The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Whats the difference between a "commonwealth" and a "state"?

**Mal H** · August 28, 2002, 03:13 PM

Two words that mean the same. In VA, the term state is used far more often than commonwealth even though it is officially a commonwealth. For example, the Virginia State Police never called themselves Virginia Commonwealth Police.

I believe Kentucky, the 4th commonwealth, took the name since they were broken off of The Commonwealth of Virginia way back when.

August 28, 2002, 03:13 PM	#8
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,967	Two words that mean the same. In VA, the term state is used far more often than commonwealth even though it is officially a commonwealth. For example, the Virginia State Police never called themselves Virginia Commonwealth Police. I believe Kentucky, the 4th commonwealth, took the name since they were broken off of The Commonwealth of Virginia way back when.