The East Coast region of the United States refers to the states that lie along the Atlantic Ocean. This region is also known as the Eastern Seaboard or the Atlantic Coast. There are 14 states with a shoreline on the Atlantic Ocean. Those states are Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia. The states of West Virginia and Vermont do not have a coastline, but they are sometimes grouped in with the East Coast states because of their locations and history. While Pennsylvania does not touch the Atlantic Ocean coastline, it is still considered an East Coast state. The east coast states include the Mid-Atlantic Region, comprised of Delaware, D.C., Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
One interesting historical fact about the East Coast states is that all of the original thirteen colonies are located along the East Coast. Today, these states make up the most populated coastal area in the nation. According to data from the 2010 Census, the states that have a coastline on the Atlantic Ocean have a total population of over 112 million people – about 36% of the United States' total population.
There are many highly populated cities in these East Coast states, including New York City. Other populated cities along the East Coast include Jacksonville, Florida; Charlotte, North Carolina; Boston, Massachusetts; and Balitmore, Maryland. New York City is the largest city on the East Coast, with a population of over 8.6 million inhabitants. New York City is also the most populous city in the nation. Other most populated cities in this region include Charlotte, North Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida.
Based on estimates taken in 2017, the East Coast states have a total population of over 118 million inhabitants. This region is home to more than one-third of the nation's total population. It is also the most populated coastal region in the country. By area, the largest state on the East Coast in Florida has over 65,000 square miles. Rhode Island is the smallest East Coast state by area at just over 1,544 square miles. Rhode Island is also the smallest state in the U.S. The largest East Coast state is Florida, which has an estimated population of over 21 million people. New York doesn't fall far behind, with a total population of over 19.5 million inhabitants. The least populous East Coast state is Delaware, which has a population of around 967,000.