Does the US really have 52 states?

Excuse me, I'm a bit confused about something I read recently. It mentioned that the United States has 52 states. Now, I'm well aware that the US is made up of 50 states, but this information has piqued my curiosity. Could you perhaps shed some light on this? Are there any special circumstances or territories that might bring the total to 52, or is this simply a mistake? I'd appreciate any clarification you can provide.