List of U.S. state nicknames

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 the 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
 Delaware
  • Chemical Capital of the World[24] (due to one time being the corporate headquarters for several international chemical companies.)
  • Corporate Capital (due to the state's business-friendly incorporation laws)[24]
  • Diamond State (Thomas Jefferson is supposed to have referred to Delaware as being like a diamond- small in size but great in value)[25]
  • Blue Hen State or Blue Hen Chicken State[26]
  • The First State[24][27] (Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution; currently used on license plates)
  • Peach State[24] (no longer used; see Georgia)
  • Small Wonder[24]
 Washington, D.C.
  • Nation's Capital[28]
  • DMV (nickname for the broader metropolitan area of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia)[28]
  • Inside the Beltway
 Florida
 Georgia
  • Peach State[30] (currently 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.[31] See also Atlanta Crackers: Origin of the name
  • Empire State of the South — Georgia is the largest state in land area east of the Mississippi and was the leading industrial state of the Old South.[32]
  • 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.[33]
  • Goober State — Refers to peanuts, the official state crop.[34]
  • State of Adventure (On highway welcome signs)
 Hawaii
 Idaho
 Illinois[43]
 Indiana
 Iowa
 Kansas
 Kentucky
 Louisiana
 Maine
 Maryland
 Massachusetts
  • Baked Bean State[54]
  • Codfish State (formerly represented on license plates by a codfish)
  • The Bay State[54]
  • Old Colony State[55]
  • Pilgrim State[54]
  • The Spirit of America (currently used on license plates)
  • The People's Republic of Massachusetts (colloquial)
  • Taxachusetts (colloquial)[56][57][58][59][60]
 Michigan
 Minnesota
  • Gopher State[12]
  • Land of 10,000 Lakes ("10,000 Lakes" currently used on license plates)
  • New England of the West[12]
  • North Star State
  • State of Hockey[62]
  • Bread and Butter State[12]
 Mississippi
 Missouri
 Montana
  • Big Sky Country (currently used on license plates)
  • The Last Best Place[64]
  • Treasure State (previously used on license plates)
 Nebraska
  • Beef State (previously used on license plates)
  • Cornhusker State (previously used on license plates)[65]
  • Bugeating State[66]
  • Blackwater State[12]
  • The Good Life (as seen on state border signs)
 Nevada
 New Hampshire
 New Jersey
 New Mexico
  • Cactus State[69]
  • Land of Enchantment[70] (currently used on license plates)
  • Land of Sunshine (predates "Land of Enchantment"; this earlier nickname highlighted the large percentage of sunshine received statewide)[69]
 New York
 North Carolina
  North Dakota
 Ohio
 Oklahoma
 Oregon
 Pennsylvania
 Puerto Rico
 Rhode Island
 South Carolina
 South Dakota
 Tennessee
 Texas
 Utah
 Vermont
 Virginia
  • Mother of Presidents[12]
  • Mother of States[12]
  • The Old Dominion[26]
 Washington
 West Virginia
 Wisconsin
(No official nickname)[89]
 Wyoming
  • Equality State
  • Forever West (On highway welcome signs)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Emblems Index". State of Alabama. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
  2. 1 2 Introduction to Alabama, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 "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.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Introduction to Arizona, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  9. ↑ Ariz. HB 2549 Officially adopted by Arizona on February 14, 2011
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Introduction to Arkansas, US States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  11. ↑ Arkansas § 1-4-106 - State nickname Retrieved Feb. 28, 2011
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23  Gilman, D. C.; Thurston, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "States, Popular Names of". New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
  13. ↑ California Government Code Section 420.75 Retrieved Feb. 28, 2011
  14. ↑ "State Symbols". California State Library. State of California. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "Colorado". NetState.com. NState, LLC. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  16. 1 2 "Colorado State Name and Nicknames". Colorado State Symbols & Emblems. State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  17. ↑ "Colorado State Flower". Colorado State Symbols & Emblems. State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  18. ↑ "Colorado Water History" (asp). Colorado Historical Society. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  19. ↑ Denver, Colorado
  20. ↑ "Colorado". USAtourist.com. USATourist. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  21. ↑ Colorado Ski Country USA history
  22. ↑ Introduction to Colorado, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  23. ↑ Conn. Stat. Sec. 3-110a, retrieved Nov. 4, 2013
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 Introduction to Delaware, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  25. ↑ "Jewel among the states (Quotation)". Monticello.ORG. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Barry Popik, Smoky City, barrypopik.com website, March 27, 2005
  27. ↑ Delaware Code Title 29 Section 318 retrieved on February 28, 2011
  28. 1 2 Farhi, Paul. (2010, July 30). After initial obscurity, 'The DMV' nickname for Washington area picks up speed. Washington Post. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 Introduction to Florida, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  30. ↑ "Quick Facts: State Symbols". The New Georgia Encyclopedia. University of Georgia Press. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
  31. ↑ "Folklife: Customs and Local Traditions". The New Georgia Encyclopedia. University of Georgia Press. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
  32. ↑ "History & Archaeology: Antebellum Industrialization". The New Georgia Encyclopedia. University of Georgia Press. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
  33. ↑ "Georgia". State Flags Flowers Birds Symbols and Emblems State Quarters Geography and Maps Newspapers History and Economy for the 50 States. NetState.com. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
  34. ↑ "Land & Resources: Peanuts". The New Georgia Encyclopedia. University of Georgia Press. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
  35. ↑ "Hawaii Revised Statutes § 5-7". Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  36. 1 2 3 4 Introduction to Hawaii, 50 States.
  37. ↑ "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.
  38. ↑ 808 State Frequently Asked Questions: Where did 808 State get their name from?, 808 State Official Website.
  39. ↑ 808 State Update, Talk Radio Hawaii
  40. ↑ "Nicknames: America's 50 States (Second of Four Parts)". Voice of America. VOA Special English program. 2008-01-12. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  41. 1 2 Introduction to Idaho, 50 States.
  42. ↑ "SuperPages: Idaho History". Retrieved 2008-03-21.
  43. ↑ "Illinois". Illinois State Symbols & Emblems. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  44. 1 2 3 4 Introduction to Illinois, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  45. ↑ 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).
  46. ↑ "Iowa State Nickname - "The Hawkeye State"". State Symbols USA. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  47. ↑ "Kansas Signage". roadsideamerica.com. Retrieved 2007-03-26.
  48. 1 2 3 4 Introduction to Kentucky, 50 States.
  49. ↑ "State Nicknames". 50states.com. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
  50. ↑ Judy Colbert, Off the Beaten Path: Maryland and Delaware, 8th ed., 2007, ISBN 978-0-7627-4418-3.
  51. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The State of Maryland - An Introduction to the Old Line State from". Netstate.Com. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
  52. ↑ "Nicknames: America's 50 States (Third of Four Parts)". Voice of America. VOA Special English program. 2008-01-19. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  53. ↑ Archives of Maryland Online
  54. 1 2 3 Introduction to Massachusetts, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  55. ↑ Massachusetts (state, United States), Britannica Online, retrieved April 24, 2009.
  56. ↑ Andrew Ryan, Report: 'Taxachusetts' label remains part of Massachusetts' past, Boston Globe, April 6, 2007.
  57. ↑ Daniel J. Flynn, 'Taxachusetts' no more?, Forbes, October 22, 2008.
  58. ↑ 'Taxachusetts' Voters May Eliminate State Income Tax, Fox News, October 7, 2008.
  59. ↑ Michael D. Shear, Giuliani Backers Attack 'Taxachusetts Romney', The Washington Post, December 12, 2007.
  60. ↑ Slate's Chatterbox: The Myth of 'Taxachusetts', National Public Radio, October 15, 2004.
  61. ↑ Holland, Meegan (15 March 2010). "Death of Michigan's only Wolverine brings up question: Why are we still the Wolverine State?". MLive. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  62. ↑ Jess Myers, Hockey roots run deep in Minnesota, ESPN.com, February 10, 2004
  63. ↑ Riverfront Times, January 10, 2012
  64. ↑ In Montana, a Popular Expression Is Taken Off the Endangered List New York Times, August 17, 2008; Retrieved February 28, 2011
  65. ↑ , Nebraska Rev. Stat. § 90-101, retrieved Nov. 4, 2013
  66. ↑ http://www.netstate.com/states/intro/ne_intro.htm
  67. 1 2 3 "New Hampshire Almanac >Fast New Hampshire Facts". State of New Hampshire official website. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  68. ↑ Peterson, Ivar (August 29, 1992). "New Jersey Is the Garbage State No More; Once Known for Its Pollution, It Is Now Known for Getting Tough on the Polluters". New York Times. Retrieved 28 November 2016. its grim reputation as the Garbage State of a decade ago, when waste dumps smoked and smoldered, waterways were glazed with gunk and Federal officials identified more toxic cleanup sites per square mile than in any other state.
  69. 1 2 New Mexico Symbols, State Names, SHG Resources website, accessed July 7, 2008
  70. ↑ New Mexico Revised Statutes, Sec. 12-3-4-N, retrieved Nov. 4, 2013
  71. 1 2 Introduction to North Carolina, 50 States, retrieved February 28, 2011.
  72. ↑ "Why We are Called Tar Heels". UNC Libraries. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
  73. ↑ Variety Vacationland Postcard Exhibit Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  74. ↑ "It's official: Ohio IS the birthplace of aviation". The Cincinnati Enquirer. 2003-06-14. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
  75. ↑ Elkins, Keith A. (2011). Mr. E. 2003: Manifest Lessons from Ohio's Bicentennial Celebration. iUniverse. p. 293.
  76. ↑ "Nicknames: America's 50 States (Fourth of Four Parts)". Voice of America. VOA Special English program. 2008-01-26. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  77. ↑ "Oregon's license plate from 1960 to circa 1966". Plate Shack. Retrieved 2007-07-12.
  78. ↑ "Turnpikes and Toll Roads in Nineteenth Century America". Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  79. ↑ "98.03.04: The Taínos of Puerto Rico: Rediscovering Borinquen". Yale.edu. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
  80. ↑ Progress Island U.S.A.
  81. ↑ "Iodine". South Carolina Encyclopedia. 2007-04-14. Archived from the original on May 19, 2006. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
  82. 1 2 3 4 5 South Dakota Symbols, State Names, SHG Resources website, accessed July 7, 2008
  83. ↑ "South Dakota Laws 1-6-16.5". Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  84. 1 2 3 4 5 Tennessee Symbols and Honors, in Tennessee Blue Book
  85. 1 2 "Texas:Facts, Map, and State Symbols". EnchantedLearing.com. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  86. ↑ "NetState: Utah". Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  87. ↑ "State it on a plate — Over the years, slogans, designs have taken some poetic license". Deseret News.
  88. ↑ "Symbols of Washington State". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  89. 1 2 "Wisconsin State Symbols" in Wisconsin Blue Book 2005-2006, p. 966. Wisconsin has no Official nickname.
  90. ↑ Dornfeld, Margaret; Hantula, Richard (2010). Wisconsin: It's my state!. Marshall Cavendish. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-60870-062-2.
  91. ↑ Urdang, Laurence (1988). Names and Nicknames of Places and Things. Penguin Group USA,. p. 8. ISBN 9780452009073. "America's Dairyland" A nickname of Wisconsin
  92. ↑ 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 ...
  93. ↑ 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, or America's Dairyland, although in the past it has been nicknamed The Copper State.
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