The four states that are officially known as commonwealths in the United States are:

• Kentucky

Admitted to the union on June 1, 1792

• Massachusetts

Admitted to the union on February 6, 1788

• Pennsylvania

Admitted to the union on December 12, 1787

• Virginia

Admitted to the union on June 25, 1788

The term "commonwealth" is a traditional English term that describes a political community founded for the common good. The states adopted the term for a variety of reasons, including:

To emphasize that their new governments were based on the sovereignty of the people

To maintain their British roots while indicating they were independent of England

Because their constitutions referred to themselves as such

However, the term "commonwealth" has no legal or political significance, and there is no difference between these states and the other 46 U.S. states. They are just like any other state in their politics and laws, and their relationship to the nation as a whole is the same.

¶ Like many of our English words, the word “commonwealth” is a Biblical term; found in Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians… "the commonwealth of Israel" (Ephesians 2:12 KJV). Many of the modern versions miss this term.