Scott
Following the secession of several Deep South states in 1861, the Commonwealth of Virginia debated for weeks whether to follow suit. Some of the problems which prevented Virginia from immediately leaving the Union were reflected in the attitudes of its western counties, from the Potomac and Big Sandy Rivers to the Ohio. The people of this area were mostly not slaveholders and for the most part loyal to the United States. In 1863, the people of the western counties, after months of debate and preparation which included secession from Virginia, entered the United States as West Virginia. A separate state which remained so following the end of the Civil War and ever since.
A similar, though much lesser known event, occurred in Tennessee. When Tennessee voted to secede from the Union in 1861 – the last state to leave the United States – Scott County, in the central portion of the state along the border with Kentucky, voted to remain. One of their most prominent political leaders was a United States Senator – and slaveowner – named Andrew Johnson.
The county soon approved a resolution withdrawing from the state of Tennessee and establishing itself as the Independent State of Scott. Despite defiance of the state, Tennessee and the Confederate States of America governments ignored the act, as did the Congress of the United States. Scott became an enclave government, largely due to the former county having little military or strategic value to either side in the conflict.
Scott officially remained an enclave independent state throughout the Civil War, Reconstruction which followed, and well into the years ensuing, until it became apparent to local leaders that the 125th anniversary of its creation was approaching in 1986. The State of Scott formally petitioned Tennessee to rejoin the formerly wayward state and Tennessee agreed, welcoming Scott’s return with formal ceremonies and celebrations that year.
The Independent State of Scott never petitioned the United States for statehood, if they had it is entirely possible that Rhode Island would have lost its distinction as the smallest of the United States.