How Many States Are in the United States?
There are fifty states. Forty-eight of them, the contiguous states, are included in one large land mass located between Canada and Mexico. The other two, Alaska and Hawaii, are not attached. Alaska sticks off the north-west corner of Canada, and Hawaii is a series of islands located in the south Pacific. The United States also has several territories, mostly small islands, located around the globe.
From 1787 to 1959, the United States was growing. The following is a list of the 50 states in the United States, their nicknames, and the date on which they joined the Union, in order from first to the most recent additions.
- Delaware, the Diamond State, the First State or Small Wonder - December 7, 1787
- Pennsylvania, the Keystone State - December 12, 1787
- New Jersey, the Garden State - December 18, 1787
- Georgia, the Peach State - January 2, 1788
- Connecticut, the Constitution State - January 9, 1788
- Massachusetts, the Bay State, the Old Colony State - February 6, 1788
- Maryland, the Free State, the Old Line State - April 28, 1788
- South Carolina, the Palmetto State - May 23, 1788
- New Hampshire, the Granite State - June 21, 1788
- Virginia, The Old Dominion, Mother of Presidents - June 25, 1788
- New York, the Empire State - July 26, 1788
- North Carolina, the Tar Heel State, the Old North State - November 21, 1789
- Rhode Island, The Ocean State - May 29, 1790
- Vermont, the Green Mountain State - March 4, 1791
- Kentucky, the Bluegrass State - June 1, 1792
- Tennessee, the Volunteer State - June 1, 1796
- Ohio, the Buckeye State - March 1, 1803
- Louisiana, the Pelican State - April 30, 1812
- Indiana, the Hoosier State - December 11, 1816
- Mississippi, the Magnolia State - December 10, 1817
- Illinois, the Prairie State - December 3, 1818
- Alabama, the Yellowhammer State - December 14, 1819
- Maine, the Pine Tree State - March 15, 1820
- Missouri, the Show-me State - August 10, 1821
- Arkansas, The Natural State - June 15, 1836
- Michigan, the Wolverine State - January 26, 1837
- Florida, the Sunshine State - March 3, 1845
- Texas, the Lone Star State - December 29, 1845
- Iowa, the Hawkeye State - December 28, 1846
- Wisconsin, the Badger State - May 29, 1848
- California, the Golden State - September 9, 1850
- Minnesota, the North Star State, the Gopher State, the Land of 10,000 Lakes - May 11, 1858
- Oregon, the Beaver State - February 14, 1859
- Kansas, the Sunflower State, the Jayhawk State - January 29, 1861
- West Virginia, the Mountain State - June 20, 1863
- Nevada, the Sagebrush State, the Silver State, the Battle Born State - October 31, 1864
- Nebraska, the Cornhusker State, the Beef State - March 1, 1867
- Colorado, the Centennial State - August 1, 1876
- North Dakota, the Sioux State, the Flickertail State, the Peace Garden State, the Rough Rider State - November 2, 1889
- South Dakota, the Mount Rushmore State, the Coyote State - November 2, 1889
- Montana, the Treasure State - November 8, 1889
- Washington, the Evergreen State - November 11, 1889
- Idaho, the Gem State - July 3, 1890
- Wyoming, the Equality State - July 10, 1890
- Utah, the Beehive State - January 4, 1896
- Oklahoma, the Sooner State - November 16, 1907
- New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment - January 6, 1912
- Arizona, the Grand Canyon State - February 14, 1912
- Alaska, The Last Frontier, Land of the Midnight Sun - January 3, 1959
- Hawaii, the Aloha State - August 21, 1959
Is Puerto Rico a State?
The United States has several territories, many of which are uninhabited, and most of which are located on the other side of the world. Puerto Rico, however, is only about 1000 miles from Florida. That’s less than half the distance from California to Hawaii. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens.
On many levels, it would make sense for Puerto Rico to become a state. They have voted on it three times, however (in 1967, 1993 and 1998), and they have always decided against it. So for now, Puerto Rico remains a commonwealth associated with the United States.