List of U.S. states (Alternity)

This page contains a list of all 62 states of the USA as of 1997 (Alternity). Under British oppression, the nation was declared independent on July 4, 1776 - leading to the bulk of fighting of the American Revolution. Defeating Great Britain's colonial military forces at Yorktown, Virginia in 1781, the United States was officially recognized by Britain in the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which ceded to the new nation all land east of the Mississippi River. The first state to join the Union and ratify the U.S. Constitution was Delaware - the first of many. States here are listed by order of admission to the Union.

Alternity USA, 1997 — A map of the USA's extent as of June 1997

Alternity USA flag, 1997 — The current flag of the USA, with 62 stars, as of 1997

The States

Delaware (DE)

Delaware was singularly inhabited by Native American Lenape and Nanticoke tribes until 1631, when Dutch settlers established a colony near the present-day town of Lewes. It was also one of the thirteen colonies to participate in the American Revolution that began in 1775 and ended in the 1783 Treaty of Paris that recognized the United States as a nation. Delaware was initially a sovereign state after the war ended, but soon became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, earning the place of the first US state to join the Union. Delaware is located on the Delmarva Peninsula, and is bordered by Maryland to the south and west, New Jersey to the east, and Pennsylvania to the north.

Statistics

Admission to Union: December 7, 1787
Capital: Dover
Population: 898,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Wilmington (1997 pop. 71,000); (1997 metro area pop. 5,567,000)
Nickname: The First State

Pennsylvania (PA)

Statistics

Admission to Union: December 12, 1787
Capital: Harrisburg
Population: 12,023,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Philadelphia (1997 pop. 1,500,000); (1997 metro area pop. 5,000,000)
Nickname: Quaker State

New Jersey (NJ)

Statistics

Admission to Union: December 18, 1787
Capital: Trenton
Population: 8,499,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Newark (1997 pop. 280,000); (1997 metro area pop. 17,567,000)
Nickname: The Garden State

Georgia (GA)

Statistics

Admission to Union: January 2, 1788
Capital: Atlanta
Population: 9,499,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Atlanta (1997 pop. 417,000); (1997 metro area pop. 5,007,000)
Nickname: Peach State

Connecticut (CT)

Statistics

Admission to Union: January 9, 1788
Capital: Hartford
Population: 3,309,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Bridgeport (1997 pop. 142,000); (1997 metro area pop. 1,000,000)
Nickname: The Constitution State

Massachusetts (MA)

Statistics

Admission to Union: February 6, 1788
Capital: Boston
Population: 6,200,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Boston (1997 pop. 610,000); (1997 metro area pop. 3,680,000)
Nickname: The Bay State

Maryland (MD)

Statistics

Admission to Union: April 28, 1788
Capital: Annapolis
Population: 5,299,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Baltimore (1997 pop. 615,000); (1997 metro area pop. 8,000,000)
Nickname: Free State

South Carolina (SC)

Statistics

Admission to Union: May 23, 1788
Capital: Columbia
Population: 4,200,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Columbia (1997 pop. 120,000); (1997 metro area pop. 800,000)
Nickname: The Palmetto State

New Hampshire (NH)

Statistics

Admission to Union: May 23, 1788
Capital: Concord
Population: 2,200,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Manchester (1997 pop. 260,000); (1997 metro area pop. 6,500,000)
Nickname: The Granite State

Virginia (VA)

Statistics

Admission to Union: June 25, 1788
Capital: Richmond
Population: 8,000,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Virginia Beach (1997 pop. 460,000); (1997 metro area pop. 1,400,000)
Nickname: Old Dominion

New York (NY)

Statistics

Admission to Union: July 26, 1788
Capital: Albany
Population: 11,000,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Buffalo (1997 pop. 517,000); (1997 metro area pop. 924,000)
Nickname: The Empire State

North Carolina (NC)

Statistics

Admission to Union: November 21, 1789
Capital: Raleigh
Population: 8,780,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Charlotte (1997 pop. 699,000); (1997 metro area pop. 1,434,000)
Nickname: Old North State

Rhode Island (RI)

Statistics

Admission to Union: May 29, 1790
Capital: Providence
Population: 1,080,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Providence (1997 pop. 200,000); (1997 metro area pop. 1,239,000)
Nickname: The Ocean State

Vermont (VT)

Statistics

Admission to Union: March 4, 1791
Capital: Montpelier
Population: 974,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Sherbrooke (1997 pop. 200,000); (1997 metro area pop. 432,000)
Nickname: The Green Mountain State

Kentucky (KY)

Statistics

Admission to Union: June 1, 1792
Capital: Frankfort
Population: 4,374,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Louisville (1997 pop. 720,000); (1997 metro area pop. 1,239,000)
Nickname: Bluegrass State

Tennessee (TN)

Statistics

Admission to Union: June 1, 1796
Capital: Nashville
Population: 6,374,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Memphis (1997 pop. 650,000); (1997 metro area pop. 1,339,000)
Nickname: The Volunteer State

Ohio (OH)

Statistics

Admission to Union: March 1, 1803
Capital: Columbus
Population: 12,421,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Columbus (1997 pop. 830,000); (1997 metro area pop. 2,090,000)
Nickname: The Buckeye State

Louisiana (LA)

Statistics

Admission to Union: April 30, 1812
Capital: Baton Rouge
Population: 4,514,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Manheim (1997 pop. 997,000); (1997 metro area pop. 1,006,000)
Nickname: Bayou State

New England (NE)

Statistics

Admission to Union: March 8, 1816
Capital: Kelvin
Population: 2,178,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Buell (1997 pop. 198,000); (1997 metro area pop. 206,000)
Nickname: The Atlantic State

Indiana (IN)

Statistics

Admission to Union: December 11, 1816
Capital: Indianapolis
Population: 6,012,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Indianapolis (1997 pop. 830,200); (1997 metro area pop. 1,716,000)
Nickname: The Hoosier State

Mississippi (MS)

Statistics

Admission to Union: December 10, 1817
Capital: Jackson
Population: 3,090,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Jackson (1997 pop. 193,000); (1997 metro area pop. 546,000)
Nickname: The Magnolia State

Illinois (IL)

Statistics

Admission to Union: December 3, 1818
Capital: Springfield
Population: 13,080,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Chicago (1997 pop. 3,000,000); (1997 metro area pop. 9,786,000)
Nickname(s): Land of Lincoln; The Prairie State

Alabama (AL)

Statistics

Admission to Union: December 14, 1819
Capital: Montgomery
Population: 4,097,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Birmingham (1997 pop. 210,000); (1997 metro area pop. 976,000)
Nickname(s): Cotton State; Heart of Dixie

Maine (ME)

Statistics

Admission to Union: March 15, 1820
Capital: Augusta
Population: 2,377,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Portland (1997 pop. 208,000); (1997 metro area pop. 896,000)
Nickname: The Pine Tree State

Missouri (MO)

Statistics

Admission to Union: August 10, 1821
Capital: Jefferson City
Population: 5,190,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Kansas City (1997 pop. 428,000); (1997 metro area pop. 1,789,000)
Nickname: The Show-Me State

Arkansas (AR)

Statistics

Admission to Union: June 15, 1836
Capital: Little Rock
Population: 2,000,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Little Rock (1997 pop. 189,700); (1997 metro area pop. 700,000)
Nickname: The Natural State

Michigan (MI)

Statistics

Admission to Union: January 26, 1837
Dissolution: May 22, 1903 (Split into North and South Michigan)
Capital: Lansing
Population: 2,478,000 (1903)
Largest City: Detriot (1903 pop. 290,000); (1903 metro area pop. 545,000)
Nickname: The Wolverine State

Erie (ER)

Statistics

Admission to Union: August 17, 1843
Capital: Kitchener
Population: 9,047,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Toronto (1997 pop. 2,570,000); (1997 metro area pop. 5,021,000)
Nickname: The Lake State; Niagara State

Florida (FL)

Statistics

Admission to Union: March 3, 1845
Capital: Tallahassee
Population: 17,947,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Jacksonville (1997 pop. 810,000); (1997 metro area pop. 1,547,000)
Nickname: The Sunshine State

Texas (TX)

Statistics

Admission to Union: December 29, 1845
Capital: Austin
Population: 24,947,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Houston (1997 pop. 1,997,000); (1997 metro area pop. 5,547,000)
Nickname: The Lone Star State

Iowa (IA)

Statistics

Admission to Union: December 28, 1846
Capital: Des Moines
Population: 2,970,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Des Moines (1997 pop. 200,070); (1997 metro area pop. 549,000)
Nickname: The Hawkeye State

Nova Scotia (NS)

Statistics

Admission to Union: July 24, 1847
Capital: Halifax
Population: 4,047,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Halifax (1997 pop. 1,970,000); (1997 metro area pop. 2,465,000)
Nickname: The Maritime State

Wisconsin (WI)

Statistics

Admission to Union: May 29, 1848
Capital: Madison
Population: 5,237,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Milwaukee (1997 pop. 595,000); (1997 metro area pop. 1,550,000)
Nickname: Badger State

California (CA)

Statistics

Admission to Union: September 9, 1850
Capital: Sacramento
Population: 40,163,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Los Angeles (1997 pop. 3,510,000); (1997 metro area pop. 15,998,000)
Nickname: The Golden State

Minnesota (MN)

Statistics

Admission to Union: May 11, 1858
Capital: St. Paul
Population: 5,363,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Minneapolis (1997 pop. 385,000); (1997 metro area pop. 3,298,000)
Nickname: Land of 10,000 Lakes

Oregon (OR)

Statistics

Admission to Union: February 14, 1859
Capital: Salem
Population: 4,030,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Portland (1997 pop. 587,000); (1997 metro area pop. 2,600,000)
Nickname: Beaver State

Prince Edward Island (PE)

Statistics

Admission to Union: April 7, 1860
Capital: Charlottetown
Population: 263,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Charlottetown (1997 pop. 50,000); (1997 metro area pop. 61,000)
Nickname: Garden of the Gulf

Kansas (KS)

Statistics

Admission to Union: January 29, 1861
Capital: Topeka
Population: 2,000,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Wichita (1997 pop. 370,000); (1997 metro area pop. 615,000)
Nickname: The Sunflower State

West Virginia (WV)

Statistics

Admission to Union: June 20, 1863
Capital: Charleston
Population: 1,673,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Charleston (1997 pop. 48,500); (1997 metro area pop. 298,000)
Nickname: Mountain State

Baja California (BA)

Statistics

Admission to Union: September 27, 1864
Capital: San Pedro
Population: 6,361,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: San Lucas (1997 pop. 1,048,000); (1997 metro area pop. 1,709,000)
Nickname: The Lower State; Ocean-Shore State

Nevada (NV)

Statistics

Admission to Union: October 31, 1864
Capital: Carson City
Population: 2,603,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Las Vegas (1997 pop. 558,000); (1997 metro area pop. 1,767,000)
Nickname: Silver State

Nebraska (NB)

Statistics

Admission to Union: March 1, 1867
Capital: Lincoln
Population: 1,776,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Omaha (1997 pop. 502,000); (1997 metro area pop. 866,000)
Nickname: Cornhusker State

Colorado (CO)

Statistics

Admission to Union: August 1, 1876
Capital: Denver
Population: 4,976,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Denver (1997 pop. 597,000); (1997 metro area pop. 2,377,000)
Nickname: The Centennial State

North Dakota (ND)

Statistics

Admission to Union: November 2, 1889
Capital: Bismarck
Population: 827,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Fargo (1997 pop. 150,000); (1997 metro area pop. 257,000)
Nickname: The Peace Garden State

South Dakota (SD)

Statistics

Admission to Union: November 2, 1889
Capital: Pierre
Population: 1,127,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Sioux Falls (1997 pop. 170,000); (1997 metro area pop. 280,000)
Nickname: The Mount Rushmore State

Montana (MT)

Statistics

Admission to Union: November 8, 1889
Capital: Helena
Population: 1,020,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Coulson (1997 pop. 110,000); (1997 metro area pop. 180,000)
Nickname: Big Sky State

Washington (WA)

Statistics

Admission to Union: November 11, 1889
Capital: Olympia
Population: 7,050,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Seattle (1997 pop. 610,000); (1997 metro area pop. 3,240,000)
Nickname: The Evergreen State

Columbia (CL)

Statistics

Admission to Union: November 14, 1889
Capital: Parksville
Population: 3,000,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Lewis (1997 pop. 860,000); (1997 metro area pop. 1,917,000)
Nickname: The Cascadian State

Idaho (ID)

Statistics

Admission to Union: July 3, 1890
Capital: Boise
Population: 1,500,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Idaho Falls (1997 pop. 260,000); (1997 metro area pop. 821,000)
Nickname: Gem State; The Spud State

Wyoming (WY)

Statistics

Admission to Union: July 10, 1890
Capital: Cheyenne
Population: 570,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Cheyenne (1997 pop. 60,000); (1997 metro area pop. 91,000)
Nickname: Equality State

Utah (UT)

Statistics

Admission to Union: January 4, 1896
Capital: Salt Lake City
Population: 2,506,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Salt Lake City (1997 pop. 190,000); (1997 metro area pop. 1,221,000)
Nickname: Beehive State

North Michigan (SR)

Statistics

Admission to Union: May 22, 1903
Capital: Marquette
Population: 346,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Marquette (1997 pop. 22,000); (1997 metro area pop. 67,000)
Nickname: Superior

South Michigan (SM)

Statistics

Admission to Union: May 22, 1903 (Succeeded Michigan)
Capital: Lansing
Population: 9,307,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Detriot (1997 pop. 762,000); (1997 metro area pop. 4,000,000)
Nickname: Wolverine State

Oklahoma (OK)

Statistics

Admission to Union: November 16, 1907
Capital: Oklahoma City
Population: 4,307,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Miko (1997 pop. 1,051,000); (1997 metro area pop. 2,396,000)
Nickname: Sooner State; Chickasaw State

New Mexico (NM)

Statistics

Admission to Union: January 6, 1912
Capital: Santa Fe
Population: 2,237,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Albuquerque (1997 pop. 562,000); (1997 metro area pop. 997,200)
Nickname: Land of Enchantment

Arizona (AZ)

Statistics

Admission to Union: February 14, 1912
Capital: Phoenix
Population: 6,477,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Phoenix (1997 pop. 1,230,000); (1997 metro area pop. 3,998,200)
Nickname: The Grand Canyon State; The Copper State

Lincoln (LN)

Statistics

Admission to Union: July 13, 1917 (split from Idaho)
Capital: Kamiah
Population: 700,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Kamiah (1997 pop. 170,000); (1997 metro area pop. 341,000)
Nickname: The Interior State

Long Island (LI)

Statistics

Admission to Union: December 12, 1953
Capital: Riverhead
Population: 3,200,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Hempstead (1997 pop. 760,000); (1997 metro area pop. 908,200)
Nickname: Outer Lands State

Alaska (AK)

Statistics

Admission to Union: January 3, 1959
Capital: Juneau
Population: 910,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Anchorage (1997 pop. 300,000); (1997 metro area pop. 381,200)
Nickname: The Last Frontier

Hawaii (HI)

Statistics

Admission to Union: August 21, 1959
Capital: Honolulu
Population: 1,207,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Honolulu (1997 pop. 375,000); (1997 metro area pop. 1,010,000)
Nickname: The Aloha State

Puerto Rico (PR)

Statistics

Admission to Union: June 9, 1960
Capital: San Juan
Population: 3,407,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: San Juan (1997 pop. 445,000); (1997 metro area pop. 720,000)
Nickname: The Isle of Enchantment

Manhattan (MH)

Statistics

Admission to Union: May 27, 1977
Capital: New York City
Population: 20,062,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: New York City (1997 pop. 445,000); (1997 metro area pop. 720,000)
Nickname: The City State

Guam (GU)

Statistics

Admission to Union: July 21, 1984
Capital: Agana
Population: 169,000 (1997 census)
Largest City: Dedidu (1997 pop. 50,000); (1997 metro area pop. 56,000)
Nickname: The Pacific State

Territories/Commonwealths

Below is a list of all US territories, both incorporated and unincorporated, as well as commonwealths, as of June 1997.