Why Western U.S. States Are Generally Larger Than Eastern States

Western U.S. states are typically larger because many were carved from the vast Louisiana Purchase (1803), which added 828,000 square miles. Eastern states originated from the original Thirteen Colonies, which were smaller and irregularly shaped. Examples: Alaska (665,384 sq mi), Texas (268,596), California (163,696), Montana (147,046), New Mexico (121,590). Contrast with eastern small states: Rhode Island (1,214), Delaware (2,489), Connecticut (5,543), New Hampshire (9,349), Vermont (9,616). Exceptions exist (Florida is large; Nevada is modest), but the trend holds due to historical land acquisition patterns.