35-Star Flag (1863)

West Virginia was admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, causing the flag to change to 35-stars.

In1861, the northwestern counties of Virginia, in a revolt against the rest of the state, refused to recognize the secession of Virginia.  They organized a separate Unionist government with a constitution providing for a gradual freeing of slaves.  When admitted into the Union, West Virginia obtained the distinction of becoming not only the 35th state, but also the only state in America's history to be formed from an existing state without the original state's consent.