How much population does a place have to have to become a state?

Answer 1

I dont think it works like that....Chicago or L.A. have a large conversation but theyre not their own states.

Answer 2

There isnt any specific requirement for a certain number. It depends on the situation.

The states that joined the US recently are pretty small, population wise.... like Alaska and Hawaii. But maybe if Guam or teh Virgin islands wanted to be a state, the US Congress would think they were too small and not want to let them in as a state.

When you get to be a state you get two Representatives in Congress and two Senators in the US Senate. So, it might be a problem if a very small group of people somewhere wanted to join up.

The other problem is language. Some people thing Puerto Rico should be a state (but some Puertor Ricans do not want this) Since most people in Puerto Rico speak Spanish as their first language, it might be a problem when their representatives got to Congress... should they be allowed to speak Spanish in Congress, or should all the work in Congress be done in English?

Answer 3

Becoming a state goes beyond just the United States, and beyond population. From Wikipedia:

"The declarative theory of statehood defines a state as a person of international law that meets certain structural criteria.

A document that is often quoted on the matter to is the Montevideo Convention (1933), Article 1 of which states:

The state as a person of international law should possess the following qualifications: (a) a permanent population; (b) a defined territory; (c) government; and (d) capacity to enter into relations with the other states. Article 3 of the Convention declares that statehood is independent of recognition by other states. Recognition is considered a requirement for statehood by the constitutive theory of statehood."

This is for international recognition of Statehood (like the State of Israel).

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

Um, population has nothing to do with it. If you are referring to the UNITED STATES. Our country was mapped out since it's first permanent English settlement (Jamestown) in 1607. Back then, the state of 'Virginia' extended all the way to the Mississippi River. I live in Wisconsin and before Wisc. became a territory and then a state (1848) it was once considered part of the state of Virginia, for King James claimed all the land he knew of for England. Everything we knew about our country at the time...well it wasn't even 'ours' yet technically, but that's another history lesson. Anyway, states (13 original colonies, etc) were mapped on natural borders, like rivers. After the Lewis and Clark expedition which reached all the way to California. Lawmakers knew the US reached from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The states which were known, like California and all states east of the Mississippi were mapped out according to natural land formations (rivers, mountain ranges, etc) western states, like Arizona and Utah were largely unexplored, their squares were literally drawn in! That is why those states are perfectly square, cartographers (map makers) knew the land area was there, they just weren't sure of natural land formations.

Answer 5

wow you mean live apartment buildings can become states? I think a state needs land more than it needs population

Answer 6

Well according to the Northwest Ordinance (1787) 60,000.....at 5,000 they are allowed to attend Congress although they are not allowed to speak or vote.

Answer 7

The government makes it a state, I don't think there are rules.

Answer 8

Judging by Montana,I'd say 3.