Guide Rankings Government & Politics Updated June 3, 2026

Original 13 Colonies: Full List, Founding Dates, Regions, and Ratification Order

Historical map of the eastern seaboard showing the 13 original British colonies in North America

Original 13 Colonies: Full List, Founding Dates, Regions, and Ratification Order

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Editorial Summary
  1. 1

    The 13 original colonies were founded between 1607 (Virginia) and 1732 (Georgia). They formed three regions: 4 New England colonies, 4 Middle colonies, and 5 Southern colonies. All 13 became states by May 29, 1790.

  2. 2

    Delaware ratified the Constitution first on December 7, 1787, becoming state #1. Rhode Island ratified last on May 29, 1790, becoming state #13, more than two years after Delaware. Virginia (1607) was the oldest colony; Georgia (1732) had just 44 years of colonial history before independence.

  3. 3

    New Hampshire (1623), Massachusetts (1620), and Virginia (1607) were all founded more than 150 years before the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Georgia (1732) was the only colony founded after 1700.

Map

The 13 Original Colonies: Founding Year

Year Founded
1,607
1,638
1,670
1,701
1,732
No data
Virginia (1607) and Massachusetts (1620) are the two oldest colonies. Georgia (1732) is the only colony founded after 1700, and the only one with fewer than 50 years of colonial history before independence in 1776.
The 13 Original Colonies: Founding Year
Rank State Year Founded
1 Virginia 1,607
2 Massachusetts 1,620
3 New Hampshire 1,623
4 Maryland 1,632
5 Connecticut 1,636
6 Rhode Island 1,636
7 Delaware 1,638
8 North Carolina 1,653
9 South Carolina 1,663
10 New York 1,664
11 New Jersey 1,664
12 Pennsylvania 1,681
13 Georgia 1,732

Virginia (1607) and Massachusetts (1620) are the two oldest colonies. Georgia (1732) is the only colony founded after 1700, and the only one with fewer than 50 years of colonial history before independence in 1776.

Original 13 Colonies: Full List, Founding Dates, Regions, and Ratification Order

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Oldest and Newest of the 13 Colonies

Highest

1607
Virginia flag
Virginia #1

Lowest

1732
Georgia flag
Georgia #13

Top 10 Highest — Year Founded

#1 Virginia flag Virginia
1607
#2 Massachusetts flag Massachusetts
1620
#3 New Hampshire flag New Hampshire
1623
#4 Maryland flag Maryland
1632
#5 Connecticut flag Connecticut
1636
#6 Rhode Island flag Rhode Island
1636
#7 Delaware flag Delaware
1638
#8 North Carolina flag North Carolina
1653
#9 South Carolina flag South Carolina
1663
#10 New York flag New York
1664

Top 10 Lowest — Year Founded

#13 Georgia flag Georgia
1732
#12 Pennsylvania flag Pennsylvania
1681
#11 New Jersey flag New Jersey
1664
#10 New York flag New York
1664
#9 South Carolina flag South Carolina
1663
#8 North Carolina flag North Carolina
1653
#7 Delaware flag Delaware
1638
#6 Rhode Island flag Rhode Island
1636
#5 Connecticut flag Connecticut
1636
#4 Maryland flag Maryland
1632
Section

New England Colonies: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire

The four New England colonies (Massachusetts 1620, New Hampshire 1623, Connecticut 1636, Rhode Island 1636) were all founded within a 16-year span. Massachusetts ratified the Constitution as the 6th state on February 6, 1788. Rhode Island was the last holdout among all 13: it did not ratify until May 29, 1790, becoming the 13th state, more than two years after Delaware had ratified first in December 1787.

New Hampshire (1623) was the oldest New England colony but ratified 9th on June 21, 1788. It was New Hampshire's ratification that made the Constitution officially binding — nine states was the minimum required. Connecticut ratified 5th on January 9, 1788, the fastest of the four New England colonies to join the new Union after Delaware opened the process on December 7, 1787.

Section

Middle Colonies: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York

Independence Hall in Philadelphia Pennsylvania where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed
Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was where the Declaration of Independence (1776) and the U.S. Constitution (1787) were both signed. Pennsylvania became state

The four Middle colonies (Delaware 1638, New York 1664, New Jersey 1664, Pennsylvania 1681) produced the first three states to ratify the Constitution. Delaware ratified first on December 7, 1787, Pennsylvania second on December 12, and New Jersey third on December 18 — all three within 11 days of each other. New York ratified 11th on July 26, 1788, the last of the four Middle colonies to join.

Despite Pennsylvania being founded in 1681, 43 years after Delaware (1638), Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution just five days after Delaware and became state #2. New York (founded 1664) was one of the most reluctant ratifiers, coming 11th, well behind New Jersey (also founded 1664), which ratified 3rd on December 18, 1787.

Section

Southern Colonies: Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia

Reconstruction of the original Jamestown fort in Virginia, the first permanent English settlement in America founded in 1607
Jamestown, Virginia, founded in 1607, was the first permanent English settlement in America and the start of the 13-colony era. Virginia had 169 years of colonial history before independence in 1776.

The five Southern colonies span the widest founding range of any region: Virginia (1607) is the oldest of all 13 colonies, Georgia (1732) is the newest, with 125 years between them. Georgia ratified the Constitution 4th on January 2, 1788, faster than most. Virginia ratified 10th on June 25, 1788. Maryland (1632) ratified 7th on April 28, 1788.

North Carolina (1653) was among the last holdouts, ratifying 12th on November 21, 1789, more than a year after most other colonies. Georgia (1732) had the shortest colonial history before independence: just 44 years from founding to the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Virginia (1607) had the longest at 169 years, making it the only colony with more than a century and a half of history before 1776.

Quick Answers

What were the 13 original colonies?
The 13 original colonies were Virginia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. They were founded between 1607 (Virginia) and 1732 (Georgia) and declared independence from Britain on July 4, 1776. All 13 became states by May 29, 1790.
Which of the 13 colonies was founded first?
Virginia was the first colony, established in 1607 with the founding of Jamestown — the first permanent English settlement in America. Virginia had 169 years of colonial history before the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the longest of any colony. It ratified the Constitution as the 10th state on June 25, 1788.
Which of the 13 colonies was founded last?
Georgia was the last colony founded, in 1732, making it the only colony established after 1700. Georgia had just 44 years of colonial history before the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the shortest of any colony. Despite being the newest colony, Georgia ratified the Constitution 4th on January 2, 1788.
What are the 3 regions of the 13 colonies?
The 13 colonies formed three regions: the 4 New England colonies (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island), the 4 Middle colonies (Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York), and the 5 Southern colonies (Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia). The regions are defined by geography, economy, and settlement patterns from the colonial era.
Which colony ratified the Constitution first?
Delaware ratified the U.S. Constitution first, on December 7, 1787, earning its nickname 'The First State.' All 30 delegates at Delaware's convention voted unanimously in favor. Pennsylvania ratified 5 days later on December 12, and New Jersey 6 days after that on December 18. The three states ratified within 11 days of each other.
Which colony was last to ratify the Constitution?
Rhode Island was the last of the 13 original colonies to ratify the Constitution, on May 29, 1790, becoming the 13th state. Rhode Island initially refused to attend the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and did not ratify until more than two years after Delaware. North Carolina was the second-to-last, ratifying 12th on November 21, 1789.

Methodology

How we researched this list

Founding years reflect the date of the first permanent English settlement or royal charter, as standardized in U.S. historical and educational sources. Ratification dates are from the National Archives official records. Years to independence calculated from founding year to 1776.

Sources

Sources & references

  1. 1
    National Archives — Founding Documents

    Official ratification dates for each of the 13 original states

    https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs
  2. 2
    Library of Congress — Colonial America

    Primary source timeline of colonial settlement and founding dates

    https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/colonial-settlement-1600-1763/

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