I think the most common term is "Continental US" or "contiguous US". The term "lower 48" is used pretty much only by Alaskans afaik. Why do we call it that? No idea, probably because it sounds better than "lower 49" and everyone around here knows what it means. I've never heard "Continental 48" before.
Susitna_Strong t1_jc02jph wrote
Reply to comment by [deleted] in [OC] Bank Failures by US State since 2000 by pm_me_jupiter_photos
I think the most common term is "Continental US" or "contiguous US". The term "lower 48" is used pretty much only by Alaskans afaik. Why do we call it that? No idea, probably because it sounds better than "lower 49" and everyone around here knows what it means. I've never heard "Continental 48" before.