Reader Peter Tau pointed out, “There has been talk bandied about Colorado splitting into two states and California splitting into at least two states.” True. Wikipedia lists 35 states which have proposed splitting into multiple states. California, the most populous state in the Union, has had more than 220 divisions proposed since it was admitted in 1850.
Why do states consider splitting?
One of the main reasons for split states is politics. Conservative parts of Oregon have discussed breaking off and joining Idaho.
The same type of division has been proposed in other states. In fact, one of the few actual state splits was the division of West Virginia from Virginia when the Eastern part of the state, heavily dependent on the plantation economy, seceded from the United States and joined the Confederated States. West Virginia, which was populated primarily by small family farmers, stayed with the Union. Political divisions in Florida Territory delayed the admission of Florida as a state, as the idea of dividing East from West and even a three-way division were contemplated.
A perception of different needs is another common reason for states to think about dividing. Colorado and Illinois both have seen proposals dividing the urban centers from the more rural areas on the grounds that the needs of the urban and rural populations are just too different to reconcile.
In other cases, economic issues have prompted divisions. These cases have typically been intended to make points about tax policies which some portion of the state considered disadvantageous.
These three motivations can overlap and merge at times.
What about Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico has never proposed splitting the territory into parts or requesting admission as two states. However, a successful bid by one of the 50 current states could result in a 51st state before Puerto Rico is admitted. It could even be part of the pair of states some people want to see as the next admission to the Union. If, for example, one of the states spun off a new Republican state, people who believe that Puerto Rico would be a blue state could accept the admission of Puerto Rico along with the new red state.
At the moment, none of the current states have strong support for the proposed split states, and it is likely that Puerto Rico will be admitted as the 51st state before any new states are formed within the continental United States. Help make that happen by reaching out to your legislators.
No responses yet