NAME |
DATE/ORDER |
NOTES |
| Alabama | Dec. 14, 1819 22 nd State |
Territory by Act of March 3, 1817, effective Aug. 15, 1817. |
| Alaska | Jan. 3, 1959 49 th |
A district from Oct. 18, 1867, until it became an organized territory Aug. 24, 1912. |
| Arizona | Feb. 14, 1912 48 th |
This region was sometimes called Arizona before 1863, although it was still in the Territory of New Mexico. |
| Arkansas | June 15, 1836 25 th |
The territory was larger than the state. After statehood the leftover area to the west had post offices that continued for some years to use an Arkansas abbreviation in the postmarks, although they were really in the "Indian Country." |
| California | Sept. 9, 1850 31 st |
Ceded by Mexico by the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, concluded Feb. 2, 1848, and proclaimed July 4, 1848. From then until statehood, California had a military government until Dec. 20, 1849, and then a local civil government. It never had a territorial form of government. |
| Colorado | Aug. 1, 1876 38 th |
. |
| Connecticut | Jan. 9, 1788 5 th |
The fifth of the original 13 colonies. |
| Delaware | Dec. 7, 1787 1 st |
The first of the original 13 colonies. |
| Florida | March 3, 1845 27 th |
. |
| Georgia | Jan. 2, 1788 4 th |
The fourth of the original 13 colonies |
| Hawaii | Aug. 21, 1959 50 th |
The territorial date Aug. 12, 1898 is that of the formal transfer to the United States, with Sanford B. Dole as first Governor. |
| Idaho | July 3, 1890 43 rd |
. |
| Illinois | Dec. 3, 1818 21 st |
. |
| Indiana | Dec. 11, 1816 19 th |
There was a residue of Indiana Territory that continued to exist under that name until Dec. 3, 1818, when it was attached to Michigan Territory. |
| Iowa | Dec. 28, 1846 29 th |
. |
| Kansas | Jan. 29, 1861 34 th |
. |
| Kentucky | June 1, 1792 15 th |
Never a territory, it was part of Virginia until statehood. |
| Louisiana | April 30, 1812 18 th |
With certain boundary changes, had been the Territory of Orleans. |
| Maine | March 15, 1820 23 rd |
What is now the state of Maine was, before statehood, called the District of Maine and belonged to Massachusetts. |
| Maryland | April 28, 1788 7 th |
The seventh of the original 13 colonies. |
| Massachusetts | Feb. 6, 1788 6 th |
The sixth of the original 13 colonies |
| Michigan | Jan. 26., 1837 26 th |
. |
| Minnesota | May 11, 1858 32 nd |
. |
| Mississippi | Dec. 10, 1817 20 th |
Territory by Act of April 7, 1798, effective May 7, 1798. |
| Missouri | Aug. 10, 1821 24 th |
The state was much smaller than the territory. The area to the west and northwest of the state, which had been in the territory, was commonly known as the "Missouri Country" until May 30, 1854, and certain of the post offices in this area show a Missouri abbreviation in the postmark. |
| Montana | Nov. 8, 1889 41 st |
. |
| Nebraska | March 1, 1867 37 th |
. |
| Nevada | Oct. 31, 1864 36 th |
. |
| New Hampshire | June 21, 1788 9 th |
The ninth of the original 13 colonies |
| New Jersey | Dec. 18, 1787 3 rd |
The third of the original 13 colonies. |
| New Mexico | Jan. 6, 1912 47th |
. |
| New York | July 26, 1788 11 th |
The 11th of the original 13 colonies. |
| North Carolina | Nov. 21, 1789 12 th |
The 12th of the original 13 colonies. |
| North Dakota | Nov. 2, 1889 39 th or 40 th |
Was part of Dakota Territory before statehood. Admitted on same day as South Dakota |
| Ohio | March 1, 1803 17 th |
Was part of the Northwest Territory until statehood. |
| Oklahoma | Nov. 16, 1907 46 th |
The state was formed from Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory. |
| Oregon | Feb. 14, 1859 33 rd |
. |
| Pennsylvania | Dec. 12, 1787 2 nd |
The second of the original 13 colonies. |
| Rhode Island | May 29, 1790 13 th |
The 13th of the original 13 colonies. |
| South Carolina | May 23, 1788 8 th |
The eighth of the original 13 colonies. |
| South Dakota | Nov. 2, 1889 39 th or 40 th |
Was part of Dakota Territory before statehood. Admitted on same day as North Dakota |
| Tennessee | June 1, 1796 16 th |
Was Southwest Territory before statehood. |
| Texas | Dec. 29, 1845 28 th |
Was an independent republic before statehood. |
| Utah | Jan. 4, 1896 45 th |
. |
| Vermont | March 4, 1791 14 th |
Until statehood, had been a region claimed by both New York and New Hampshire |
| Virginia | June 25, 1788 10 th |
The 10th of the original 13 colonies. |
| Washington | Nov. 11, 1889 42 nd |
. |
| West Virginia | June 20, 1863 35 th |
Was part of Virginia until statehood. |
| Wisconsin | May 29, 1848 30 th |
The state is smaller than the territory and the leftover area continued to be called the Territory of Wisconsin until March 3, 1849. |
| Wyoming | July 10, 1890 44 th |
. |