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List of U.S. state and territory nicknames

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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, federal district and territory nicknames, including officially adopted nicknames and other traditional nicknames for the 50 U.S. states, the U.S. federal district, as well as five U.S. territories.

State, federal district, and territory nicknames

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Official state, federal district, and territory nicknames are highlighted in bold. A state nickname is not to be confused with an official state motto.

State,
federal district,
or territory		 Nickname(s)
 Alabama[1][a]
 Alaska
 American Samoa
  • Motu o Fiafiaga (a Samoan phrase; in English, it is "Islands of Paradise")[9] (used on American Samoa license plates)[10]
  • Football Island[s][11]
 Arizona
 Arkansas
 California
 Colorado
 Connecticut
 Delaware
  • Chemical Capital of the World[30] (due to one time being the corporate headquarters for several international chemical companies.)
  • Corporate Capital (due to the state's business-friendly incorporation laws)[30]
  • Diamond State (Thomas Jefferson is supposed to have referred to Delaware as being like a diamond – small in size but great in value)[31]
  • Blue Hen State or Blue Hen Chicken State[32]
  • The First State[30][33] (Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution; used on license plates)
  • Peach State[30] (no longer used; see Georgia)
  • Small Wonder[30]
 District of Columbia[a]
  • Nation's Capital[34]
  • DMV (nickname for the broader metropolitan area of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia)[34]
  • Inside the Beltway[35]
  • Chocolate City[36]
 Florida
 Georgia
  • Peach State[40] (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.[41] See also Atlanta Crackers: Origin of the name
  • Empire State of the South — Georgia is the largest Southern state in land area east of the Mississippi and was the leading industrial state of the Old South.[42]
  • Goober State — Refers to peanuts, the official state crop.[43]
  • State of Adventure
 Guam
 Hawaii
 Idaho
 Illinois[55]
 Indiana
  • Hoosier State (Used at various times on license plates)[57]
    (Hoosier is also the official demonym of a resident of Indiana)
  • Crossroads of America (Also used at various times on license plates and used on highway welcome signs)
 Iowa
 Kansas
 Kentucky
 Louisiana
 Maine
 Maryland
 Massachusetts
 Michigan
 Minnesota
 Mississippi
 Missouri
 Montana
 Nebraska
 Nevada
 New Hampshire
 New Jersey
 New Mexico
  • Land of Enchantment[82] (used on license plates)
  • Land of Sunshine (predates "Land of Enchantment"; this earlier nickname highlighted the large percentage of sunshine received statewide)[83]
 New York
 North Carolina
 North Dakota
 Northern Mariana Islands[a]
  • Håfa Adai (a Chamorro phrase; in English, it is "Hello")[88] (used on Northern Mariana Islands license plates)[89][b]
  • America's Best Kept Secret[90]
 Ohio
 Oklahoma
 Oregon
 Pennsylvania
 Puerto Rico
  • Isla del Encanto ("Island of Enchantment") (used on license plates)
  • Borinquen (name given by indigenous people, the Tainos)[96]
 Rhode Island
 South Carolina
 South Dakota
 Tennessee
 Texas
 U.S. Virgin Islands[a]
 Utah
 Vermont
 Virginia
 Washington[a]
 West Virginia
 Wisconsin[111][a]
 Wyoming
  • Cowboy State
  • Equality State
  • Forever West (on highway welcome signs)

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f No official nickname.
  2. ^ Though this phrase is used on license plates, it is unclear if it is the official nickname of the Northern Mariana Islands.

References

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  1. ^ "Emblems Index". State of Alabama. Retrieved January 26, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Group, Sinclair Broadcast (July 18, 2014). "Welcome to Sweet Home Alabama: New signs going up on interstate highways". WBMA. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Introduction to Alabama, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  4. ^ a b c "Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors". Alabama Department of Archives & History. April 20, 2006. Archived from the original on December 24, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2007. Alabama does not have an official nickname.
  5. ^ "Heart of Dixie". Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History. June 29, 2004. Archived from the original on December 24, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
  6. ^ "Nicknames: America's 50 States (First of Four Parts)". Voice of America. VOA Special English program. January 6, 2008. Retrieved January 4, 2009.
  7. ^ a b c d e The Last Frontier State, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  8. ^ Alaska Division of Economic Development (December 21, 2010). "Alaska Division of Economic Development". Alaska Division of Economic Development. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  9. ^ Terrell, Connie (September 30, 2016). "Honor, Respect, Devotion to Duty: Coast Guard Auxiliarists Mike and Paula McDonald.". U.S. Coast Guard. Archived from the original on March 12, 2020. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  10. ^ http://www.worldlicenseplates.com/world/PA_AMSA.html Worldlicenseplates.com. American Samoa. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  11. ^ "American Samoa Facts". Factretriever.com. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Introduction to Arizona, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  13. ^ Ariz. HB 2549 Officially adopted by Arizona on February 14, 2011
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h Introduction to Arkansas, US States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  15. ^ Arkansas § 1-4-106 - State nickname Retrieved February 28, 2011
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "States, Popular Names of" . New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
  17. ^ California Government Code Section 420.75 Retrieved February 28, 2011
  18. ^ "State Symbols". California State Library. State of California. Archived from the original on January 5, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2008.
  19. ^ a b c d "Colorado". NetState.com. NState, LLC. Retrieved February 21, 2007.
  20. ^ a b "Colorado State Name and Nicknames". Colorado State Symbols & Emblems. State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. Retrieved February 21, 2007.
  21. ^ "Colorado State Flower". Colorado State Symbols & Emblems. State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. Retrieved February 21, 2007.
  22. ^ "Colorado Water History" (asp). Colorado Historical Society. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
  23. ^ Denver, Colorado
  24. ^ "Colorado". USAtourist.com. USATourist. Archived from the original on December 16, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2007.
  25. ^ "Colorado Ski Country USA history". Archived from the original on March 16, 2014.
  26. ^ Introduction to Colorado, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  27. ^ Dermondy, K.C. (May 6, 2014). "Colorado's 10 Most Picturesque Mountain Towns | OutThere Colorado". OutThere Colorado. Archived from the original on June 30, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2018. This "Switzerland of America" as it's often called, sits deep in the heart of the dramatic San Juan Mountains. It's lined with grand Victorian buildings and is home to natural hot springs where you can soak up all of that scenery while relaxing in the soothing warm waters.
  28. ^ Conn. Stat. Sec. 3-110a, retrieved November 4, 2013
  29. ^ "WCSU - Connecticut as the Provision State". www.wcsu.edu. Archived from the original on April 1, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  30. ^ a b c d e Introduction to Delaware, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  31. ^ "Jewel among the states (Quotation)". Monticello.ORG. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Barry Popik, Smoky City, barrypopik.com website, March 27, 2005
  33. ^ Delaware Code Title 29 Section 318 retrieved on February 28, 2011
  34. ^ a b Farhi, Paul. (July 30, 2010). After initial obscurity, 'The DMV' nickname for Washington area picks up speed. Washington Post. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  35. ^ "Inside the Beltway". politicaldictionary.com. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  36. ^ "Chocolate City | Chris Myers Asch". University of North Carolina Press.
  37. ^ a b c d e Introduction to Florida, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  38. ^ "Florida nicknamed 'gunshine state' for having highest number of concealed carry permits". Fox13 Tampa Bay. April 13, 2019. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  39. ^ Gamble, Ed (January 2004). "Welcome to Florida The Plywood State". Ed Gamble Cartoon Collection. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  40. ^ "Quick Facts: State Symbols". The New Georgia Encyclopedia. University of Georgia Press. Archived from the original on May 14, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2008.
  41. ^ "Folklife: Customs and Local Traditions". The New Georgia Encyclopedia. University of Georgia Press. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2008.
  42. ^ "History & Archaeology: Antebellum Industrialization". The New Georgia Encyclopedia. University of Georgia Press. Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2008.
  43. ^ "Land & Resources: Peanuts". The New Georgia Encyclopedia. University of Georgia Press. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved March 3, 2008.
  44. ^ a b c https://www.visittheusa.com/state/guam Guam (Visittheusa.com). Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  45. ^ http://www.worldlicenseplates.com/world/PA_GUAM.html Worldlicenseplates.com. Guam. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  46. ^ http://www.andersen.af.mil/News/Articles/Article/754311/driven-by-island-heritage-guam-native-serves-country-community-family/ Driven by island heritage, Guam native serves country, community, family. Arielle Vasquez. May 8, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  47. ^ "Hawaii Revised Statutes § 5-7". Archived from the original on October 19, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  48. ^ a b c d Introduction to Hawaii, 50 States.
  49. ^ "HAWAII: A RAINBOW OF CULTURAL RICHES: A world of traditions blending for centuries offers cultural activities of colorful diversity". Guidebookamerica.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  50. ^ 808 State Frequently Asked Questions: Where did 808 State get their name from? Archived August 18, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, 808 State Official Website.
  51. ^ 808 State Update, Talk Radio Hawaii
  52. ^ "Nicknames: America's 50 States (Second of Four Parts)". Voice of America. VOA Special English program. January 12, 2008. Retrieved January 4, 2009.
  53. ^ a b Introduction to Idaho, 50 States.
  54. ^ "SuperPages: Idaho History". Archived from the original on December 24, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2008.
  55. ^ "Illinois". Illinois State Symbols & Emblems. Retrieved April 29, 2007.
  56. ^ a b c d Introduction to Illinois, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  57. ^ 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 Archived September 12, 2005, at the Wayback Machine and by sports journalist Frank DeFord) and Hoosierstan (the place of Hoosiers).
  58. ^ a b c d Introduction to Kentucky, 50 States.
  59. ^ "State Nicknames". 50states.com. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  60. ^ Judy Colbert, Off the Beaten Path: Maryland and Delaware, 8th ed., 2007, ISBN 978-0-7627-4418-3.
  61. ^ a b c d e f "The State of Maryland - An Introduction to the Old Line State from". Netstate.Com. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  62. ^ "Nicknames: America's 50 States (Third of Four Parts)". Voice of America. VOA Special English program. January 19, 2008. Retrieved January 4, 2009.
  63. ^ "Archives of Maryland Online". msa.maryland.gov. Archived from the original on July 19, 2010.
  64. ^ a b c Introduction to Massachusetts, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  65. ^ Massachusetts (state, United States), Britannica Online, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  66. ^ Andrew Ryan, Report: 'Taxachusetts' label remains part of Massachusetts' past, Boston Globe, April 6, 2007.
  67. ^ Daniel J. Flynn, 'Taxachusetts' no more?, Forbes, October 22, 2008.
  68. ^ 'Taxachusetts' Voters May Eliminate State Income Tax, Fox News, October 7, 2008.
  69. ^ Michael D. Shear, Giuliani Backers Attack 'Taxachusetts Romney', The Washington Post, December 12, 2007.
  70. ^ Slate's Chatterbox: The Myth of 'Taxachusetts', National Public Radio, October 15, 2004.
  71. ^ Holland, Meegan (March 15, 2010). "Death of Michigan's only Wolverine brings up question: Why are we still the Wolverine State?". MLive. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  72. ^ Wagner, Jeff (December 18, 2023). "Good Question: Why is Minnesota the North Star State?". CBS News. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  73. ^ Jess Myer s, Hockey roots run deep in Minnesota, ESPN.com, February 10, 2004
  74. ^ "CAVE TOURS". Missouri State Parks. January 30, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  75. ^ In Montana, a Popular Expression Is Taken Off the Endangered List New York Times, August 17, 2008; Retrieved February 28, 2011
  76. ^ a b c d e Nancy Capace, Encyclopedia of Nebraska. Somerset Publishers, Inc., January 1, 1999, p2-3
  77. ^ a b c d e "The State of Nebraska". NetState.com. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  78. ^ "Nebraska Rev. Stat. § 90-101". The official site of the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  79. ^ a b c d "New Hampshire Almanac >Fast New Hampshire Facts". State of New Hampshire official website. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  80. ^ Florio, James J. (1980). "Statement of Hon. James J. Florio, First District of New Jersey, U.S. House of Representatives". Employee Protection and Community Stabilization Act of 1979, Hearing Before the Committee on Labor and Human Resources, United States Senate, Ninety-Sixth Congress, First Session on S. 1609, Camden, N.J., October 29, 1979. Washington: Government Printing Office. pp. 102–107. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  81. ^ McGurty, Eileen (2006). "Chapter 2: Solid Waste Management in the 'Garbage State': New Jersey's Transformation from Landfilling to Incineration". In Maher, Neil M. (ed.). New Jersey's Environments: Past, Present, and Future. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press. pp. 28–50. ISBN 9780813539225.
  82. ^ New Mexico Revised Statutes, Sec. 12-3-4-N, retrieved November 4, 2013
  83. ^ New Mexico Symbols, State Names, SHG Resources website, accessed July 7, 2008
  84. ^ a b "North Carolina - First in Flight". www.carolana.com. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  85. ^ a b Introduction to North Carolina, 50 States, retrieved February 28, 2011.
  86. ^ "Why We are Called Tar Heels". UNC Libraries. Archived from the original on January 22, 2008. Retrieved January 26, 2008.
  87. ^ Variety Vacationland Postcard Exhibit Archived September 22, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  88. ^ https://www.guamvisitorsbureau.com/ Guamvisitorsbureau.com. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  89. ^ http://www.worldlicenseplates.com/world/PA_NMAR.html Worldlicenseplates.com. Northern Mariana Islands. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  90. ^ https://www.iexplore.com/articles/travel-guides/australia-and-south-pacific/northern-mariana-islands/things-to-do Northern Mariana Islands - Things to do. explore.com. Retrieved November 24, 2017
  91. ^ "It's official: Ohio IS the birthplace of aviation". The Cincinnati Enquirer. June 14, 2003. Retrieved April 6, 2007.
  92. ^ Elkins, Keith A. (2011). Mr. E. 2003: Manifest Lessons from Ohio's Bicentennial Celebration. iUniverse. p. 293. ISBN 9781462048922.
  93. ^ "Nicknames: America's 50 States (Fourth of Four Parts)". Voice of America. VOA Special English program. January 26, 2008. Retrieved January 4, 2009.
  94. ^ Writer John Francon Williams included a mention of Oregon as being the ‘Beaver State’ in 1892 in his book:The Advanced Class-Book of Modern Geography: Physical, Political, Commercial, by William Hughes and John Francon Williams, publ., London, George Philip & Son (1892) page 629: ‘OREGON, the ‘Beaver State,’ extends north of California to the Columbia River, which divides it from Washington.’
  95. ^ "Oregon's license plate from 1960 to circa 1966". Plate Shack. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
  96. ^ Elsa María Calderón. "98.03.04: The Taínos of Puerto Rico: Rediscovering Borinquen". Yale.edu. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  97. ^ a b "Archives". Los Angeles Times. May 15, 1986.
  98. ^ "Iodine". South Carolina Encyclopedia. April 14, 2007. Archived from the original on May 19, 2006. Retrieved April 6, 2007.
  99. ^ a b c d e South Dakota Symbols, State Names Archived June 16, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, SHG Resources website, accessed July 7, 2008
  100. ^ "South Dakota Laws 1-6-16.5". Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  101. ^ a b c d e Tennessee Symbols and Honors, in Tennessee Blue Book
  102. ^ "Texas:Facts, Map, and State Symbols". EnchantedLearning.com. Retrieved March 9, 2008.
  103. ^ http://www.worldlicenseplates.com/world/CA_USVI.html Worldlicenseplates.com. U.S. Virgin Islands. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  104. ^ http://www.ducksters.com/geography/state.php?State=Virgin%20Islands Virgin Islands (Ducksters.com). Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  105. ^ a b "NetState: Utah". Retrieved March 24, 2008.
  106. ^ "National Historic Trails Auto Tour Interpretive Guide, Utah - Crossroads of the West" (PDF). National Park Service.
  107. ^ "State it on a plate — Over the years, slogans, designs have taken some poetic license". Deseret News. Archived from the original on August 22, 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2009.
  108. ^ "Old Dominion – Encyclopedia Virginia".
  109. ^ "Symbols of Washington State". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  110. ^ Johnston, Ross B. (1926). West Virginia "the Switzerland of America" : a brief guide for tourists to some of its many scenic and historic places. Charleston, W. Va.: West Virginia Dept. of Agriculture. OCLC 9814800.
  111. ^ a b "Wisconsin State Symbols Archived 2013-10-04 at the Wayback Machine" in Wisconsin Blue Book 2005-2006, p. 966. Wisconsin has no Official nickname.
  112. ^ Dornfeld, Margaret; Hantula, Richard (2010). Wisconsin: It's my state!. Marshall Cavendish. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-60870-062-2.
  113. ^ Urdang, Laurence (1988). Names and Nicknames of Places and Things. Penguin Group USA. p. 8. ISBN 9780452009073. "America's Dairyland" A nickname of Wisconsin
  114. ^ Kane, Joseph Nathan; Alexander, Gerard L. (1979). Nicknames and sobriquets of U.S. cities, States, and counties. Scarecrow Press. p. 412. ISBN 9780810812550. Wisconsin - America's Dairyland, The Badger State ... The Copper State ...
  115. ^ Herman, Jennifer L. (2008). Wisconsin Encyclopedia, American Guide. North American Book Dist LLC. p. 10. ISBN 9781878592613. Nicknames Wisconsin is generally known as The Badger State, The Dairy State, or America's Dairyland, although in the past it has been nicknamed The Copper State.
  116. ^ Bauer, Lisa (September 30, 2019). "Noncredit course offers fascinating look at little-known World War I history in Wisconsin". University of Wisconsin Madison Continuing Studies. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
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