But we've also got The District of Columbia, commonly known as Washington DC. Although it's right between Virginia and Maryland, it's its own thing.
Yeah but we also have 5 territories, which include Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, District of Columbia, and U.S. Virgin Islands. Also some trouble with Puerto Rico becoming a state.
Territories are gray areas though. For example, we used to have Cuba, but they have complete freedom now. However, we still rent Guantanamo Bay from them.
Yeah... Like in DC (a territory) we have 3 representatives for electing a president, while Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, etc. doesn't get any say.
Basically, we made Washington DC to put all our important country stuff. White House, the National Mall, the Capitol building. Because before, one state had claim to the Capital of the United States, and it made it unfair somehow (I could probably find the article I found this in but eh) so they basically made it it's own thing. Not a new state, a territory.