How Every State Got Its Nickname

Alabama: The Heart of Dixie

Although Alabama doesn’t have an official nickname, the nickname that’s most commonly used is “Heart of Dixie,” according to the Alabama state archives. Others include the Cotton State, originating in the 1860s due to the state’s cotton production, as well as the Yellowhammer State, after the state bird. “Heart of Dixie” has appeared on state automobile license plates since the 1950s, although in 2002, the phrase “Stars Fell on Alabama,” which refers to a famous meteor shower over Alabama in 1833, also found its way onto license plates.

Alaska: The Last Frontier

Because of its great abundance of unsettled land, Alaska earned the nickname “The Last Frontier.” Its official state motto, according to Alaska’s official website, is “North to the Future,” while the name Alaska itself derives from the Aleut word aleyska, meaning “great land.”

Arizona: The Grand Canyon State

There’s really no explanation needed as to how Arizona got its nickname; it’s proud—and rightly so—of being home to most of the Grand Canyon, according to Arizona’s state library. Grand Canyon National Park is one of our nation’s very first national parks. Grand Canyon National Park encompasses more than 1.2 million acres, with the canyon itself covering 277 miles. If those numbers don’t impress you, these will: The canyon’s widest point is 18 miles long, while its deepest point is 6,000 feet.

Arkansas: The Natural State

“The Natural State” was officially adopted as the Arkansas state nickname by the state legislature in 1995 after lobbying by the Arkansas Parks System (which consists of three national forests, five national parks and 52 state parks). The nickname replaced the former “Land of Opportunity.” Other former unofficial Arkansas state nicknames include “The Wonder State,” “The Bear State” and “The Toothpick State.”

California: The Golden State

California has officially been known as “The Golden State” since 1968, according to the California Senate’s website. The name refers to the fact that “California’s development and remarkable prosperity began with the discovery of gold” and the California Gold Rush that began in 1848. In fact, “Eureka”—Greek for “I have found it!” and supposedly said by the ancient Greek scientist Archimedes when he was measuring the specific gravity of gold—has been the official state motto since 1963.

Colorado: The Centennial State

Although some Spanish speakers dispute this, the name Colorado “has its origin in the Spanish language, as the word for ‘colored red,‘” according to Colorado’s state government, which chose the name in 1861 when Colorado became a territory. Its nickname became “The Centennial State” because the territory became a state in our nation’s Centennial Year (1876), 100 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Connecticut: The Constitution State

Connecticut was designated the Constitution State by the General Assembly in 1959, according to the Connecticut State Library. According to the library’s website, “as early as the 19th Century, John Fiske, a popular historian from Connecticut, made the claim that the Fundamental Orders of 1638/1639 were the first written constitution in history.”

Connecticut also has a slew of unofficial nicknames—like “The Nutmeg State” (with local lore describing hefty nutmeg sales by early inhabitants), “The Provisions State” (because Connecticut allegedly supplied Continental forces with the most food and cannons during the Revolutionary War) and the “Land of Steady Habits” (because its residents adhered to “strict morals”).

Delaware: The First State

On Dec. 7, 1787, Delaware was the first of the 13 colonies to ratify the U.S. Constitution, and it has been known as “The First State” ever since. But that didn’t become its official nickname until May 23, 2002, following a request by Anabelle O’Malley’s first-grade class at Mt. Pleasant Elementary School in Wilmington. Delaware has a couple of other unofficial nicknames too—”Small Wonder,” referencing the state’s petite size, and “The Diamond State,” allegedly bestowed by Thomas Jefferson because he felt that Delaware was the “jewel” of the Eastern seaboard because of its highly strategic location.

Florida: The Sunshine State

Florida has been known officially as “The Sunshine State” since 1970, when the state legislature adopted the nickname—the state sees an average of 230 to 250 sunny days each year. But it had already been informally referred to as The Sunshine State because of its balmy climate, according to History.com. The site shares that the name Florida itself came from the “Pascual Florida,” or “Feast of Flowers,” a Spanish celebration.

Georgia: The Peach State

Georgia got its name from King George II, who was king of Britain when Europeans first settled in the colony in 1733. The nickname is a reference to Georgia’s abundance of peach trees, and the peach is also the state fruit, so you’ll find any number of Peachtree Streets throughout the state. There’s even a peachtree water tower, included on our list of the strangest roadside attractions in every state.

Hawaii: The Aloha State

Hawaii has been referring to itself as “The Aloha State” since 1959, when the state legislature voted to make that the state’s official nickname. The word aloha means “hello” and “goodbye” and is one of the most commonly used words in the native Hawaiian language. And while the state as a whole has an official nickname, each of the eight islands also has its own nickname—from the Big Island of Hawaii to the Valley Isle of Maui and the Forbidden Isle of Niʻihau.

Idaho: The Gem State

The name Idaho was originally believed to be a Native American Shoshone word for “Gem of the Mountain,” which seemed appropriate because of the land’s vast natural resources, including gemstones like star garnets, opals and jade. In fact, Idaho is home to 72 different types of semi-precious and precious stones—and some of these are only found in Idaho. Although it turned out that Idaho was not a Shoshone word at all, the Idaho state nickname stuck.

Illinois: The Prairie State

Illinois has been known as “The Prairie State” since at least 1842, but in recent years, there’s been a grassroots push to change that to “The Land of Lincoln,” which is the name that appears on “Welcome to Illinois” signs along interstate highways. Critics of the nickname “The Prairie State” argue that prairie doesn’t do much to distinguish Illinois from other states with vast amounts of flat grassy land, including the Dakotas, Nebraska and Kansas.

Indiana: The Hoosier State

This nickname came into general usage in the 1930s, according to the Indiana Historical Bureau, as a result of John Finley’s poem “The Hoosier’s Nest,” which was published in the Indianapolis Journal on New Year’s Day 1833. A few days later, on Jan. 8, 1833, at the Jackson Day dinner at Indianapolis, a prominent Indianian toasted “The Hoosier State of Indiana.” The name stuck—although the original spelling of “Hoosher” did not.

Iowa: The Hawkeye State

The nickname “The Hawkeye State” is believed to have come from the name of a character in the James Fenimore Cooper novel The Last of the Mohicans, published in 1826. Two men who were promoting the state pushed the name into popularity, as the story goes, and the nickname was approved as official in 1838, eight years before Iowa became a state. Because of the state’s vast corn farmland, it’s also occasionally known as “The Corn State.”

Kansas: The Sunflower State

Kansas has a couple of nicknames, but the most popular is “The Sunflower State,” named for the bounty of native sunflowers that grow around the state. The sunflower was also named the official state flower in 1903, according to the Kansas Historical Society.

Other Kansas state nicknames you might hear include “The Jayhawker State,” a reference to the name some Kansas troops may have adopted while at the border during the Civil War, “The Wheat State” and “The Breadbasket of the World,” adopted when Kansas began heavily producing wheat in the early 20th century.

Kentucky: The Bluegrass State

When settlers arrived in Kentucky, they were greeted by field after field of tall grass with a blue hue. They called it bluegrass, although when it’s cut short (or sheared off from animals feeding on it) it doesn’t look blue at all. Still, the early pioneers sold the seeds as “bluegrass from Kentucky,” and over time, the state came to be known as “The Bluegrass State.”

Louisiana: The Pelican State

Louisiana is particularly fond of its brown pelicans, which are unique to the state. The brown pelican can only be found along ocean shores—not lakes—and it is also the only type of pelican that dives from the air into the water to feed. Not only is the bird on the state flag and seal (shown as a mom with three chicks in a nest), it’s the reason for the Louisiana state nickname. The pelican also appears as one of three Louisiana symbols on the bicentennial quarter from the U.S. Mint.

Maine: The Pine Tree State

Maine’s official tree is the white pine, its state flower is the white pine cone and its official nickname is “The Pine Tree State,” according to Maine’s state government. With 17 million acres of forests in the state, trees—pine trees, in particular—figure heavily into Maine’s cultural identity. Another popular Maine nickname? Vacationland, because of the droves of tourists who routinely flock to the state to enjoy its beauty and nature.

Maryland: The Old Line State

According to the Maryland government, the nickname “The Old Line State” was bestowed by then-General George Washington for its courageous line troops who served in the Revolutionary War. The term “line troops” refers to Maryland’s regular uniformed soldiers; in this case, “Old Line” specifically refers to the very first soldiers who took up arms in Maryland during the Revolutionary War. Maryland is sometimes also known as “The Free State,” which refers to its having abolished slavery on Nov. 1, 1864, via its state constitution.

Massachusetts: The Bay State

The winding coast of Massachusetts and its five bays, including the Massachusetts Bay, Quincy Bay, Narragansett Bay, Buzzards Bay and Cape Cod Bay, gave rise to Massachusetts’s nickname, “The Bay State,” according to Britannica. “Bay” was even part of its original name, when in 1629, colonists developing the area dubbed it the “Massachusetts Bay Colony.” The “Bay Colony” part of the state’s name was dropped in 1788 with the passage of the constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Michigan: The Wolverine State

The most popular origin story for this traditional Michigan state nickname is that during the 1835 Toledo War between Michigan and Ohio, Ohioans called Michiganians “wolverines” because they fought with such stubbornness, which wolverines are known for. It also helps to reinforce the nickname that the University of Michigan adopted the wolverine as its mascot. But today, the state is more commonly referred to as “The Great Lakes State,” since it borders four of the five Great Lakes—with Lake Ontario being the only one the state doesn’t touch.

Minnesota: The Land of 10,000 Lakes

Although the state is nicknamed “The Land of 10,000 Lakes,” it actually has 11,842, according to Explore Minnesota. We guess 10,000 was easier to remember! Many of these lakes were created when depressions in the earth were filled in after four glacial systems melted. Minnesota’s state motto is “L’etoile du nord,” which is French for “North Star,” another nickname of the state.

Mississippi: The Magnolia State

The magnolia was voted the state’s favorite flower and tree by schoolchildren in 1900 and 1935, respectively (both votes were later made official by the state’s legislature). It’s no surprise that the fragrant flower also gave rise to the state’s nickname. You’ll find the magnolia flower on the state flag and government materials. Mississippi has one other nickname too—”The Hospitality State.”

Missouri: The Show Me State

Missouri’s nickname, “The Show Me State,” is not official, but it’s in wide use and has a colorful origin story: At a 1899 naval banquet in Philadelphia, Missouri Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver stated, “frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have got to show me.” Even with other competing origin stories, the nickname has stuck and today refers to the “stalwart, conservative, noncredulous character of Missourians.”

Montana: The Treasure State

Montana’s nickname, “The Treasure State,” refers to its rich mineral reserves, and specifically, its gold and silver mines, according to History.com. In fact, its state motto is “Oro y Plata” (Spanish for “gold and silver”). There was a gold mining boom beginning in the late 19th century that eventually led to mining silver, coal, copper and more. But as these minerals were mined and became more scarce, the towns that had been built up around mining areas were abandoned, leading to several ghost towns.

Nebraska: The Cornhusker State

Corn is a major crop in Nebraska, and the University of Nebraska athletic teams have been known as the “Cornhuskers” since sportswriter Charles Sumner Sherman popularized the phrase in 1899. In tribute to both, Nebraska adopted “The Cornhusker State” as its official nickname in 1945.

Nevada: The Silver State

Nevada has had a number of state nicknames along with “The Silver State,” including “The Sagebrush State” and “The Battle-Born State,” but “The Silver State” is the one that appears on Nevada license plates. The nickname derives from Nevada’s large silver mine industry, which dates back to the mid-1800s, when you could literally shovel silver off the ground. At the time, the state was still part of what was then the Utah Territory.

New Hampshire: The Granite State

New Hampshire has four state nicknames, according to the state government, but “The Granite State,” a reference to its large quantities of the stone, is the one by which it’s most commonly known. Granite is also the state rock—throughout the 19th century, mining and cutting granite was a main source of industry for the state. The other New Hampshire state nicknames are:

• “Mother of Rivers,” for the rivers of New England that originate in the New Hampshire mountains
• “White Mountain State,” for New Hampshire’s White Mountains
• “Switzerland of America,” for its beautiful alpine scenery

New Jersey: The Garden State

“While most people associate agriculture with our nation’s heartland, New Jersey is home to more than 9,071 farms covering 715,057 acres of farmland,” according to the state’s government. The state is one of the biggest growers of blueberries, cranberries, spinach, bell peppers and peaches in the country. The nickname “The Garden State” came from a speech by Abraham Browning in 1876 and was made official in 1954 by an act of the state legislature.

New Mexico: The Land of Enchantment

This nickname, which refers to New Mexico’s almost “magical” beauty and is the title of a book by Lilian Whiting, is one of many nicknames New Mexico tried out before settling on its official choice in 1999. Previous state nicknames included “The Land of the Heart’s Desire,” “The Land Without Law,” “The Science State,” “The Space State,” “The Atomic State” and many more, according to NewMexi.co. New Mexico even tried to market itself as “The Sunshine State,” but Florida beat them to the punch and officially took the name for itself in 1934.

New York: The Empire State

New York has been known as “The Empire State” for so long that the origins of the nickname aren’t certain. Many might assume the nickname came from the Empire State Building, but the nickname came first. The New York Historical Society attributes it to George Washington, who, in a 1785 letter to the New York Common Council, praised New York’s resilience in the Revolutionary War and described New York as “the Seat of the Empire.”

North Carolina: The Tar Heel State

While the term’s exact origins are debated, what is agreed upon is that North Carolina was the largest producer of naval stores—including tar, pitch, rosin and turpentine—from 1720 to 1870. One theory about the nickname itself is that Confederate General Robert E. Lee coined the phrase “the Tar Heel Boys” when he overheard a North Carolinian soldier, responding to being called a Tar Heel in a derogatory way, say that if another state’s soldiers had some sticky tar on their heels, they might not have needed to come back to battle.

North Dakota: The Peace Garden State

The International Peace Garden straddles the boundary between North Dakota and the Canadian province of Manitoba. In 1956, the North Dakota Motor Vehicle Department placed the words “Peace Garden State” on license plates, and it proved so popular that the North Dakota legislature adopted it as the official nickname a year later. It’s also unofficially known as “The Flickertail State” and “The Roughrider State.”

Ohio: The Buckeye State

Ohio’s nickname, “The Buckeye State,” comes from all the Ohio buckeye trees within the state’s borders, according to the Ohio History Connection. Ohioans have been referring to themselves as Buckeyes at least since the presidential election of 1840, which state resident William Henry Harrison won. Harrison’s supporters carved campaign souvenirs out of buckeye wood to illustrate their support for their native son. (Sadly, Harrison died from pneumonia just 31 days into his presidency.) In 1953, the Ohio legislature designated the Aesculus glabra, or the Ohio buckeye, as Ohio’s official state tree.

Oklahoma: The Sooner State

In 1889, when the “Indian Territory,” of which Oklahoma was a part, was opened to settlers, thousands lined up and raced into the territory to claim their land. But some snuck into the land that’s now Oklahoma before the designated start time; these early squatters were known as Sooners. The word that came to symbolize “an energetic, can-do spirit, soon was embraced as a nickname for the entire state,” according to History.com.

Oregon: The Beaver State

The beaver trade was a hefty source of industry in Oregon territory in the mid-1800s, giving rise to the unofficial Oregon state nickname of the Beaver State. Beaver fur was prized in the 19th century, with nearly 30,000 beaver pelts being exported to Europe during the height of the craze. Today, you can find the beaver on the reverse side of the Oregon state flag.

Pennsylvania: The Keystone State

Like a keystone in an arch that provides support for the pieces around it, Pennsylvania supports its neighbors, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. When Pennsylvania was part of the original 13 colonies, its centralized location helped play a key role in keeping the newly formed United States together. The first and second Continental Congress were held in—you guessed it—Pennsylvania, and the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia.

Rhode Island: The Ocean State

Rhode Island is just 37 miles wide and 48 miles long, but it has 400 miles of ocean coastline, prompting the official nickname of the Ocean State. The name was also a way for the state to promote tourism to its beaches and coastline. Beautiful mansions line the coastline in Newport, most of them built during the Gilded Age and belonging to families like the Rockefellers and the Vanderbilts.

South Carolina: The Palmetto State

South Carolina has good reason to honor the palmetto tree: During the colonists’ conflicts with the British in 1775, it is said that British cannonballs “bounced off” the colonists’ fort that was made of palmetto logs, according to Britannica. Because the palmetto logs absorbed the impact of the cannons and would not break, the fort did not fall to the British. Native to the southeast region of South Carolina, the palmetto tree is found in the coastal plains and maritime forests. In addition to being the state’s nickname, the palmetto tree is South Carolina’s official tree and appears prominently on its flag.

South Dakota: The Mount Rushmore State

When you think about South Dakota, the first thing that likely comes to mind is Mount Rushmore, the monument to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. The iconic sculpture inspired the state’s nickname, which was made official in 1992. Mount Rushmore was created by sculptor Gutzon Borglum, who took 14 years to complete the massive mountain monument.

Tennessee: The Volunteer State

Tennessee’s state nickname, “The Volunteer State,” is a tribute to its volunteer soldiers. It dates back to the War of 1812, when volunteer soldiers from Tennessee displayed great valor in the Battle of New Orleans. Later, during the Mexican-American War in the late 1840s, 30,000 Tennesseeans showed up to fight when the government had put out a call for 2,600.

Texas: The Lone Star State

There are several theories about how Texas came to be “The Lone Star State,” but one thing is certain: By 1839, Texas’s state flag depicted a lone star. According to the Bullock Museum, the Lone Star flag was adopted after Texas won independence from Mexico in 1836—Texas was an independent republic for 10 years before it joined the United States. The Texas state nickname honors its Lone Star flag.  The flag’s colors—blood red, azure blue and white—represent bravery, loyalty and purity, according to the Texas State Historical Association.

Utah: The Beehive State

The beehive is an important symbol in Utah, which is known as “The Beehive State” after its official state emblem, the beehive. Salt Lake Magazine notes that this has nothing to do with actual bees and everything to do with ancient symbolism and the Bible, which refers to “the promised land” as “the land of milk and honey.” Beehives are also a symbol of industry and hard work, according to Britannica, something that is very much rooted in the culture of Utah.

Vermont: The Green Mountain State

Vermont’s nickname, “The Green Mountain State,” refers to the mountains that gave the state its name: the Verd Mont (which translates to “Green Mountain”), which is what the first French settlers in the early 1600s called the area’s mountains. Vermont’s Green Mountain range is part of the Appalachian Mountains. The portion that runs through Vermont extends for 250 miles north to south, through the center of the state.

Virginia: The Old Dominion State

Like New York, Virginia has such a long history of being referred to by its nickname that it’s not completely clear how the name arose. Encyclopedia Virginia offers several compelling theories but notes that the one that’s probably most accurate is that Virginia was the first and therefore the oldest of the overseas dominions of the rulers of England. The nickname, likely the oldest state nickname on this list, has been in use since the early 1600s, when the Latin phrase “En Dat Virginia Quintam” (referring to Virginia being within the English Crown’s domain) appeared on the colony’s seal.

Washington: The Evergreen State

Washington, the only state named for a U.S. president, was given this nickname by C.T. Conover, a pioneer Seattle realtor and historian, “for its abundant evergreen forests,” according to the state government. While the nickname has yet to be officially adopted, legislation was introduced in the state senate in 2023 to make the moniker official. It passed, but the bill still needs to pass the House and go to the governor’s desk before it becomes the official state nickname of Washington.

West Virginia: The Mountain State

West Virginia’s nickname, “The Mountain State,” refers to the Appalachian Mountains, which extend throughout the eastern portion of the state. In fact, West Virginia is the only state entirely within the Appalachian Mountain range—the terrain of the state is mostly mountainous, with 1,679 named mountains. Its motto, “Montani Semper Liberi,” means “Mountaineers Are Always Free.”

Wisconsin: America’s Dairyland, or The Badger State

Although Wisconsin has long been known as “The Badger State” (after the animal), a Senate bill to make the name official failed to pass in 1996. The Badger State moniker, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society, comes from Wisconsin’s early mining days and brutal winters. During the harsh winter season, early miners would actually just stay in their mines and tough it out—not unlike badgers who live underground in their burrows. But there are many who think of Wisconsin as “America’s Dairyland,” the name Wisconsin dairy farmers prefer. The state still produces the most cheese in the country, and if you’re in Wisconsin in early August, you can stop by the state fair for authentic Wisconsin Dairyland Cream Puffs.

Wyoming: The Equality State

Wyoming has several state nicknames, according to its state government: “Big Wyoming,” “The Cowboy State” and “The Equality State.” The first two are self-explanatory—Wyoming is a big, sparsely populated state with a large ranching industry. The third is because Wyoming was the first state in the country to give women the right to vote, serve on juries and hold public office.

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