List of states and territories of the United States
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The United States of America is a federal republic consisting of 50 states and one federal district (Washington, D.C.).[1] States are the primary subdivisions of the United States, and possess a number of powers and rights under the United States Constitution, such as regulating intrastate commerce, running elections, creating local governments, and ratifying Constitutional amendments. Under the tenth amendment to the Constitution, the states can exercise all powers that are not delegated to the federal government.[2] Each state has its own government, consisting of an executive branch, a legislative branch, and a judicial branch.[3] They are all represented in the federal Congress – a bicameral legislature consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Each state is represented by two Senators, while Representatives are awarded to each state in proportion to their total population.[4] The federal district does not have representatives in the Senate, but has a non-voting delegate in the House. Each state is entitled to electors in the Electoral College, the body that elects the President of the United States, equal to the combined number of senators and representatives that state has in Congress.[5] Congress can admit more states into the United States, but it cannot create a new state from territory of an existing state or merge two or more states into one without the consent of all states involved.[6]
In addition to the 50 states and federal district, the United States has control over fourteen territories. Five of them (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) have a permanent, nonmilitary population, while nine of them (the United States Minor Outlying Islands) do not. With the exception of Navassa Island, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which are located in the Caribbean, all territories are located in the Pacific Ocean. One territory, Palmyra Atoll, is considered to be incorporated, meaning the full body of the Constitution has been applied to it; the other territories are unincorporated, meaning the Constitution does not fully apply to them. Ten territories (the Minor Outlying Islands and American Samoa) are considered to be unorganized, meaning they have not had an Organic Act enacted by Congress; the four other territories are organized, meaning they have had an Organic Act that has been enacted by Congress. The five inhabited territories each have limited autonomy in addition to having territorial legislatures and governors, but residents cannot vote in federal elections.
Out of the 50 states, California is the most populous, with an estimated 38,041,430 residents as of 2012; Wyoming is the least populous, with an estimated 576,412 residents. The District of Columbia, with an estimated 632,323 residents as of 2012, has a higher population than the two least populous states (Wyoming and Vermont). The largest state by area is Alaska, encompassing 665,384 square miles (1,723,337 square kilometers), while the smallest is Rhode Island, encompassing 1,545 square miles (4,002 square kilometers). The first state to ratify the current Constitution was Delaware, which it did on December 7, 1787, while the newest state is Hawaii, which was admitted to the Union on August 21, 1959. The largest territory in terms of both population and size is Puerto Rico, which has 3,725,789 residents as of the 2010 census and a total area of 5,325 square miles (13,792 square kilometers).
States
State | Abbr. | Capital | Largest city[upper-alpha 1][7] | Statehood | Population est. (2012)[8] |
Total area in mi2 (km2)[upper-alpha 2][9] | Land area in mi2 (km2)[upper-alpha 2][9] | Water area in mi2 (km2)[upper-alpha 2][9] | House seat(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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AL | Montgomery | Birmingham | December 14, 1819 | 4,822,023 | 52,420 (135,767) | 50,645 (131,170) | 1,775 (4,597) | 7 |
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AK | Juneau | Anchorage | January 3, 1959 | 731,449 | 665,384 (1,723,337) | 570,641 (1,477,950) | 94,743 (245,383) | 1 |
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AZ | Phoenix | Phoenix | February 14, 1912 | 6,553,255 | 113,990 (295,233) | 113,594 (294,207) | 396 (1,026) | 9 |
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AR | Little Rock | Little Rock | June 15, 1836 | 2,949,131 | 53,179 (137,733) | 52,035 (134,770) | 1,143 (2,960) | 4 |
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CA | Sacramento | Los Angeles | September 9, 1850 | 38,041,430 | 163,695 (423,968) | 155,779 (403,466) | 7,916 (20,502) | 53 |
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CO | Denver | Denver | August 1, 1876 | 5,187,582 | 104,094 (269,602) | 103,642 (268,432) | 452 (1,171) | 7 |
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CT | Hartford | Bridgeport | January 9, 1788 | 3,590,347 | 5,543 (14,356) | 4,842 (12,541) | 701 (1,816) | 5 |
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DE | Dover | Wilmington | December 7, 1787 | 917,092 | 2,489 (6,446) | 1,949 (5,048) | 540 (1,399) | 1 |
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FL | Tallahassee | Jacksonville | March 3, 1845 | 19,317,568 | 65,758 (170,312) | 53,625 (138,888) | 12,133 (31,424) | 27 |
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GA | Atlanta | Atlanta | January 2, 1788 | 9,919,945 | 59,425 (153,910) | 57,513 (148,958) | 1,912 (4,950) | 14 |
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HI | Honolulu | Honolulu | August 21, 1959 | 1,392,313 | 10,932 (28,314) | 6,423 (16,635) | 4,509 (11,678) | 2 |
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ID | Boise | Boise | July 3, 1890 | 1,595,728 | 83,569 (216,443) | 82,643 (214,044) | 926 (2,398) | 2 |
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IL | Springfield | Chicago | December 3, 1818 | 12,875,255 | 57,914 (149,997) | 55,519 (143,794) | 2,395 (6,203) | 18 |
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IN | Indianapolis | Indianapolis | December 11, 1816 | 6,537,334 | 36,420 (94,327) | 35,826 (92,789) | 593 (1,536) | 9 |
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IA | Des Moines | Des Moines | December 28, 1846 | 3,078,186 | 56,273 (145,746) | 55,857 (144,669) | 416 (1,077) | 4 |
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KS | Topeka | Wichita | January 29, 1861 | 2,885,905 | 82,278 (213,099) | 81,759 (211,755) | 520 (1,347) | 4 |
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KY | Frankfort | Louisville | June 1, 1792 | 4,380,415 | 40,408 (104,656) | 39,486 (102,268) | 921 (2,385) | 6 |
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LA | Baton Rouge | New Orleans | April 30, 1812 | 4,601,893 | 52,378 (135,658) | 43,204 (111,898) | 9,174 (23,761) | 6 |
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ME | Augusta | Portland | March 15, 1820 | 1,329,192 | 35,380 (91,634) | 30,843 (79,883) | 4,537 (11,751) | 2 |
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MD | Annapolis | Baltimore | April 28, 1788 | 5,884,563 | 12,406 (32,131) | 9,707 (25,141) | 2,699 (6,990) | 8 |
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MA | Boston | Boston | February 6, 1788 | 6,646,144 | 10,554 (27,335) | 7,800 (20,202) | 2,754 (7,133) | 9 |
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MI | Lansing | Detroit | January 26, 1837 | 9,883,360 | 96,714 (250,488) | 56,539 (146,435) | 40,175 (104,053) | 14 |
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MN | St. Paul | Minneapolis | May 11, 1858 | 5,379,139 | 86,936 (225,163) | 79,627 (206,233) | 7,309 (18,930) | 8 |
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MS | Jackson | Jackson | December 10, 1817 | 2,984,926 | 48,432 (125,438) | 46,923 (121,530) | 1,509 (3,908) | 4 |
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MO | Jefferson City | Kansas City | August 10, 1821 | 6,021,988 | 69,707 (180,540) | 68,742 (178,041) | 965 (2,499) | 8 |
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MT | Helena | Billings | November 8, 1889 | 1,005,141 | 147,040 (380,832) | 145,546 (376,962) | 1,494 (3,869) | 1 |
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NE | Lincoln | Omaha | March 1, 1867 | 1,855,525 | 77,348 (200,330) | 76,824 (198,973) | 524 (1,357) | 3 |
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NV | Carson City | Las Vegas | October 31, 1864 | 2,758,931 | 110,572 (286,380) | 109,781 (284,331) | 791 (2,049) | 4 |
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NH | Concord | Manchester | June 21, 1788 | 1,320,718 | 9,349 (24,214) | 8,953 (23,188) | 397 (1,028) | 2 |
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NJ | Trenton | Newark | December 18, 1787 | 8,864,590 | 8,723 (22,592) | 7,354 (19,047) | 1,368 (3,543) | 12 |
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NM | Santa Fe | Albuquerque | January 6, 1912 | 2,085,538 | 121,590 (314,917) | 121,298 (314,160) | 292 (756) | 3 |
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NY | Albany | New York | July 26, 1788 | 19,570,261 | 54,555 (141,297) | 47,126 (122,056) | 7,429 (19,241) | 27 |
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NC | Raleigh | Charlotte | November 21, 1789 | 9,752,073 | 53,819 (139,391) | 48,618 (125,920) | 5,201 (13,471) | 13 |
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ND | Bismarck | Fargo | November 2, 1889 | 699,628 | 70,698 (183,107) | 69,001 (178,712) | 1,698 (4,398) | 1 |
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OH | Columbus | Columbus | March 1, 1803 | 11,544,225 | 44,826 (116,099) | 40,861 (105,830) | 3,965 (10,269) | 16 |
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OK | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City | November 16, 1907 | 3,814,820 | 69,899 (181,038) | 68,595 (177,660) | 1,304 (3,377) | 5 |
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OR | Salem | Portland | February 14, 1859 | 3,899,353 | 98,379 (254,800) | 95,988 (248,608) | 2,391 (6,193) | 5 |
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PA | Harrisburg | Philadelphia | December 12, 1787 | 12,763,536 | 46,054 (119,279) | 44,743 (115,884) | 1,312 (3,398) | 18 |
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RI | Providence | Providence | May 29, 1790 | 1,050,292 | 1,545 (4,002) | 1,034 (2,678) | 511 (1,320) | 2 |
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SC | Columbia | Columbia | May 23, 1788 | 4,723,723 | 32,020 (82,931) | 30,061 (77,858) | 1,960 (5,076) | 7 |
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SD | Pierre | Sioux Falls | November 2, 1889 | 833,354 | 77,116 (199,730) | 75,811 (196,350) | 1,305 (3,380) | 1 |
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TN | Nashville | Memphis | June 1, 1796 | 6,456,243 | 42,144 (109,152) | 41,235 (106,798) | 909 (2,354) | 9 |
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TX | Austin | Houston | December 29, 1845 | 26,059,203 | 268,596 (695,660) | 261,232 (676,588) | 7,365 (19,075) | 36 |
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UT | Salt Lake City | Salt Lake City | January 4, 1896 | 2,855,287 | 84,897 (219,882) | 82,170 (212,819) | 2,727 (7,063) | 4 |
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VT | Montpelier | Burlington | March 4, 1791 | 626,011 | 9,616 (24,905) | 9,217 (23,872) | 400 (1,036) | 1 |
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VA | Richmond | Virginia Beach | June 25, 1788 | 8,185,867 | 42,775 (110,787) | 39,490 (102,279) | 3,285 (8,508) | 11 |
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WA | Olympia | Seattle | November 11, 1889 | 6,897,012 | 71,298 (184,661) | 66,456 (172,120) | 4,842 (12,541) | 10 |
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WV | Charleston | Charleston | June 20, 1863 | 1,855,413 | 24,230 (62,755) | 24,038 (62,258) | 192 (497) | 3 |
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WI | Madison | Milwaukee | May 29, 1848 | 5,726,398 | 65,496 (169,634) | 54,158 (140,269) | 11,339 (29,368) | 8 |
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WY | Cheyenne | Cheyenne | July 10, 1890 | 576,412 | 97,813 (253,335) | 97,093 (251,470) | 720 (1,865) | 1 |
Federal district
Name | Abbr. | Date established | Population est. (2012)[8] |
Total area in mi2 (km2)[upper-alpha 2][9] | Land area in mi2 (km2)[upper-alpha 2][9] | Water area in in mi2 (km2)[upper-alpha 2][9] | House seat |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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DC | July 16, 1790 | 632,323 | 68 (176) | 61 (158) | 7 (18) | 1[upper-alpha 8] |
Territories
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Inhabited territories
Territory | Abbr. | Capital | Acquired[10] | Territorial status | Population (2010) | Total area in mi2 (km2)[upper-alpha 2][11] | Land area in mi2 (km2)[upper-alpha 2][11] | Water area in in mi2 (km2)[upper-alpha 2][11] | House seat |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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AS | Pago Pago[12] | 1900 | Unincorporated, unorganized | 55,519 | 581 (1,505) | 76 (197) | 505 (1,308) | 1[upper-alpha 8] |
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GU | Hagåtña[13] | 1899 | Unincorporated, organized | 159,358 | 571 (1,479) | 210 (544) | 361 (935) | 1[upper-alpha 8] |
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MP | Saipan[14] | 1986 | Unincorporated, organized | 53,883 | 1,976 (5,118) | 182 (471) | 1,793 (4,644) | 1[upper-alpha 8] |
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PR | San Juan[15] | 1899 | Unincorporated, organized | 3,725,789 | 5,325 (13,792) | 3,424 (8,868) | 1,901 (4,924) | 1[upper-alpha 11] |
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VI | Charlotte Amalie[16] | 1917 | Unincorporated, organized | 106,405 | 733 (1,898) | 134 (347) | 599 (1,551) | 1[upper-alpha 8] |
Uninhabited territories
Territory | Acquired[10] | Territorial status[17] | Land area in mi2 (km2)[upper-alpha 12] |
---|---|---|---|
Baker Island | 1856 | Unincorporated, unorganized | 0.9 (2.3)[18] |
Howland Island | 1858 | Unincorporated, unorganized | 0.6 (1.6)[18] |
Jarvis Island | 1856 | Unincorporated, unorganized | 2.2 (5.7)[19] |
Johnston Atoll | 1859 | Unincorporated, unorganized | 1 (2.6)[20] |
Kingman Reef | 1860 | Unincorporated, unorganized | 0.01 (0.03)[21] |
Midway Atoll | 1867 | Unincorporated, unorganized | 3 (7.8)[22] |
Navassa Island | 1858 | Unincorporated, unorganized | 3 (7.8)[23] |
Palmyra Atoll | 1898 | Incorporated, unorganized | 1.5 (3.9)[24] |
Wake Island | 1899 | Unincorporated, unorganized | 2.5 (6.5)[25] |
General references
- "Definitions of Insular Area Political Organizations". Office of Insular Affairs. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
- "Delegates and Resident Commissioners". Kids in the House. Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- "Guide to State and Local Census Geography" (pdf). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
- "Standard Postal Service State Abbreviations and ZIP Codes" (pdf). Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- "U.S. Insular Areas: Application of the U.S. Constitution" (pdf). United States General Accounting Office. November 1997. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
Notes
Notes
- ↑ The largest city is the city in a state with the largest population in the city proper; metropolitan areas are not considered in this number.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Area figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.
- ↑ The state of Kentucky is known officially as the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
- ↑ The state of Massachusetts is known officially as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- ↑ The state of Pennsylvania is known officially as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
- ↑ The state of Rhode Island is known officially as the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
- ↑ The state of Virginia is known officially as the Commonwealth of Virginia.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Represented by a non-voting delegate to the House of Representatives.
- ↑ The Northern Mariana Islands are officially known as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
- ↑ Puerto Rico is officially known as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
- ↑ Represented by a non-voting resident commissioner in the House of Representatives.
- ↑ The uninhabited territories contain no water area.
Footnotes
- ↑ "United States". Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
- ↑ "Map Layer Info". National Atlas of the United States. nationalatlas.gov. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
- ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions About the Minnesota Legislature". Minnesota State Legislature. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
- ↑ Article I, Section 2, Constitution of the United States (June 21, 1788). Retrieved on July 10, 2013.
- ↑ Article II, Section 1, Constitution of the United States (June 21, 1788). Retrieved on July 10, 2013.
- ↑ Article IV, Section 3, Constitution of the United States (June 21, 1788). Retrieved on July 10, 2013.
- ↑ "State and Local Government Finances and Employment" (pdf). United States Census Bureau. 2012. p. 284. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico" (XLS). United States Census Bureau. 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 "2010 Census of Population and Housing" (pdf). United States Census Bureau. September 2012. p. 41. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Acquisition Process of Insular Areas". Office of Insular Affairs. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "2010 Census of Population and Housing" (pdf). United States Census Bureau. September 2012. p. 1. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
- ↑ "American Samoa". The World Factbook. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ↑ "Guam". The World Factbook. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ↑ "Northern Mariana Islands". The World Factbook. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ↑ "Puerto Rico". The World Factbook. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ↑ "Virgin Islands". The World Factbook. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ↑ "11025: Nationality". Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Baker Island". Office of Insular Affairs. Archived from the original on April 19, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ↑ "Jarvis Island". Office of Insular Affairs. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ↑ "Johnston Island". Office of Insular Affairs. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ↑ "Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge". United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ↑ "Midway Atoll". Office of Insular Affairs. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ↑ "Palmyra Atoll". Office of Insular Affairs. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ↑ "Wake Island". Office of Insular Affairs. Archived from the original on April 14, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
See also
- List of U.S. state lists
- List of fictional U.S. states
- List of regions of the United States
- List of U.S. counties that share names with U.S. states
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to List of states and territories of the United States. |
- Information about All States from UCB Libraries GovPubs
- State Resource Guides, from the Library of Congress
- State and Territorial Governments on USA.gov
- BEA News Release (GDP by State) - Bureau of Economic Analysis
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