How Old is the United States as of 2024?

Written by Thomas Godwin
Updated: December 28, 2023
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Most historians emphasize the year 1776. It was the year that the soon-to-be United States of America declared its independence from British imperialism. This means that the United States will turn 248 years old on July 4, 2024.

Of course, the idea of America preceded 1776 and the Declaration of Independence by decades, if not a century. Some might consider the US to be older than its official birthday. Americans lived and died in North America long before the War for Independence.

The year 1776 is appropriate when specifying the United States. After all, it was the year when the original, 13 colonies united in opposition to the British empire. But there’s more to the history of the United States than a single document and declaration.

When was North America Populated?

There is no wrong or right answer here. Some archeologists and historians pinpoint the arrival of what eventually became Native Americans the moment North America was populated. However, reputable historians and archeologists disagree about when this occurred. Some say natives arrived 15,000 years ago, while others say they arrived 40,000 years ago.

That’s a huge disparity of 25,000 years! To make things even more complex, America wasn’t the only place the natives settled. They also occupied Canada and traveled southward, establishing roots in Mexico and, eventually, South America.

It has long been thought that Native Americans arrived here over a land bridge. This strip of land once extended from the top, western portion of Alaska to the old world. That land bridge serves as the primary travel point for the eventual arrival of thousands of Natives.

There is evidence that other civilizations developed the use of boats and long-distance seafaring long before we originally thought. This is mostly centered around the Vikings but includes other civilizations as well. It’s known that these civilizations visited North America, at the very least.

But it’s often a considerable argument over “when” and “where.” Regardless of the answer, it’s readily apparent that the ancestors of today’s Native Americans arrived in large numbers. And the various tribes and cultures formed long-term settlements all over the land.

When Did Christopher Columbus Arrive?

Many Americans wrongfully assume that Christopher Columbus discovered North America. Well, it’s not as cut and dry as our kindergarten teachers made it sound. In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue. But Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria landed in the Bahamas.

Christopher Columbus never made a voyage to what we would call the continental United States today. After discovering the Bahamas, Columbus moved on to Cuba and Haiti, as they are known today. In 1493, he made additional voyages to the Western Antilles, Trinidad, and South America.

Even though Christopher Columbus never saw what would one day become the United States, he opened the door to a massive influx of immigration and exploration.

When Was the First Settlement in the Continental United States?

Jamestown, Virginia

The first successful colony was Jamestown established in 1609. That changes the age of this country to 415 years.

©John Couture/Shutterstock.com

If the age of the U.S. is judged by the date of the first settlement, then we have to go back to Roanoke Island in 1587. This measurement would make America roughly 437 years old. Most know the story of Roanoke, where an incredible mystery of the soon-to-be United States took place.

The pilgrims inadvertently ended up in Massachusetts when they only had a charter for settlement in Virginia. Thanks to the mistake, the pilgrims came up with the Mayflower Compact. They attempted to settle there, with the help of the natives. However, they were ultimately unsuccessful at establishing a permanent, long-term colony. The colony of Roanoke Island simply disappeared, leaving behind the word, “Croatoan” carved into a tree trunk.

The first successful colony was Jamestown established in 1609. That changes the age of this country to 415 years. However, though no one disappeared from Jamestown, the colony very nearly starved to death.!

When Were the Articles of Confederation Established?

Now we’re getting closer to a more legitimate age for the United States. The Articles of Confederation are more closely related to the establishment of the United States as its own country; a self-governing nation, apart from Great Britain.

The Articles of Confederation were a joining of the several states that existed at the time, then known as colonies. This joining was known as “The League of Friendship.” Before the Articles, the “Lee Resolution,” proposed independence from Great Britain. This is another point in history that could easily be described as the birth date of the United States.

The Articles of Confederation are largely forgotten, except for interested, amateur history scholars and historians. However, they were essentially the first Constitution of the United States. They remained in effect until the development of the Constitution we know today.

There were multiple drafts of the Articles of Confederation. But it was the Dickinson draft that first bore the name “United States of America.” The Articles were adopted on November 15, 1777. Unfortunately, it took some time and much debate to get all of the colonies/states to ratify the draft. Maryland was the last to do so on March 1, 1781.

If we go with the adoption of the Articles of Confederation, the United States of America is 247 years old. However, it is just as easy to jump ahead nearly four years and base the country’s age on the day Maryland ratified the Articles in 1781.

When Was the Ratification of the Constitution?

Flag of the United States of America (American flag) blowing in the wind

The Constitutional Convention that revised the original Articles of Confederation didn’t convene until May of 1787.

©Leonard Zhukovsky/Shutterstock.com

So, how old is the United States based on the Constitution? Most would point to 1776 but the Constitution wasn’t ratified until 1788. The fact is, the Constitution is the final draft, ratified by all states, of the original Articles of Confederation.

The Constitutional Convention that revised the original Articles of Confederation didn’t convene until May of 1787. It took them months to revise it because they essentially overhauled the entire document. Once the months of debate were over, every state had to ratify the newly formed Constitution.

The final ratification took place in 1788, which makes the United States of America 236 years old this year.

What was the Country Called Before Becoming the United States?

the Grand Union flag (aka Continental Colors) - the first flag of the United States (1775-1777)

The United States used the Grand Union Jack flag from 1775 to 1777, until they adopted their own flag in 1778.

©Hoshie, Yaddah, Public domain – License

Before the American Enlightenment, which led to the American Revolution, when the United States gained its independence from Great Britain, the country was officially known as the Thirteen British Colonies or the Thirteen American Colonies. These colonies were then broken up into groupings known as the New England Colonies, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies.

The New England Colonies were comprised of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. The Middle Colonies were comprised of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The Southern Colonies were comprised of Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia. They later became known as the United Colonies until September 9th, 1776 when the Second Continental Congress adopted The United States of America as its official new name.

Final Thoughts

So, how old is the United States? Well, it’s simultaneously simple and complex, depending on what you consider the inception of the United States to be. We know Independence Day is lauded as the birth of the United States. But so much more went on behind the scenes, both before and after the declaration.

And none of this even touches on the settlements that occurred long before the founding fathers were even alive. Ultimately, the national consensus on the matter says the United States will be 248 years old this year.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Nixx Photography/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Thomas is a freelance writer with an affinity for the great outdoors and Doberman Pinschers. When he's not sitting behind the computer, pounding out stories on black bears and reindeer, he's spending time with his family, two Dobermans (Ares and Athena), and a Ragdoll cat named Heimdal. He also tends his Appleyard Ducks and a variety of overly curious and occasionally vexatious chickens.

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