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Time Change 2012 in the United States

Next change:
Nov
3
1 hour Back

Nov 3, 2024, 2:00 am

Country: United States
Long Name: United States of America
Abbreviations: US, USA
Capital: Washington DC
Time Zones: 7 (Main Country)
Total Time Zones: 12 (with dependencies)
Dial Code: +1

Mar 11

Forward 1 hour

Mar 11, 2012 - Daylight Saving Time Started

When local standard time was about to reach
Sunday, March 11, 2012, 2:00:00 am clocks were turned forward 1 hour to
Sunday, March 11, 2012, 3:00:00 am local daylight time instead.

Sunrise and sunset were about 1 hour later on Mar 11, 2012 than the day before. There was more light in the evening.

Also called Spring Forward, Summer Time, and Daylight Savings Time.

More info:
Sunday, March 11: Daylight saving starts in USA & Canada

Nov 4

Back 1 hour

Nov 4, 2012 - Daylight Saving Time Ended

When local daylight time was about to reach
Sunday, November 4, 2012, 2:00:00 am clocks were turned backward 1 hour to
Sunday, November 4, 2012, 1:00:00 am local standard time instead.

Sunrise and sunset were about 1 hour earlier on Nov 4, 2012 than the day before. There was more light in the morning.

Also called Fall Back and Winter Time.

More info:
Sunday, Nov 4, 2012: DST ends in USA and Canada

Other years: 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2024

When Does DST Start and End in the US?

Daylight Saving Time (DST) in most of the United States starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

Which States and Federal Districts use Daylight Saving Time in 2012

Areas in United States using DST in 2012
Areas in United States on standard time all of 2012

DST in States and Federal Districts in USA in 2012
(51 in total, 49 where all observe DST, 1 which doesn't observe DST, 1 with parts on DST)

AlabamaMar 11 – Nov 4KentuckyMar 11 – Nov 4OhioMar 11 – Nov 4
AlaskaMar 11 – Nov 4LouisianaMar 11 – Nov 4OklahomaMar 11 – Nov 4
Arizona (northeast)Mar 11 – Nov 4MaineMar 11 – Nov 4OregonMar 11 – Nov 4
ArizonaNo DSTMarylandMar 11 – Nov 4PennsylvaniaMar 11 – Nov 4
ArkansasMar 11 – Nov 4MassachusettsMar 11 – Nov 4Rhode IslandMar 11 – Nov 4
CaliforniaMar 11 – Nov 4MichiganMar 11 – Nov 4South CarolinaMar 11 – Nov 4
ColoradoMar 11 – Nov 4MinnesotaMar 11 – Nov 4South DakotaMar 11 – Nov 4
ConnecticutMar 11 – Nov 4MississippiMar 11 – Nov 4TennesseeMar 11 – Nov 4
DelawareMar 11 – Nov 4MissouriMar 11 – Nov 4TexasMar 11 – Nov 4
District of ColumbiaMar 11 – Nov 4MontanaMar 11 – Nov 4UtahMar 11 – Nov 4
FloridaMar 11 – Nov 4NebraskaMar 11 – Nov 4VermontMar 11 – Nov 4
GeorgiaMar 11 – Nov 4NevadaMar 11 – Nov 4VirginiaMar 11 – Nov 4
HawaiiNo DSTNew HampshireMar 11 – Nov 4WashingtonMar 11 – Nov 4
IdahoMar 11 – Nov 4New JerseyMar 11 – Nov 4West VirginiaMar 11 – Nov 4
IllinoisMar 11 – Nov 4New MexicoMar 11 – Nov 4WisconsinMar 11 – Nov 4
IndianaMar 11 – Nov 4New YorkMar 11 – Nov 4WyomingMar 11 – Nov 4
IowaMar 11 – Nov 4North CarolinaMar 11 – Nov 4
KansasMar 11 – Nov 4North DakotaMar 11 – Nov 4

DST in Other Locations in USA in 2012 (1 Location)

Palmyra AtollNo DST

Which States Don't Use DST?

Most of Arizona and Hawaii don't use DST. Indiana introduced DST in 2006.

Daylight Saving Time in Dependencies of USA

DependencyTypeDaylight Saving Time Period
American SamoaUnincorp. unorg. territoryNo Daylight Saving Time
GuamUnincorp. org. territoryNo Daylight Saving Time
Northern Mariana IslandsUnincorp. org. territoryNo Daylight Saving Time
Puerto RicoUnincorp. org. territoryNo Daylight Saving Time
US Minor Outlying IslandsTerritoryNo Daylight Saving Time
US Virgin IslandsUnincorp. org. territoryNo Daylight Saving Time

US dependencies do not use Daylight Saving Time (DST).

Daylight Saving Time History in United States

DST in the USA Today

Daylight Saving Time (DST) in the USA starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. The current schedule was introduced in 2007 and follows the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

According to section 110 of the act, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) governs the use of DST. The law does not affect the rights of the states and territories that choose not to observe DST.

Confusing DST Rules

Historically, there were no uniform rules for DST from 1945 to 1966. This caused widespread confusion, especially in transport and broadcasting. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 aligned the switch dates across the USA for the first time.

Following the 1973 oil embargo, the US Congress extended the DST period to 10 months in 1974 and 8 months in 1975, in an effort to save energy.

After the energy crisis was over in 1976, the DST schedule in the US was revised several times. From 1987 to 2006, the country observed DST for about 7 months each year.