The term “Commonwealth” breaks down into two basic components to understand its meaning. The “common” portion refers to the people or to the public. Meanwhile, “wealth” refers to well being or welfare. So commonwealth is a system of government that performs in the interests and well being of the people. It exists through their consent rather than for the narrow self interests of a few. This became an underlying principal of several English colonies as they started to assert their independence. Eventually they form what would become the United States of America.
A large preponderance of the now fifty United States do indeed call themselves “states.” However, four of the earlier ones hearken back to those fading memories of colonial times. They chose to differentiate themselves by calling themselves “commonwealths.” As a practical matter it’s semantic and they operate no differently than the other forty-six. Nonetheless it’s an interesting anachronism and distinction. Those four commonwealths are Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Kentucky.
Virginia
Virginia (map) claimed commonwealth status before the United States existed so it has worn this label the longest of the four. It was one of the original 13 colonies that came into union to form the United States. Also it was highly influential in those beginning days, the home to many of the early Presidents. One of its luminaries was Thomas Jefferson and his magnificent University of Virginia has been named a World Heritage Site.
Here is a brief video I took from that location.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts (map) was one of the original thirteen, too. It was also one of the smallest. However, it is home to more than six million people so it has one of the highest population densities. With its nickname the “Bay State,” obviously water plays an important role in its heritage.
Even today there are a number of ferries that people can take to historic picturesque towns along Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (map) was the earliest of the four Commonwealths to join the Union. It came in second right after Delaware. This became the nation’s Keystone due to its central location and leading role in holding together both the northern and southern colonies.
A keystone sits at the top of an arch and serves, literally, as the key stone that locks all the other stones into place. Without a well-placed keystone an arch will collapse. Pennsylvania used this as a metaphor for its location, it’s economy and it’s political strength as the colonies struggled in unison for independence.
Kentucky
All of the commonwealths in the United States derived from English colonies except for Kentucky (map). It came not long afterwards though, at number fifteen. It’s also the only one that doesn’t sit on the eastern seaboard.
Rather, the early pioneers who first pushed westward over into the Appalachian Mountains and towards the Mississippi River brought the name with them.
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