# Back to Geography Basics: How Many States are There in the USA?

URL: https://sciencestruck.com/geography/how-many-states-in-usa
Category: Geography
Published: 2010-01-06T02:07:00
Updated: 2010-01-06T02:07:00
All the confusion about the total number of states in the USA arises mainly from the ignorance of the 2 states off the North American mainland. Though the actual number is 50, some people are of the opinion that there are 48 states; others believe that there are 49, and some even go to the extent of asserting that there are 51 states in total.

The United States of America, often referred to as the United States, is a federal constitutional republic, spread over an area of 3,537,438.44 sq mi, in North America. It is flanked by the Pacific ocean and the Atlantic ocean on either sides, and bordered by Canada and Mexico in the north and south, respectively.

The United States is the 3rd largest country in the world in terms of both, the land area and population. Washington D.C. is the capital district of the nation, while New York City is the largest city. For administrative purposes, the United States is divided into **50 states**; each of which shares sovereignty with the federal government.

### Political Division of the United States of America

Of the 50 federal states, which form the United States, 48 are contiguous states. The 2 exceptions are Alaska and Hawaii, which lie to the northwest of the continent and in the mid-Pacific, respectively. Alaska is the largest state in terms of area, while California has the distinction of being the most populous state in the US.

The first thirteen states of the United States were constituted following the rebellion of the thirteen colonies in 1776. Since then, the US Congress has exercised its power to add several new states to the Union; the last of which was the state of Hawaii. (The US Supreme court considers secession unconstitutional; even though there is no explicit mention of the same in the Constitution.) The possibility of adding new states to the Union cannot be ruled out. Of the few names that are being discussed, Puerto Rico is most likely to become the 51st state of America. As of now though, the number of states in USA is 50 -- and not 48, 49 or 51 as many people believe.

**The list of 50 states given below has been arranged in the order in which they were admitted to the Union, starting with Delaware on December 7, 1787, to Hawaii on August 21, 1959. Having said that, it is important to note that the first 13 states had already become the member states after they declared their independence, and formed the United States of America in 1776. In this list, however, these 13 states have been enlisted in accordance to the day on which they ratified the United States Constitution.**

## The 50 States

### Delaware (DE)

**The First State**  
Capital : **Dover**  
Admitted to the Union : **December 7, 1787**

### Pennsylvania (PA)

**Keystone State**  
Capital : **Harrisburg**  
Admitted to the Union : **December 12, 1787**

### New Jersey (NJ)

**The Garden State**  
Capital : **Trenton**  
Admitted to the Union : **December 18, 1787**

### Georgia (GA)

**Peach State**  
Capital : **Atlanta**  
Admitted to the Union : **January 2, 1788**

### Connecticut (CT)

**The Constitution State**  
Capital : **Hartford**  
Admitted to the Union : **January 9, 1788**

### Massachusetts (MA)

**The Bay State**  
Capital : **Boston**  
Admitted to the Union : **February 6, 1788**

### Maryland (MD)

**Old Line State**  
Capital : **Annapolis**  
Admitted to the Union : **April 28, 1788**

### South Carolina (SC)

**The Palmetto State**  
Capital : **Columbia**  
Admitted to the Union : **May 23, 1788**

### New Hampshire (NH)

**The Granite State**  
Capital : **Concord**  
Admitted to the Union : **June 21, 1788**

### Virginia (VA)

**The Old Dominion**  
Capital : **Richmond**  
Admitted to the Union : **June 25, 1788**

### New York (NY)

**The Empire State**  
Capital : **Albany**  
Admitted to the Union : **July 26, 1788**

### North Carolina (NC)

**Tar Heel State**  
Capital : **Raleigh**  
Admitted to the Union : **November 21, 1789**

### Rhode Island (RI)

**The Ocean State**  
Capital : **Providence**  
Admitted to the Union : **May 29, 1790**

### Vermont (VT)

**The Green Mountain State**  
Capital : **Montpelier**  
Admitted to the Union : **March 4, 1791**

### Kentucky (KY)

**Bluegrass State**  
Capital : **Frankfort**  
Admitted to the Union : **June 1, 1792**

### Tennessee (TN)

**The Volunteer State**  
Capital : **Nashville**  
Admitted to the Union : **June 1, 1796**

### Ohio (OH)

**The Buckeye State**  
Capital : **Columbus**  
Admitted to the Union : **March 1, 1803**

### Louisiana (LA)

**Pelican State**  
Capital : **Baton Rouge**  
Admitted to the Union : **April 30, 1812**

### Indiana (IN)

**The Hoosier State**  
Capital : **Indianapolis**  
Admitted to the Union : **December 11, 1816**

### Mississippi (MS)

**The Magnolia State**  
Capital : **Jackson**  
Admitted to the Union : **December 10, 1817**

### Illinois (IL)

**The Prairie State**  
Capital : **Springfield**  
Admitted to the Union : **December 3, 1818**

### Alabama (AL)

**Yellowhammer State**  
Capital : **Montgomery**  
Admitted to the Union : **December 14, 1819**

### Maine (ME)

**The Pine Tree State**  
Capital : **Augusta**  
Admitted to the Union : **March 15, 1820**

### Missouri (MO)

**The Show-Me State**  
Capital : **Jefferson City**  
Admitted to the Union : **August 10, 1821**

### Arkansas (AR)

**The Natural State**  
Capital : **Little Rock**  
Admitted to the Union : **June 15, 1836**

### Michigan (MI)

**The Great Lakes State**  
Capital : **Lansing**  
Admitted to the Union : **January 26, 1837**

### Florida (FL)

**The Sunshine State**  
Capital : **Tallahassee**  
Admitted to the Union : **March 3, 1845**

### Texas (TX)

**The Lone Star State**  
Capital : **Austin**  
Admitted to the Union : **December 29, 1845**

### Iowa (IA)

**The Hawkeye State**  
Capital : **Des Moines**  
Admitted to the Union : **December 28, 1846**

### Wisconsin (WI)

**Badger State**  
Capital : **Madison**  
Admitted to the Union : **May 29, 1848**

### California (CA)

**The Golden State**  
Capital : **Sacramento**  
Admitted to the Union : **September 9, 1850**

### Minnesota (MN)

**North Star State**  
Capital : **Saint Paul**  
Admitted to the Union : **May 11, 1858**

### Oregon (OR)

**Beaver State**  
Capital : **Salem**  
Admitted to the Union : **February 14, 1859**

### Kansas (KS)

**The Sunflower State**  
Capital : **Topeka**  
Admitted to the Union : **January 29, 1861**

### West Virginia (WV)

**Mountain State**  
Capital : **Charleston**  
Admitted to the Union : **June 20, 1863**

### Nevada (NV)

**Silver State**  
Capital : **Carson City**  
Admitted to the Union : **October 31, 1864**

### Nebraska (NE)

**Cornhusker State**  
Capital : **Lincoln**  
Admitted to the Union : **March 1, 1867**

### Colorado (CO)

**The Centennial State**  
Capital : **Denver**  
Admitted to the Union : **August 1, 1876**

### North Dakota (ND)

**Peace Garden State**  
Capital : **Bismarck**  
Admitted to the Union : **November 2, 1889**

### South Dakota (SD)

**The Mount Rushmore State**  
Capital : **Pierre**  
Admitted to the Union : **November 2, 1889**

### Montana (MT)

**Treasure State**  
Capital : **Helena**  
Admitted to the Union : **November 8, 1889**

### Washington (WA)

**The Evergreen State**  
Capital : **Olympia**  
Admitted to the Union : **November 11, 1889**

### Idaho (ID)

**Gem State**  
Capital : **Boise**  
Admitted to the Union : **July 3, 1890**

### Wyoming (WY)

**Equality State**  
Capital : **Cheyenne**  
Admitted to the Union : **July 10, 1890**

### Utah (UT)

**Beehive State**  
Capital : **Salt Lake City**  
Admitted to the Union : **January 4, 1896**

### Oklahoma (OK)

**The Sooner State**  
Capital : **Oklahoma City**  
Admitted to the Union : **November 16, 1907**

### New Mexico (NM)

**Land of Enchantment**  
Capital : **Santa Fe**  
Admitted to the Union : **January 6, 1912**

### Arizona (AZ)

**The Grand Canyon State**  
Capital : **Phoenix**  
Admitted to the Union : **February 14, 1912**

### Alaska (AK)

**The Last Frontier**  
Capital : **Juneau**  
Admitted to the Union : **January 3, 1959**

### Hawaii (HI)

**The Aloha State**  
Capital : **Honolulu**  
Admitted to the Union : **August 21, 1959**

Until 1959 there were 48 states in America, but the admission of Alaska and Hawaii that year brought the number to 50. Other than these 50 states, there are some areas which are dependent on the United States for administration. These include the American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Navassa Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Even though the number of states is 50, only the 9 most populous states in the country house more than half of the total population.