US Statehood Dates
The United States began with 13 original colonies that declared independence from Great Britain in 1776. Since then, 37 additional states have joined the Union, expanding the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific and beyond.
Each state's admission to the Union represents a significant chapter in American history, from the early expansion westward to the addition of Alaska and Hawaii in the mid-20th century.
Statehood Chronology
| State | Date of Admission | Order |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | December 7, 1787 | 1st |
| Pennsylvania | December 12, 1787 | 2nd |
| New Jersey | December 18, 1787 | 3rd |
| Georgia | January 2, 1788 | 4th |
| Connecticut | January 9, 1788 | 5th |
| Massachusetts | February 6, 1788 | 6th |
| Maryland | April 28, 1788 | 7th |
| South Carolina | May 23, 1788 | 8th |
| New Hampshire | June 21, 1788 | 9th |
| Virginia | June 25, 1788 | 10th |
| New York | July 26, 1788 | 11th |
| North Carolina | November 21, 1789 | 12th |
| Rhode Island | May 29, 1790 | 13th |
| Vermont | March 4, 1791 | 14th |
| Kentucky | June 1, 1792 | 15th |
| Tennessee | June 1, 1796 | 16th |
| Ohio | March 1, 1803 | 17th |
| Louisiana | April 30, 1812 | 18th |
| Indiana | December 11, 1816 | 19th |
| Mississippi | December 10, 1817 | 20th |
| Illinois | December 3, 1818 | 21st |
| Alabama | December 14, 1819 | 22nd |
| Maine | March 15, 1820 | 23rd |
| Missouri | August 10, 1821 | 24th |
| Arkansas | June 15, 1836 | 25th |
| Michigan | January 26, 1837 | 26th |
| Florida | March 3, 1845 | 27th |
| Texas | December 29, 1845 | 28th |
| Iowa | December 28, 1846 | 29th |
| Wisconsin | May 29, 1848 | 30th |
| California | September 9, 1850 | 31st |
| Minnesota | May 11, 1858 | 32nd |
| Oregon | February 14, 1859 | 33rd |
| Kansas | January 29, 1861 | 34th |
| West Virginia | June 20, 1863 | 35th |
| Nevada | October 31, 1864 | 36th |
| Nebraska | March 1, 1867 | 37th |
| Colorado | August 1, 1876 | 38th |
| North Dakota | November 2, 1889 | 39th |
| South Dakota | November 2, 1889 | 40th |
| Montana | November 8, 1889 | 41st |
| Washington | November 11, 1889 | 42nd |
| Idaho | July 3, 1890 | 43rd |
| Wyoming | July 10, 1890 | 44th |
| Utah | January 4, 1896 | 45th |
| Oklahoma | November 16, 1907 | 46th |
| New Mexico | January 6, 1912 | 47th |
| Arizona | February 14, 1912 | 48th |
| Alaska | January 3, 1959 | 49th |
| Hawaii | August 21, 1959 | 50th |
Eras of Expansion
Original 13 Colonies (1787-1790)
The original thirteen British colonies that declared independence and formed the first states of the Union.
- Delaware - December 7, 1787
- Pennsylvania - December 12, 1787
- New Jersey - December 18, 1787
- Georgia - January 2, 1788
- Connecticut - January 9, 1788
- Massachusetts - February 6, 1788
- Maryland - April 28, 1788
- South Carolina - May 23, 1788
- New Hampshire - June 21, 1788
- Virginia - June 25, 1788
- New York - July 26, 1788
- North Carolina - November 21, 1789
- Rhode Island - May 29, 1790
Early Expansion (1791-1819)
The first wave of expansion beyond the original colonies, including the Vermont Republic and Kentucky.
- Vermont - March 4, 1791
- Kentucky - June 1, 1792
- Tennessee - June 1, 1796
- Ohio - March 1, 1803
- Louisiana - April 30, 1812
- Indiana - December 11, 1816
- Mississippi - December 10, 1817
- Illinois - December 3, 1818
- Alabama - December 14, 1819
Antebellum Period (1820-1860)
States admitted during the tense period leading up to the Civil War, often as part of compromises over slavery.
- Maine - March 15, 1820
- Missouri - August 10, 1821
- Arkansas - June 15, 1836
- Michigan - January 26, 1837
- Florida - March 3, 1845
- Texas - December 29, 1845
- Iowa - December 28, 1846
- Wisconsin - May 29, 1848
- California - September 9, 1850
- Minnesota - May 11, 1858
- Oregon - February 14, 1859
Civil War & Reconstruction (1861-1876)
States admitted during and immediately after the American Civil War.
- Kansas - January 29, 1861
- West Virginia - June 20, 1863
- Nevada - October 31, 1864
- Nebraska - March 1, 1867
- Colorado - August 1, 1876
Western Expansion (1889-1912)
The rapid admission of western territories as the frontier closed and the continental United States took shape.
- North Dakota - November 2, 1889
- South Dakota - November 2, 1889
- Montana - November 8, 1889
- Washington - November 11, 1889
- Idaho - July 3, 1890
- Wyoming - July 10, 1890
- Utah - January 4, 1896
- Oklahoma - November 16, 1907
- New Mexico - January 6, 1912
- Arizona - February 14, 1912
Modern Era (1959)
The most recent additions to the United States, completing the current 50 states.
- Alaska - January 3, 1959
- Hawaii - August 21, 1959
Statehood Expansion Map
This map illustrates the chronological expansion of the United States from the original 13 colonies to the current 50 states.
Interesting Statehood Facts
Longest Wait
New Mexico had the longest wait between becoming a U.S. territory (1850) and achieving statehood (1912) - a total of 62 years.
Same-Day Admissions
North and South Dakota were both admitted on November 2, 1889. President Benjamin Harrison shuffled the statehood papers so no one would know which state was admitted first.
Former Republic
Texas is the only state that was an internationally recognized independent republic before joining the United States.
Valentine's Day States
Both Oregon (1859) and Arizona (1912) were admitted to the Union on February 14th, Valentine's Day.
Centennial State
Colorado earned its nickname "The Centennial State" because it joined the Union in 1876, exactly 100 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Last Additions
Alaska and Hawaii were both admitted in 1959, ending a 47-year period without any new states being added to the Union.
Key Moments in U.S. Territorial Expansion
Treaty of Paris
Great Britain formally recognized American independence and ceded territory east of the Mississippi River.
Louisiana Purchase
The United States purchased 828,000 square miles of territory from France, doubling the size of the country.
Adams-Onís Treaty
Spain ceded Florida to the United States and defined the boundary between U.S. and Spanish territories.
Texas Annexation
The Republic of Texas was annexed by the United States, becoming the 28th state.
Oregon Treaty
The United States and Great Britain established the 49th parallel as the northern boundary of the western U.S.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Mexico ceded California and the Southwest to the United States following the Mexican-American War.
Alaska Purchase
The United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, often called "Seward's Folly."
Hawaiian Annexation
The United States annexed the Republic of Hawaii, which would later become the 50th state.