<P> Regarding internal borders , while territories could shift wildly in size , once established a state has commonly remained within its borders , barring small changes due to river shifts . Only four states - Maine , Kentucky , Vermont , and West Virginia - have been created from land claimed by another state ; all of the others were created from territories or directly from acquisitions . The last state of the contiguous United States , commonly called the `` lower 48 , '' was admitted in 1912 ; the fiftieth and most recent state was admitted in 1959 . </P>
<P> Regarding internal borders , while territories could shift wildly in size , once established a state has commonly remained within its borders , barring small changes due to river shifts . Only four states - Maine , Kentucky , Vermont , and West Virginia - have been created from land claimed by another state ; all of the others were created from territories or directly from acquisitions . The last state of the contiguous United States , commonly called the `` lower 48 , '' was admitted in 1912 ; the fiftieth and most recent state was admitted in 1959 . </P>
when was the last time the us added a state
when was the last time the us added a state
1959
1959