Since 1790, not only have there been changes in. the boundaries of the Thirteen Original States, but the whole process of converting newly acquired areas, first into Territories and then into States, involved a considerable number of boundary" changes before the State boundaries, as they now exist, were established. The history of major changes as they relate
to the 50 States and the District of Columbia as now constituted is outlined below:
Alabama
.-Alabama was organized as a Territory in 1817 from the eastern part of Mississippi Territory and was admitted to the Union in 1819 as the twenty-second State with boundaries as at present.
Alaska
.-Alaska was acquired by purchase from Russia in 1867 and was organized as a Territory in 1912. In 1959, Alaska was admitted to the Union as the forty-ninth State.
Arizona
.-Arizona was organized as a Territory in 1863 from the western part of the Territory of New Mexico. Part of the Territory was annexed in 1867 by
Nevada, leaving the Territory with boundaries the same as those of the present State. Arizona was admitted to the Union in 1912 as the forty-eighth State.
Arkansas
.-Arkansas was organized as a Territory in 1819 with boundaries which also included most of the present area of Oklahoma. The area of the Territory was reduced in 1824 and 1828 to substantially the present boundaries of the State. It was admitted to the Union as the twenty-fifth State in 1836 with boundaries substantially as at present.
California
.-California was organized) as a State from a part of the area acquired from Mexico in 1848 and was admitted to the Union in 1850 as the thirty-first State with boundaries as at present.
Colorado
.-Colorado was organized as a Territory in 1861 from parts of Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Utah Territories. In 1876, without change in boundaries and with boundaries as at present, it was admitted to tie Union as the thirty- eighth State.
Connecticut
.-Connecticut was one of the Thirteen Original States.
Delaware.-Delaware was one of the Thirteen Original States.
District of Columbia.-The District of Columbia, formed from territory ceded by Maryland and Virginia, was established as the seat of the Federal Government in accordance with acts of Congress passed in 1790 and 1791. Its boundaries, as defined in 1791, included the present area, together with about 30 square miles in Virginia. In 1846 the area south of the Potomac River was retroceded to Virginia, leaving the District of Columbia with its present limits.
Florida.-Florida was organized as a Territory in 1822, with boundaries as at present, from the area purchased from Spain in 1819 and transferred to the United States in 1821. It was admitted to the Union in 1845 as the twenty-seventh State.
Georgia.-Georgia was one of the Thirteen Original States. At the close of the Revolution, it included territory extending westward to the Mississippi River, constituting most of the area now in Alabama and Mississippi. In 1798 part of this area was organized as the Territory of Mississippi. In 1802 Georgia ceded to the United States all its claims to the region west of its present western boundary and acquired a small strip of land along its northern boundary. These changes left the State with its present boundaries.
Hawaii.-Hawaii, by voluntary action, ceded its sovereignty to the United States in 1898 and was organized as a Territory in 1900. In August 1959, Hawaii was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth State.
Idaho.-Idaho was organized as a Territory in 1863. Its area was reduced in 1804 by the organization of Montana Territory and in 1868 by the organization of Wyoming Territory. Idaho attained its present boundaries in 1873 with the transfer of six square miles to Montana following a resurvey of the Continental Divide. Idaho was admitted to the Union in 1890 as the forty-third State.
Illinois.-Illinois, organized as a Territory in 1809 from the western part of Indiana Territory, comprised at that time all of the present State of Illinois, almost all of Wisconsin, and parts of Michigan and Minnesota. In 1818 that portion of the Territory lying within the present boundaries of Illinois was admitted to the Union as the twenty-first State.
Indiana.-The Territory of Indiana was organized from the western part of the Territory Northwest of the River Ohio in 1800, at which time it comprised nearly all of the present State of Indiana, together with an area now constituting Illinois, Wisconsin, northeastern Minnesota, and western Michigan. In 1802 an area now constituting the remainder of Michigan was added, and in 1802 and 1803 minor revisions of the eastern boundary took place. The area of the Territory was greatly reduced by the organization of Michigan Territory in 1805 and of Illinois Territory in 1809. In 1816, with the addition of a small strip of land along the northern boundary and the separation of an area in the Upper Peninsula, Indiana was admitted to the Union as the nineteenth State with boundaries as at present.
Iowa
.-Iowa was organized as a Territory in 1838 with boundaries that included, in addition to the present area of the State, the eastern parts of the present States of North Dakota and South Dakota and the western part of the present State of Minnesota. Iowa was admitted to the Union In 1846 as the twenty-ninth State with boundaries substantially as at present.
Kansas.-The area now comprising Kansas and part of Colorado was organized as the Territory of Kansas in 1854, and in 1861 that portion of the Territory lying within the present boundaries of Kansas was admitted to the Union as the thirty-fourth State.
Kentucky
.-Kentucky, originally a part of Virginia, was admitted to the Union in 1792 as the fifteenth State with boundaries substantially as at present.
Louisiana.-The greater part of the area now constituting Louisiana was organized in 1804 as the Territory of Orleans. It included at that time the Baton Rouge
District-that part of the present State lying east of the Mississippi River-but excluded the southwestern part of the present State-that part lying west of the Louisiana Purchase boundary. In 1812 all the present area of Louisiana except the Baton Rouge District was admitted to the Union as the eighteenth State, and upon the addition of the district a few days later Louisiana assumed its present boundaries.
Maine
.-Maine, originally a part of Massachusetts, was admitted to the Union in 1820 as the twenty-third State.
Maryland.
-Maryland was one of the Thirteen Original States. In 1791 its area was reduced by the formation of the District of Columbia.
Massachusetts.-Massachusetts was one of the Thirteen Original States. In 1820 Maine, previously a part of Massachusetts was admitted to the Union as a separate State, leaving Massachusetts with boundaries substantially as at present.
Michigan.
-Michigan was organized as a Territory in 1805 from the northeastern part of Indiana Territory and comprised the greater part of the area of the present State, including the Lower Peninsula and the eastern end of the Upper Peninsula, and a small part of the present State of Indiana. In 1816 a narrow strip at the southern limit of Michigan Territory was annexed to Indiana Territory. In 1818, when Illinois was admitted as a State, all of Illinois Territory north of the State of Illinois was transferred to Michigan Territory. This transferred area comprised almost all of the present State of Wisconsin, part of Minnesota, and the western part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. At the same time a section of unorganized territory, formerly part of Indiana Territory, was annexed by the Territory of Michigan. This annexation comprised the middle portion of the Upper Peninsula and a very small part of Wisconsin not formerly included. In 1834 Michigan Territory was further enlarged by the annexation of that part of Missouri Territory now comprising all of Iowa, the remainder of Minnesota not previously included, and parts of North and South Dakota. With the organization of Wisconsin Territory and the legal cession of a small area to Ohio in 1836, Michigan Territory assumed the limits of the present State. Michigan was admitted to the Union as the twenty-sixth State in 1837.
Minnesota
.-Minnesota was organized as a Territory in 1849 from unorganized area formerly within the Territories of Iowa and Wisconsin. It included an area now comprising the State of Minnesota, the eastern parts of the States of North and South Dakota, and a small part of Nebraska. In 1858 that part of the Territory lying within the present boundaries of Minnesota was admitted to the Union as the thirty-second State.
Mississippi.-Mississippi was organized as a Territory in 1798, at which time it included territory now comprising the south central parts of Mississippi and Alabama. The area of the Territory was enlarged in 1804 by the addition of land now comprising the northern parts of Mississippi and Alabama. Its area was further enlarged in 1812 by the addition of the extreme southern portions of the present States of Mississippi and Alabama. In 1817 the eastern part of the Territory was taken to form the Territory of Alabama, and Mississippi was admitted to the Union as the twentieth State with boundaries substantially as at present.
Missouri.-The Territory of Missouri, the name given in 1812 to the former Territory of Louisiana, comprised at that time all of the Louisiana Purchase except the part included in the State of Louisiana. The State of Missouri, formed from a small part of the Territory, was admitted to the Union in 1821. In 1836, when the present northwest corner of the State was added, Missouri assumed its present limits.
Montana.-Montana was organized as a Territory in 1864 from the northeastern part of Idaho Territory with boundaries substantially the same as those of the present State. It was admitted to the Union in 1889 as the forty-first State.
Nebraska.-Nebraska was organized as a Territory in 1854 from unorganized territory originally part of the Louisiana Purchase. Its boundaries included, in addition to the present area of the State, parts of the present States of North and South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado. The area of the Territory was greatly reduced in 1861 by the organization of Dakota and Colorado Territories. At the same time a small area was added to the western part of the Territory. The area was again reduced in 1863 by the organization of Idaho Territory. Nebraska was admitted to the Union in 1867 as the thirty-seventh State with boundaries substantially as at present. In 1870 and 1882 small tracts of land were transferred from the Dakota Territory to Nebraska, and in 1943 small tracts of land were transferred between Iowa and Nebraska.
Nevada.-Nevada, when organized as a Territory in 1861 from part of Utah Territory, comprised only the western part of the present State. In 1864 Nevada was admitted to the Union as the thirty-sixth State, its area having been enlarged in 1862 by the annexation from Utah Territory of a strip of land more than 50 miles wide. The State was enlarged in 1866 by annexation from Utah and in 1867, with an annexation from Arizona; Nevada assumed its present limits.
New Hampshire
.-New Hampshire was one of the Thirteen Original States.
New Jersey.
-New Jersey was one of the Thirteen Original States.
New Mexico
.-The Territory of New Mexico was organized in 1850 from the area now comprising the greater parts of the States of New Mexico and Arizona, together with small portions of Colorado and Nevada. The Territory was enlarged by the addition of the Gadsden Purchase in 1854 and reduced by the organization of Colorado Territory in 1861, with the organization of Arizona Territory in 1863; the area of New Mexico was reduced to substantially the present area of the State. New Mexico was admitted to the Union in 1912 as the forty-seventh State.
New York.
-New York was one of the Thirteen Original States. New York dropped its claim to Vermont after the latter was admitted to the Union as a separate State in 1791. With the annexation of a small area from Massachusetts in 1853, New York assumed its present boundaries.
North Carolina.
-North Carolina was one of the Thirteen Original States,
North Dakota
.-North Dakota was organized as a State from part of Dakota Territory with boundaries as at present and was admitted to the Union in 1889.
Ohio.-Ohio was organized from part of the Territory Northwest of the River Ohio in 1802 and with minor revisions of the western boundary was admitted
to the Union as the seventeenth State in 1803. With the settlement of a boundary dispute with Michigan Territory in 1836, Ohio assumed its present boundaries.
Oklahoma.-The Territory of Oklahoma was organized, in 1890 from the western part of Indian Territory and the Public Land Strip, originally a part of Texas.
In 1893 the Territory was enlarged by the addition of the Cherokee Outlet, which fixed part of the present northern boundary. In 1907 the Territory and the remaining part of the Indian Territory were combined and admitted to the Union as the forty-sixth State with boundaries substantially as at present. Upon the settlement in 1930 of a boundary dispute with Texas, Oklahoma assumed its present: limits.
Oregon.-Oregon was organized as a Territory in 1848, at which time it included the area now constituting the States of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and parts of western Montana and Wyoming. The area of the Territory was greatly reduced in 1853 by the organization of the Territory of Washington. In 1859, with the transfer to Washington Territory of the area now comprising southern Idaho, western Wyoming, and a small tract in western Montana, Oregon assumed its present boundaries and was admitted
to the Union as the thirty-third State,
Pennsylvania.
-Pennsylvania was one of the Thirteen Original States. With the purchase of a small tract of land in its northwestern corner from the Federal Government in 1792, Pennsylvania assumed its present boundaries.
Rhode Island.-Rhode Island was one of the Thirteen Original States.
South Carolina-South Carolina was one of the Thirteen Original States.
South Dakota
.-South Dakota was organized as a State from part of Dakota Territory and was admitted to the Union in 1889.
Tennessee.
-The Territory South of the River Ohio was organized in 1790, at which time it included the present State of Tennessee and parts of Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. In 1796 Tennessee was admitted to the Union as the sixteenth State with boundaries substantially as at present.
Texas.-Texas, originally a part of Mexico, won its independence by revolution in 1835 and 1836 and continued as an independent republic until 1845, when it was annexed to the United States and admitted to the Union as the twenty-eighth State. At this time it included area now comprising parts of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Wyoming, in 1850, with the transfer to the United States of the territory now in these other States; Texas assumed practically its present boundaries. Upon settlement of a boundary dispute with Oklahoma in 1980, Texas assumed its present boundaries.
Utah.
-The Territory of Utah was organized in 1850, at which time it comprised, in addition to the area of the present State, areas now constituting western Colorado, southwestern Wyoming, and the greater part of Nevada. The area of the Territory was reduced in 1861 by the organization of Nevada and Colorado Territories and by a transfer to Nebraska Territory. It was reduced again in 1862 by the eastward extension of the Territory of Nevada and in 1866 by a similar extension of the State of Nevada and In 1868 by the organization of Wyoming Territory- Utah was admitted to the Union in 1896 as the forty-fifth State with boundaries as at present.
Vermont.-Vermont was admitted to the Union in 1791 as the fourteenth State and was the first to be admitted after the adoption of the Constitution by the Thirteen Original States.
Virginia.-Virginia, one of the Thirteen Original States, included in 1790 the areas now constituting the States of Kentucky and West Virginia. The area of the State was reduced in 1791 by the formation of the District of Columbia and in 1792 by the admission of Kentucky into the Union as a separate State; the area was enlarged in X
846 by the retrocession of the part of the District of Columbia south of the Potomac but was further reduced in 1863 by the admission of West Virginia into the Union as a separate State. In 1866 two additional counties (Berkeley and Jefferson) were annexed to West Virginia, leaving the boundaries of Virginia as at present.
Washington.-Washington was organized as a Territory in 1853 from part of Oregon Territory, and included an area now comprising the State of Washington, northern Idaho, and part of Montana. In 1859 upon the admission of Oregon as a State, the remaining portion of Oregon Territory, comprising the rest of Idaho and parts of Montana and Wyoming, was added to the Territory of Washington. The area of the Territory was reduced to the present limits of the State in 1863, upon the organization of Idaho Territory. Washington was admitted to the Union in 1889 as the forty-second State.
West Virginia
.-West Virginia, formed from 48 counties of Virginia, was admitted to the Union in 1863 as the thirty-fifth State. In 1866, with the annexation of two additional counties (Berkeley and Jefferson) from Virginia, the boundaries were established as at present.
Wisconsin.-Wisconsin was organized as a Territory in 1836 from that part of Michigan Territory which lay west of the present limits of the State of Michigan. As originally constituted, the Territory included the present States of Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, the eastern parts of North and South Dakota, and a small part of Nebraska. In 1838, that part of the Territory lying west of the Mississippi River and a line drawn due north from its source to the Canadian boundary was organized as the Territory of Iowa. In 1848, that part of the Territory lying within the present boundaries of the State was admitted to the Union as the thirtieth State.
Wyoming.-Wyoming was organized as a Territory in 1868 with boundaries as at present from parts of Dakota, Idaho, and Utah Territories, It was admitted to the Union in I860 as the forty-fourth State.
Table G. Rank of States According to Percent of Population Classified as Urban: 1960 and 1910
Rank |
1960 |
1910 |
Current urban definition |
Previous urban definition |
State |
Percent urban |
State |
Percent urban |
State |
Percent urban |
1 |
Dist. of Col |
100.0 |
Dist. of Col |
100.0 |
Dist. of Col |
100.0 |
2 |
New Jersey |
88.6 |
Rhode Island |
89.9 |
Rhode Island |
91.0 |
3 |
Rhode Island |
86.4 |
Massachusetts |
86.8 |
Massachusetts |
89.0 |
4 |
California |
86.4 |
New Jersey |
82.6 |
New York |
78.9 |
5 |
New York |
85.4 |
Illinois |
75.9 |
New Jersey |
76.4 |
6 |
Massachusetts |
83.6 |
New York |
72.8 |
Connecticut |
65.6 |
7 |
Illinois |
80.7 |
Texas |
72.7 |
California |
61.8 |
8 |
Connecticut |
78.3 |
California |
71.7 |
Illinois |
61.7 |
9 |
Hawaii |
76.5 |
Arizona |
69.9 |
Pennsylvania |
60.4 |
10 |
Texas |
76.0 |
Hawaii |
69.3 |
Ohio |
55.9 |
11 |
Utah |
74.9 |
Connecticut |
69.0 |
Washington |
53.0 |
12 |
Arizona |
74.5 |
Ohio |
67.4 |
New Hampshire |
51.8 |
13 |
Florida |
73.9 |
Utah |
66.5 |
Maryland |
50.8 |
14 |
Colorado |
73.7 |
Nevada |
66.3 |
Colorado |
50.3 |
15 |
Ohio |
73.4 |
Pennsylvania |
65.6 |
Delaware |
48.0 |
16 |
Michigan |
73.4 |
Michigan |
65.0 |
Michigan |
47.2 |
17 |
Maryland |
72.7 |
Florida |
62.2 |
Utah |
46.3 |
18 |
Pennsylvania |
71.6 |
Colorado |
62.1 |
Oregon |
45.6 |
19 |
Nevada |
70.4 |
Wisconsin |
62.1 |
Wisconsin |
43.0 |
20 |
Washington |
68.1 |
New Mexico |
61.8 |
Indiana |
42.4 |
21 |
Missouri |
66.6 |
Missouri |
61.3 |
Missouri |
42.3 |
22 |
New Mexico |
65.9 |
Oklahoma |
61.0 |
Minnesota |
41.0 |
23 |
Delaware |
65.6 |
Minnesota |
61.0 |
Montana |
35.5 |
24 |
Wisconsin |
63.8 |
New Hampshire |
59.8 |
Maine |
35.3 |
25 |
Louisiana |
63.3 |
Washington |
58.4 |
Arizona |
31.0 |
26 |
Oklahoma |
62.9 |
Indiana |
56.8 |
Hawaii |
30.7 |
27 |
Indiana |
62.4 |
Wyoming |
56.8 |
Iowa |
30.6 |
28 |
Oregon |
62.2 |
Kansas |
56.4 |
Louisiana |
30.0 |
29 |
Minnesota |
62.2 |
Louisiana |
56.2 |
Wyoming |
29.0 |
30 |
Kansas |
61.0 |
Maryland |
56.2 |
Kansas |
29.1 |
31 |
New Hampshire |
58.3 |
Oregon |
53.4 |
Florida |
29.1 |
32 |
Wyoming |
56.8 |
Iowa |
52.2 |
Vermont |
27.8 |
33 |
Virginia |
55.6 |
Nebraska |
52.0 |
Nebraska |
26.1 |
34 |
Georgia |
55.3 |
Alabama |
51.7 |
Kentucky |
24.3 |
35 |
Alabama |
54.8 |
Georgia |
49.8 |
Texas |
24.1 |
36 |
Nebraska |
54.3 |
Virginia |
48.7 |
Virginia |
23.1 |
37 |
Iowa |
53.0 |
Montana |
46.3 |
Idaho |
21.5 |
38 |
Tennessee |
52.3 |
Tennessee |
45.7 |
Georgia |
20.6 |
39 |
Maine |
51.3 |
Arkansas |
41.6 |
Tennessee |
20.2 |
40 |
Montana |
50.2 |
Idaho |
41.4 |
Oklahoma |
19.2 |
41 |
Idaho |
47.5 |
Maine |
39.9 |
West Virginia |
18.7 |
42 |
Kentucky |
44.5 |
South Dakota |
39.0 |
Alabama |
17.3 |
43 |
Arkansas |
42.8 |
Alaska |
37.9 |
Nevada |
16.3 |
44 |
South Carolina |
41.2 |
Kentucky |
37.7 |
South Carolina |
14.8 |
45 |
North Carolina |
39.5 |
Vermont |
37.0 |
North Carolina |
14.4 |
46 |
South Dakota |
39.3 |
Mississippi |
36.2 |
New Mexico |
14.2 |
47 |
Vermont |
38.5 |
North Carolina |
36.2 |
South Dakota |
13.1 |
48 |
West Virginia |
38.2 |
West Virginia |
35.8 |
Arkansas |
12.9 |
49 |
Alaska |
37.9 |
North Dakota |
35.1 |
Mississippi |
11.5 |
50 |
Mississippi |
37.7 |
South Carolina |
34.3 |
North Dakota |
11.0 |
51 |
North Dakota |
35.2 |
Delaware |
32.6 |
Alaska |
9.5 |