Difference Between Eastern Time Zone and Central Time Zone

Eastern Time Zone vs. Central Time Zone

Throughout the world there are different time zones that are used to separate areas based on the sun and the rotation and revolutions of the Earth. In North America, these time zones are named based on their geographic location. There is the Eastern time zone, the Central time zone, the Mountain time zone, and the Pacific time zone in the United States. Each of these time zones is split up geographically in order to better suit the areas that are receiving light at certain hours. The Eastern time zone is one hour ahead of the Central time zone. So if it is 8:00 p.m. in the Eastern time zone, it is 7:00 p.m. in the Central time zone.

The Eastern time zone runs along the eastern seaboard of the United States including all the states that touch the Atlantic ocean. From Maine down through Florida and across to places like Georgia and Michigan, they are all on this time zone. It also extends south into the Caribbean and north into parts of Canada. The Central time zone runs along the left side of the Eastern time zone states. These are areas that are not touching the Atlantic. These states range from Minnesota to Louisiana and Texas and from Illinois to Kansas. This time zone also extends more into parts of Canada and covers much of Mexico. Eastern time zone is abbreviated as “EST” or Eastern Standard Time, and it is the first time zone you encounter on the east side of the country. Like the Eastern time zone, you can abbreviate the Central time zone by using “CST” or Central Standard Time.

The Eastern time zone is five hours behind the Coordinated Universal Time and does follow daylight savings times as well. In emails that are being sent from people in this time zone, there will be a -0600 in the header. This is to notify the receiver that there is, in fact, a time difference. The Central time zone is six hours behind the Coordinated Universal Time and also follows daylight savings times. Emails from this time zone will reflect a -0500 in the header as a notification to the receiver that this is where the email originates. For those in Canada and Mexico, the Eastern time zone is referred to as Tiempo del Este in Spanish and Heure Normale d l’Est in French. The Spanish name for the Central time zone is Tiempo Centrale Estandar and in French it is Heure Normale du Centre.
While both time zones are used in the same manner, to differentiate between time, they are not similar in any other ways.
Summary:

1.The Eastern time zone and the Central time zone are used to separate time based on geographical differences. The Eastern time zone is one hour ahead of the Central time zone.
2.The Eastern time zone affects states that are off the coast of the Atlantic, parts of Canada, and the Caribbean. The Central time zone affects the states that are in-between the Eastern time zone and the Mountain time zone, parts of Canada, and a lot of Mexico.
3.Eastern time zone is abbreviated with “EST” or Eastern Standard Time. Central time zone is abbreviated with “CST” or Central Standard Time.

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