Jump to content

List of U.S. state and territory nicknames

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by YUGO (talk | contribs) at 10:12, 10 February 2014 (→‎State nicknames). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Map of the United States showing the state nicknames as hogs. Lithograph by Mackwitz, St. Louis, 1884.

The following is a table of U.S. state nicknames, including officially adopted nicknames and other traditional nicknames for individual states and district of the United States.

State nicknames

Current official state nicknames are highlighted in bold. A state nickname is not to be confused with an official state motto.

State Nickname(s)
 Alabama
(No official nickname)[1]
 Alaska
 Arizona
 Arkansas
 California
 Colorado
 Connecticut
  • Constitution State (official, but not technically identified as a nickname)[23]
  • Nutmeg State[12]
  • Blue Law State[12]
  • Freestone State[12]
  • Land of Steady Habits[12]
 Delaware
 Washington, D.C.
  • Nation's Capital[27]
  • DMV (nickname for the broader metropolitan area of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia)[27]
 Florida
 Georgia
  • Peach State[29] (previously used on license plates)
  • Cracker State — Along with Florida, Georgia had been called "The Cracker State" in earlier times, perhaps a derogatory term that referred to immigrants, called "crackers," from the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina.[29] See also Atlanta Crackers: Origin of the name
  • Empire State of the South — Refers to economic leadership[29]
  • Yankee-land of the South: Similarly to the above nickname, "Yankee-land of the South" speaks to industrial and economic development in the south. This nickname may be used in a derogatory sense.[29]
  • Goober State — Refers to peanuts, the official state crop.[29]
  • State of Adventure (On highway welcome signs)
File:Welcome sign Georgia State.jpg
Welcome sign Georgia State
 Hawaii
  • Aloha State (officially the "popular" name,[30] currently used on license plates)[31]
  • Paradise
  • The Islands of Aloha
  • Paradise of the Pacific[31]
  • Pineapple State[31]
  • Rainbow State[32]
  • Youngest State[31]
 Idaho
 Illinois[36]
 Indiana
 Iowa
  • Hawkeye State[39]
  • Land of the Rolling Prairie
  • Tall Corn State
 Kansas
 Kentucky
 Louisiana
 Maine
 Maryland
 Massachusetts
 Michigan
  • The Great Lakes State (previously used on license plates)
  • Mitten State
  • Winter Water Wonderland (previously used on license plates)
  • Wolverine State[25]
  • The World's Motor Capital
  • America's High Five
 Minnesota
  • Butter Country
  • Gopher State[12]
  • Land of 10,000 Lakes ("10,000 Lakes" currently used on license plates)
  • Land of Lakes
  • Land of Sky-Blue Waters
  • New England of the West[12]
  • North Star State
  • State of Hockey[55]
  • Vikings State
  • Bread and Butter State[12]
 Mississippi
 Missouri
 Montana
  • Big Sky Country (currently used on license plates)
  • The Last Best Place[56]
  • Treasure State (previously used on license plates)
 Nebraska
  • Beef State (previously used on license plates)
  • Cornhusker State (technically the name in a popular sense rather than a nickname,[57] previously used on license plates)
  • Tree Planter's State
  • Blackwater State[12]
 Nevada
 New Hampshire
 New Jersey
 New Mexico
  • Cactus State[59]
  • The Colorful State
  • Land of Enchantment[60] (currently used on license plates)
  • Land of Sunshine (predates "Land of Enchantment"; this earlier nickname highlighted the large percentage of sunshine received statewide)[59]
  • New Andalusia[59]
  • The Outer Space State
  • The Tex-Mex State
  • The Spanish State[citation needed]
 New York
 North Carolina
 North Dakota
 Ohio
 Oklahoma
 Oregon
  • Beaver State
  • Union State
  • Pacific Wonderland (previously used on license plates and currently available on an extra cost plate)[67]
  • Sunset State
  • Webfoot State[12]
 Pennsylvania
 Puerto Rico
  • Isla del Encanto ("Island of Enchantment") (currently used on license plates)
  • Borinquen (name given by indigenous people, the Tainos)[69]
  • The Shining Star of the Caribbean
  • Progress Island[70]
 Rhode Island
 South Carolina
 South Dakota
 Tennessee
 Texas
 Utah
  • Beehive State
  • Mormon State[77]
  • Friendly State (in disuse) (formerly used on license plates)[78]
  • Greatest Snow on Earth (formerly used on all license plates; now an alternate slogan on license plates alongside the state's current tourism slogan, "Life Elevated")
 Vermont
 Virginia
  • Mother of Presidents[12]
  • Mother of States[12]
  • Old Dominion State[25]
  • The Commonwealth
 Washington
 West Virginia
 Wisconsin
 Wyoming
  • Cowboy State
  • Equality State
  • Park State
  • Like No Place On Earth
  • Forever West (On highway welcome signs)

For the proposed State of Jefferson, the nickname "State of Mind" has been used since the 1940s.

See also

References

General
Notes
  1. ^ "Emblems Index". State of Alabama. Retrieved 2008-01-26. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  2. ^ a b Introduction to Alabama, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c "Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors". Alabama Department of Archives & History. 2006-04-20. Retrieved 2007-03-18. Alabama does not have an official nickname.
  4. ^ "Heart of Dixie". Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History. 2004-06-29. Retrieved 2007-03-18.
  5. ^ "Nicknames: America's 50 States (First of Four Parts)". Voice of America. VOA Special English program. 2008-01-06. Retrieved 2009-01-04. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ a b c d e The Last Frontier State, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  7. ^ Alaska Division of Economic Development (2010-12-21). "Alaska Division of Economic Development". Alaska Division of Economic Development. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Introduction to Arizona, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  9. ^ Ariz. HB 2549 Officially adopted by Arizona on February 14, 2011
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Introduction to Arkansas, US States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  11. ^ Arkansas § 1-4-106 - State nickname Retrieved Feb. 28, 2011
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ^ California Government Code Section 420.75 Retrieved Feb. 28, 2011
  14. ^ "State Symbols". California State Library. State of California. Retrieved 2008-01-26. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  15. ^ SHG Resources. "California Symbols, State Motto". SHG Resources. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
  16. ^ a b c d "Colorado". NetState.com. NState, LLC. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  17. ^ a b "Colorado State Name and Nicknames". Colorado State Symbols & Emblems. State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  18. ^ "Colorado State Flower". Colorado State Symbols & Emblems. State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  19. ^ "Colorado Water History" (asp). Colorado Historical Society. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  20. ^ "Denver". wikipedia.org. Wikipedia. Retrieved 2007-05-05.
  21. ^ "Colorado". USAtourist.com. USATourist. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  22. ^ Introduction to Colorado, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  23. ^ Conn. Stat. Sec. 3-110a, retrieved Nov. 4, 2013
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i Introduction to Delaware, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Barry Popik, Smoky City, barrypopik.com website, March 27, 2005
  26. ^ Delaware Code Title 29 Section 318 retrieved on February 28, 2011
  27. ^ a b Farhi, Paul. (2010, July 30). After initial obscurity, 'The DMV' nickname for Washington area picks up speed. Washington Post. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  28. ^ a b c d e Introduction to Florida, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  29. ^ a b c d e "Quick Facts: State Symbols". The New Georgia Encyclopedia. University of Georgia Press. Retrieved 2008-03-03. Cite error: The named reference "GAnames" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  30. ^ [1], Haw. Rev. Stat. § 5-7, retrieved Nov. 4, 2013
  31. ^ a b c d Introduction to Hawaii, 50 States.
  32. ^ "HAWAII: A RAINBOW OF CULTURAL RICHES: A world of traditions blending for centuries offers cultural activities of colorful diversity". Guidebookamerica.com. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
  33. ^ "Nicknames: America's 50 States (Second of Four Parts)". Voice of America. VOA Special English program. 2008-01-12. Retrieved 2009-01-04. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  34. ^ a b Introduction to Idaho, 50 States.
  35. ^ "SuperPages: Idaho History". Retrieved 2008-03-21.
  36. ^ "Illinois". Illinois State Symbols & Emblems. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  37. ^ a b c d Introduction to Illinois, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  38. ^ The unofficial sobriquet of the State of Indiana has given rise to the humorous constructions Hoosierana (the land of Hoosiers; see uses in Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame and by sports journalist Frank DeFord) and Hoosierstan (the place of Hoosiers).
  39. ^ "Iowa State Nickname - "The Hawkeye State"". State Symbols USA. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  40. ^ [2], Kan. Stat. 73-1801, retrieved Nov. 4, 2013]
  41. ^ "Kansas Signage". roadsideamerica.com. Retrieved 2007-03-26.
  42. ^ a b c d Introduction to Kentucky, 50 States.
  43. ^ "State Nicknames". 50states.com. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
  44. ^ Judy Colbert, Off the Beaten Path: Maryland and Delaware, 8th ed., 2007, ISBN 15385485.
  45. ^ a b c d e f "The State of Maryland - An Introduction to the Old Line State from". Netstate.Com. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
  46. ^ "Nicknames: America's 50 States (Third of Four Parts)". Voice of America. VOA Special English program. 2008-01-19. Retrieved 2009-01-04. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  47. ^ Archives of Maryland Online
  48. ^ a b c Introduction to Massachusetts, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  49. ^ Massachusetts (state, United States), Britannica Online, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  50. ^ Andrew Ryan, Report: 'Taxachusetts' label remains part of Massachusetts' past, Boston Globe, April 6, 2007.
  51. ^ Daniel J. Flynn, 'Taxachusetts' no more?, Forbes, October 22, 2008.
  52. ^ 'Taxachusetts' Voters May Eliminate State Income Tax, Fox News, October 7, 2008.
  53. ^ Michael D. Shear, Giuliani Backers Attack 'Taxachusetts Romney', The Washington Post, December 12, 2007.
  54. ^ Slate's Chatterbox: The Myth of 'Taxachusetts', National Public Radio, October 15, 2004.
  55. ^ Jess Myers, Hockey roots run deep in Minnesota, ESPN.com, February 10, 2004
  56. ^ In Montana, a Popular Expression Is Taken Off the Endangered List New York Times, August 17, 2008; Retrieved February 28, 2011
  57. ^ [3], Nebraska Rev. Stat. § 90-101, retrieved Nov. 4, 2013
  58. ^ a b c d "New Hampshire Almanac >Fast New Hampshire Facts". State of New Hampshire official website. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  59. ^ a b c New Mexico Symbols, State Names, SHG Resources website, accessed July 7, 2008
  60. ^ New Mexico Revised Statutes, Sec. 12-3-4-N, retrieved Nov. 4, 2013
  61. ^ a b Introduction to North Carolina, 50 States, retrieved February 28, 2011.
  62. ^ "Why We are Called Tar Heels". UNC Libraries. Retrieved 2008-01-26. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  63. ^ Variety Vacationland Postcard Exhibit Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  64. ^ "It's official: Ohio IS the birthplace of aviation". The Cincinnati Enquirer. 2003-06-14. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
  65. ^ Elkins, Keith A. (2011). Mr. E. 2003: Manifest Lessons from Ohio's Bicentennial Celebration. iUniverse. p. 293.
  66. ^ "Nicknames: America's 50 States (Fourth of Four Parts)". Voice of America. VOA Special English program. 2008-01-26. Retrieved 2009-01-04. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  67. ^ "Oregon's license plate from 1960 to circa 1966". Plate Shack. Retrieved 2007-07-12.
  68. ^ "Turnpikes and Toll Roads in Nineteenth Century America". Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  69. ^ "98.03.04: The Taínos of Puerto Rico: Rediscovering Borinquen". Yale.edu. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
  70. ^ "Progress Island U.S.A." Progress Island U.S.A. wikipedia. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  71. ^ "Iodine". South Carolina Encyclopedia. 2007-04-14. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
  72. ^ "License Plates of South Carolina". World license plates website. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  73. ^ a b c d e South Dakota Symbols, State Names, SHG Resources website, accessed July 7, 2008
  74. ^ [4], S.D. Laws 1-6-16.5, retrieved Nov. 4, 2013
  75. ^ a b c d e Tennessee Symbols and Honors, in Tennessee Blue Book
  76. ^ a b "Texas:Facts, Map, and State Symbols". EnchantedLearing.com. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  77. ^ "NetState: Utah". Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  78. ^ "State it on a plate — Over the years, slogans, designs have taken some poetic license". Deseret News.
  79. ^ "Symbols of Washington State". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved 2012-08-16.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_U.S._state_and_territory_nicknames&oldid=594803472"