List of geographic centers of the United States

The List of geographic centers of the United States refers to various points within the United States that have been identified as the geographical center, or centroid, based on different criteria and methodologies. These centers are significant in cartography, geography, and cultural discussions about the U.S.

Definition and Significance

The geographic center of an area is typically defined as the point at which a flat, rigid map of the area would balance perfectly if it were to rest on a single point. Identifying such points in a large and irregularly shaped country like the United States involves complex calculations and can vary based on the inclusion or exclusion of territorial waters and overseas territories.

Geographic Centers by Criteria

Conterminous United States

The geographic center of the conterminous United States, which excludes Alaska and Hawaii, is located near Lebanon, Kansas. This point was determined by the balancing method, where a cardboard cutout of the conterminous U.S. would balance on a point.

Entire United States

Including all 50 states, the geographic center shifts due to the inclusion of Alaska and Hawaii. The exact location has been subject to various calculations, with one recognized point being near Belle Fourche, South Dakota.

Individual States

Each state in the U.S. also has its own geographic center. These points are often commemorated with markers and are of local historical and geographical interest.

Methodologies

Determining the geographic center involves various methodologies, including:

• The use of the geometric centroid method, which calculates the center point as the average position of all the points in the figure.
• The balancing point method, as previously mentioned.
• Advanced geographic information systems (GIS) that take into account the curvature of the earth and other geographical features.

Cultural and Practical Implications

While the geographic centers hold little practical use in governance or economics, they are points of interest and pride. They often feature in tourist promotions and are marked by monuments or plaques explaining their significance.

See Also

• Geography of the United States
• Extreme points of the United States