American Geography, Explained for Europeans 

Don't take this personally, but as a Mainer I am required by law to tell you that there is another Portland that is in the northeast that while smaller, is the first of the two and is really cool.

I’m from Vancouver, Washington and as someone who goes to school in the Midwest, telling people you are from Vancouver, Washington and them realizing you mean neither Vancouver, BC or Washington, DC is a really great time

As a non-European who knows only a bit about American geography, this is a godsend

I consider Chicago an inland coastal city. It has everything you’d expect from a coastal port city. Non-stop international flights, large population, skyline, stock and commodity exchanges…

Love how you added some small town in Idaho as a major city.

As a whole, the “middle of nowhere” is probably my favorite part of America. Barren enough to keep most people away, steeped in pioneering tradition, where self-sufficiency is a virtue yet so is helping your neighbors and complete strangers alike. People leave each other alone for the most part, but there is also more of a Midwest-style community mindset than in western states.

Next one should be the "historical counties" of either England or the UK. I can never remember where Lancaster is.

So for those wondering: The reason Oklahoma has that silly panhandle is because of Texas. The territory the former Republic of Texas claimed when it was annexed by the US was bigger than the current state of Texas. When Texas sought to enter the Union as a slave state in 1845, the government ruled that there wouldn't be slavery north of 36°30' parallel north. Under the Compromise of 1850, Texas surrendered its lands north of such, and this led to a 170-mile neutral strip officially called the Public Land Strip (the compromise also created New Mexico Territory, forming the western boundary of the strip). People settled it in the 1880s and tried to form a new territory called the Cimarron Territory, but this wasn't recognized by Congress. Under the Oklahoma Organic Act in 1890, the Oklahoma Territory was created, and this strip was included. The reason why Michigan has that Upper Peninsula and isn't just an oven mitt is also because of a compromise, but a different kind. Michigan and Ohio both claimed the Toledo Strip. This is the result of poor understanding of the Great Lakes which led to different interpretations of the boundaries. The then Territory of Michigan petitioned for statehood in 1835 and wanted Toledo, but the Ohio state government wouldn't budge. Both sent their militias, prepared to fight over it (which really was just taunting, shots being fired into the air, and one Michigan guy getting injured because they were stabbed), but Congress then proposed a compromise that Michigan would be granted statehood IF they let Ohio keep Toledo and in return, they'd be given the Upper Peninsula (well more like the other three-quarters of it as they at that point already owned a small bit of it) that would've been given to Wisconsin.

For those in Europe who want some scale of how large the continental US is: the distance from Los Angeles to New York City is greater than the disance from Lisbon to Moscow. The 'lower 48' is an incredibly vast place, with more geographical variation than Europe. We have deserts (California/Arizona/Nevada), mountain ranges (Rocky, Continental Divide, and Appalachian), rainforests (California and Washington), plains (Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa), and swamps (Texas, Louisiana) in the same country.

I'm a European who already knew all the states (and their capitals) because I'm such a geography nerd. Nonetheless, it's fun to watch. I didn't know about the two Vancouvers.

can't lie as a Brit I can name every US state with ease and every Canadian province/territory but can't name more than a dozen english counties...

I know I'm not the target audience, but I thought this was well done and should be expanded upon with other places like Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Russia, China, India, and other larger countries that have some sort of political and/or cultural/historical differences within their borders.

An important thing to consider is that many folks in Europe grow up emersed in American culture and are therefore more familiar with American customs, geography and history etc while the reverse is less true For example many of my favourite films, shows, books, people I follow online are American. My parents grew up watching American sit-coms and listening to American movies. My Grandparents also grew up watching American movies and experienced an influx of American culture through aid during the second world war in addition to an influx of American military personnel who helped to popularise many American customs across Western Europe It's an interesting development that Americans are becoming increasingly self-aware, this seems to be largely due to the Internet essentially creating a sort of global culture which we can all be part of - its sort of incredible to think I'm writing this current in rural Europe and in moments you could theoretically be reading this in another continent

Don't tell them that Wyoming is a county in Pennsylvania, or they will be very confused.

As a western Pennsylvanian: 1) I'm really happy that you mentioned Pittsburgh! 2) This side of the state is more Appalachia/MidWest than "northeast U.S." or "Mid-Atlantic."

Teachers, if you want to show this video in your class but don't want the 69 joke, here's a separate version with the joke cut out ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YHHAnN8T8BU.html If you want to test your knowledge from this video, I got a blank version of the map I showed in the intro (remember: not everywhere is Texas) twitter.com/KhAnubis/status/1670473945529589762?s=20

Ah yes, the thriving metropolis of Pocatello, Idaho. A city that isn't even the largest in its state even when you ignore Boise and its suburbs (that honor goes to nearby Idaho Falls)

As European (Dutch) iam intrigued by those state borders. Straight line, mostly straight and then a kink. Or the shape, some big, some small, some elongated, the panhandles. I think this need an movie too if there is not.

If you ever are unsure of which one is Minnesota, it is the one with a little bump on the top, the only piece of the "lower 48" than is above the 49th parallel. It was created by a survey error, and resultant mapping error, in 1783.

Thanks as always for both content density and a brilliant serving 😊 btw my story, when 12, my dad and I played a quiz about the US states, I managed to learn all of them + capitals in several hours. I thought it was just for fun, but the next day dad gave me a real prize: a new bicycle! Used to live in ex-soviet russia back then

So everyone knows about West Virginia and how it's famous because of a John Denver song and it's the pride of West Virginia as it's the theme song of West Virginia University....but what if I were to tell you that by "West Virginia", John really meant western VIRGINIA and not West Virginia? Your hint as for the true location he's talking about: Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah River. The Shenandoah River is a tributary of the Potomac and the majority of it is in Virginia while a small slither is in West Virginia. Shenandoah National Park is in Virginia. And the Blue Ridge Mountains is a Virginia and North Carolina thing! Before Atlanta, Delta used to operate out of Monroe, Louisiana. They chose the Mississippi Delta because of its centralized location within the southern states that had a greater need for the firm business offerings. This is where the airline's name came from. They moved to Atlanta in 1941 because the area was growing economically with the presence of key companies such as Coca-Cola. With most of Delta's initial passengers being people in business looking to hop between meetings quickly, it made sense to switch to Atlanta. Delta has since taken advantage of its location on not just the East Coast but also the South, giving it easy access to the Caribbean, Europe, South America, and beyond. And it being at a corner of the US also gives Delta the excuse to do several regional flights to/from small markets to lure people into Atlanta.

It's good you brought up the territories. They don't get mentioned enough.

As someone who is from the US and knows a lot of it's geography (capitals, natural geography, political geography) and is a map nerd I knew all of this, I was curious how well you did it. I'll say you did quite well, and I like how you featured the territories of the US as they usually are left out (aside from good ol Puerto Rico). This is very good for beginners or those who are unfamiliar with American geography. Also for Everyone else, those who are interested learning more from American Geography just ask and I'll try my best to answer.

As an Idahoan at the beginning when you said the major cities and put Pocatello on there, I died laughing. This was a good video.

If you're going to mention the two Vancouvers, I'm surprised you didn't contrast the province of Ontario, Canada with the Los Angeles suburb of Ontario, California.

Can you do this for Europe? Eastern Europe is a struggle for most Americans, or at least the ones I spend time with, they look less distinct on a map but the cultures and people I know are very distinct.

Me as an american watching this knowing damn well every thing in this video

The US itself is like its own world, no wonder Americans rarely go outside their state. The US is so huge! Just imagine you want to go to the Alps? Go visit the Rockies. A great dry desert? Nevada or Arizona. Swamps and subtropical forest? Florida it is. That's not to mention Tundra and Taiga (Alaska), and hot Tropical islands (Hawaii and many US Pacific oversea territories). And I knew most of it despite I'm not American, nor European. But remembering them? It'll take a while.

Most people today classify the metro areas from new york to dc as the mid atlantic, its also part of the northeast megalopolis, the corridor from dc to boston.

3:43 Tennessee doesn’t ONLY look like it could be Mimal’s pan. But I guess you wanted this video to stay monetized.

MIMAL man is so useful and it flows in order. Minnesotta, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana.

Back in the early days of the United States, there was no ability for mail to be delivered in any meaningful way out West until the Pony Express started service from St. Joseph, Missouri to San Francisco. That was because everything was completely undeveloped West of the MIMAL man and is still undeveloped today save for a few national highways connecting MIMAL man cities to the West coast.

I find my British friends can reliably name about 30 US states and place about 15 of them

i love your content

Actually willie New Yorkers call that island Lawnguyland

Well done! Honestly had no idea where where Puerto Rico actually is. As a Portlander (Oregon), maybe a video on the differences between the 2 Portlands?

I honestly had to pause a moment after the revelation about what Vermot and New Hampshire are doing with each other

I've always seen Michigan as a mitten with a cow lick.

Pennsylvania also has a second major river cutting down the middle where a large part of the population live. The Susquehanna river then flows out into the Bay

I am from Reno, Nevada and went to university in Washington. I received the same question, whether it be from native Washingtonian or students from outside the county, of, “Oh, you must go to Vegas a lot?” It really seemed to blow their minds when I’d tell them it was a seven hour drive between the two cities. Even more shocking to them was how close Lake Tahoe was to Reno.

Vermont and NH 69 lmao. You got me with that one.

4:40 Reminds me of one character from the John Ford classic Stagecoach, who kept telling everyone he's from Kansas City, Kansas. Most non-Americans would assume his state would be obvious from the city name, but I'm a geography nerd and did not fall into that trap.

nice content

Since when are VA, NC, and SC the Mid-Atlantic? The Mid-Atlantic is NY, NJ, DE, PA, and MD.

As someone from Portland Oregon I appreciate the Vancouver dis😂

Vancouver, Washington pre-dates Vancouver, BC. It was originally a Hudson Bay company fur trading post named Fort Vancouver after Royal navy captain George Vancouvef.

3:12 i love you, bro. My type of unexpected humor

You needed to put Denver as a major city. The Nuggets just won.

I loved how in the beginning of the video when you showed all the major cities you didn’t include Philly Boston Miami or Detroit but included Pocatello

1: My bf lives in Vancouver WA, and I love him so I’ve gone willingly 2: I didn’t know Mr Beat lived in Kansas where I live, that’s really cool😮

lol vancouver washington is my hometown, loved the dig it’s pretty accurate

I Loved the Mr. Beat reference 😅

I actually used to willingly go to Vancouver WA like three times a yr when i lived in Salem OR xD But thats cuz im an Amtgard LARPer (live action roleplay(er)) and theres a local group that meets at a park there. So, we went to Vancouver to pretend we werent in Vancouver but were instd in like medieval europe fightin dragons

I will watch this video a few more times during this year until I remember the important ones 😎

S/o Drew Binski. Guy deserves way more attention as a creator/channel. Nicest dude I watch on RU-vid by a mile.

As an aside Maine was a disconnected part of massachusetts for sometime.

0:17 bro tried sneaking pocatello in there lol

As a Asian who Is still in school i Absolutely nailed American Geography

I'm not American but I can say most of the States as well as the location. I might forget 3 or two(Ohio). Though I know most of them. I got taught in geography class. Is USA geography education really bad as they say????

I see a lot of comments about how, "of course I know all the States and their capitals, everyone knows that," yet I've had more than one conversations with university-educated individuals who are positive their are more or less than 50 states. It can happen to anyone. Chicago could be it's own state, it's just not.

You're right about Mr.Beat being the Kansas guy and not Mr. Beast, but Mr. Beast is actually from Kansas as well, technically.

fun fact from a st. louisan, no one lives in east st. louis. Lot of history there, but its all abandoned now. STL metro area pretty much ends at the arch

First time I've heard of MIMAL man. I had to bring up the subtitles before I figured out where the name came from.

I still have one main question what is the state west of virginia called? You didn't say the name of it.

For those not from the Pacific Northwest, I’m from Portland (the Oregon one) and usually people will just refer to Vancouver (the Washington one ) as just Vancouver, while we usually will specify Vancouver, BC for the Canada one

As a Portland resident, the vancouver thing never fails to confuse out of region people. Me: "They live up in vancouver" Them: "Canada?" Me: "No, washington. Them: "DC" Me: No, vancouver washington" Them: "I thought you were in Oregon?" Me: "ffs"

Kansas = Mr. Beat... Any relation to Dr. Beat by any chance?🤔

As an American who is also a geography nerd, I have never heard of the MIMAL man

My guy lives in a state that borders Nevada, but still manages to say Nev-ah-da 😭 Nevăda!!

As a Hoosier I know my state is the definition of average, but it still hurts to hear it out loud 😭

The landlock western states are quite sparsely populated.

“Let’s pull up all the major cities” shows Pocatello Idaho

4:32 well… to be fair Mr beast was born in Kansas

2:44 "Can you guess which state is to the west of it?" ...Kanawha?

Why should we learn about 50 states? How many states or provinces of European countries do you know about?

Remember, US is way closer to EU status since a European country is roughly equal to an American state

All of Kansas City is in Missouri. Overland Park is is Kansas.

Meanwhile, us Canadians are waiting for the first tourist of the summer with skis on his roof from the US, or the first European who wants to rent a car in Montreal and drive to Vancouver for the day.....

0:17 He showed Atlanta but he didn't show most of the cities with more people than Atlanta? What about most of the midwest or Texas?

i never knew there was as state called washington. I always knew only about the city

As an American, I can't even list most of the states off the top of my head, much less place them on a map. I don't blame any Europeans for not knowing where anything is, aside from a rough idea of New York, California, Texas, and DC.

Louisiana is named for King Louis XIV. Saint Louis is named for King Louis IX.

As a murican and tbf to the europeans; its not like any of us know of even three counties/states/provinces/territories of european countries... So like, im shocked when they can get even 20% of the states in the right spots. Most muricans wudnt even be able to get half of the territories/provinces of canada in the right spots if given a map and theres way less of them... And dont even try askin about what the states are in the estados unidos de mexico, even just the names wudnt be known by most muricans, let alone locations

0:17 how is a small town in idaho a major city? also, what about philadelphia in pennsylvania?

Knowing names and locations of countries and a country's subdivisions are very different. A more fair comparison would be labelling the countries of Europe and North America, since they are both continents, or labelling subdivisions of a North American country and European one

As an American I have never met anyone from Wyoming, Montana, the dakotas, Nebraska, iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Mexico , Arkansas, Mississippi, alabama ,

0:16 WHERE IS HOUSTON?

me, an american who knows all of this watching: neat

this is actually goated as a non-freedom non-democracy filthy kilometer guy

Why would I bother knowing from which state KFC is from (tricky one), or which of the square states is Kansas supposed to be if I can tell where Paris, London or Berlin are on a map. Also the answer is Texas

Also, Minnesota is in Canada.

To be fair, mr beast was actually born in Kansas. (Wichita im pretty sure)

0:20 4 color theorem pls

0:14 nice chef

0:18 bro tried to sneak in Pocatello 💀💀💀💀💀

Video: American geography, explained for Europeans Me an Australian: do I not matter?!?!

As someone living in Vermont, I absolutely CACKLED about us and New Hampshire doing... things...

Wtf Pocatello at 0:17 ?!?! My hometown is not a major city in any sense of the word 💀

as an american i liked this, idk why, knew it all

How is a lake a maritime boarder though?