Is There a State as Small as the Big Apple?
You might think New York City is a sprawling metropolis that could swallow up a small country. And while it’s definitely a big place, full of towering skyscrapers and millions of people, it’s actually not that big when you compare it to the rest of the United States. So, you might wonder, is there a state out there that's roughly the same size as the Big Apple?
Let's Get Down to Size
First off, let’s clear something up: New York City isn’t a state. It’s a city, made up of five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. So, we’re comparing an urban jungle to an entire state – apples and oranges, right?
But hey, let’s have some fun with this. Imagine trying to fit the entire state of Rhode Island into the concrete canyon that is Manhattan. Would it even fit? Probably not. Rhode Island is about 1,045 square miles, while New York City is roughly 468 square miles. So, Rhode Island is more than double the size of NYC!
Tiny States, Big Surprises
Okay, so Rhode Island is out. What about other small states? Delaware? Maybe? Nope, too big. New Jersey? Closer, but still no cigar. In fact, there’s no state in the US that’s exactly the same size as New York City.
But don’t despair, geography nerds! There is a US territory that’s pretty close: Puerto Rico. It’s about 3,515 square miles, which is significantly larger than NYC, but it’s still relatively small compared to most states. So, while it’s not a perfect match, Puerto Rico is probably the closest you’ll get to a state-sized equivalent of New York City.
So, What Did We Learn?
- New York City is big, but not that big.
- Rhode Island could comfortably fit inside NYC, if it were possible to magically teleport entire states.
- There’s no US state exactly the same size as New York City.
- Puerto Rico is the closest US territory to matching NYC's size.
And there you have it! A deep dive into the surprisingly complex question of state vs. city size. Who knew geography could be so much fun?
How To...
- How to measure the size of a state or city? Use a map and a ruler to calculate the area in square miles or kilometers.
- How to compare the size of different places? Convert all measurements to the same units (e.g., square miles) and then compare the numbers.
- How to find the smallest state in the US? Rhode Island is the smallest state.
- How to find the largest city in the US? New York City is often considered the largest city by population.
- How to appreciate the diversity of the United States? Explore different states and cities, and learn about their unique cultures and landscapes.