Dear Jim:

Please forgive my addressing you by David Paterson's name. David as you may know is the Forum Manager here. You can also read some of his essays in the Afrigeneas Library.

I found the information below about American states and the year that they entered the Union.

The first date is the year they became a state. The second date is the year that they were settled. They span the the years 1812 to 1858. The list includes the obvious states that needed slave labor for their agricultural lands.

18. Louisiana Apr. 30, 1812 1699
19. Indiana Dec. 11, 1816 1733
20. Mississippi Dec. 10, 1817 1699
21. Illinois Dec. 3, 1818 1720
22. Alabama Dec. 14, 1819 1702
23. Maine Mar. 15, 1820 1624
24. Missouri Aug. 10, 1821 1735
25. Arkansas June 15, 1836 1686
26. Michigan Jan. 26, 1837 1668
27. Florida Mar. 3, 1845 1565
28. Texas Dec. 29, 1845 1682
29. Iowa Dec. 28, 1846 1788
30. Wisconsin May 29, 1848 1766
31. California Sept. 9, 1850 1769
32. Minnesota May 11, 1858 1805

The above information, coupled with David Paterson's comments should help you to answer your query.

Regards,

K Wyer Lane