Quiz challenge
By 2020 Census land area, which option is smaller than Utah?
Select an answer to continue.
The correct answer is A) Kansas.
According to official 2020 U.S. Census land area measurements, Kansas is smaller than Utah.
Determining which American states cover more ground requires examining official land area metrics provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. While many Western states appear massive on political maps, their actual land area figures often hold unexpected surprises once inland lakes, reservoirs, and rivers are removed from the calculation. Comparing state footprints side by side using official 2020 Census measurements highlights subtle geographic differences between neighboring Mountain, Pacific, and Great Plains states.
The correct answer
A) Kansas
According to official 2020 U.S. Census land area measurements, Kansas is smaller than Utah.
Based on the 2020 Census QuickFacts land area measure, variable LND110220, Utah encompasses approximately 82,376.85 square miles of land area. Kansas covers approximately 81,758.59 square miles of land area, placing it just slightly below Utah in total land mass. Although Kansas is often envisioned as an expansive plain in the heartland of North America, its total land surface falls short of Utah by roughly 618 square miles. This comparison relies strictly on land area rather than total area, which incorporates major inland bodies of water like Utah's Great Salt Lake. When examining pure land territory from the 2020 Census count, Kansas ranks 15th among all fifty U.S. states, whereas Utah occupies the 13th spot.
More context
Understanding how federal agencies calculate geographic measurements is crucial when evaluating state size rankings. The U.S. Census Bureau distinguishes carefully between land area and water area in its TIGER database and QuickFacts products. Land area includes dry land and land temporarily submerged, while water area encompasses inland lakes, ponds, reservoirs, coastal waters, and major river systems. This technical distinction plays a significant role for a state like Utah, where Great Salt Lake and Utah Lake cover extensive surface areas. When looking at total area including water, Utah spans nearly 84,897 square miles. However, when isolating land area alone, Utah measures 82,376.85 square miles, staying just ahead of Kansas and slightly behind Idaho. These precise boundary definitions ensure consistent nationwide comparisons across decennial census vintages.
Quick facts
- The 2020 Census QuickFacts dataset reports Kansas with 81,758.59 square miles of land area and Utah with 82,376.85 square miles.
- Idaho edges out Utah in land area by just under 268 square miles, measuring 82,645.14 square miles in the 2020 Census vintage.
- Wyoming and Oregon both exceed 95,000 square miles of land area, placing both state options comfortably above Utah in total size.
- Inland water bodies such as Great Salt Lake add over 2,500 square miles to Utah's total surface area beyond its official land area measurement.
Sources
- Kansas QuickFacts — U.S. Census Bureau Kansas had a 2020 Census land area of 81,758.59 square miles.
- Utah QuickFacts — U.S. Census Bureau Utah had a 2020 Census land area of 82,376.85 square miles.
- How Wet is Your State? The Water Area of Each State — U.S. Geological Survey State size comparisons can vary between total surface area and land area alone.
