Politics

Failed States: These Proposals for American States Didn't Quite Make It

David Beren

Published: October 7, 2024 1:30 pm

24/7 Insights

• • Throughout American history, many states have been proposed. 
  • One proposed state would have used up much of the now Western US. 
  • Multiple proposals have been discussed to break up Texas. 
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While it should be no surprise that the United States has 50 states, you might be surprised to learn this number could have been far larger. Over the last few hundred years, multiple efforts have been made to grow America closer to at least 62 states, if not more. While none of these proposals have passed, some had more than enough merit to be voted on or had presidential interference. 

12. Jefferson

In 1859, a vote was held to create a state known as Jefferson from parts of the western area of Kansas. Mining communities in the Rocky Mountains asked the Kansas government, which agreed to the proposal. However, the newly formed Jefferson government couldn’t agree on a constitution, so it was disbanded. 

11. Superior

A one-time vote was held to create a separate state using the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and breaking off from the rest of the state. Multiple proposals surfaced, and other potential names included Sylvania and Ontonagon, though never came up for a formal vote. 

10. Delmarva 

A small peninsula off the coast of Maryland, Delmarva would have been composed of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. The proposal called for Maryland and Virginia to give land to Delaware, but Congress never considered a wider vote. 

9. Absaroka 

In 1939, parts of Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota attempted to secede and create their part of the country known as Absaroka. Sadly, a vote never came before Congress to vote for statehood, but Absaroka license plates were also made, and a Governor was appointed. 

8. Sequoyah

In 1905, Native Americans sought to create a part of the U.S. that included parts of eastern Oklahoma. The government had relocated the Cherokee tribe to this land, but ultimately, President Teddy Roosevelt vetoed the idea and, instead, merged Sequoyah with Oklahoma statehood. 

7. Lincoln

Numerous attempts have been made to create the state of Lincoln, starting with when Texas was first admitted to the Union. One proposed attempt was to create a state taking up the land south and west of the Colorado River. However, this never received a full vote and ultimately fizzled out. 

6. South California 

In 2011, a proposal for Riverside County proposed that South California break off and become its own state. The effort was declared to help boost the local economy, but the idea was met with lukewarm excitement, and the governor shot down the plan. 

5. Deseret

Proposed by the Church of Latter-Day Saints in 1849, Deseret would have been composed of Arizona, Utah, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming. The land would have included the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley, though the proposal died in 1850 when the Utah Territory was opened. 

4. Westsylvania

After declaring independence from England, parts of West Virginia and western Pennsylvania declared their own state, Westsylvania. Congress ignored the petition for statehood and voted to give the same territory to surrounding states. 

3. Jefferson

Part of western Kansas, Jefferson Territory, or the Colorado Territory as it was later known, was created instead. Unfortunately, support to establish a new state failed across four different proposals and ultimately stopped coming up for a vote in the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor. 

2. Franklin

In the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, North Carolina sold some land in April 1784. Out of fear that the government would sell the land to France or Spain to pay off war debt, residents of this region declared themselves living in the Stake of Franklin, which lasted four years before rejoining North Carolina, and a clause was added to the Constitution. 

1. Transylvania

The best name for a potential American state, Transylvania, could have been another star on the flag. Transylvania was the unofficial 14th colony made up of modern-day western/southeastern Kentucky across northern Tennessee. Unfortunately, the plan to purchase it was illegal under British law before Virginia reclaimed the land.