Depends on what you mean by "officially" and recognized by whom. May 10 1776 2nd Continental Congress passes resolution, specifically using the word "states," in requiring them to write individual constitutions. May-June 1776 , Jefferson begins drafting Declaration of Independence, using word "states." July 2- Congress votes for independence. *****July 4, 1776- Congress accepts, signs, and publishes final draft of Declaration of Independence, with heading "The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united *States* of America," ( my emphasis [*], nmj) So that could be the date of the States officially recognizing themselves. November 16, 1776, The Dutch island of St. Eustatius gives first foreign salute to the American flag. But Holland will not formally recognize the independence of the United States, untill 1878, the second country to do so. *** March 13, 1778-France recognizes American independence and concludes an alliance with the thirteen *states* . So that would be the official recognition by a foreign government. ***September 3, 1783, The Treaty of Paris ends Revolution, Britain "acknowledges the said United States...to be free sovereign and independent states" So that would be the first time Britain recognises that their erstwhile "colonies" are now states, and was a very important recognition. It isn't until the Treaty of Ghent, Dec 24 1814, ending the war of 1812, that the British finally accept that the colonies are indeed states. BTW the States considered themselves to be just that, independent states loosely joined under the Articles of Confederation. It wasn't until 1789 and the ratification of the Constitution that folks could correctly say "The United States IS..." instead of "The United States ARE..." So you decide,July 4th,1776; March 13, 1778; September 3, 1783. I vote for France being the first to "officially recognize" the States, but Britains recognition that made it definately 'official.' ( Should that have been "recognized by 'who'?" But then it probablly wasn't until the passage of the Federal Migratory. Bird Treaty Act that owls really gave a hoot about recognizing any particular colony or state.)

The colonies were considered states when they ratified the Constitution, as follows: Delaware Dec. 7, 1787 Pennsylvania Dec. 12, 1787 New Jersey Dec. 18, 1787 Georgia Jan. 2, 1788 Connecticut Jan. 9, 1788 Massachusetts Feb. 6, 1788 Maryland April 28, 1788 South Carolina May 23, 1788 New Hampshire June 21, 1788 Virginia June 25, 1788 New York July 26, 1788 North Carolina Nov. 21, 1789 Rhode Island May 29, 1790