Quiz time: Match the state with its nickname
Which state is the Natural State?
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Arkansas went through a number of official and unofficial nicknames before settling on the Natural State in the 1980s. At other times, it's been known as the Bear State (for its abundance of Louisiana black bears), the Toothpick State, a reference to a common knife carried by early residents, and the Wonder State.
Which state is the North Star State?
Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
On the Minnesota state seal is the French phrase "L'Etoile de Nord" or "North Star." The state's other nicknames are the Gopher State and Land of 10,000 lakes. In the photo, a view outside the Minnesota State Capitol on June 20, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minn. Minnesota lawmakers were called to a special session by Gov. Walz as a result of the turmoil in the state after the killing of George Floyd by members of the Minneapolis Police Department, but did not reach an agreement on police reforms. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Which state is the First State?
On Dec. 7, 1787, Delaware became the first of the 13 original states to ratify the U.S. Constitution. “The First State” nickname became official on May 23, 2002, after a request by Mrs. Anabelle O'Malley's first-grade class at Mount Pleasant Elementary School, according to Delaware.gov.
Which state is the Silver State?
Elko Daily Free Press
After the discovery of the Comstock Lode of silver ore in the Virginia Range in Virginia City, Nev., (then western Utah Territory), which was the first major discovery of silver ore in the United States, was made public in 1859, it sparked a silver rush of prospectors to the region, scrambling to stake their claims. Nevada also supplies about 75% of all gold mined in the country.
Which state is the Mount Rushmore State?
AP Photo/David Zalubowski
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a sculpture carved into the Black Hills region of South Dakota. Completed in 1941, the sculpture depicts U.S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
Which state is the Show Me State?
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Congressman Willard Vandiver in 1899 delivered a speech, saying that "I come from a state that raises corn and cotton, cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I'm from Missouri, and you have got to show me."
Which state is the Grand Canyon State?
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Yeah, you probably didn't have any trouble with this one. Arizona is the Grand Canyon State, named for its giant hole in the ground carved out by the mighty Colorado River. "Grand" comes from an older name for the Colorado River, which was once known as Grand River. In fact, Utah's Grand County still bears that name.
Which state is the Evergreen State?
Laura Seitz/ Deseret News
C.T. Conover, pioneer Seattle realtor and historian, nicknamed Washington the Evergreen State for its abundant evergreen forests. The nickname has never been officially adopted.
Which state is the Great Lakes State?
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Although Michigan is often called the “Wolverine State,” its more common nickname is the “Great Lakes State.” Michigan is the only state in the United States that borders four of the five Great Lakes, according to americanenglish.state.gov. In the photo, a new 2014 Ford F-150 truck exits the quality control inspection area after undergoing assembly at the Ford Dearborn Truck Plant in Dearborn, Michigan.
Which state is the Prairie State?
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Before the first European settlers came to Illinois, the state was mostly covered in prairies, prompting the nickname "The Prairie State." However, Illinois' official state slogan is "Land of Lincoln," as Honest Abe himself practiced law here before embarking on his political career.
Which state is the Golden State?
Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle)
The official state nickname since 1968, it is appropriate since California’s modern development can be traced back to the discovery of gold in 1848 and fields of golden poppies can be seen each spring statewide.
Which state is called the Land of Enchantment?
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Land of Enchantment was officially adopted as the nickname of New Mexico in 1990 and refers to the state's history and beauty.
Which state is the Yellowhammer State?
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Alabama does not have an "official" designated nickname, but some people call it "The Yellowhammer State," dating back to the Civil War. A company of Alabama soldiers wore yellow trim on their uniforms, which reminded people of the bright yellow under-wing feathers of the Yellowhammer, or northern flicker woodpecker. The nickname stuck for the soldiers, and later, for the state.
Which state is the Garden State?
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The attorney general of New Jersey from 1845 to 1850, Abraham Browning is often credited with coining the term "the Garden State," the official nickname of New Jersey, though there is evidence that the term goes back to the Colonial Period. Browning said that our Garden State is an immense barrel, filled with good things to eat and open at both ends, with Pennsylvanians grabbing from one end and New Yorkers from the other. The name stuck ever since.
Which state is the Bluegrass State?
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Bluegrass is grown in many pastures, which has supported the thoroughbred-horse industry in the center of the Kentucky.
Which state is the Pine Tree State?
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The White Pine is considered to be the largest conifer in the northeastern United States and some of the tallest trees in eastern North America grew in Maine, which is also famous for its lobsters.
Which state is "The Constitution State"?
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Connecticut is known as the Constitution State because of its early adoption of the Fundamental Orders in 1639, thought to be the earliest document of its kind in western civilization, and adopted by the Connecticut Colony council on January 14, 1639. The fundamental orders describe the government set up by the Connecticut River towns, setting its structure and powers.
Which state is the Magnolia State?
William (Ned) Friedman
The Magnolia is Mississippi's official State Tree; its blossom is Mississippi's official State Flower.
Which state is the Lone Star State?
U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alexander Cook
From 1835 to 1836, Texas fought to gain independence from Mexico, and victory brought a new flag for the newly independent Republic of Texas. Ten years later, the state accepted annexation into the United States. The Lone Star flag reflects the go-it-alone spirit that is still part of the Texas way of life.
Which state is the Tar Heel State?
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The origin of this nickname is mysterious, but most historians agree the name derives from North Carolina's extensive pine forests and its long history as a producer of tar, pitch, rosin turpentine and pine resin, which are used to manufacture soap, paint, varnish, shoe polish, lubricants, linoleum and roofing materials.
Which state is the Ocean State?
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Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States but has 400 miles of coastline and many beautiful sandy beaches.
Which state is the Empire State?
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"The Empire State" appeared on New York license plates from 1951 through the mid-1960s. In 2001, the nickname returned to state license plates. New York was named by the British to honor the Duke of York and Albany, the brother of England's King Charles II, when New Amsterdam was taken from the Dutch in 1664.
Which state is the Old Line State?
Maryland Department of Transportation
"The Old Line" nickname was given during the Revolutionary War when 400 soldiers in the First Maryland Regiment fought 10,000 British troops and helped Gen. George Washington's army to escape, according to the Maryland Office of Tourism.
Which state is the Old Dominion State?
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"Virginia was named for Queen Elizabeth I of England, who was known as the Virgin Queen. Historians believe the English adventurer Sir Walter Raleigh suggested the name in about 1584.
Which state is the Badger State?
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Wisconsin has no more badgers than its neighboring states, but the state nickname stuck when Wisconsin workers made temporary homes by digging caves into the rock of the mines, similar to tunnels that badgers dig for shelter. The miners came to be known as “badger boys” or “badgers."
Which state is the Beehive State?
Utah State Parks
The beehive is a symbol of industry and also the state motto of Utah. Utah's original title was “State of Deseret.” Deseret means honeybee in the Book of Mormon, a scripture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Which state is the Cowboy State?
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The University of Wyoming at Laramie athletic teams are nicknamed the Cowboys and Cowgirls, both of which use the bucking horse and rider logo on their uniforms. In 1936, Wyoming trademarked the image for the state's license plates. Wyoming is also called the Equality State because it was the first state to allow women to vote in 1869.
Which state is the Aloha State?
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In the Hawaiian language, aloha can mean hello or goodbye, but also love and affection.
Which state is the Green Mountain State?
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Two French words vert (green) and mont (mountain), form Vermont's nickname, the "Green Mountain State." Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys defended their homeland from the British during the Revolutionary War.
Which state is the Treasure State?
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Mining has been an economic mainstay of Montana. The state's motto, "Oro y Plata" is Spanish for gold and silver, which refers to two of the minerals that gave the state its nickname. Montana is also known as Big Sky Country.
Which state is the Buckeye State?
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In 1953, the Legislature designated the Aesculus glabra or the Ohio Buckeye as the state's official tree; its nuts resemble the shape and color of a deer's eye.
Which state is the Sunflower State?
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Sunflowers grow in every Kansas county due to its adaptability to soils from sand to clay and toleration of dry to medium moist soils. In early fall, the yellow flowers give the prairies and roadsides a golden glow, according to the Kansas Native Plant Society.
Which state is the Cornhusker State?
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Nebraskans once harvested corn by hand -- "husking" -- before the invention of husking machinery. Nebraska is the third-largest corn producing state in the nation behind Iowa and Illinois.
Which state is the Sunshine State?
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Florida state legislators did not adopt the state's slogan until 1970. Before that, New Mexico was called the Sunshine State. Florida has a humid subtropical climate and is also nicknamed the Alligator State.
Which state is the Gem State?
Idaho has its own state gem: the star garnet. The state Legislature adopted the purple gem as an icon of the state in 1967. Another famous nickname is the Potato State because of its rich, volcanic soil and mild climate, making the Gem State the ideal place to grow potato perfection.
Which state is the Granite State?
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One of the original 13 states, New Hampshire has extensive granite quarries within the state and is its official State Rock.
Which state is the Bay State?
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The Boston Red Sox play home games at Fenway Park. The Massachusetts Bay Company was given a royal charter in 1629 to promote settlement of the new land "from sea to shining sea." The state nickname is also a reference to Cape Cod Bay where early settlements were formed.
Which state is the Keystone State?
Jose F. Moreno/The Philadelphia Inquirer
A keystone refers to the central, wedge-shaped stone in an arch, which holds all the other stones in place. Because Pennsylvania played an essential role in the founding of the United States, it earned the Keystone State nickname.
Which state is The Hoosier State?
AP Photo/Paul Sancya
When a visitor hailed a pioneer cabin in Indiana or knocked on its door, the settler would respond, "Who's yere?" From this frequent response, Indiana became the "Who's yere" or Hoosier state. No one ever explained why this was more typical of Indiana than of Illinois or Ohio, according to IN.gov.
Which state is the Palmetto state?
AP Photo/Mic Smith
In South Carolina during the Revolutionary War's Battle of Sullivan's Island, a fort crafted out of horizontal palmetto trunks and built by Colonel William Moultrie survived largely because the palmettos, laid over sand walls, were able to withstand British cannon fire. The Sabal Palmetto was named the official state tree inn 1939.
Which state is the Sooner State?
Oklahoma Historical Society
On April 22, 1889, President Benjamin Harrison officially proclaimed the Unassigned Lands open to settlement in the Oklahoma District. Sooners were the name of settlers who entered the Unassigned Lands before the official start of the Land Rush of 1889.
Which state is the Peace Garden State?
North Dakota Department of Tourism
Established in 1932 to commemorate the lasting state of peaceful affairs between two nations, the International Peace Garden overlaps the US-Canada border, with part of the garden in North Dakota and part in the Canadian province of Manitoba.
Which state is the Mountain State?
AP Photo/Anthony Izaguirre
West Virginia is the only state completely within the Appalachian Mountain region and its average elevation is higher than any other state east of the Mississippi River.
Which state is The Hawkeye State?
AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall
Adopted early in the state's history, Iowa's nickname is "The Hawkeye State" as a tribute to chief Black Hawk, leader of the Native American Sauk tribe (relocated to Iowa after unsuccessful fighting of settlers), according to State Symbols USA. Iowa is also called "The Corn State" because 90 percent of the state land is devoted to agriculture.
Which state is "The Last Frontier?"
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Alaska's official nickname is "The Last Frontier." Some other people call Alaska "The Great Land" or "The Land of the Midnight Sun."
Which state is the Volunteer State?
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Due to its role in sending 1,500 volunteer soldiers during the War of 1812, Tennessee became known as “The Volunteer State.” Today, the University of Tennessee's sports teams are known as the Volunteers.
Which state is the Beaver State?
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The Oregon legislature in 1969 named the beaver the official state animal. Prized for its fur, the beaver was overtrapped by early settlers in Oregon and eliminated from much of its original range. In the late 1800s, beavers nearly went extinct in the United States and Canada from decades of fur trapping and extermination.
Which state is the Pelican State?
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Many pelicans used to inhabit Louisiana's Gulf coast.
Which state is the Centennial State?
AP Photo/David Zalubowski
In 1876, President Ulysses S. Grant signed a proclamation making Colorado the 38th state. It's named after the Colorado River and nicknamed the Centennial State because it achieved statehood the same year as the Declaration of Independence marked its 100th year.
Which state is the Peach State?
Chick-fil-A
Georgia-grown peaches are recognized for their superior flavor, texture, appearance and nutritious qualities, according to State Symbols USA.
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