# I forgot..How many states are there? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 20, 1999, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279 "1999-12-20T17:25:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279/1 "1999-12-20T17:25:00Z")
Trick question actually… 🙂 * * * If you can’t convince them, confuse them. Harry S. Truman ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279/2 "1999-12-20T17:36:00Z")
As a computer programmer, there are two: on and off. Trick answer, actually 😉 * * * Why doesn’t the sun come out at night when the light would be more useful? (Pratchett) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279/3 "1999-12-20T17:41:00Z")
as a net addict…i can agree… 🙂 * * * If you can’t convince them, confuse them. Harry S. Truman ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279/4 "1999-12-20T17:48:00Z")
Lately? Two. Manic and Depressive. ## _sniff_ If I wanted smoke blown up my ass, I’d be at home with a pack of cigarettes and a short length of hose. ---
**Author:** ![dlv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dlv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dlv)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279/5 "1999-12-20T17:49:00Z")
Not all automata are finite-state. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279/6 "1999-12-20T17:50:00Z")
Oh, **Alpha**! {{{{ Big Hug }}}} There’s also: ## confusion intoxication disarray Livin’ on Tums, Vitamin E and Rogaine ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279/7 "1999-12-20T17:51:00Z")
Come on people! How many states in the U.S.? * * * If you can’t convince them, confuse them. Harry S. Truman ---
**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279/8 "1999-12-20T17:54:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Come on people! How many states in the U.S.? Ah, a hint. There’s as many states as there are people? ---
**Author:** ![dwtno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@dwtno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwtno)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279/9 "1999-12-20T17:57:00Z")
I think the answer Banks is looking for is 46… Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Kentucky are commonwealths. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279/10 "1999-12-20T17:57:00Z")
RM Mentock! Howdy neighbor! I live in Lexington NC myself…nice to see someone so close! * * * If you can’t convince them, confuse them. Harry S. Truman ---
**Author:** ![Jois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Jois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jois)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279/11 "1999-12-20T17:57:00Z")
This person wants me to go and find out how many of the US states are states and how many are commonwealths… I can’t spend time doing this, I have to re-arrange my sock drawer 🙂 And I’d vote for **mind** anyway. * * * Oh, I’m gonna keep using these #%@&\* codes 'til I get 'em right. ---
**Author:** ![Jois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Jois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jois)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279/12 "1999-12-20T17:59:00Z")
Not bad! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 1999, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279/13 "1999-12-21T06:01:00Z")
Jois Geez…I KNEW there was something I needed to do! * * * If you can’t convince them, confuse them. Harry S. Truman ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 1999, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279/14 "1999-12-21T06:09:00Z")
There are 52 states. This according to Raquel Welch in an interview with Larry King some years ago. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 1999, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279/15 "1999-12-21T06:11:00Z")
dwtno… damn…I missed your post! You are correct sir! Kudos! * * * If you can’t convince them, confuse them. Harry S. Truman ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 1999, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279/16 "1999-12-21T06:16:00Z")
Aren’t Texas and California republics, ala Virginia is a commonwealth? If so, the count goes down to 44, if not more. * * * I looked in the mirror today/My eyes just didn’t seem so bright I’ve lost a few more hairs/I think I’m going bald - Rush ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 1999, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279/17 "1999-12-21T06:28:00Z")
I think you guys are teasing me. Just because something is a commonwealth or a hoopajoob doesn’t mean it ain’t a state … or are all the Texans, Virginians, etc. in the US Senate just visitors? Besides, everyone knows Missouri isn’t _a_ state, it’s _the_ (Show-Me) State. And Rhode Island and Providence together constitute one plantations. That’s right, a single, plural plantations. So when Rhode Islanders rail against excessive Federal power, their rallying crying is “Plantations’ Rights!” ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279/18 "1999-12-20T20:07:00Z")
If some of my neighbors get their way, there may well be only 49 states. I’ve talked to some Alaskans who think this statehood “experiment” has gone far enough, and it’s time to secede. This sentiment is even stronger since the Feds took over the administration of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Seems the legislature wouldn’t pass a constitutional amendment guaranteeing a rural preference in the allocation of fish and game, so the federal government assumed control on October 1st. In addition, the Clinton administration has blocked timber harvesting in the Tongass National Forest, and is opposing oil exploration near the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge; all are the main source of jobs here, and are the prime political hot buttons of the anti-federalists. If it wasn’t for Senator Ted Stevens bringing home the federal pork (to the tune of $264 for every man woman and child this year), I think the secession movement would be darn near unstoppable, and the bird & bunny brigade down in 'Murrica would have to find another playground to whine about. * * * TT “Believe those who seek the truth. Doubt those who find it.” --Andre Gide ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279/19 "1999-12-20T20:44:00Z")
It is incorrect constitutionally to assert that the ‘commonwealths’ of Virginia, et alia, are not states. The US Constitution asserts that the members of the Federation are ‘states.’ It doesn’t do this by saying: If you have joined this country, you are a state. It does it by referring to the political units as ‘states’ all the way through the document. They can CALL themselves anything they want. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279/20 "1999-12-20T21:04:00Z")
Cecil covered this question in detail in [Why is Virginia (and MA and PA and KY) called a commonwealth?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_307.html). A Commonwealth like Puerto Rico is different from, say, Virginia, which is really a U.S. state with a fancy self-description. (Although, if Puerto Rico were admitted as a state, would it still call itself a commonwealth, just to confuse us?) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-forgot-how-many-states-are-there/9279.md?page=2)