Vermont became the first state to join the United States after the original 13 states, entering the Union as the 14th state in 1791.
Congress admitted Vermont on February 18, 1791, with statehood taking effect on March 4. Vermont’s admission followed a long dispute with New York, which had claimed the territory. The two sides reached an agreement in 1790, and Vermont paid New York $30,000 to settle land claims.
Vermont had operated as an independent republic for 14 years before statehood. It adopted its own constitution, issued coinage, and maintained a postal system. Its separate political existence helped make admission more complicated than the creation of many later states.
Kentucky became the 15th state in 1792, although Congress passed the Kentucky admission act before the Vermont act. Vermont nevertheless qualified first because its admission took effect earlier. Tennessee followed in 1796, while Maine joined in 1820.