Vermont became the 14th U.S. state when it joined the Union on March 4, 1791.
The area had been disputed by New York and New Hampshire before Vermont declared independence in 1777. Vermont operated as an independent republic for more than a decade, issuing its own constitution and currency. Its admission followed an agreement with New York and the payment of compensation for claims involving land titles.
Vermont entered the Union after the original thirteen states, making it the first state admitted under the Constitution beyond the founding group. Kentucky followed in 1792, and Tennessee followed in 1796. Maine became the 23rd state in 1820, so it was not the next state after Vermont despite its early colonial history.