The Official US Statehood Order: When Each State Joined the Union

The list of 50 US states by order of statehood provides a chronological look at how the United States as a nation was built. From the first 13 colonies to the addition of Hawaii in 1959, discover the exact dates of admission for each state. Understanding the order of states is key to grasping the historical expansion of the United States.

Aug 18, 2025, 12:00 EDT

Delaware is the first US state by order of statehood

US states by order of statehood: The story of America's expansion is told through the addition of its states. The number of stars on the American flag has been steadily rising for hundreds of years. This represents the country's growth from a young republic of 13 former colonies to a continental power. Even though there are still talks about adding new states, like Washington, D.C., or Puerto Rico, the official list of 50 US states is a reminder of the country's history. The U.S. National Archives says that the process of becoming a state started with the ratification of the Constitution.

Our list of the order of statehood shows the history of the country, including the events that made it what it is today. This isn't just a list of the dates of the states in order; it's a timeline of American history that is always changing.

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List of US States by Order of Statehood

The table below shows all 50 US states in order of when they joined the Union, along with important historical information about each state's statehood.

Rank	US State	Date of Admission	Trivia
1	Delaware	December 7, 1787	First to ratify the US Constitution.
2	Pennsylvania	December 12, 1787	One of the original 13 colonies.
3	New Jersey	December 18, 1787	One of the original 13 colonies.
4	Georgia	January 2, 1788	One of the original 13 colonies.
5	Connecticut	January 9, 1788	One of the original 13 colonies.
6	Massachusetts	February 6, 1788	One of the original 13 colonies.
7	Maryland	April 28, 1788	One of the original 13 colonies.
8	South Carolina	May 23, 1788	One of the original 13 colonies.
9	New Hampshire	June 21, 1788	One of the original 13 colonies.
10	Virginia	June 25, 1788	One of the original 13 colonies; key state.
11	New York	July 26, 1788	One of the original 13 colonies.
12	North Carolina	November 21, 1789	One of the original 13 colonies.
13	Rhode Island	May 29, 1790	Last of the original 13 colonies to ratify.
14	Vermont	March 4, 1791	First state admitted after the original 13.
15	Kentucky	June 1, 1792	Split from Virginia.
16	Tennessee	June 1, 1796	Split from North Carolina.
17	Ohio	March 1, 1803	First state formed from the Northwest Territory.
18	Louisiana	April 30, 1812	Acquired via the Louisiana Purchase.
19	Indiana	December 11, 1816	Formed from the Northwest Territory.
20	Mississippi	December 10, 1817	Formed from the Mississippi Territory.
21	Illinois	December 3, 1818	Formed from the Illinois Territory.
22	Alabama	December 14, 1819	Formed from the Alabama Territory.
23	Maine	March 15, 1820	Split from Massachusetts.
24	Missouri	August 10, 1821	Admitted as part of the Missouri Compromise.
25	Arkansas	June 15, 1836	Formed from the Missouri Territory.
26	Michigan	January 26, 1837	Formed from the Michigan Territory.
27	Florida	March 3, 1845	Acquired from Spain in 1819.
28	Texas	December 29, 1845	Admitted as a former independent republic.
29	Iowa	December 28, 1846	Formed from the Iowa Territory.
30	Wisconsin	May 29, 1848	Formed from the Wisconsin Territory.
31	California	September 9, 1850	Admitted as part of the Compromise of 1850.
32	Minnesota	May 11, 1858	Formed from the Minnesota Territory.
33	Oregon	February 14, 1859	Formed from the Oregon Territory.
34	Kansas	January 29, 1861	Admitted after a period of civil strife.
35	West Virginia	June 20, 1863	Split from Virginia during the Civil War.
36	Nevada	October 31, 1864	Admitted during the Civil War.
37	Nebraska	March 1, 1867	Formed from the Nebraska Territory.
38	Colorado	August 1, 1876	Admitted 100 years after the Declaration of Independence.
39	North Dakota	November 2, 1889	Admitted on the same day as South Dakota.
40	South Dakota	November 2, 1889	Admitted on the same day as North Dakota.
41	Montana	November 8, 1889	Formed from the Montana Territory.
42	Washington	November 11, 1889	Formed from the Washington Territory.
43	Idaho	July 3, 1890	Formed from the Idaho Territory.
44	Wyoming	July 10, 1890	Formed from the Wyoming Territory.
45	Utah	January 4, 1896	Admitted after ending polygamy.
46	Oklahoma	November 16, 1907	Formed from the Oklahoma Territory.
47	Arizona	February 14, 1912	Last of the contiguous states to join.
48	New Mexico	January 6, 1912	Admitted just before Arizona.
49	Alaska	January 3, 1959	Purchased from Russia in 1867.
50	Hawaii	August 21, 1959	Annexed in 1898; the last state to join.

Source: U.S. National Archives, "Dates of Admission into the Union by State."

Map of US States by Order of Statehood

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The order of statehood shows the complicated and varied story of how America grew, from the signing of the Constitution to the last star added to the flag. The admission of each state was a unique historical event that was influenced by politics, economics, and culture. The timeline of statehood shows how the United States grew from a small republic to the country it is today.

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The Official US Statehood Order: When Each State Joined the Union

List of US States by Order of Statehood

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