How every state got its nickname

Mykenna ManieceAug 23, 2024, 21:34 IST

Montana is nicknamed the "Treasure State."Wichakorn Kitrungrot/Shutterstock<ul class="summary-list"><li>Each of the 50 states has a famous nickname.</li><li>Some are straightforward, like Delaware's nickname, the "First State."</li></ul>Ever wonder why <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-texas-oregon-left-red-state-blue-politics-2024-2">Oregon</a> State University's mascot is a beaver, why there's an NBA team called the <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-orleans-travel-guide-including-flights-accomodations-activities-restaurants-advisories">New Orleans</a> Pelicans, or what a <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-jordan-1982-unc-tar-heels-ncaa-champions-2018-3">Tar Heel</a> is?Turns out a lot of the pop-culture references we've come to know and love — especially in <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/womens-sports-merchandise-market-gap-2024-7">sports</a> — are actually connected to state nicknames, which draw on everything from <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/one-weird-fact-about-every-state-2017-9">historical facts</a> to natural flora and fauna.Here's a look at each of the 50 states' nicknames and how they came to be.

Alabama doesn't have an official nickname, but it's often called the "Yellowhammer State" or the "Heart of Dixie."

"Dixie" is a nickname for the American South.Dennis MacDonald/Shutterstock

Alaska's vast wilderness has led to its nickname, "the Last Frontier."

Alaska famously still has vast areas of unexplored territory.Dkojich/Shutterstock

Arizona is the home of the Grand Canyon, making it the "Grand Canyon State."

The Grand Canyon is located mostly in Arizona.romeovip_md/Shutterstock

Arkansas' nickname, the "Natural State," became official in 1995.

Arkansas started being promoted as the "Natural State" in the 1980s.ArkNow Drone and Outdoor/Shutterstock

California is the "Golden State."

One source of California's nickname, the "Golden State," comes from its golden poppies.Steve Petit/Shutterstock

Colorado is the "Centennial State" because it became a state 100 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Colorado became a state 100 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.Oleg Kovtun Hydrobio/Shutterstock

Connecticut is nicknamed the "Constitution State."

Connecticut adopted the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut in 1639.Faina Gurevich/Shutterstock

Delaware was the "First State" in the US.

Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution.Nagel Photography/Shutterstock

The nickname the "Sunshine State" belongs to Florida.

Florida is nicknamed the "Sunshine State."xbrchx/Shutterstock

Georgia's nickname the "Peach State" stems from a much darker history.

The peach became Georgia's state fruit in 1995.Feng Cheng/Shutterstock

Hawaii is nicknamed the "Aloha State."

Hawaii is the "Aloha State."Jade Prevost Manuel/Shutterstock

Idaho's wide variety of minerals and gems led to its nickname, the "Gem State."

Idaho is known for its many natural resources, including rare minerals like gold, cobalt, and garnet.Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Illinois is known as the "Prairie State."

Illinois once was home to 22 million acres of prairie land.Hank Erdmann/Shutterstock

Residents of Indiana live in the "Hoosier State."

Residents of Indiana are called "Hoosiers."Vineyard Perspective/Shutterstock

The "Hawkeye State" was first recorded as a nickname for Iowa in 1859.

Caitlin Clark famously played basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team.Steph Chambers/Staff/Getty Images

Kansas is the "Sunflower State."

Kansas' state flower is the sunflower.Matt Fowler KC/Shutterstock

Kentucky is the "Bluegrass State."

Kentucky is known for its bluegrass.Theodore P. Webb/Shutterstock

Louisiana is known as the "Pelican State."

The pelican has been the state symbol of Louisiana since the 1800s.Konoplytska/Shutterstock

The nickname the "Pine Tree State" belongs to Maine.

Maine is nicknamed the "Pine Tree State."Jordan Kercheff/Shutterstock

Maryland has two nicknames: the "Old Line State" and the "Free State."

Maryland's nickname, the "Old Line State," was given during the Revolutionary War. Fort McHenry in Baltimore was one of the battlegrounds during the war.Christopher Mazmanian/Shutterstock

With more than 40 bays, it's easy to see why Massachusetts is called the "Bay State."

Massachusetts is home to more than 40 bays.Marcio Jose Bastos Silva/Shutterstock

Michigan is bordered by four of the five Great Lakes, making it the "Great Lakes State."

Michigan is bordered by four of the Great Lakes.F. Setiawan/Shutterstock

Minnesota's nickname, the "North Star State" stems from its motto.

The Minnesota motto is "l'étoile du nord" which translates to "the star of the north."AndyPhotography391/Shutterstock

Mississippi is known as the "Magnolia State."

The magnolia is the state flower and tree of Mississippi.ZlataMarka/Shutterstock

A Missouri representative is often credited with inventing the state's nickname, the "Show-Me State."

Missouri's nickname, the "Show-Me State," is often credited to a speech given by Rep. Willard Duncan Vandiver in 1899.Library of Congress/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images

Montana is known as the "Treasure State."

Montana is nicknamed the "Treasure State."Wichakorn Kitrungrot/Shutterstock

Nebraska is a major producer of several corn varieties, hence its nickname, the "Cornhusker State."

Nebraska is nicknamed the "Cornhusker State."SeanMandeville/Shutterstock

Nevada earned its status as the "Silver State" in the 1850s.

Silver was discovered in Nevada in 1859 and became an important part of the state's economy.Michael Vi/Shutterstock

New Hampshire is nicknamed the "Granite State."

New Hampshire is known for its granite.N00dles/Shutterstock

New Jersey officially became the "Garden State" in 1954.

New Jersey is known as the "Garden State" thanks to its production of many fruits, including blueberries.Mohammed Al-Farook/Shutterstock

New Mexico's natural beauty and rich history contributed to its nickname, "Land of Enchantment."

New Mexico is known as the "Land of Enchantment" thanks in part to its natural beauty.Neil Lockhart/Shutterstock

George Washington is credited with giving New York its nickname, the "Empire State."

New York is nicknamed the "Empire State."Volodymyr TVERDOKHLIB/Shutterstock

North Carolina is known as the "Tar Heel State."

The term "Tar Heel" used to denote those who worked in a low trade.Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images

North Dakota is called the "Peace Garden State."

The International Peace Garden is split between North Dakota and Canada.Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock

Ohio makes sure everyone knows they're the "Buckeye State."

A buckeye is a type of tree that produces a dark brown nut with a light spot, like Ohio State's mascot, Brutus Buckeye.Ben Jackson/Contributor/Getty Images

Oklahoma's nickname, the "Sooner State," dates back to the 1800s.

"Sooner" was originally a nickname for the people who settled in what's now Oklahoma before the Land Run officially opened in 1889.James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Oregon's nickname, the "Beaver State," dates back to the fur trade.

Oregon is known as the "Beaver State."Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Pennsylvania is nicknamed the "Keystone State."

Pennsylvania was central in the establishment of the US.Jimmy Budiman 1976/Shutterstock

Rhode Island is known as the "Ocean State."

Rhode Island is known for its 400-mile coastline, hence its nickname the "Ocean State."Alex Tao Wang/Shutterstock

South Carolina's history as the "Palmetto State" began during the Revolutionary War.

The sabal palmetto is South Carolina's state tree.Frennet Studio/Shutterstock

South Dakota is the "Mount Rushmore State."

Mount Rushmore was carved into the Black Hills region of South Dakota.Lost_in_the_Midwest/Shutterstock

Volunteers in the War of 1812 earned Tennessee the nickname the "Volunteer State."

Tennessee is known as the "Volunteer State" because of the thousands of volunteers from the state that participated in the War of 1812.Grindstone Media Group/Shutterstock

Texas is the "Lone Star State."

The Texas state flag features a single star and was adopted after the state became independent from Mexico in 1836.Scott Taetsch/Contributor/Getty Images

Utah is nicknamed the "Beehive State" ... but not because of honey.

Utah is nicknamed the "Beehive State."Anastasia_Kot/Shutterstock

Vermont is known as the "Green Mountain State."

Vermont is home to the Green Mountains, a subrange of the Appalachians.Matthew Spalding/Shutterstock

Virginia's nickname, "Old Dominion," dates back to colonial times.

King Charles II may have nicknamed Virginia "Old Dominion."Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Washington's been called the "Evergreen State" since the 1800s but it's still not official.

Washington is widely called the "Evergreen State," but the nickname technically isn't official.Kasbah/Shutterstock

West Virginia is located in the Appalachian Mountains, making the "Mountain State" a fitting nickname.

West Virginia is located in the Appalachian Mountains.Zack Frank/Shutterstock

Wisconsin's nickname, the "Badger State," has more to do with mining than real badgers.

Wisconsin is known as the "Badger State."Stacy Revere/Staff/Getty Images

And finally, Wyoming is nicknamed the "Equality State."

Wyoming was the first state to allow women to vote and hold office.Ken Welsh/Design Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

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