCaliforniaCaliforniaNebraskaFloridaOklahomaHawaiiTexasMinnesotaVirginiaAlabamaNew YorkFlorida

Lakes.

Rank

272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950

HighFeef

1,086699960

1,1602,125

980766627278

1,0731,334

7611,754

3601,272

30810

4,0204,0801,060

201,060

74360

LowFeef

738'571

433385

Sea level687513

'570

Sea levelSea level

1,050382

Sea level-7960

Sea level620

Sea level3,695

687Sea level

496'245

Sea level

Extreme and Mean Elevations

State or possession

Highest Point

Alabama,_______ Cheaha Mt.Alaska. ________ Mt. McKinleyArizona_________ Humphreys PeakArkansas___ ____ Magazine Mt.California.______ Mt. WhitneyCanal Zone______ Cerro GaleraColorado________ Mt. ElbertConnecticut. ____ Mt. Frissell, on

South Slope Delaware_______ On Ebright RoadDistrict of

Columbia- ____ TenleytownFlorida--.--- Sec. 30, T. 6 N., R. 20 W.Georgia__.-____ Brasstown BaldGuam__________ Mt. LamlamHawaii_________ Mauna Kea

LowestCounty orsubdivision

Cleburne

CoconinoLoganInyo-TulareBalboa DistrictLake

LitchfieldNew Castle

NW. partWaltonTowns-UnionAgat DistrictHawaii

ElevationFeef

2,40720,32012,6332,753

'14,4942 1,20514,433

2,380442

410345

4,78421,32913,796

Point

Gulf of MexicoPacific OceanColorado RiverOuachita RiverDeath ValleyAtlantic OceanArkansas River

Long Island SoundAtlantic Ocean

Potomac RiverAtlantic OceanAtlantic OceanPacific OceanPacific Ocean

County or subdivision

Elevation Feet

Sea level Sea level

1Sea level Sea level Sea level Sea level

Approx.mean

elevationFeef

__

YumaAshley-UnionInyo.' ' - >

Prowers

Sea levelSea level

7055

-282

Sea level3,350

5001,9004,100

6502,900

2806,800

50060

150100600330

3,030

Denver, Colorado,the highest large city in the United States. Death Valley, California, lowest point in the United States.

Mount McKinley in Alaska is the loftiest peak in North America.

State or possession

Idaho. _ _IllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisiana

MarylandMassachusetts. __ MichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew Hampshire... New JerseyNew Mexico_____ New York. ______North Carolina __ North Dakota____

Oklahoma_______ Oregon

Pennsylvania..-- Puerto RicoRhode lsland____ SamoaSouth Carolina. __

Highest Point

Borah PeakCharles MoundFranklin TownshipSec. 29, T. 100N.,R.41 W.Mt. SunflowerBlack Mt.Driskill Mt.Mt. KatahdinBackbone Mt.Mt. Greylock Mt. CurwoodEagle Mt.Woodall Mt.Taum Sauk Mt.Granite PeakJohnson TownshipBoundary PeakMt. Washington High PointWheeler Peak Mt. MarcyMt. Mitchell White Butte Campbell HillBlack Mesa Mt. Hood

Mt. Davis Cerro de PuntaJerimoth Hill Lata Mt.Sassafras Mt.

County or subdivision

CusterJo DaviessWayneOsceolaWallaceHarlanBienvillePiscataquisGarrettBerkshire BaragaCookTishomingoIronParkKimballEsmeraldaCoos SussexTaos EssexYancey Slope LoganCimarron Clackamas-

Hood River Somerset Ponce DistrictProvidence Tau IslandPickens

Elevation Feef

12,6621,2351,2571,670

3 4, 0394 145

5355,2683,3603,491 1,9802,301

8061,772

12,7995,426

13,1436,288

3 1,80313,161 53446,684 3,506 1,5504,973

11,239 3,213 4,389

812 3,1603,560

Lowest Point

Snake RiverMississippi RiverOhio RiverMississippi RiverVerdigris RiverMississippi RiverNew OrleansAtlantic OceanAtlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean Lake ErieLake SuperiorGulf of MexicoSt. Francis RiverKootenai RiverSE corner of StateColorado RiverAtlantic Ocean Atlantic OceanRed Bluff Res. Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean Red River Ohio RiverLittle River

Pacific Ocean Delaware River Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean Pacific OceanAtlantic Ocean

County or subdivision

Nez PerceAlexanderPoseyLeeMontgomeryFultonOrleans

--

DunklinLincolnRichardsonClark

Eddy

Pembina HamiltonMcCurtain

Delaware

--

__

Elevation Feef

71022792 320

480680

2257

5Sea levelSea levelSea level

2572

602Sea level

2?10

1,800840470

Sea levelQpp Ipwpl

2,817 Sea levelSea level

750 2433

287

Sea level Sea level Sea levelSea level Sea levelSea level

Approx. mean

elevation Feef

5,000600700

1,1002,000

7Rfi

100600350500 900

1,200300800

3,4002,6005,5001,000

7505,700 1,000

700 1,900

8501,300

3,300 1,100 1,800

200 1,300

350

State orpossession

South Dakota...Tennessee. _Texas

VermontVirginiaVirgin Islands...WashingtonWest Virginia ...WisconsinWyomingUnited States. _.

Highest County or ElevationPoint subdivision Feet

_ Harney Peak Pennington 7,242Clingmans Dome Sevier 6,643Guadalupe Peak Culberson 8,749Kings Peak Duchesne 13,528Mt. Mansfield Lamoille 4,393Mt. Rogers Grayson-Smyth 5,729

_ Crown Mt. St. Thomas Island 1,556Mt. Rainier Pierce 14,410

_ Spruce Knob Pendleton 4,863Timms Hill Price 1,951Gannett Peak Fremont 13,804

. Mt. McKinley, Alaska ._ 20,3201 National Geodetic Survey. 2 Corps of Engineers.

Jf/^^^^ ^^C^^r^^ ^Elevations

Summit

Mt. McKinleyMt. St. EliasMt. Fo rakerMt. BonaMt. BlackburnMt. SanfordSouth ButtressMt. VancouverMt. ChurchillMt. FairweatherMt. HubbardMt. BearEast ButtressMt. HunterMt. AlverstoneBrowne TowerMt. WhitneyMt. ElbertMt. MassiveMt. HarvardMt. RainierMt. Williamson

of Named Summits over 14,000

State Quadrangle Elevation Feet

Alaska Mt. McKinley A-3 20,320Alaska Mt. St. Elias 18,008Alaska Talkeetna D-3 17,400Alaska McCarthy B-2 16,421Alaska McCarthy C-7 16,390Alaska Gulkana A-l 16,237Alaska Mt. McKinley A-2 15,885Alaska Mt. St. Elias 15,700Alaska McCarthy B-2 15,638Alaska Mt. Fairweather 15,300Alaska Mt. St. Elias 1 15,015Alaska McCarthy B-l 14,831Alaska Mt. McKinley A-2 14,730Alaska Talkeetna D-3 14,573Alaska Mt. St. Elias 1 14,565Alaska Mt. McKinley A-2 14,530Calif. Mt. Whitney 214,494Colo. Mt. Elbert 214,433Colo. Mt. Massive 14,421Colo. Mt. Harvard 14,420Wash. Mt. Rainier 14,410Calif. Mt. Whitney 14,375

LowestPoint

Big Stone LakeMississippi RiverGulf of MexicoBeaverdam CreekLake ChamplainAtlantic OceanAtlantic OceanPacific OceanPotomac RiverLake MichiganBelle Fourche RiverDeath Valley

3 State Surveys.

feet above

Summit

Blanca PeakLa Plata PeakUncompahgre PeakCrestone PeakMt. LincolnGrays PeakMt. AnteroTorreys PeakCastle PeakQuandary PeakMt. EvansLongs PeakMt. WilsonWhite Mt.North PalisadeShavano PeakMt. BelfordMt. PrincetonCrestone NeedleMt.YaleMt. BrossKit Carson Mt.

County or Elevationsubdivision Feet

Roberts 962Shelby 2182

Sea levelWashington 2,000Franklin 95

Sea levelSea levelQ0o lat/al__ oca level

Jefferson 2402581

Crook 3,100Inyo, Calif. -282

sea level ^^

State Quadrangle

Colo. Blanca PeakColo. Mt. ElbertColo. Lake CityColo. Crestone PeakColo. AlmaColo. Grays PeakColo. Poncha SpringsColo. Grays PeakColo. Hayden PeakColo. BreckenridgeColo. Mt. EvansColo. Longs PeakColo. Mt. WilsonCalif. White Mt.Calif. Mt. GoddardColo. Poncha SpringsColo. Mt. HarvardColo. Poncha SpringsColo. Crestone PeakColo. Mt. HarvardColo. AlmaColo. Crestone Peak

Approx.mean

elevationFeet

2,200900

1,7006,1001,000

950J\J\J

7501,7001,5001,0506,7002,500

.XVK^

Elevation Feet

214,34514,33614,30914,29414,28614,27014,26914,26714,26514,26514,26414,25514,246

114,24614,24214,22914,19714,19714,19714,19614,17214,165

Mount Whitney, highest point in the conterminous 48 States, is less than 80 miles from Death Valley, which is the lowest point.

Summit

Mt. WrangellMt. ShastaMt.SillEl Diente PeakMaroon PeakTabeguache Mt.

Mt. OxfordMt. SneffelsMt. DemocratCapitol PeakPikes PeakSnowmass Mt.Windom PeakMt. RussellMt. EolusMt. ColumbiaMt. AugustaMissouri Mt.Humboldt PeakMt. Bierstadt

State

AlaskaCalif.Calif.Colo.Colo.Colo.

Colo.Colo.Colo.Colo.Colo.Colo.Colo.Calif.Colo.Colo.AlaskaColo.Colo.Colo.

Quadrangle

Gulkana A-lShastaMt. GoddardDolores PeakMaroon BellsGarfield-Poncha

SpringsMt. HarvardMt. SneffelsClimaxCapitol PeakPikes PeakSnowmass Mt.Needle Mts.Mt. WhitneyNeedle Mts.Mt. HarvardMt. St. EliasMt. HarvardCrestone PeakMt. Evans

Elevation Feef

14,16314,16214,16214,15914,156

14,15514,15314,15014,14814,13014,11014,09214,08714,08614,08414,07314,07014,06714,06414,060

Summit

Sunlight PeakSplit Mt.Handles PeakCulebra PeakMt. LindseyMiddle PalisadeLittle Bear PeakMt. ShermanRedcloud PeakMt. LangleyMt. TyndallPyramid PeakWilson PeakWetterhorn PeakMt. MuirNorth Maroon PeakSan Luis PeakHuron PeakMt. of the

Holy CrossSunshine Peak

State

Colo.Calif.Colo.Colo.Colo.Calif.Colo.Colo.Colo.Calif.Calif.Colo.Colo.Colo.Calif.Colo.Colo.Colo.

Colo.Colo.

Quadrangle

Storm King PeakBig PineHandies PeakCulebra PeakBlanca PeakBig PineBlanca PeakMt. ShermanRedcloud PeakLone PineMt. WhitneyMaroon BellsMt. WilsonWetterhorn PeakMt. WhitneyMaroon BellsCreedeMt. HarvardMt. of the

Holy CrossRedcloud Peak

Elevation Feef

14,05914,05814,04814,04714,04214,04014,03714,03614,03414,02814,01814,01814,01714,01514,01514,01414,01414,005

14,00514,001

'Elevation determined in 1966. Not shown on Mt. St.Elias Quadrangle. National Geodetic Survey.

10 11

-Elevations of

Summit

Selected Summits

Cr^^^^ ^^

State

East of^^^

County

the Rocky Mountains

Quadrangle

fef*^^ ^===~, ^

Scale

White Mountains, Presidential Range:

Mt. WashingtonMt. AdamsMt. JeffersonMt. Sam AdamsMt. ClayBoott SpurMt. MonroeMt. MadisonMt. LafayetteMt. LincolnMt. FranklinSouth Twin Mt.Mt. Quincy Adams

Adirondack Mountains, 1

Mt. MarcyAlgonquin PeakMt. HaystackMt. SkylightWhiteface Mt.Dix Mt.Boundary PeakGray PeakIroquois PeakBasin Mt.Little MarcyGothics

Catskill Mountains:

Slide Mt.} Hunter Mt.

v Black DomeBlackheadThomas Cole Mt.West Kill Mt.Graham Mt.Cornell Mt.

New HampshireNew HampshireNew HampshireNew HampshireNew HampshireNew HampshireNew HampshireNew HampshireNew HampshireNew HampshireNew HampshireNew HampshireNew Hampshire

dt. Marcy area:

New YorkNew YorkNew YorkNew YorkNew YorkNew YorkNew YorkNew YorkNew YorkNew YorkNew YorkNew York

New YorkNew YorkNew YorkNew YorkNew YorkNew YorkNew YorkNew York

CoosCoosCoosCoosCoosCoosCoosCoosGraftonGraftonCoosGraftonCoos

EssexEssexEsse.xEssexEssexEssexEssexEssexEssexEssexEssexEssex

UlsterGreeneGreeneGreeneGreeneGreeneUlsterUlster

Mt. WashingtonMt. WashingtonMt. WashingtonMt. WashingtonMt. WashingtonMt. WashingtonMt. WashingtonMt. WashingtonFranconiaFranconiaCrawford NotchFranconiaMt. Washington

Mt. MarcyMt. MarcyMt. MarcyMt. MarcyLake PlacidMt. MarcyMt. MarcyMt. MarcyMt. MarcyMt. MarcyMt. MarcyMt. Marcy

PeekamooseHunterFreeholdFreeholdHensonvilleLexingtonSeagerPhoenicia

1:62,5001:62,5001:62,5001:62,5001:62,5001:62,5001:62,5001:62,5001:62,5001:62,5001:62,5001:62,5001:62,500

1:62,5001:62,5001:62,5001:62,5001:62,5001:62,5001:62,5001:62,5001:62,5001:62,5001:62,5001:62,500

1:24,0001:24,0001:24,0001:24,0001:24,0001:24,0001:24,0001:24,000

ElevationFeet

6,2885,7985,7155,5805,5325,5005,3855,3635,2495,1085,0044,9264,920

5,3445,1144,9604,9264,8674,8574,8404,8404,8404,8274,7654,736

4,1804,0403,9803,9403,9403,8803,8683,860

12 13

Summit State County Quadrangle

Doubletop Mt.Table Mt.Peekamoose Mt.Plateau Mt.Blue Ridge and Great Smoky

Mt. Mitchell 1Mt. CraigClingmans Dome

Mt. Guyot

Balsam ConeCattail PeakMt. Le ConteBig TomMt. GibbesPotato HillMt. Chapman

Old Black

Celo KnobOzark-Ouachita Mountains:Magazine Mt.Rich Mt.Poteau Mt.Black Fork Mt.Sugar Loaf Mt.Buffalo LookoutWilton Mt.Turner Ward KnobKiamichi Mt:Winding Stair Mt.Lynn Mt.Reeves Mt.

Black Hills:

Harney Peak 2Bear Mt.Crooks TowerTerry PeakCrows Nest Peak

New YorkNew YorkNew YorkNew York

Mountains:

North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina-

TennesseeNorth Carolina-

TennesseeNorth CarolinaNorth CarolinaTennesseeNorth CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina-

TennesseeNorth Carolina-

TennesseeNorth Carolina

ArkansasOklahomaArkansasArkansasOklahomaArkansasOklahomaArkansasOklahomaOklahomaOklahomaArkansas

South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota

UlsterUlsterUlsterGreene

YanceyYanceySwain

SevierHaywood

SevierYanceyYanceySevierYanceyYanceyYanceySwain

SevierHaywood

Cocke-SevierYancey

LoganLoganSebastianPolkLe FloreNewtonLe FloreNewtonLe FloreLe FloreLe FloreNewton

PenningtonPenningtonLawrenceLawrencePennington

SeagerPeekamoosePeekamooseHunter

Mt. MitchellMt. MitchellClingmans

Dome

Mt. GuyotMt. MitchellMt. MitchellMt. Le ConteMt. MitchellMontreatMt. Mitchell

Mt. Guyot

Mt. GuyotCelo

Blue Mt.PotterCauthronPotterHartfordFallsvillePageFallsvilleMusePagePageBoxley

CusterBerneCrooks TowerLeadCrows Nest Peak

Scale

1:24,000 1:24,000 1:24,000 1:24,000

1:24,000 1:24,000

1:24,000

1:24,000 1:24,000 1:24,000 1:24,000 1:24,000 1:24,000 1:24,000

1:24,000

Elevation Feef3,860 3,847 3,843 3,840

6,6846,647

6,643

6,6216,6006,6006,5936,5606,5206,440

6,417

1:24,0001:24,000

1:24,0001:62,5001:24,0001:62,5001:24,0001:24,0001:62,5001:24,0001:24,0001:62,5001:62,5001:24,000

1:24,0001:24,0001:24,0001:24,000

1:24,000

6,3706,327

2,7532,6812,6692,5862,5642,5612,5572,4632,4512,4512,4402,440

7,2427,1667,1377,064

7,048

14 15

Summit

White Tail Peak Flag Mt. Medicine Mt. Nipple Butte Custer Peak Mt. Rushmore Devils Tower

State

South Dakota South Dakota South Dakota South Dakota South Dakota South Dakota Wyoming

. County

PenningtonPenningtonPenningtonPenningtonLawrencePenningtonCrook

Quadrangle

Deerfield Deerfield Custer Deerfield Minnesota Ridge Mt. Rushmore Devils Tower

Scale

1:24,000 1:24,000 1:24,000 1:24,000 1:24,000 1:24,000 1:62,500

Elevation Feet6,9626,9376,8786,8106,8045,7255,112

'Highest summit east of the Mississippi River. 2 Highest summit east of the Rocky Mountains.

Geographic Centers

Because there is no generally accepted definition of a geographic center and no completely satisfactory method for determining it, there may be as many geographic centers of a State or country 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 the area would balance if it were a plane of uniform thickness.

Curvature of the Earth, large bodies of water, irreg­ ular surfaces, and other factors affect the determi­ nation of center of gravity.

In determining the centers of the States, islands adjacent to their coastlines and large bodies of water on their boundaries were excluded.

The geographic centers and positions listed below should be considered as approximations.

State County Locality

Alabama_____________,_______ Chiltdn__________________12 miles southwest of ClantonAlaska________________-___-._ ____63°50'N., 152°00'W., 60 miles northwest of Mt. McKinleyArizona______________________ Yavapai______________55 miles east-southeast of PrescottArkansas_____________________ PulaskL_______________12 miles northwest of Little RockCalifornia-________________ ____ Madera___.______________ __. .38 miles east of MaderaColorado_____________________Park_________________30 miles northwest of Pikes PeakConnecticut___________________ Hartford_____________________________At East BerlinDelaware_________^___________ Kent________________________ll miles south of DoverDistrict of Columbia_______--__ _..______________________Near Fourth and L Streets NWFlorida______________--------- Hernando__________12 miles north-northwest of BrooksvilleGeorgia_____________________Twiggs___________________18 miles southeast of MaconHawaii__________..____----_-_. Hawaii______________20°15'N., 156°20'W., off Maui Islandldaho________________------_- Custer__________________At Custer, southwest of Challislllinois_______________-_-_____ Logan_________________28 miles northeast of Springfieldlndiana______________________ Boone___________14 miles north-northwest of Indianapolislowa________________________ Story______________________5 miles northeast of AmesKansas_______________________ Barton________________15 miles northeast of Great BendKentucky__ ___________________ Marion_____________ _3 miles north-northwest of Lebanon

Original Federal boundary mark­ er of the District of Columbia.

16 17

State County Locality

Louisiana.-______________________________________ Avoyelles___________________________3 miles southeast of MarksvilleMaine___________.-___________ ___________________ Piscataquis______________________________18 miles north of DoverMaryland________________________________________ Prince Georges___________________4y2 miles northwest of DavidsonvilleMassachusetts.-__________________________________ Worcester_________________________North part of City of WorcesterMichigan.. ___---------------_ ___________________ Wexford_________________________5 miles north-northwest of CadillacMinnesota __ __________________ ___________________ Crow Wing__ ____________________ ____10 miles southwest of BrainerdMississippi_________--_______________-____-_--_--- Leake__________________________9 miles west-northwest of CarthageMissouri..________________________________________Miller_________________________20 miles southwest of Jefferson CityMontana________________________________________ Fergus._____________________________ 12 miles west of LewistownNebraska ________________________________________ Custer __________________________ 10 miles northwest of Broken BowNevada.________________________________________ Lander__ ___________________________26 miles southeast of AustinNew Hampshire--_________________________________ Belknap_______________________________._3 miles east of AshlandNew Jersey_______________________________________ Mercer______________________________5 miles southeast of TrentonNew Mexico.-____________________________________ Torrance________________________ 12 miles south-southwest of WillardNew York________________________________________ Madison ____12 + miles south of Oneida and 26+ miles southwest of UticaNorth Carolina ____________________________________ Chatham ____________________________ 10 miles northwest of SanfordNorth Dakota _____________________________________ Sheridan _________.__________________5 miles southwest of McCluskyOhio_______________--_________________________-Delaware______________________25 miles north-northeast of ColumbusOklahoma________________________________________ Oklahoma__________________________8 miles north of Oklahoma CityOregon_________________________________________Crook________________________25 miles south-southeast of PrinevillePennsylvania_____________________________________Centre_-_________________________21/2 miles southwest of BellefonteRhode Island _____________________________________ Kent____ ______________________! mile south-southwest of CromptonSouth Carolina____________________________________ Richland___________________________13 miles southeast of ColumbiaSouth Dakota_____________________________________ Hughes_______________________________8 miles northeast of PierreTennessee____-__-__-________________-___________ Rutherford_______________________..5 miles northeast of MurfreesboroTexas__________________________________________McCulloch____________________________ 15 miles northeast of BradyUtah_________________________________________!_Sanpete__________________________________3 miles north of MantiVermont_________________________________________Washington______________________________3 miles east of RoxburyVirginia__-____---------________________________Buckingham_______________________5 miles southwest of BuckinghamWashington______________________________________ Chelan_______________________ 10 miles west-southwest of WenatcheeWest Virginia__------------------------__________--Braxton__________________________________4 miles east of SuttonWisconsin___________----____- -----_______________ Wood_____________________________9 miles southeast of MarshfieldWyoming_____._______________ ___________________ Fremont_______-_____-___-_-______58 miles east-northeast of Lander

Latitude Longitude (N) (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'

18 19

No marked or monumented point has been estab­ lished 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, Kan­ sas, by a group of citizens who hired engineers to determine the position of the "geographic center" of the United States.

Sometimes confused with the geographic center of the United States is the reference point for all prop­ erty lines and city, county, State, and international boundaries on the North American Continent that

are tied to the National Triangulation networks of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central Amer­ ica. This point is Meades Ranch Triangulation station located at latitude 39°13'26.686", longitude 98°32'30.506", about 12 miles north of Lucas, Kan­ sas. It is the base point or origin of geodetic posi­ tions and directions in the triangulation net of the United States because it is at the junction of the main east-west transcontinental triangulation arc, which stretches from the Atlantic tothe Pacific Coasts,and the main north-south arc, which follows approxi­ mately the 98th meridian from the Canadian border to the Rio Grande.

Extreme point CoordinatesLatitude Longitude

(N) (W)

Geographic Centers

Direction 50 States 49 States 48 Statesfrom West of Castle Rock, Near Castle Rock, Near Lebanon,

geographic Butte County, Butte County, Smith County,centers South Dakota South Dakota Kansas

44°58'N-103°46'W 44°59' N-103°38' W 39°50' N-98°35' W

Sfafufe miles Statute miles Statute miles

Point Barrow, Alaska. _ Pochnoi Point,

SemisopochnoiIsland, Alaska.---..

West Point of AmatignakIsland, Alaska..--..

Cape Wrangell, AttuIsland, Alaska.---..

71°23' 156°29' Northwest 2,502

Lake of the Woods Projection, Minn.______

North end,(N -Sboundary) Maine NewBrunswick, Canada,.___

West Quoddy Head, Me._.Key West, Florida.. _____Cape Sable, Florida______Log Point, Elliot Key,

51°19'

51°17'

52°55'

49°23'

179°55'(E)

179°09'

172°27'(E)

95°09'

Northwest

Northwest

Northwest

Northeast

3,363

3,346

3,620

507

47°04'44049'24°33'.25°07'

67°47'66°57'81°48'81°05'

NortheastEastSoutheastSoutheast

1,7141,7851,8691,864

25°29' '11' Southeast 1,878

2,504

3,367

3,351

3,623

497

1,7101,7791,8651,860

1,874

2,934

3,793

3,774

4,054

J 680

1,6102 1,6401,4361,434

1,452

20 21

Extreme point CoordinatesLatitude Longitude

(N) (W)

Geographic CentersDirection 50 States 49 States 48 States

from West of Castle Rock, Near Castle Rock, Near Lebanon,geographic Butte County, Butte County, Smith County,

centers South Dakota South Dakota Kansas44°58' N-103°46' W 44°59' N-103°38' W 39°50' N-98°35' W

Statute miles Statute miles Statute miles

East point, St. Croix, Virgin IslandsExtreme south point of TexasSteps Point, American SamoaOrote Point, GuamKure Island, Hawaii. ..__Ka Lae, Hawaii. __Cape Mendocino, Calif. _.__Cape Alava, Washington. ...

17°45'25°50'

14°23'(S)13°27'28°25'18°56'40°27'48° 10'

General direction to Lake of the Woods Projection

64°34'97°24'170°46'

144°37'(E)178°22'155°41'124°24'124°44'

is north.

SoutheastSouthSouthwestSouthwestSouthwestSouthwestWestWest

2,9321,3545,8496,5674,1363,4561,0891,016

2General direction

2,9271,3675,8556,5734 143T, l^O

3,4631,0951,020

to West Quoddy Head is northeast.

2,536979 '.

5,943 !6,961 }4 479»i~* */

3,6571,358 :1,412

Extreme Distances (computed to mean sea level)From To Statute miles

West Quoddy Head, Maine, along the parallel.._.._______._Pacific Ocean.____________________________________ 2,807West Quoddy Head, Maine....._____________ __________Cape Wrangell, Alaska.._____________________________ 4,839West Quoddy Head, Maine...._..__.__._____.______-_.Kure Island, Hawaii-________________________________ 5,788West Quoddy Head, Maine.__-_____________-_________Point Arena, California (farthest points,48 States)_._.__.____ 2,897Log Point, Elliot Key, Florida___.___-..-________..__-__ Kure Island, Hawaii (farthest points, 50 States)._____.____.__ 5,852Log Point, Elliot Key, Florida..________________________ Cape Wrangell, Alaska.._____________________________ 5,495Mangrove Point, Florida_____..._______._._________-_Kure Island, Hawaii----_--__-_______________________ 5,848Mangrove Point, Florida....._______________________.Cape Wrangell, Alaska____________..._.._.__._ _______ 5,496Rivera Beach, Florida._____--_----------------------Kure Island, Hawaii..________________________________ 5,815East Point, St. Croix, Virgin Islands... _--____________.__Cape Wrangell, Alaska....._--.-.--_----........_____ 5,939East Point, St. Croix, Virgin Islands.______._.-_-__._-_-.Orote Point, Guam (longest distance including outlying areas)-. 9,497Approximately 10 miles south of Brunswick, Georgia. ________ Approximately 12 miles south of San Diego, California

(shortest distance 48 States)..___._.__---___._.__.____ 2,088North end of Maine New Brunswick boundary____--_______0rote Point, Guam_______________._________________ 7,797Point Barrow, Alaska.--____--___-___----------_----Steps Point, Tutuila Island, American Samoa.._____________ 5,960Southern point of Texas, due north._______.__._________49th parallel...... _______________________________ 1,598West point of Amatignak Island, Alaska_________--____-_-Pochnoi Point, Semisopochnoi Island, Alaska (distance between

the most easterly and most westerly points in the United Stateswith reference to the 180° meridian)___.-.____________.._ 63

Statute miles Northern boundary of conterminous United States_____.________.._ 3,987Canada Alaska boundary,_______._.___..__.__._...________ 1,538Southern boundary of conterminous United States.._______________ 1,933

Lengths of United States Boundaries

22 23* U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1980-341-618-35