The various states of The United States can be grouped in several ways.

• They can be grouped by which section of the country they are found in (e.g. Western States, Southern States, Mid- Western States, New England, etc.)
• States may also be grouped into two: those on a coast and those inland.
• You may have learned the names of the states in alphabetical order. This is yet another way of grouping the states.

When you go on a trip, it is important to classify the route you plan on taking and to utilize the map associated with the state(s) through which you will travel. While you may have many maps, if you lack the appropriate one for a certain state through which you travel, you might have a hard time finding your way.

Scientists have struggled to find correct classification systems to use. Early classification systems grouped things by whether they were alive or not. Then scientists began utilizing the fact that plants and animals are different. Finally, they realized that there were significant differences between specific types of plants and animals. They eventually agreed on the system we use today.