36. Oklahoma
> Founding date: November 16, 1907 (46th state to join)
> First capital city: Guthrie
> First governor: Charles Nathaniel Haskell
Oklahoma quickly gained statehood after the Land Run of 1889. Many people lined up on the border of what was known as the Unassigned Lands to get their own real estate. After they had settled, they demanded representation and statehood, getting their wish in 1907.
37. Oregon
> Founding date: February 14, 1859 (33rd state to join)
> First capital city: Salem
> First governor: John Whiteaker
The Oregon Territory was created in 1848 shortly after a treaty between the U.S. and Great Britain established a border for the U.S. When Americans later moved to the area, they wanted to be able to govern themselves, demanding statehood.
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38. Pennsylvania
> Founding date: December 12, 1787 (2nd state to join)
> First capital city: Philadelphia
> First governor: Benjamin Franklin
Pennsylvania just narrowly missed out on becoming the first state to join the U.S., ratifying the new constitution just five days after Delaware, in Dec. 12, 1787. Pennsylvania aimed to be the first to ratify the Constitution in the hopes of having the national capital in the state.
39. Rhode Island
> Founding date: May 29, 1790 (13th state to join)
> First capital city: Providence
> First governor: Arthur Fenner
Rhode Island was the final holdout of the 13 colonies in signing the new Constitution. The state waited nearly two and a half years longer than the first states to approve the document. Even then, Rhode Island’s representatives only approved the Constitution narrowly — and that may be because it was threatened with being treated as a hostile foreign power if it didn’t comply.
40. South Carolina
> Founding date: May 23, 1788 (8th state to join)
> First capital city: Charleston
> First governor: Charles Pinckney
South Carolina split from North Carolina in 1712 and then beat its northern neighbor to statehood by approving the Constitution over a year earlier. South Carolina became the eighth state in May 1788.
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