The first 13 states were the original members who declared independence against the British on July 4th, 1776. However, they are listed in the order that they ratified the Constitution of the United States. Delaware did so first, on December 7th, 1787.Hawaii was the last State to join on August 21st, 1959. In reality USA has 50 states since 1959. The flag has 50 stars, one for each state. It is updated as needed. A common explanation is that the flag doesn't include Alaska and Hawaii, thus 50 + 2 = 52. But Alaska became the 49th state on the 3rd of January 1959, and the flag got its 49th star on the 4th of July the same year. Hawaii became the 50th state on the 21st of August the same year, and the flag got its 50th star on the 4th of July 1960. The District of Columbia is a federal district, not a state.Many lists include DC and Puerto Rico, which makes for 52 "states and other jurisdictions"
Read more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States
Read more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_population
1. Delaware,2. Pennsylvania,3. New Jersey,4. Georgia, 5. Connecticut,6. Massachusetts,7. Maryland,8. South Carolina,9. New Hampshire,10. Virginia,11. New York,12. North Carolina,13. Rhode Island,14. Vermont,15. Kentucky,16. Tennessee,17. Ohio,18. Louisiana,19. Indiana,20. Mississippi,21. Illinois,22. Alabama,23. Maine,24. Missouri,25. Arkansas,26. Michigan,27. Florida,28. Texas,29. Iowa,30. Wisconsin,31. California,32. Minnesota,33. Oregon,34. Kansas,35. West Virginia,36. Nevada,37.Nebraska,38. Colorado,39. North Dakota,40. South Dakota,41. Montana,42. Washington,43.Idaho,44. Wyoming,45. Utah,46. Oklahoma,47. New Mexico,48. Arizona,49. Alaska,50. Hawaii
Read more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States
Read more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_population
