Isnt there really only 46 states in the USA (live, title)

[SunnyKayak]

There are four states who have not proclaim statehood and Virginia is one of them . It is known as the Commonwealth of Virginia.

[ontheroad]

Having lived in two of the commonwealths--MA & PA--I'd say that they have both ways--common-wealth--and statehood.

And your question is?

[missymomof3]

My understanding is that Commonwealth and state mean the same thing.

[KewGee]

There is no difference between a commonwealth and a state in the U.S. To Locke, Hobbes, and other 17th-century writers the term "commonwealth" meant an organized political community -- what we today call a "state." Officially Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, and Massachusetts are all commonwealths. When Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, and Massachusetts became part of the United States, they merely took the old form of state in their title.

Today, commonwealth also means a political unit having local autonomy but voluntarily united with the U.S. These are Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Pennsylvania was the #2 state to join the union.

Massachusetts was #6.

Virginia was #10.

Kentucky was #15.

[missymomof3]

Thank you Kewgee!