View source for US 51st State, Partition, Secession and Autonomous Regions proposals

Frequent partition, secession, and one autonomous region (NY) proposals have been put forward that would divide a U.S. state in order that a particular section within might either join another state, create a new state or become self-governing regions.

==Proposed Plans==

===District of Columbia===
This plan has appeared frequently since the District does not have a Representative (it has a non-voting Delegate, as do other US territories) nor Senators.  Since it has voted Democrat in every election since given three electors in the Electoral College, plans to make it a state have never advanced far.

===Puerto Rico===
[[Puerto Rico]] has held many votes as to whether to seek statehood, remain a territory, or declare independence.  Though the vote is to remain a territory, proposals continue to be introduce to make it a state (like DC it would be a solid Democrat state). The admission Puerto Rico as a state is being delayed because it’s two senators would change the balance of the United States Senate. By linking the admission Puerto Rico with the creation and admission of New Amsterdam(update NY). The balance of the Senate would be maintained and people in NY and the two new states would benefit! New Amsterdam would be created by partitioning New York State. <ref> (2022) ''Admit Puerto Rico & New Amsterdam together as states into the union'' [https://www.constitutional-remedies.com/pr-new-amsterdam-ny.html] Constitutional Remedies. </ref>

===Arizona===
Groups in southern counties in AZ want to create a state called ''Southern Arizona'' .<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-arizona-secession-idUSTRE74931P20110510 ,“Southern Arizona seek to form new state "]</ref>

===California===
A 2014 plan to divide California into six different states never got enough signatures to get on the ballot,<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/07/15/theres-a-plan-to-split-california-into-6-states-heres-what-it-might-look-like/ “Six Californias"]</ref> Since six CA went nowhere so it's now been changed to three Californias,<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-the-man-who-wanted-to-split-california-1503119126-htmlstory.html,“ The man who wanted to split California into six states now wants to make it into three"]</ref> The three CA voter initiative which was on the 2018 ballot was blocked by the CA State Supreme Court.<ref>[https://sf.curbed.com/2018/7/19/17590594/california-supreme-court-three-californias-cal3-split-divide “Plan to split California into three states barred by state Supreme Court"]</ref> The State of Jefferson movement that also want northern CA to be a separate state also objected to the proposed three California proposed new Northern CA state boundaries.<ref>[https://soj51.org , “State of Jefferson"]</ref> See Also [[Jefferson State]]

===Colorado===
A proposal to create a state of Northern Colorado failed in its first vote in 2013 but supporters vow to try again  <ref>[http://nation.time.com/2013/11/06/northern-colorado-wont-become-the-51st-state/, “Northern Colorado Won’t Become The 51st State"]</ref>

===Florida===
Elected officials’ in Southern Florida have proposed to split Florida into North Florida and South Florida.<ref>[ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/10/22/florida-51st-state-south-florida/17705687/ "Officials propose making South Florida 51st state "]</ref>

===Illinois===
Proposals to divide Illinois go back to 1840 A current proposal to create a state of Southern Illinois in now with state lawmakers 
<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/US/resolution-proposes-separating-chicago-illinois-create-51st-state/story?id=62405752 , “Resolution proposes separating Chicago from Illinois to create 51st state"]</ref>

===Maryland===
In 1998, a state senator proposed that a referendum be held to allow nine counties representing Delmarva to secede from the state. They would invite counties from Delaware and Virginia to form the state of Delmarva.<ref>[https://politicalmaryland.com/2013/09/25/50th-state-delmarva/  "the State of Delmarva"]</ref>  
In 2014, residents from Western Maryland began petitions to create a new state, mentioning taxes, gun control as some of the issues.<ref>[https://humanevents.com/2013/09/23/the-51st-state-western-maryland-how-to-succeed-without-seceding/?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fduckduckgo.com%2F " The 51st State, Western Maryland”]</ref>

===New York===
Proposals to divide NYS into two states go back to at least 1867. Sometimes the New York city proposes it, sometimes Upstate New York, and sometimes Long Island.<ref>[https://www.nysun.com/blogs/culture-of-congestion/2008/01/secession-new-york-city-as-polis.html  “Secession: New York City as Polis"]</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/13colli.html “Longing for the State of Long Island"]</ref><ref>[https://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2015/09/will-secession-push-lead-to-local-control/#more-157554 , “Will Secession Push Lead To Local Control"]</ref>  The latest are this years' bill numbers A04446- S4541<ref>https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/s4541 “A04446- S4541"]</ref> which propose a NYS constitutional amendment to divide the NY state into three autonomous regions.<ref>[https://www.newamsterdamny.org/ “Three Autonomous Regions"]</ref> Since Congress is unlikely, in the foreseeable future, to give the Northeast two more US Senate seats a new state would require. Partitioning NYS into three Autonomous Regions: Upstate, New York City  and Long Island, Rockland & Westchester alongside a token state government to comply with the US Constitution is more likely to be achieved since Congress can be legally bypassed.<ref>[https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/mar/7/david-dipietro-bill-would-divide-new-york-three-au/ “New Yorkers push bill to slice up state"]</ref><ref>[https://www.newamsterdamny.org/ “Three Autonomous Regions"]</ref> <ref>JULIE SHERWOOD (September 11, 2020). [https://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/splitting-up-ny-is-back-on-table-for-some-lawmakers/article_e451c395-1bbf-59d8-939f-792f0c41bfa5.html Splitting up NY is back on table for some lawmakers] ‘‘CANANDAIGUA Daily Messenger’’, Retrieved September 11, 2020.</ref> Pair admissions Puerto Rico and New Amsterdam(upstate) to the union <ref> (2022) ''Admit Puerto Rico & New Amsterdam together as states into the union'' [https://www.constitutional-remedies.com/pr-new-amsterdam-ny.html] Constitutional Remedies. </ref> See Also [[New York Secession]]

===Oregon===
Back in 1941, counties in southern Oregon joined counties of Northern California to secede as the State of Jefferson. The movement was centered in rural communities who felt ignored by elected officials in their states. It continues to this day.<ref>[https://soj51.org , “State of Jefferson"]</ref>

===Texas===
As a condition of admission into the United States, Texas reserved the right to divide into as many as five separate states if it chose.  However, no real plans to do so have ever been considered.

===Washington, State of===
Proposal to divide into Eastern Washington and Western Washington.

In 2015, a bill was proposed that would create a task force for study in creating two new states.
pacific territories
=== Guam ===
[[Guam]] could enter the union as part of the [[State of Pacifica]] made up of the Autonomous Regions of American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam as a single state. This will allow the three Pacific US territories whose populations are too small enter the union as separate states to enter as one state but continue to govern themselves while gaining all the privileges statehood grants. <ref> (2022) ''Allow American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, & Guam, into the Union [Pacific territories to become a state (constitutional-remedies.com)] Constitutional Remedies. </ref>

=== American Samoa ===
Allow [[American Samoa]] to create the [[State of Pacifica]] and enter the union consisting of the Autonomous Regions of American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam as a single state. This will allow the three Pacific US territories whose populations are too small enter the union as separate states to enter as one state but continue to govern themselves as Autonomous Regions while gaining all the privileges statehood grants. <ref> (2022) ''Allow American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, & Guam, into the Union [Pacific territories to become a state (constitutional-remedies.com)] Constitutional Remedies. </ref>

=== Northern Mariana Islands===
Allow the [[Northern Mariana Islands]] to  enter the union as part of the [[State of Pacifica]] consisting of the Autonomous Regions of American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam as a single state. This will allow the three Pacific US territories whose populations are too small enter the union as separate states to enter as one state but continue to govern themselves while gaining all the privileges statehood grants. <ref> (2022) ''Allow American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, & Guam, into the Union [Pacific territories to become a state (constitutional-remedies.com)] Constitutional Remedies. </ref>

==Proposals that became a Reality==
Below is a list of new states that were formed from other states.

===Kentucky===
1792, was formerly part of Virginia.

===Maine===
1820, was formerly part of Massachusetts

===Vermont===
1790, was formerly part of New York but this was disputed by Vermonters since it was a self-governing state from 1776 until 1791. 

===West Virginia===
1863, was formerly part of Virginia but that portion of the state was loyal to the Union and did not vote to secede, was made into a separate state without the consent of Virginia (due to the latter having seceded).

==See also==
* [[Jefferson State]]
    
* [[New York Secession]]
        
* [[Secession]]

* [[Two hundred thousand for Vermont]] A movement to make Vermont a red state

== References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:United States Politics]]