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what was the first state in the united states

The first state in the United States was Delaware.

Quick Scoop: First State in the United States

Short answer

  • Delaware became the first state on December 7, 1787 , when it was the first to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
  • Because of this, it’s officially nicknamed “The First State.”

Why Delaware Is Considered the First State

When people ask, “What was the first state in the United States?” they are usually talking about the order in which states joined the Union under the U.S. Constitution.

  • Delaware was the first of the original 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution, doing so on December 7, 1787.
  • Ratifying the Constitution was the step that turned a colony into a U.S. state , so Delaware’s early ratification put it first in line.
  • The U.S. Census Bureau and modern reference sources explicitly list Delaware as the oldest/first state , with Hawaii as the youngest.

A simple way to remember this:

First to sign the Constitution, first to become a state.

A Bit of Historical Flavor

Even though Delaware is small, its role at the nation’s birth was big.

  • Delaware started as one of the Thirteen Colonies under British rule, like Virginia, Pennsylvania, and others.
  • After independence, each colony gradually became a state by accepting the new national framework set out in the Constitution.
  • Delaware’s quick move to ratify the Constitution gave it lasting bragging rights and the official title “The First State,” which you’ll see reflected in state history write‑ups and tourism materials.

If you picture the early U.S. like a group chat where everyone has to hit “Agree” on the new rules, Delaware was the first one to tap the button.

Related Fun Facts (Rapid List)

  1. Capital : Dover is the capital city of Delaware.
  1. Date of statehood : December 7, 1787.
  1. Youngest state (for contrast): Hawaii, admitted in 1959, is the newest state.

SEO-style extras

  • Focus question: “what was the first state in the united states” – Answer: Delaware , first to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787.
  • If you see debates online (for example, people mentioning Virginia due to colonial age), the official statehood order used by government and reference sites still lists Delaware as first.

Meta description-style summary:
Delaware is officially recognized as the first state in the United States because it was the first colony to ratify the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787, earning the nickname “The First State.”

Bottom note:
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.