Southwest States: Core States, Full List, and Map
Southwest States: Core States, Full List, and Map
Ranking - Geography
Monument Valley straddles the Arizona-Utah border on the Navajo Nation, one of the largest Native American nations in the United States. Arizona and New Mexico are the only two states that appear in every definition of the American Southwest.
Quick Answer
What matters most
-
1
Arizona and New Mexico are the only two states that appear in every definition of the American Southwest. Texas, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado are frequently included but are not in every source's definition.
-
2
Texas (268,596 sq mi) is the largest state in any Southwest definition. If Texas is included, the Southwest becomes the largest U.S. region by area and population. New Mexico (121,590 sq mi) and Arizona (113,990 sq mi) are the geographic core of the region.
-
3
The Southwest has no Census definition — the Census Bureau groups these states in the West region. Definitions come from geographic encyclopedias, tourism boards, and cultural references, which produce anywhere from 4 to 8 states depending on the source.
Map
Southwest States Map
| Rank | State | Southwest Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | 3 |
| 2 | New Mexico | 3 |
| 3 | Texas | 2 |
| 4 | Nevada | 2 |
| 5 | Utah | 2 |
| 6 | Colorado | 2 |
Arizona (113,990 sq mi) and New Mexico (121,590 sq mi) are the two core Southwest states that appear in every definition. Texas (268,596 sq mi) is the largest sometimes-included state — if included, it would account for more than half the Southwest's total area.
Southwest States: Core States, Full List, and Map
Search, sort, and compareBrowse
Filter and explore
Search by state name, switch views, and compare columns.
No matching entries
Adjust the filter to show more entries.
|
Rank
|
State
|
Status
|
Area (sq mi)
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Arizona
|
Core | 113,990 | Appears in every definition of the Southwest. |
| 2 |
New Mexico
|
Core | 121,590 | Appears in every definition of the Southwest. |
| 3 |
Texas
|
Frequently Included | 268,596 | Population approximately 29.1 million. |
| 4 |
Nevada
|
Frequently Included | 110,572 | Population approximately 3.1 million. |
| 5 |
Utah
|
Sometimes Included | 84,897 | Population approximately 3.3 million. |
| 6 |
Colorado
|
Sometimes Included | 104,094 | Population approximately 5.8 million. |
No matching entries
Adjust the filter to show more entries.
Printable Version
Free Printable Southwest States: Core States, Full List, and Map — PDF Download
Download a printable PDF for Southwest States: Core States, Full List, and Map. Optimized for quick reference and printing, useful for researchers, teachers, and students.
Generated on demand — may take a few seconds.
What States Are in the Southwest?
Arizona and New Mexico are the only two states that appear in every definition of the American Southwest. Both are in the Census Mountain division of the West region. Arizona (113,990 sq mi, approximately 7.2 million residents) and New Mexico (121,590 sq mi, approximately 2.1 million residents) share a long border and the cultural overlap of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts, Native American nations spanning both states, and the tri-cultural tradition of Native, Hispanic, and Anglo heritage.
Texas, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado are frequently included but not universal. Texas is included in most Southwest definitions based on the terrain and culture of West Texas (El Paso, Big Bend, the Trans-Pecos region), but its eastern two-thirds are firmly Southern. Nevada is included based on its southern Mojave Desert landscape; Utah is included based on its canyon country in the south. Colorado is included by some sources for its Four Corners and Mesa Verde region.
Why Doesn't the Census Define the Southwest?
The Census Bureau's four-region system places Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah in the West region's Mountain division, and Texas in the South's West South Central division. The Census does not define a Southwest region. As a result, Southwest definitions come from geographic encyclopedias, the National Park Service's administrative regions, tourism organizations, and cultural usage — producing anywhere from 4 to 8 states depending on the source.
The National Park Service's Intermountain Region covers Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming — a much broader set than the cultural Southwest. Encyclopaedia Britannica's definition of the Southwestern United States typically covers the core states of Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Texas, with Utah and Colorado treated as Mountain West or sometimes-Southwest.
Largest Southwest States by Area and Population
If Texas is included, it is by far the largest Southwest state at 268,596 square miles — more than twice the size of New Mexico (121,590 sq mi) and Arizona (113,990 sq mi) combined. Texas also has the largest Southwest population at approximately 29.1 million, followed by Arizona at approximately 7.2 million and Colorado at approximately 5.8 million. If Texas is excluded, New Mexico (121,590 sq mi) is the largest Southwest state by area, and Arizona (approximately 7.2 million) leads by population.
Quick Answers
What states are in the Southwest?
Is Texas in the Southwest?
Is Utah in the Southwest?
Is Nevada in the Southwest?
What is the largest Southwest state?
What is the Southwest known for?
Methodology
How we researched this list
Southwest classification reflects the geographic consensus across major reference sources. Core states appear in virtually every published definition. Sometimes-included states appear in some definitions but not others, typically due to overlapping regional identities (Texas with the South, Nevada with the West, Colorado with the Mountain West). southwest_score: 3 = universally recognized, 2 = frequently or sometimes included.
Sources
Sources & references
-
1
Encyclopaedia Britannica — Southwestern United States
Britannica's definition of the Southwestern United States, covering the region's geographic boundaries, climate, and which states are consistently included
https://www.britannica.com/place/southwestern-United-States -
2
National Park Service — Southwest Region
The National Park Service's Southwest region administrative boundary, which covers Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of surrounding states
https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1253/index.htm
You Might Also Like
50 States in Order of Statehood: Delaware (1787) to Hawaii (1959)
All 50 U.S. states ranked by statehood order — Delaware first (Dec 7, 1787) to Hawaii last (Aug 21, 1959). Includes admission dates and entry type.
Which US State Flags Have Bears on Them?
Only 2 state flags have bears: California's extinct grizzly dominates the entire design; Missouri hides 3 grizzlies in its state seal. Full history.
US State Flags with Sun Symbols and Sunbursts
New Mexico's Zia sun is the clearest sun flag in the US. Arizona has 13 sun rays. South Dakota has a gold sunburst. Every state flag with sun imagery.
US State Flags with Stars: Every State Listed
Alaska's flag is 8 stars, Texas has 1 Lone Star, Indiana has 19, Tennessee has 3. See every US state flag that features stars and what they mean.
Which US States Have Birds on Their Flags?
Exactly 10 U.S. state flags feature birds: 9 bald eagles and Louisiana's brown pelican. See all 10 with photos, placement details, and the story behind each design.
Original 13 Colonies: Full List, Founding Dates, Regions, and Ratification Order
The 13 original colonies with founding dates, regions, and ratification order. Virginia first (1607), Georgia last (1732), Rhode Island last to ratify.
Windiest States in the U.S. — All 50 Ranked by Average Wind Speed
South Dakota leads the U.S. in average wind speed at 11.5 mph. Full 50-state ranking with wind speed data, map, and why some states are windier.
US State Flags Ranked by Number of Stars
Missouri's flag has the most stars: 24 gold in a circle. Indiana has 19, Alaska has 8 (Big Dipper). Full ranking by star count for all 50 state flags.