A Complete List of U.S.

State Nicknames
Will there be a Jefferson state?
With the effort of dividing the state of California into 6 separate states moving towards a vote, one
wonders if the long-conceived plan of creating the Jefferson state will ever come to fruition. And if it
does, the Jeffersonians already have a nickname ready-they wish to call it State of Mind.
Each state in the United States has had several nicknames over the years. These names were mostly
derived from local culture, and they reflected the state's history, economic affairs, and natural
resources.
Some of these names are funny, whereas others are a bit infamous-and therefore obsolete. Take a
look at them, and be amused as you read the explanation behind their origin.
List of U.S. State Nicknames
Along with the currently used nicknames, we've also included some of the older ones-most of these
are used informally or on license plates.
Alabama
The Yellowhammer State
Alabama is the only state not to have an official nickname. Off the records, it is called The
Yellowhammer State. The name dates back to the days of the American Civil War, when a group of
soldiers from the state wore uniforms with yellow trimmings and were nicknamed Yellowhammers. It
is also a reference to the yellowhammer bird, a name given to the Northern Flicker woodpecker,
which is the state bird of Alabama.
Other names
The Cotton State
Heart of Dixie
Alaska
The Last Frontier
With a seemingly endless expanse of land, Alaska is rightfully called The Last Frontier. The state is
the largest in the United States in terms of area, much of which remains unexplored. Alaska is often
viewed to be the last frontier by those wishing to create a new life or begin a new business.
Other names
Land of the Midnight Sun
Seward's Folly

Arizona
The Grand Canyon State
There is really no need to explain the nickname in case of Arizona; the state is home to the natural
wonder that is the Grand Canyon. In fact, the Grand Canyon National Park is among the oldest
national parks in the country.
Other names
The Copper State
Aztec State
Apache State
Sunset State
Arkansas
The Natural State
Going with the abundant natural beauty of Arkansas, it is rightfully nicknamed The Natural State.
The Buffalo River, located in the northern part of the state, was the first National River to be
designated in the United States. The clear lakes, streams, and plenteous wildlife contribute to the
state's unrivaled scenic beauty.
Other names
The Land of Opportunity
Bear State
Hot Springs State
Bowie State
California
The Golden State
The California Gold Rush of 1848, the lush fields of golden poppies, the remarkable Golden Gate
bridge, and the gorgeous golden sunsets over the Pacific-California is America's Golden State.
Other names
Colorado
The Centennial State
Colorado's nickname The Centennial State takes inspiration from its history. Colorado became the

38th state of the United States in 1876-precisely a hundred years from the signing of the Declaration
of Independence.
Other names
Colorful Colorado
Columbine State
Connecticut

The Constitution State

The official nickname of Connecticut was officially coined by the Connecticut General Assembly in
1959. The belief goes that the ideas used for drafting the Constitution of the United States were
drawn from the first constitution of Connecticut.
Other names
Delaware
The First State
On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution of the United
States, earning the nickname, The First State.
Other names
The Small Wonder
Blue Hen State
The Diamond State
Florida
The Sunshine State
Florida's nickname is The Sunshine State, adopted officially by Florida legislature in 1970. The name
seems perfect for a state that has the best beaches in the country, with warm, tropical weather all
year round.
Other names
The Gulf State
The Orange State
Georgia

The Peach State

The nickname for Georgia comes from its home-grown peaches, known for their superior flavor,
succulent texture, and nutritious qualities. Peaches are the official state fruit of Georgia since 1995.
Other names
Empire State of the South
The Goober State
Hawaii
The Aloha State
'Aloha' is a much-favored greeting in Hawaiian, and is used to welcome those who come here. Going
with the famed hospitality of the Hawaiians, The Aloha State seems a very welcoming nickname.
Other names
The Paradise of the Pacific
The Islands of Aloha
Idaho
The Gem State
The beautiful mountains of Idaho are blessed with the veritable presence of gold, silver, lead, zinc,
cobalt, copper, and several other rare minerals. In addition to this, one can also find star garnets
(which is the state gem), jasper, opal, jade, topaz, zircon, and tourmaline, which gives it the
nickname.
Other names
The Gem of the Mountains
Little Ida
Illinois
The Prairie State
The nickname for Illinois is The Prairie State, a nod to the North American prairie. Currently, the
region is one of the most endangered ecosystems on Earth, and the state is taking ample measures
to preserve this natural resource.
Other names
Indiana

The Hoosier State

The word Hoosier is derived from the history of Indiana and sadly, its original meaning has been lost
in translation. Historians and folklorists have one too many colorful theories describing its origin,
none of which is conclusive.
Other names
Iowa
The Hawkeye State
Iowa's nickname, The Hawkeye State is a tribute to chief Black Hawk, leader of the Sauk Indians.
Other names
Land of the Rolling Prairie
Tall Corn State
Kansas
The Sunflower State
The sunflower is all over Kansas-it is the official flower of the state, it appears on the flag, as well as
the Kansas state quarter.
Other names
Wheat State
America's Bread Basket
Kentucky
The Bluegrass State
Bluegrass is commonly found in many of the lawns and pastures throughout the state of Kentucky,
resulting in the nickname.
Other names
Louisiana
The Pelican State
The brown pelican is an important treasure of Louisiana. It is the state bird, appearing on
Louisiana's state flag, great seal, the official state painting, along with many other icons of
Louisiana.
Other names

The Bayou State

Sportsman's Paradise
Maine
The Pine Tree State
The state of Maine also uses its most famous icon, the Eastern white pine to be used as a nickname.
The state's official tree is also featured on the state flag and state seal.
Other names
Vacationland
The Lumber State
Maryland
The Old Line State
According to a few historical accounts, it was General George Washington who bestowed the name
"Old Line State" on Maryland. This was done to honor the troops (the Maryland Line) who fought
valiantly in the Revolutionary War.
Other names
Free State
America in Miniature
Massachusetts
The Bay State
Massachusetts is also known as "The Spirit of America" or even "The Old Bay State" in reference to
the Cape Cod Bay where early settlements were made.
Other names
The Old Colony State
The Codfish State
Michigan
The Great Lakes State
The state of Michigan has the longest freshwater coastline of any political subdivision in the world,
being bounded by four of the five Great Lakes, along with Lake Saint Clair. The state has numerous
ponds and lakes, which means that a person is never too far away from a natural water source in

Michigan.
Other names
The Wolverine State
The Mitten State
Winter Water Wonderland
Minnesota
The North Star State
Minnesota's nickname is derived from its French motto, L'toile du Nord, which translates to 'The
Star of the North'.
Other names
Land of 10,000 Lakes
Gopher State
The Bread and Butter State
Mississippi
The Magnolia State
Magnolia is the official state flower of Mississippi, and also features on the state quarter.
Other names
The Hospitality State
The Birthplace of America's Music
The South's Warmest Welcome
Missouri
The Show-Me State
The Missourians' "stalwart, conservative, noncredulous" attitude toward regulatory regimes, is
understood to be the origin of the state's rather unusual nickname, The Show-Me State.
Other names
The Bullion State
The Cave State

Montana
The Treasure State
The official nickname for Montana, The Treasure State comes from its abundant mineral reserves.
The mountains of Montana have yielded fortunes in gold and silver ever since the 17th century,
when the first substantial deposits were discovered.
Other names
Nebraska
The Cornhusker State
The Cornhusker is a tribute to the rugged, strong-willed Nebraska farmers underwent a lot of
hardship to transform the desert into ranches and farms, and made the state into the agricultural
superpower it is today.
Other names
The Beef State
The Tree Planter's State
Nevada
The Silver State
The nickname for Nevada, The Silver State, comes from the times of the silver rush days of the mid
1800's, when the precious metal was literally shoveled off the ground.
Other names
The Sagebrush State
The Battle Born State
New Hampshire
The Granite State
Granite, being the official state rock of New Hampshire, also doubles up as an apt nickname for the
State.
Other names
Mother of Rivers
The White Mountain State
New Grand Island Ne Jersey

The Garden State

One version of the story behind New Jersey's nickname credits Abraham Browning of Camden of
coining the name. Another theory suggests that it was Benjamin Franklin who came up with the
name.
Other names
The Crossroads of the Revolution
The Tomato State
New Mexico
The Land of Enchantment
The nickname for New Mexico, The Land of Enchantment (La Tierra del Encanto in Spanish) is a
highly appropriate name, considering the scenic beauty and rich history of the state.
Other names
The Land of Sunshine
The Spanish State
New York
The Empire State
No, the name does not come from the Empire State building in New York city, as many outsiders
mistakenly believe. Some stories actually credit the name to George Washington who referred to
New York state in December 1784 as "at present the seat of the Empire".
Other names
North Carolina
The Old North State
In 1710, when the Carolina colony was divided as a result of disputes over governance, the southern
part was called South Carolina and the older, northern settlement became North Carolina. This was
when the nickname "Old North State" was born.
Other names
The Tar Heel State
First in Flight State
North Dakota

The Peace Garden State

North Dakota's nickname is derived from the International Peace Garden, which straddles the
boundary between North Dakota and the Canadian province of Manitoba. The term was first placed
on license plates, and was later accepted as the nickname.
Other names
The Rough Rider State
The Flickertail State
Ohio
The Buckeye State
Ohio's nickname, The Buckeye State comes from the large number of buckeye trees which once
covered the hills and plains across the state. The name itself is derived from a native American word
which named the nut of the tree owing to its resemblance to a buck's eye.
Other names
The Birthplace of Aviation
Mother of Modern Presidents

Oklahoma
The Sooner State
Oklahoma's nickname, The Sooner State, is a reference to the non-Native settlers who staked their
claims on the choicest pieces of land prior to the official opening date. It also refers to the Indian
Appropriations Act of 1889, which opened the door for white settlement in America's Indian
Territory.
Other names
Oregon
The Beaver State

Oregon was once a hot spot for hunting beavers for their pelts-the trapping route came to be known
as The Oregon Trail. Additionally, the beaver is Oregon's official state animal, and is also pictured on
their flag.
Other names
Pennsylvania
The Keystone State
Pennsylvania was a part of the original 13 colonies and held a key position in the economic, social,
and political development of the United States. Also, a reference to the term can be found in the
state song of Pennsylvania.
Other names
The Quaker State
The Liberty Bell State
Rhode Island
The Ocean State
Rhode Island is certainly not an island, but it does have a gorgeous coast, lining the Atlantic Ocean.
The nickname certainly seems justified now.
Other names
South Carolina
The Palmetto State
South Carolina's nickname, The Palmetto State is derived from the official state tree, the sabal or
cabbage palmetto.
Other names
South Dakota
The Mount Rushmore State
South Dakota's nickname does not need an explanation, but we're providing a piece of trivia instead.
The state's current nickname was officially adopted in 1980, in place of the former nickname of 'The
Sunshine State'.
Other names
The Coyote State
The Sunshine State

Tennessee
The Volunteer State
Tennessee's nickname, The Volunteer State was earned during the War of 1812, when thousands of
volunteer soldiers from Tennessee played a prominent role, particularly in the Battle of New
Orleans.
Other names
The Big Bend State
The Hog and Hominy State
The Mother of Southwestern Statesmen
The Butternut State
Texas
The Lone Star State
The nickname 'The Lone Star State' originates from the star on the 1836 flag of the Republic of
Texas. The rather famous Lone Star is also found on the Texas flag, the great seal, the state's
commemorative quarter.
Other names
Utah
The Beehive Star State
The nickname for Utah is The Beehive State, referring to the beehive which appears on Utah's flag
and state seal. The state insect is http://www.hotels-rates.com/Grand_Island/NE/usa/ the honeybee,
and recognizes the beehive cluster as the state's astronomical symbol.
Other names
The Friendly State
The Mormon State
Vermont
The Green Mountain State
Vermont's nickname, The Green Mountain State is derived from the mountain range of the same
name which runs in the state.
Other names

Virginia
Old Dominion
The moniker was given by King Charles II in recognition of Virginia's loyalty to the Crown,
particularly during the English Civil War. It is also called the "Mother of Presidents" because it is the
birthplace of 8 U.S. Presidents.
Other names
Washington
The Evergreen State
The state's nickname "Evergreen" was proposed in 1890 by Charles T. Conover from Seattle. The
name proved popular as the forests were full of evergreen trees, with the abundance of rain keeping
it green throughout the year.
Other names
West Virginia
The Mountain State
The Appalachian Mountains run through the state of West Virginia, and the state's nickname is
derived from them.
Other names
Wisconsin
The Badger State
The badger is Wisconsin's state animal, and also features on the state flag.
Other names
America's Dairyland
The Cheese State
Wyoming
The Equality State
Wyoming's nickname is derived from the state motto, "Equal Rights". It is also known as The Cowboy
State.
Other names
Despite being informal in nature, these nicknames have made their way into our everyday

vocabulary. In some cases, learning about their origins also teaches us something significant about
the state's history.
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