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According to the US systems and tradition, all the states or territories are represented by abbreviations and codes for different purposes, including data processing and postal addresses. These codes and abbreviations have been used since the early 19th century.
List of state abbreviations for all the US states, US territories and the United States military. See the complete list of US two-letter postal abbreviations.
This table includes abbreviations for three independent countries related to the United States through Compacts of Free Association, and other comparable postal abbreviations, including those now obsolete.
A list of state abbreviations since 1831 is provided below. A more complete list of current abbreviations, including all U.S. possessions, is available online at https://pe.usps.com/text/pub28/28apb.htm .
Much of the confusion around state abbreviations comes from the eight states that begin with "M" (Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, and Montana). Of these states, only two follow the first-and-second-letter rule: Massachusetts (MA) and Michigan (MI).
the abbreviation for Nebraska, originally NB, was changed to NE, to avoid confusion with New Brunswick in Canada. A list of state abbreviations since 1831 is provided at right. A more complete list of current abbreviations, including all U.S. possessions, is available online at https://pe.usps.com/text/pub28/28apb.htm. HISTORIAN
Two–Letter State and Possession Abbreviations. Use the abbreviations below when addressing mail.
In 1831 the USPS developed its first list of state abbreviations, each consisting of two letters except Ohio’s, which was simply “O.” In 1874 the list was updated to include new states, and longer abbreviations were introduced, largely to avoid confusion.
With that in mind, here's the complete A-Z list of the 50 U.S. states' abbreviations and letter codes, so you can be sure they will get to the right place, and a state abbreviation quiz, so you can test your knowledge!
United States postal abbreviations for states and territories. Did you know? For the most part, these state abbreviations have stayed the same since 1963. One exception is Nebraska, which changed its abbreviation from NB to NE in 1967 to avoid confusion with the Canadian province New Brunswick. Also included is a fact for each state.