Place details
Place nameUnited States
Other namesUnited States of America, America, Estados Unidos de América, États-Unis d'Amérique, Verenigde Staten, Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika, USA, US, ISO840, American
Latitude38
Longitude-98
SourceThesaurus of Geographic Names
Overview
Settled 40,000 years ago by ancestors of Amerindians; diverse cultures developed; Spanish, French, British & others settled here from 16th cen., native cultures were largely destroyed; nation expanded westward through 19th cen.; had Civil War in 1860s; official language is English, though a sizable minority speaks Spanish, & various other languages are also spoken.