Category: Spotlight on States

Up next in our Spotlight on States series: West Virginia!

West Virginia is a mountainous state in the southern and mid-Atlantic region of the country. It was admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, as the 35th state. West Virginia was formed during the Civil War from western counties of Virginia that were loyal to the Union. The state is bordered by Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, and …

Washington was the 42nd state to join the union on November 11, 1889. Olympia is the state capital and Seattle is its largest city. Washington is bordered by Idaho and Oregon and is the 18th largest state.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the estimated population of Washington is 7,958,180 (July 2024 est.); it ranks as the 13th most populous state.

Official Washington State Facts and Symbols

Every …

Up next in our Spotlight on States series: Virginia!

The first permanent English settlement in America was established at Jamestown in 1607. Virginia became a colony in 1624 and entered the Union as the tenth state on June 25, 1788. The state was named for Queen Elizabeth I of England, known as the “Virgin Queen.” It is one of four states, along with Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, to …

Vermont was the 14th state to join the union on March 4, 1791. Montpelier is the state capital and Burlington is its largest city. Vermont is bordered by Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York and is the 45th largest state.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the estimated population of Vermont is 648,493 (July 2024 est.); it ranks as the 49th most populous state.

Official Vermont State Facts

Up next in our Spotlight on States series: Utah!

Utah, also known as the Beehive State, was admitted to the Union on January 4, 1896, as the 45th state. It is one of the Four Corners states along with Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico; this is the only location in the country where four states meet. Utah also shares a border with Wyoming, Idaho, and Nevada. It’s the …

Texas was the 28th state to join the union on December 29, 1845. Austin is the state capital and Houston is its largest city. Texas is bordered by the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the estimated population of Texas is 31,290,831 (July 2024 est.); it ranks as the 2nd most populous state.

Official Texas State Facts and Symbols

Every …

Up next in our Spotlight on States series: Tennessee!

Tennessee was admitted to the Union on June 1, 1796, as the 16th state. It is located in the southeastern region of the country and borders Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri. The state is divided into three grand divisions of East, Middle, and West Tennessee.

The state’s estimated population in 2024 was 7.22 million …

South Dakota was the 40th state to join the union on November 2, 1889. Pierre is the state capital and Sioux Falls is its largest city. South Dakota is bordered by Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wyoming.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the estimated population of South Dakota is 924,669 (July 2024 est.); it ranks as the 46th most populous state.

Official South Dakota State

Up next in our Spotlight on States series: South Carolina!

The Province of South Carolina was formed in 1712 and it became a royal colony in 1719. It was one of the original thirteen colonies and became the eighth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on May 23, 1788. After voting to secede in 1860, South Carolina was readmitted to the Union on July 9, 1868, after the …

Rhode Island was the 13th state to join the union on May 29, 1790. Providence is the state capital and its largest city.

Rhode Island is the smallest state in the U.S. and is bordered by the states of Connecticut and Massachusetts. It shares a maritime border with New York in the south, specifically near Block Island. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the estimated population of Rhode …