# How well do other nations' citizens know US geography? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 11, 2003, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-do-other-nations-citizens-know-us-geography/187672 "2003-07-11T08:00:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-do-other-nations-citizens-know-us-geography/187672/101 "2003-07-16T19:18:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dutchboy208 \* > \*\*MLS… DC is a southern city in terms of accents, history, and such, but geographically, its farther north than south. > \*\* And Washingnton DC did serve as capital of the North during the Civil War, even though it bordered (nearly surrounded by) the South. Was it John F. Kennedy who said that Washington was a marvelous city, “combining Northern charm and Southern efficiency”? ---
**Author:** ![Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aslan_of_Narnia)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-do-other-nations-citizens-know-us-geography/187672/102 "2003-07-16T23:55:32Z")
I know pretty much all of the states. I know that Washington borders us. And I’m pretty sure that Oregon is the next state over from Washington that borders BC. I also know where Alaska is, and Texas because it’s near the border of mexico/new mexico. Similarily I know all the provinces in Canada and a lot of other countries, but except for a few “big” ones I don’t know exactly where they are. They certainly didn’t teach us much(not much meaning two weeks of cramming during grade 7) geography prior to grade 8, and afterwards not all that much more. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-do-other-nations-citizens-know-us-geography/187672/103 "2003-07-17T00:16:16Z")
> [@](#): > > I know pretty much all of the states. I know that Washington borders us. And I’m pretty sure that Oregon is the next state over from Washington that borders BC. Um, wrong. Oregon is the state directly south of Washington. It does not share an international border. The west coast of the U.S. is actually really easy; there’s only three states on it: (Moving north to south) [Canada] Washington, Oregon, California, [Mexico]. The state directly east of Washington, sharing a (very short) border with B.C., is Idaho. Moving further east, Montana also shares a border with a little of B.C., and a lot of Alberta. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-do-other-nations-citizens-know-us-geography/187672/104 "2003-07-17T15:05:59Z")
Just saw this in the NY Times this morning: [U.S. Teenagers Win World Geography Title](http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Geographic-Bee.html) > [@](#): > > Three U.S. teenagers won the gold medal Wednesday in the National Geographic World Championship, beating teams from Germany and France to successfully defend the U.S. title in a contest held every two years. > > The teenagers beat Germany in the finals by identifying Bahrain from a series of clues about the oil-producing nation and then naming Crete as the island where oranges, grapes and olives are grown and is associated with the worship of Zeus. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dutchboy208 \* > \*\*MLS… DC is a southern city in terms of accents, history, and such, but geographically, its farther north than south. \*\* But it is south of the Mason-Dixon line. Of course, so is the southernmost part of New Jersey. ---
**Author:** ![Modian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Modian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modian)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-do-other-nations-citizens-know-us-geography/187672/105 "2003-07-17T17:39:17Z")
> [@](#): > > How many times online have I told someone I lived in West Virginia and got the reply “Oh yeah, I know someone who lives in Virginia.” > > “Um … West Virginia. It’s a different state.” > > “There’s TWO Virginias?!” Actually, there’s three. West Virginia, Virginia, and Northern Virginia. 😉 -Mod [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-well-do-other-nations-citizens-know-us-geography/187672.md?page=5)