Delaware ratified the US Constitution on December 7, 1787, thus becoming the first state. The newest states are Alaska and Hawaii, with Alaska being admitted as the 49th state on January 3, 1959. Hawaii followed as the 50th on August 21, 1959.
In the intervening 172 years, 47 additional states were created. Sixteen states formed in the 18th century, 29 in the 19th century, and five in the 20th century.
How are states created?
The US Constitution states that Congress has the sole authority to admit new states to the union. Most states are formed by first drafting a state constitution and submitting it to Congress for approval. Once approved, it passes an Act of Admission, which the president signs, officially granting statehood.
Many US states were once territories. For instance, the Dakota Territory, established in 1861, included present-day North Dakota, South Dakota, and parts of Montana and Wyoming. It was divided, and on November 2, 1889, North Dakota and South Dakota became separate states.
Get facts first
Unbiased, data-driven insights in your inbox each week
You are signed up for the facts!
Not every state started out as a territory. California became a state in 1850, but was not organized as a territory beforehand. Other states were purchased from other countries. For example, the US acquired Alaska from Russia on March 30, 1867, for $7.2 million, ending Russia’s presence in North America and expanding U.S. territory.
Today, the 50 states comprise about 3.77 million square miles. The Census Bureau’s 2023 population estimates indicate that these states are home to approximately 334.24 million residents. (These statistics do not include territories or Washington, DC.)
Where did this data come from?
This data comes from the Census Bureau, the US Senate, and individual state governments. It includes information on the US population, the land area of the 50 states, and the dates each state obtained statehood.
Learn more about the US population size and get the facts every week by signing up for our newsletter.
