Eastern States 2025

The Eastern United States – also known just as the East – is a region that is located on the eastern side of the nation. More specifically, this region is made up of the states that are east of the Mississippi River. The 26 states that make up the Eastern U.S. is home to over 58% of the nation’s total population. Per 2011 estimates, these states had a total population of nearly 180 million inhabitants. Washington, D.C., is also considered part of the Eastern United States, although it isn’t an official state.

The Eastern states can further be subdivided into specific regions. The Southern United States – or the South – is made up of the following states:

• Alabama
• Florida
• Georgia
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Mississippi
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• West Virginia

New England is made up of:

• Connecticut
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• Vermont

Mid-Atlantic States:

• Delaware
• New Jersey
• New York
• Pennsylvania

Finally, part of the Midwest region is also considered part of the Eastern U.S. Those states are:

• Illinois
• Indiana
• Michigan
• Ohio
• Wisconsin

The largest city in the Eastern U.S. is New York City, which has a population of over 8.6 million inhabitants. New York City is also the most populous city in the entire nation. Chicago, Illinois, is also a populous city in the East with a population of over 2.6 million. Philadelphia has a population of over 1.5 million and is the last city of the Eastern states with a population exceeding 1 million.