Alaska holds the distinction of being the 49th state admitted to the Union, a fact that defines its numerical place in the American federation. While this designation is simple on the surface, the journey to that status and the context surrounding it reveal a region of immense geographical scale and unique historical timing. Understanding what state number Alaska is requires looking beyond the numeral itself to appreciate the vastness and significance of this northern territory.
Admission to the Union: The 49th State
On January 3, 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the proclamation that made Alaska the 49th state of the United States. This event capped a process that began years earlier with significant political debate about the territory's strategic value and economic potential. The number 49 is not arbitrary; it directly follows the admission of Hawaii as the 50th state later that same year, making Alaska the final of two states admitted in a single calendar year. This specific sequence places Alaska firmly in the position of the nation's second-to-last state, a fact that underscores its role in the modern configuration of the country.
Geographic Vastness and Low Population Density
Alaska's state number is perhaps most striking when contrasted with its physical dimensions. Despite being the 49th state to join, it is by far the largest state in terms of total area, encompassing more land and water than the next three largest states combined. This immense size, combined with a relatively small population, results in a population density that is the lowest of any U.S. state. The numerical designation as the 49th state exists independently of its physical footprint, which is so massive that it defies the logic implied by its order of admission.
Size Comparison to Other States
To truly grasp the scale implied by its admission order, consider the following comparison of total area:
This data highlights the unique situation where the 49th state admitted is also the largest, a distinction that makes its numerical position in the union largely a historical artifact of the sequence of westward expansion rather than a reflection of its physical prominence.
Historical Context and Delayed Statehood
Alaska was purchased from the Russian Empire in 1867 for $7.2 million, a transaction initially mocked as "Seward's Folly." For nearly a century after this purchase, it remained a territory, serving various administrative roles without the full representation of statehood. The prolonged period as a territory meant that when it finally achieved statehood in 1959, it did so based on modern strategic concerns during the Cold War, including the need for a military presence in the North Pacific. The number 49 is therefore a marker of a 92-year interval between purchase and admission, the longest such gap for any current state.
