On June 1, 1792, Kentucky at last achieved what its residents had pursued for years: official recognition as the 15th state of the United States. What had long been a district within Virginia earned its place in the Union after drafting a constitution, submitting it to Congress, and securing approval.
The relationship between Virginia's eastern regions and the territory known as Kentucky had been strained for quite some time. During the late 1700s, the Kentucky District of Virginia saw its population surge dramatically. Virginia's governing priorities leaned heavily toward its eastern areas, leaving the fast-growing district without adequate management and support. Residents in the Kentucky District grew convinced that self-governance would allow them to address local matters far more effectively. On top of that, neighboring states harbored their own worries — Virginia's sheer size and expanding population threatened to hand it outsized influence and power. These combined pressures led the Kentucky District to begin pushing for separation from Virginia in the early 1780s, a cause that drew substantial backing from surrounding states.
Letting go of Kentucky was not something Virginia embraced willingly. The district's vast lands represented a steady source of tax revenue and gave Virginia considerable sway over regional land sales. Beyond that, Virginia felt strongly that the Kentucky area owed a share of the Revolutionary War debt. Should Kentucky break away, Virginia feared it would be left shouldering the bulk of that financial burden. Still, Virginia ultimately came around and consented to Kentucky's statehood — though not without attaching conditions designed to safeguard its own interests throughout the separation process.
In January 1792, Virginia formally relinquished its claim to the Kentucky territory. Shortly after, on April 2, 1792, delegates gathered for a constitutional convention in the Kentucky District, where they adopted the constitution without taking a formal vote. Then, on June 1, 1792, it became official — Kentucky entered the Union as the 15th state of the United States.