US Time Zones: from Alaska to Jamaica

The territory of the United States lies in the zone of six time zones. The US time zones are those invisible threads that determine when residents of a particular district wake up and when they go to bed. In other words, they are responsible for the daily routine of all citizens of the country without exception. In accordance with them, the North American East and Pacific, Central, Mountain, Hawaiian-Aleutian and Alaskan standard time are distinguished.

Excursion to the history

For the first time, the US time zones entered everyday life at the state level at the very end of the 19th century. Their use in 1883 was introduced first on the railway. And in 1918 they already received official status and were endorsed by the Congress of the United States of America. The established standard definition of time zones was regulated by an act that only strengthened the system that had been developed by that time.

Today the US time zones are in the hands of the current government of the country. Officials of the Department of Transport are entitled to determine and change the actual local time limits. The transition to summer and winter time is described by the relevant federal law.

North American Eastern Area (GMT-5)

The territory of Eastern Standard Time is occupied by such states as Rhode Island, West Virginia, Michigan, Georgia, Florida, Connecticut, Indiana, South and North Carolina, Massachusetts and others. In total, there are twenty-three districts. Among them are the megacities of New York and New Jersey. In the same time region, the Canadian cities of Quebec and Toronto are located. Its inhabitants are also subordinated to the inhabitants of the Bahamas, Haiti and Jamaica.

Central zone (GMT-6)

Under the influence of the Central Standard Time are Wisconsin, Nebraska, Kansas, Florida, Alabama, Texas and fourteen more regions. Since the US time zones extend not only to the possessions of the United States, they also have citizens of the middle lands of Canada, as well as Mexico. The largest settlements, located in this area, are Dallas, Chicago, Winnipeg and metropolitan Mexico City.

Mountainous area (GMT-7)

The actions of Mountain Standard Time are subordinated to the lives of citizens of Arizona, Wyoming, Idaho, Nebraska (in part), Colorado, western South Dakota, Utah and Montana. It includes New Mexico, some areas of Oregon and Texas. In total, there are eleven states. Important economic centers of the zone are Denver and Edmonton.

The North American Pacific Zone (GMT-8)

Pacific Standard Time is represented by populated areas of sunny California, sultry Nevada, the lion's share of Oregon's farmland. Signed cities are Los Angeles, Vancouver (Canada) and Dawson.

Returning to the question of how many time zones in the US, I want to note that the four above-mentioned temporary regions are basic and extend to the large territory of the United States of America, Canada and Mexico. The remaining two are considered island.

Standard Alaska Area (GMT-9)

Time on the peninsula is different from the average for Greenwich for nine hours. That is, when in Ireland there is noon, in North America there is a deep night. In this zone are the cities of Anchorage, Lakes, Fairbanks, College, Sitka, Juneau, Badger, Eagle River, Nick Fairview, Taina.

The Hawaiian-Aleutian Standard Zone (GMT-10)

The zone of Hawaii Standard Time and Aleutian Standard Time includes the settlements of Honolulu, Kahului, Kihei, Pearl City, Hilo, Waipahu, Mililani, Kailua, Kaneohe, Gentry.

So six time zones - this is the only true answer to the question of how many time zones in the US. Five of them occupy continental land. The sixth passes through the island part of the state domain and affects the lives of only one and a half million people living in Hawaii.

It is noteworthy, but between the American Kruzenshtern and the Russian island of Ratmanov is only four kilometers. This distance is easily overcome by an ordinary motor boat in twenty minutes. But the difference in time between them is 21 hours.