| Native Name: | Estado Soberano de Panamá |
| Conventional Long Name: | Federal State of Panama / Sovereign State of Panama |
| S1: | Panama Department (1886) |
| P1: | Provinces of the Republic of New Granada |
| Status: | State in Republic of New Granada, Granadine Confederation and United States of Colombia |
| Government Type: | Federal republic |
| Year Start: | 1855 |
| Year End: | 1886 |
| Leader1: | Simón Bolívar |
| Flag Type: | Flag |
| Capital: | Panama City |
| Religion: | Roman Catholic |
| Currency: | Peso |
| Today: | Panama |
The Panama State, officially known as the Federal State of Panama[1] from 1855 to 1863, and as the Sovereign State of Panama[2] from 1863 until 1886 when it was dissolved,[3] was established as one of the states of the Republic of Gran Colombia established in 1821 after independence from the Spanish Empire and was later part of the Republic of New Granada, the Granadine Confederation, and the United States of Colombia.[4] The state was established on 27 February 1855 and lasted until 1886 when it was replaced by the Department of Panama.[5] In 1903, the territory of the Panama State achieved independence as the Republic of Panama.
It was the first state to form within the Granadine Confederation of 1858, due to desires for autonomy, particularly by the Istmo Province.[6] [7]
The state was initially divided in the same provinces that created it in 1855:[8]
At the end of the year the territory of Azuero Province was split between Panama Province and Chiriquí Province.
During the administration of Justo Arosemena (1856), the State was divided into 7 departments:[7]
Later, during the administration of José Leonardo Calancha (1864), reduced the number of departments to 6:[7]