Land and Water Area in the US

Statistics and Facts

Offers statistics and facts related to dry land, and land temporarily or partially covered by water that is defined as inland water for each of the the 50 US states.

Definition of Land Area and Water Area

Land Area:

Dry land and land temporarily or partially covered by water, such as marshland, swamps, etc.; streams and canals under one-eighth statute mile wide; and lakes, reservoirs, and ponds under 40 acres.

Total land area should be used as a basis for other calculations such as density of population, etc.

Water Area:

Permanent inland water surface, such as lakes, reservoirs, and ponds having an area of 40 acres or more; streams, sloughs, estuaries, and canals one-eighth statute mile or more in width; deeply indented embayments and sounds, and other coastal waters behind or sheltered by headlands or islands separated by less than 1 nautical mile of water, and islands under 40 acres in area. Excludes areas of oceans, bays, sounds, etc. lying within US jurisdiction but not defined as inland water.

Total surface area comprises total land area plus water area.