Western states refer to the group of states located in the western region of the United States. These states typically include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
Related terms
Manifest Destiny: The belief held by many Americans in the 19th century that it was their God-given right to expand westward and settle these newly acquired lands.
Homestead Act: A law passed in 1862 that provided free land to settlers willing to live on and cultivate it for five years.
Transcontinental Railroad: A railway system completed in 1869 that connected the eastern and western coasts of the United States for faster transportation and trade.