# Where is the geographic centre of the US?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-geographic-centre-of-the-us/364568>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 15, 2006, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-geographic-centre-of-the-us/364568 "2006-07-15T01:57:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-geographic-centre-of-the-us/364568/1 "2006-07-15T01:57:17Z")

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Well, where is it?

A town/city and state would be great. If there’s no town right there, something nearby would be swell.

Thanks!

🙂

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**Author:** ![Waterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Waterman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waterman)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-geographic-centre-of-the-us/364568/2 "2006-07-15T02:04:46Z")

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Pre 1959 it is:

[Geographic Center Before 1959](file:///G:/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.IE5/FODP7HO5/285,19,Geographic Center of US (before 1959))

After 1959:

[After 1959](file:///G:/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.IE5/FODP7HO5/286,20,Geographic Center of US (since 1959))

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-geographic-centre-of-the-us/364568/3 "2006-07-15T02:05:56Z")

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The center of all 50 states (as opposed to only the contiguous 48) is: 44°58’ North, 103°46’ West - West of Castle Rock, Butte County, South Dakota.

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**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-geographic-centre-of-the-us/364568/4 "2006-07-15T02:05:57Z")

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[Here it is](http://ludb.clui.org/ex/i/SD3127/), for the geographic center of ALL 50 states.

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**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-geographic-centre-of-the-us/364568/5 "2006-07-15T02:06:09Z")

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[QUOTE=Waterman]  
Pre 1959 it is:

[Geographic Center Before 1959](file:///G:/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.IE5/FODP7HO5/285,19,Geographic Center of US (before 1959))

After 1959:

[After 1959](file:///G:/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.IE5/FODP7HO5/286,20,Geographic Center of US (since 1959))  
[/QUOTE]

Those links go to your computer, not to accessible urls…

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**Author:** ![Waterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Waterman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waterman)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-geographic-centre-of-the-us/364568/6 "2006-07-15T03:34:08Z")

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[QUOTE=jayjay]  
Those links go to your computer, not to accessible urls…  
[/QUOTE]

:smack: OOPS - I should have looked at the actual URL :smack:

:dubious: I was sorta kinda first though! :dubious:

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**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-geographic-centre-of-the-us/364568/7 "2006-07-15T04:00:52Z")

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So there you have it, folks. The center of the United States is Waterman’s computer. Specifically, the G drive. Apparently he lives in North Dakota.

Just for completeness, here’s a link to the same site Antigen pointed us to, but for the lower 48 states. Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you: [The center!](http://ludb.clui.org/ex/i/KS3129/)

Apparently the center was discovered via the time honored tradition of cutting out a map of the United States from cardboard and balancing it on a pencil. I have no information as to whether this was done as part of a science fair project; my magic 8-ball told me to ask again later, so I’ll get back to you.