How Many States are in the USA? This is a question that most people are curious about. In many instances, there is still confusion over whether the United States has 50 or 52 states. The correct answer is that the United States of America is a federal republic made up of 50 states. The confusion often arises because, in addition to the 50 states, the U.S. also includes a federal district (Washington, D.C.), several outlying islands, and five major unincorporated territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam.
The United States is one of the earliest modern countries to be established, but not all its 50 states were formed on Independence Day. The creation of the U.S. states has been a gradual and historical process, beginning with the original 13 colonies that declared independence from Britain in 1776. Over time, more states were added through expansion, treaties, and annexations — with the 50th state, Hawaii, officially joining the Union in 1959.
How Did the United States Reach 50 States?
When the United States achieved its independence from Great Britain, it resulted from a few states (13 colonies at the time). The 50 states that the United States has today were formed gradually over the years through territorial expansion, negotiations, and purchases.
Below is a sneak peek of when the various States joined the Union over the years.
Colonial Foundations (1607–1776)
This period covers the original 13 colonies that declared independence from Britain and formed the foundation of the United States. These colonies were established along the Atlantic coast, each with a unique culture and economy.
They united under the Articles of Confederation in 1781, but the Constitution replaced this weak system in 1787, creating a stronger federal government.
The original 13 colonies are as follows:
| # | State Name | Year Admitted |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | 1787 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | 1787 |
| 3 | New Jersey | 1787 |
| 4 | Georgia | 1788 |
| 5 | Connecticut | 1788 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 1788 |
| 7 | Maryland | 1788 |
| 8 | South Carolina | 1788 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 1788 |
| 10 | Virginia | 1788 |
| 11 | New York | 1788 |
| 12 | North Carolina | 1789 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | 1790 |
Westward Expansion (1803–1959)
Vermont was the first state to be admitted into the Union after the original 13 in 1791, followed by Kentucky and Tennessee in 1792 and 1796, respectively.
As settlers moved westward, the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 doubled the nation’s size, opening the door for new territories to become states.
Throughout the 19th century, more states joined, including Louisiana (1812), Texas (1845), and California (1850)—the latter fueled by the Gold Rush. By 1912, the continental U.S. was complete, with Arizona as the 48th state.
The final step in reaching 50 states came in 1959 when Alaska and Hawaii officially joined the Union.
| # | State Name | Year Admitted |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Vermont | 1791 |
| 15 | Kentucky | 1792 |
| 16 | Tennessee | 1796 |
| 17 | Ohio | 1803 |
| 18 | Louisiana | 1812 |
| 19 | Indiana | 1816 |
| 20 | Mississippi | 1817 |
| 21 | Illinois | 1818 |
| 22 | Alabama | 1819 |
| 23 | Maine | 1820 |
| 24 | Missouri | 1821 |
| 25 | Arkansas | 1836 |
| 26 | Michigan | 1837 |
| 27 | Florida | 1845 |
| 28 | Texas | 1845 |
| 29 | Iowa | 1846 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | 1848 |
| 31 | California | 1850 |
| 32 | Minnesota | 1858 |
| 33 | Oregon | 1859 |
| 34 | Kansas | 1861 |
| 35 | West Virginia | 1863 |
| 36 | Nevada | 1864 |
| 37 | Nebraska | 1867 |
| 38 | Colorado | 1876 |
| 39 | North Dakota | 1889 |
| 40 | South Dakota | 1889 |
| 41 | Montana | 1889 |
| 42 | Washington | 1889 |
| 43 | Idaho | 1890 |
| 44 | Wyoming | 1890 |
| 45 | Utah | 1896 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | 1907 |
| 47 | New Mexico | 1912 |
| 48 | Arizona | 1912 |
| 49 | Alaska | 1959 |
| 50 | Hawaii | 1959 |
What Defines a U.S. State Today?
What makes a U.S. state different from a territory or district? The U.S. Constitution outlines specific criteria for statehood and grants Congress the power to admit new states under Article IV, Section 3.
The Key requirements for a nation or territory to be admitted as a state of the United States include having a population large enough to support self-governance, a democratic constitution, and a commitment to the U.S. federal system.
Unlike states, U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and Guam have limited representation in Congress and cannot vote in presidential elections. Washington, D.C., while not a state, has a unique status under the 23rd Amendment, allowing its residents to vote for president.
The Complete List of 50 U.S. States
The United States is divided into four regions: the Northeast, South, Midwest, and West. Below, we have listed all 50 states in alphabetical order along with their capitals:
Northeast Region
| No. | State | Capital |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | Augusta |
| 2 | New Hampshire | Concord |
| 3 | Vermont | Montpelier |
| 4 | Massachusetts | Boston |
| 5 | Rhode Island | Providence |
| 6 | Connecticut | Hartford |
| 7 | New York | Albany |
| 8 | New Jersey | Trenton |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | Harrisburg |
South Region
| No. | State | Capital |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Delaware | Dover |
| 11 | Maryland | Annapolis |
| 12 | Virginia | Richmond |
| 13 | West Virginia | Charleston |
| 14 | North Carolina | Raleigh |
| 15 | South Carolina | Columbia |
| 16 | Georgia | Atlanta |
| 17 | Florida | Tallahassee |
| 18 | Alabama | Montgomery |
| 19 | Mississippi | Jackson |
| 20 | Louisiana | Baton Rouge |
| 21 | Texas | Austin |
| 22 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma City |
| 23 | Arkansas | Little Rock |
| 24 | Tennessee | Nashville |
| 25 | Kentucky | Frankfort |
Midwest Region
| No. | State | Capital |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Ohio | Columbus |
| 27 | Indiana | Indianapolis |
| 28 | Illinois | Springfield |
| 29 | Michigan | Lansing |
| 30 | Wisconsin | Madison |
| 31 | Minnesota | Saint Paul |
| 32 | Iowa | Des Moines |
| 33 | Missouri | Jefferson City |
| 34 | North Dakota | Bismarck |
| 35 | South Dakota | Pierre |
| 36 | Nebraska | Lincoln |
| 37 | Kansas | Topeka |
West Region
| No. | State | Capital |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Montana | Helena |
| 39 | Wyoming | Cheyenne |
| 40 | Colorado | Denver |
| 41 | New Mexico | Santa Fe |
| 42 | Idaho | Boise |
| 43 | Utah | Salt Lake City |
| 44 | Arizona | Phoenix |
| 45 | Nevada | Carson City |
| 46 | Washington | Olympia |
| 47 | Oregon | Salem |
| 48 | California | Sacramento |
| 49 | Alaska | Juneau |
| 50 | Hawaii | Honolulu |
FAQs
Are there 52 or 50 states in the USA?
There are 50 states in the United States of America. Some people mistakenly include Washington, D.C. (a federal district, not a state) and Puerto Rico (a U.S. territory, not a state) when referring to the 52 states.
What is the name of all 50 states in order?
Below is a list of all 50 U.S. states in alphabetical order:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
What are the top 3 largest states?
The top three largest U.S. states by land area are Alaska, with 1,717,856 square kilometers; Texas, 695,662; and California, 423,970 square kilometers each.
What is the smallest state in America?
Rhode Island is the smallest state in the U.S. by land area, covering 1,214 square miles, but with 400 miles of coastline due to its many bays and inlets.
Is Hawaii still part of the US?
Yes, Hawaii is still part of the United States. It became the 50th state on August 21, 1959. It’s the only island in the Pacific Ocean with full state rights
