Sixteen (16) states were formed between 1787 and 1796 (before 1800). Twenty-nine (29) states were formed in the 1800s, while the remaining five (5) were formed in the 1900s (1907-1959). The last state formed in the continental United States was Arizona (Feb. 14, 1912). Hawai'i and Alaska became states in 1959.
In modern American culture, if you have the 25 cent piece or quarter, look on the back. There are some quarters with states on the back. Some people collect them, while others just like to see the pictures and information on the back that depict each state.
If you'd like to know more about the state's birthdays in terms of the year they entered the Union, see the chart below.
State Birthdays Grouped Based on Birth Year
State Birthdays Sorted by Birth Year
| ||||
State
|
Abbreviation
|
Birthdate
|
Birth Year
|
Capital City
|
Delaware
|
DE
|
Dec. 7
|
1787
|
Dover
|
New Jersey
|
NJ
|
Dec. 18
|
1787
|
Trenton
|
Pennsylvania
|
PA
|
Dec. 12
|
1787
|
Harrisburg
|
Connecticut
|
CT
|
Jan. 9
|
1788
|
Hartford
|
Georgia
|
GA
|
Jan. 2
|
1788
|
Atlanta
|
Maryland
|
MD
|
Apr. 28
|
1788
|
Annapolis
|
Massachusetts
|
MA
|
Feb. 6
|
1788
|
Boston
|
New Hampshire
|
NH
|
Jun. 21
|
1788
|
Concord
|
New York
|
NY
|
Jul. 26
|
1788
|
Albany
|
South Carolina
|
SC
|
May. 23
|
1788
|
Columbia
|
Virginia
|
VA
|
Jun. 25
|
1788
|
Richmond
|
North Carolina
|
NC
|
Nov. 21
|
1789
|
Raleigh
|
Rhode Island
|
RI
|
May. 29
|
1790
|
Providence
|
Vermont
|
VT
|
Mar. 4
|
1791
|
Montpelier
|
Kentucky
|
KY
|
Jun. 1
|
1792
|
Frankfort
|
Tennessee
|
TN
|
Jun. 1
|
1796
|
Nashville
|
Ohio
|
OH
|
Feb. 19
|
1803
|
Columbus
|
Louisiana
|
LA
|
Apr. 30
|
1812
|
Baton Rouge
|
Indiana
|
IN
|
Dec. 11
|
1816
|
Indianapolis
|
Mississippi
|
MS
|
Dec. 10
|
1817
|
Jackson
|
Illinois
|
IL
|
Dec. 3
|
1818
|
Springfield
|
Alabama
|
AL
|
Dec. 14
|
1819
|
Montgomery
|
Maine
|
ME
|
Mar. 15
|
1820
|
Augusta
|
Missouri
|
MO
|
Aug. 10
|
1821
|
Jefferson City
|
Arkansas
|
AR
|
Jun. 15
|
1836
|
Little Rock
|
Michigan
|
MI
|
Jan. 26
|
1837
|
Lansing
|
Florida
|
FL
|
Mar. 3
|
1845
|
Tallahassee
|
Texas
|
TX
|
Dec. 29
|
1845
|
Austin
|
Iowa
|
IA
|
Dec. 28
|
1846
|
Des Moines
|
Wisconsin
|
WI
|
May. 29
|
1848
|
Madison
|
California
|
CA
|
Sept. 9
|
1850
|
Sacramento
|
Minnesota
|
MN
|
May. 11
|
1858
|
St. Paul
|
Oregon
|
OR
|
Feb. 14
|
1859
|
Salem
|
Kansas
|
KS
|
Jan. 29
|
1861
|
Topeka
|
West Virginia
|
WV
|
Jun. 20
|
1863
|
Charleston
|
Nevada
|
NV
|
Oct. 31
|
1864
|
Carson City
|
Nebraska
|
NE
|
Mar. 1
|
1867
|
Lincoln
|
Colorado
|
CO
|
Aug. 1
|
1876
|
Denver
|
Montana
|
MT
|
Nov. 8
|
1889
|
Helena
|
North Dakota
|
ND
|
Nov. 2
|
1889
|
Bismarck
|
South Dakota
|
SD
|
Nov. 2
|
1889
|
Pierre
|
Washington
|
WA
|
Nov. 11
|
1889
|
Olympia
|
Idaho
|
ID
|
Jul. 3
|
1890
|
Boise
|
Wyoming
|
WY
|
Jul. 10
|
1890
|
Cheyenne
|
Utah
|
UT
|
Jan. 4
|
1896
|
Salt Lake City
|
Oklahoma
|
OK
|
Nov. 16
|
1907
|
Oklahoma City
|
Arizona
|
AZ
|
Feb. 14
|
1912
|
Phoenix
|
New Mexico
|
NM
|
Jan. 6
|
1912
|
Santa Fe
|
Alaska
|
AK
|
Jan. 3
|
1959
|
Juneau
|
Hawaii
|
HI
|
Aug. 21
|
1959
|
Honolulu
|
 |
| Map of the United States with States Listed (Abbreviations) and State Capitals |
State Birthdays Grouped Based on Birth Date (Month and Date)
Do you want to keep track of the state birthdays based on the yearly calendar? The chart below has organized the states based on the month and day they were formed (not year).
Sorted by Birthdate (Number format is MM/DD)
| |||||
State
|
Abbreviation
|
Birthdate
|
Birth Day
|
Birth Year
|
Capital City
|
Georgia
|
GA
|
1/2
|
Jan. 2
|
1788
|
Atlanta
|
Alaska
|
AK
|
1/3
|
Jan. 3
|
1959
|
Juneau
|
Utah
|
UT
|
1/4
|
Jan. 4
|
1896
|
Salt Lake City
|
New Mexico
|
NM
|
1/6
|
Jan. 6
|
1912
|
Santa Fe
|
Connecticut
|
CT
|
1/9
|
Jan. 9
|
1788
|
Hartford
|
Michigan
|
MI
|
1/26
|
Jan. 26
|
1837
|
Lansing
|
Kansas
|
KS
|
1/29
|
Jan. 29
|
1861
|
Topeka
|
Massachusetts
|
MA
|
2/6
|
Feb. 6
|
1788
|
Boston
|
Arizona
|
AZ
|
2/14
|
Feb. 14
|
1912
|
Phoenix
|
Oregon
|
OR
|
2/14
|
Feb. 14
|
1859
|
Salem
|
Ohio
|
OH
|
2/19
|
Feb. 19
|
1803
|
Columbus
|
Nebraska
|
NE
|
3/1
|
Mar. 1
|
1867
|
Lincoln
|
Florida
|
FL
|
3/3
|
Mar. 3
|
1845
|
Tallahassee
|
Vermont
|
VT
|
3/4
|
Mar. 4
|
1791
|
Montpelier
|
Maine
|
ME
|
3/15
|
Mar. 15
|
1820
|
Augusta
|
Maryland
|
MD
|
4/28
|
Apr. 28
|
1788
|
Annapolis
|
Louisiana
|
LA
|
4/30
|
Apr. 30
|
1812
|
Baton Rouge
|
Minnesota
|
MN
|
5/11
|
May. 11
|
1858
|
St. Paul
|
South Carolina
|
SC
|
5/23
|
May. 23
|
1788
|
Columbia
|
Rhode Island
|
RI
|
5/29
|
May. 29
|
1790
|
Providence
|
Wisconsin
|
WI
|
5/29
|
May. 29
|
1848
|
Madison
|
Kentucky
|
KY
|
6/1
|
Jun. 1
|
1792
|
Frankfort
|
Tennessee
|
TN
|
6/1
|
Jun. 1
|
1796
|
Nashville
|
Arkansas
|
AR
|
6/15
|
Jun. 15
|
1836
|
Little Rock
|
West Virginia
|
WV
|
6/15
|
Jun. 15
|
1863
|
Charleston
|
New Hampshire
|
NH
|
6/21
|
Jun. 21
|
1788
|
Concord
|
Virginia
|
VA
|
6/25
|
Jun. 25
|
1788
|
Richmond
|
Idaho
|
ID
|
7/3
|
Jul. 3
|
1890
|
Boise
|
Wyoming
|
WY
|
7/10
|
Jul. 10
|
1890
|
Cheyenne
|
New York
|
NY
|
7/26
|
Jul. 26
|
1788
|
Albany
|
Colorado
|
CO
|
8/1
|
Aug. 1
|
1876
|
Denver
|
Missouri
|
MO
|
8/10
|
Aug. 10
|
1821
|
Jefferson City
|
Hawaii
|
HI
|
8/21
|
Aug. 21
|
1959
|
Honolulu
|
California
|
CA
|
9/9
|
Sept. 9
|
1850
|
Sacramento
|
Nevada
|
NV
|
10/31
|
Oct. 31
|
1864
|
Carson City
|
North Dakota
|
ND
|
11/2
|
Nov. 2
|
1889
|
Bismarck
|
South Dakota
|
SD
|
11/2
|
Nov. 2
|
1889
|
Pierre
|
Montana
|
MT
|
11/8
|
Nov. 8
|
1889
|
Helena
|
Washington
|
WA
|
11/11
|
Nov. 11
|
1889
|
Olympia
|
Oklahoma
|
OK
|
11/16
|
Nov. 16
|
1907
|
Oklahoma City
|
North Carolina
|
NC
|
11/21
|
Nov. 21
|
1789
|
Raleigh
|
Illinois
|
IL
|
12/3
|
Dec. 3
|
1818
|
Springfield
|
Delaware
|
DE
|
12/7
|
Dec. 7
|
1787
|
Dover
|
Mississippi
|
MS
|
12/10
|
Dec. 10
|
1817
|
Jackson
|
Indiana
|
IN
|
12/11
|
Dec. 11
|
1816
|
Indianapolis
|
Pennsylvania
|
PA
|
12/12
|
Dec. 12
|
1787
|
Harrisburg
|
Alabama
|
AL
|
12/14
|
Dec. 14
|
1819
|
Montgomery
|
New Jersey
|
NJ
|
12/18
|
Dec. 18
|
1787
|
Trenton
|
Iowa
|
IA
|
12/28
|
Dec. 28
|
1846
|
Des Moines
|
Texas
|
TX
|
12/29
|
Dec. 29
|
1845
|
Austin
|
State Birthdays Grouped Alphabetically Based on State Name
And, if finding the state you are looking for becomes a challenge in the tables above, find your state's birthday in this chart below, arranged alphabetically by state name.
State Birthdays Sorted by State Name
| ||||
State
|
Abbreviation
|
Birthdate
|
Birth Year
|
Capital City
|
Alabama
|
AL
|
Dec. 14
|
1819
|
Montgomery
|
Alaska
|
AK
|
Jan. 3
|
1959
|
Juneau
|
Arizona
|
AZ
|
Feb. 14
|
1912
|
Phoenix
|
Arkansas
|
AR
|
Jun. 15
|
1836
|
Little Rock
|
California
|
CA
|
Sept. 9
|
1850
|
Sacramento
|
Colorado
|
CO
|
Aug. 1
|
1876
|
Denver
|
Connecticut
|
CT
|
Jan. 9
|
1788
|
Hartford
|
Delaware
|
DE
|
Dec. 7
|
1787
|
Dover
|
Florida
|
FL
|
Mar. 3
|
1845
|
Tallahassee
|
Georgia
|
GA
|
Jan. 2
|
1788
|
Atlanta
|
Hawaii
|
HI
|
Aug. 21
|
1959
|
Honolulu
|
Idaho
|
ID
|
Jul. 3
|
1890
|
Boise
|
Illinois
|
IL
|
Dec. 3
|
1818
|
Springfield
|
Indiana
|
IN
|
Dec. 11
|
1816
|
Indianapolis
|
Iowa
|
IA
|
Dec. 28
|
1846
|
Des Moines
|
Kansas
|
KS
|
Jan. 29
|
1861
|
Topeka
|
Kentucky
|
KY
|
Jun. 1
|
1792
|
Frankfort
|
Louisiana
|
LA
|
Apr. 30
|
1812
|
Baton Rouge
|
Maine
|
ME
|
Mar. 15
|
1820
|
Augusta
|
Maryland
|
MD
|
Apr. 28
|
1788
|
Annapolis
|
Massachusetts
|
MA
|
Feb. 6
|
1788
|
Boston
|
Michigan
|
MI
|
Jan. 26
|
1837
|
Lansing
|
Minnesota
|
MN
|
May. 11
|
1858
|
St. Paul
|
Mississippi
|
MS
|
Dec. 10
|
1817
|
Jackson
|
Missouri
|
MO
|
Aug. 10
|
1821
|
Jefferson City
|
Montana
|
MT
|
Nov. 8
|
1889
|
Helena
|
Nebraska
|
NE
|
Mar. 1
|
1867
|
Lincoln
|
Nevada
|
NV
|
Oct. 31
|
1864
|
Carson City
|
New Hampshire
|
NH
|
Jun. 21
|
1788
|
Concord
|
New Jersey
|
NJ
|
Dec. 18
|
1787
|
Trenton
|
New Mexico
|
NM
|
Jan. 6
|
1912
|
Santa Fe
|
New York
|
NY
|
Jul. 26
|
1788
|
Albany
|
North Carolina
|
NC
|
Nov. 21
|
1789
|
Raleigh
|
North Dakota
|
ND
|
Nov. 2
|
1889
|
Bismarck
|
Ohio
|
OH
|
Feb. 19
|
1803
|
Columbus
|
Oklahoma
|
OK
|
Nov. 16
|
1907
|
Oklahoma City
|
Oregon
|
OR
|
Feb. 14
|
1859
|
Salem
|
Pennsylvania
|
PA
|
Dec. 12
|
1787
|
Harrisburg
|
Rhode Island
|
RI
|
May. 29
|
1790
|
Providence
|
South Carolina
|
SC
|
May. 23
|
1788
|
Columbia
|
South Dakota
|
SD
|
Nov. 2
|
1889
|
Pierre
|
Tennessee
|
TN
|
Jun. 1
|
1796
|
Nashville
|
Texas
|
TX
|
Dec. 29
|
1845
|
Austin
|
Utah
|
UT
|
Jan. 4
|
1896
|
Salt Lake City
|
Vermont
|
VT
|
Mar. 4
|
1791
|
Montpelier
|
Virginia
|
VA
|
Jun. 25
|
1788
|
Richmond
|
Washington
|
WA
|
Nov. 11
|
1889
|
Olympia
|
West Virginia
|
WV
|
Jun. 15
|
1863
|
Charleston
|
Wisconsin
|
WI
|
May. 29
|
1848
|
Madison
|
Wyoming
|
WY
|
Jul. 10
|
1890
|
Cheyenne
|
State Birthdays Grouped Based on Time Zone
Typically, the earlier the state birthday, the most likely it is closer to the Eastern Time Zone (east coast). Also, note that several states (marked with *) are repeated. This is because 12 states straddle at least two time zones.
"Oregon and Idaho are split between the Mountain and Pacific time zones. Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, North and South Dakota are divided between Central and Mountain time zones. Florida, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee are split between Eastern and Central time zones."
State Birthdays in Eastern Time Zone
State
|
Time Zone
|
Birthdate
|
Birth Year
|
Capital City
| |
1
|
Connecticut
|
EST
|
Jan. 9
|
1788
|
Hartford
|
2
|
Delaware
|
EST
|
Dec. 7
|
1787
|
Dover
|
3
|
Florida*
|
EST
|
Mar. 3
|
1845
|
Tallahassee
|
4
|
Georgia
|
EST
|
Jan. 2
|
1788
|
Atlanta
|
5
|
Indiana*
|
EST
|
Dec. 11
|
1816
|
Indianapolis
|
6
|
Kentucky*
|
EST
|
Jun. 1
|
1792
|
Frankfort
|
7
|
Maine
|
EST
|
Mar. 15
|
1820
|
Augusta
|
8
|
Maryland
|
EST
|
Apr. 28
|
1788
|
Annapolis
|
9
|
Massachusetts
|
EST
|
Feb. 6
|
1788
|
Boston
|
10
|
Michigan*
|
EST
|
Jan. 26
|
1837
|
Lansing
|
11
|
New Hampshire
|
EST
|
Jun. 21
|
1788
|
Concord
|
12
|
New Jersey
|
EST
|
Dec. 18
|
1787
|
Trenton
|
13
|
New York
|
EST
|
Jul. 26
|
1788
|
Albany
|
14
|
North Carolina
|
EST
|
Nov. 21
|
1789
|
Raleigh
|
15
|
Ohio
|
EST
|
Feb. 19
|
1803
|
Columbus
|
16
|
Pennsylvania
|
EST
|
Dec. 12
|
1787
|
Harrisburg
|
17
|
Rhode Island
|
EST
|
May. 29
|
1790
|
Providence
|
18
|
South Carolina
|
EST
|
May. 23
|
1788
|
Columbia
|
19
|
Tennessee*
|
EST
|
Jun. 1
|
1796
|
Nashville
|
20
|
Vermont
|
EST
|
Mar. 4
|
1791
|
Montpelier
|
21
|
Virginia
|
EST
|
Jun. 25
|
1788
|
Richmond
|
22
|
West Virginia
|
EST
|
Jun. 15
|
1863
|
Charleston
|
State Birthdays in Central Time Zone
State
|
Time Zone
|
Birthdate
|
Birth Year
|
Capital City
| |
1
|
Connecticut
|
EST
|
Jan. 9
|
1788
|
Hartford
|
2
|
Delaware
|
EST
|
Dec. 7
|
1787
|
Dover
|
3
|
Florida*
|
EST
|
Mar. 3
|
1845
|
Tallahassee
|
4
|
Georgia
|
EST
|
Jan. 2
|
1788
|
Atlanta
|
5
|
Indiana*
|
EST
|
Dec. 11
|
1816
|
Indianapolis
|
6
|
Kentucky*
|
EST
|
Jun. 1
|
1792
|
Frankfort
|
7
|
Maine
|
EST
|
Mar. 15
|
1820
|
Augusta
|
8
|
Maryland
|
EST
|
Apr. 28
|
1788
|
Annapolis
|
9
|
Massachusetts
|
EST
|
Feb. 6
|
1788
|
Boston
|
10
|
Michigan*
|
EST
|
Jan. 26
|
1837
|
Lansing
|
11
|
New Hampshire
|
EST
|
Jun. 21
|
1788
|
Concord
|
12
|
New Jersey
|
EST
|
Dec. 18
|
1787
|
Trenton
|
13
|
New York
|
EST
|
Jul. 26
|
1788
|
Albany
|
14
|
North Carolina
|
EST
|
Nov. 21
|
1789
|
Raleigh
|
15
|
Ohio
|
EST
|
Feb. 19
|
1803
|
Columbus
|
16
|
Pennsylvania
|
EST
|
Dec. 12
|
1787
|
Harrisburg
|
17
|
Rhode Island
|
EST
|
May. 29
|
1790
|
Providence
|
18
|
South Carolina
|
EST
|
May. 23
|
1788
|
Columbia
|
19
|
Tennessee*
|
EST
|
Jun. 1
|
1796
|
Nashville
|
20
|
Vermont
|
EST
|
Mar. 4
|
1791
|
Montpelier
|
21
|
Virginia
|
EST
|
Jun. 25
|
1788
|
Richmond
|
22
|
West Virginia
|
EST
|
Jun. 15
|
1863
|
Charleston
|
State Birthdays in Mountain Time Zone
State
|
Time Zone
|
Birthdate
|
Birth Year
|
Capital City
| |
1
|
Arizona
|
MST
|
Feb. 14
|
1912
|
Phoenix
|
2
|
Colorado
|
MST
|
Aug. 1
|
1876
|
Denver
|
3
|
Idaho*
|
MST
|
Jul. 3
|
1890
|
Boise
|
4
|
Kansas*
|
MST
|
Jan. 29
|
1861
|
Topeka
|
5
|
Montana*
|
MST
|
Nov. 8
|
1889
|
Helena
|
6
|
Nebraska*
|
MST
|
Mar. 1
|
1867
|
Lincoln
|
7
|
New Mexico
|
MST
|
Jan. 6
|
1912
|
Santa Fe
|
8
|
North Dakota*
|
MST
|
Nov. 2
|
1889
|
Bismarck
|
9
|
Oregon*
|
MST
|
Feb. 14
|
1859
|
Salem
|
10
|
South Dakota*
|
MST
|
Nov. 2
|
1889
|
Pierre
|
11
|
Texas*
|
MST
|
Dec. 29
|
1845
|
Austin
|
12
|
Utah
|
MST
|
Jan. 4
|
1896
|
Salt Lake City
|
13
|
Wyoming
|
MST
|
Jul. 10
|
1890
|
Cheyenne
|
State Birthdays in Pacific Time Zone
State
|
Time Zone
|
Birthdate
|
Birth Year
|
Capital City
| |
1
|
California
|
PST
|
Sept. 9
|
1850
|
Sacramento
|
2
|
Idaho*
|
PST
|
Jul. 3
|
1890
|
Boise
|
3
|
Montana*
|
PST
|
Nov. 8
|
1889
|
Helena
|
4
|
Nevada
|
PST
|
Oct. 31
|
1864
|
Carson City
|
5
|
Oregon*
|
PST
|
Feb. 14
|
1859
|
Salem
|
6
|
Washington
|
PST
|
Nov. 11
|
1889
|
Olympia
|
State Birthdays in Alaska Time Zone
State
|
Time Zone
|
Birthdate
|
Birth Year
|
Capital City
| |
1
|
Alaska
|
Alaska Time
|
Jan. 3
|
1959
|
Juneau
|
State Birthdays in Hawai'i Time Zone
State
|
Time Zone
|
Birthdate
|
Birth Year
|
Capital City
| |
1
|
Hawaii
|
Hawai'I Time
|
Aug. 21
|
1959
|
Honolulu
|
Capitals Listed in Conversation
Capitals Listed in Song
Conclusions
While the U.S. as a country is going to be 242 years old in 2018, the first state will turn 231 this year, while the youngest continental state will turn 106 and the two non-continental states will turn 62 years old this year. While the US and the states are relatively young in terms of world history, and even the continent's history, there is so much to learn both about the U.S. culture the way it is today and all that came before who have shaped and lived on this land in the past.
This article will become linked over time with posts from this blog highlighting different states. As I, the blog owner, have been lucky enough to travel by car to 47 of the 48 continental states, I will share both personal experience and facts about the different states. Look out for it! If you have anything you would like to know or facts you would like to add, comment below!
Author of this post, Jennifer Kumar, provides online face-to-face classes for those working with Americans on virtual, global teams. She also helps to prepare professionals and their families for expat assignments to the U.S. Contact us for more information.
Related Posts:
Photo credits: Delaware sign, MPD01605, creative commons at flickr. Maryland sign: Krishna Kumar, US time zone map, pinterest
Updated 2019
Updated 2019
