The Mid-Atlantic states are a region of the United States located between New England to the north and the South. The region typically includes New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, though some people also count Virginia and West Virginia. The name comes from these states' position along the middle section of the Atlantic coast.

This region played a crucial role in American history. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, served as the nation's capital in the early years of the United States, and the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were both written there. New York City became America's largest city and a major center of immigration, business, and culture. The Mid-Atlantic region also includes Washington, D.C., the nation's capital, which sits between Maryland and Virginia.

The Mid-Atlantic is known for its diversity. Unlike regions that developed mostly from one group of settlers, this area was shaped by many different peoples: Dutch settlers in New York, Quakers in Pennsylvania, and various immigrant communities in cities like Baltimore and Philadelphia. The region combines urban centers with rural farmland, beaches with mountains, and represents a blend of Northern and Southern characteristics that makes it distinctly American.