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]	Cotton Plantation State[2] Cotton State[3] Heart of Dixie (used on license plates)[3][4][5] Lizard State[2] Yellowhammer State[3]
Alaska	Land of the Midnight Sun[6] Land of the Noonday Moon[6] The Last Frontier (currently used on license plates)[6][7] Seward's Folly (named after U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward)[6] Seward's Ice Box, Icebergia, Polaria, Walrussia, and Johnson's Polar Bear Garden were satirical names coined by members of the U.S. Congress during debate over the Alaska Purchase[6]
Arizona	Apache State[8] Aztec State[8] Baby State (Because Arizona is the newest continental state in the Union)[8] Copper State[8] Grand Canyon State (currently used on license plates)[8][9] Italy of America[8] Sand Hill State[8] Sunset State[8] Sweetheart State (See below)[8] Valentine State (Arizona gained statehood on February 14, 1912)[8]
Arkansas	Bear State[10] Bowie State[10] Hot Springs State[10] Land of Opportunity (former official nickname; previously used on license plates)[10] The Natural State (currently used on license plates)[10][11] Razorback State[10] Toothpick State[10] Wonder State[10]
California	Sunny State El Dorado State[12] The Golden State[13][14] (previously used on license plates)
Colorado	Buffalo Plains State[15] (no longer used) Centennial State[16] (previously used on license plates. Colorado was admitted to the Union one hundred years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.) Colorful Colorado[16] (previously used on license plates) Columbine State[17] Highest State[15] Lead State[15] (no longer used) Mother of Rivers[18] Rocky Mountain Empire[19] (no longer used) Rocky Mountain State[20] (no longer used) Silver State[15] (no longer used; see Nevada) Ski Country USA[21] Switzerland of America[22] (no longer used)
Connecticut	Constitution State (official, currently used on license plates)[23] Nutmeg State[12] Blue Law State[12] Provisions State Freestone State[12] Land of Steady Habits[12]
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] 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	Alligator State[29] Everglade State[29] Flower State[29] Gulf State[29] La Florida Orange State[29] Peninsula State or Peninsular State[26] Sunshine State (currently used on license plates)
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 second largest state, behind New York, 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	Aloha State (officially the "popular" name,[35] currently used on license plates)[36] Paradise The Islands of Aloha Paradise of the Pacific[36] Pineapple State[36] Rainbow State[37] Youngest State[36] 808 State (colloquial, refers to the state's area code.)[38][39]
Idaho	Gem State[40] Gem of the Mountains[41] Little Ida[41] Spud State[42] Potatonia Little Ida[41] (currently used on license plates)
Illinois[43]	Land of Lincoln[44] (currently used on license plates) Prairie State[44] Corn State[44] Inland Empire State Garden of the West[44]
Indiana	Hoosier State[45]
Iowa	Hawkeye State[46] Land of the Rolling Prairie Corn State
Kansas	America's Bread Basket Wheat State (previously used on license plates) Home of Beautiful Women[47] Central State[12] Sunflower State[12]
Kentucky	Bluegrass State (currently used on license plates)[48] Corn-cracker State (reported in 1881)[26] The Dark and Bloody Ground State (an allusion to battles between the Creek, Shawnee, Chickasaw, and Cherokee tribes)[48] Hemp State[48] Tobacco State[48]
Louisiana	Bayou State (previously used on license plates) Child of the Mississippi Creole State[12] Fisherman's Paradise Holland of America Pelican State[12] Sportsman's Paradise (currently used on license plates) Sugar State
Maine	Vacationland (currently used on license plates) Pine Tree State[49] (Co-official with Vacationland) Lumber State[12]
Maryland	America in Miniature[50] Chesapeake State[51] Cockade State[51] Crab State Free State[52] Monumental State[51] Old Line State[51] Oyster State[51] Queen State[51] Terrapin State[53]
Massachusetts	Baked Bean State[54] Codfish State (formerly represented on license plates by a codfish) The Bay State[54] The Commonwealth 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	The Great Lakes State (previously used on license plates) Winter Water Wonderland (previously used on license plates) the Wolverine State[61] The World's Motor Capital Mitten State America's High Five
Minnesota	Butter Country Gopher State[12] Land of 10,000 Lakes ("10,000 Lakes" currently used on license plates) Land of Lakes Land of Sky-Blue Waters New England of the West[12] North Star State State of Hockey[62] Vikings State Bread and Butter State[12]
Mississippi	Hospitality State (previously used on license plates) Magnolia State The South's Warmest Welcome The Birthplace of America's Music (currently being used on license plates) The Bayou State[12]
Missouri	Bullion State[12] Cave State Gateway State Bellwether State Lead State The Great Rivers State The State of Misery (colloquial) Ozark State Puke State[63] Show-Me State (currently used on license plates)
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] Tree Planter's State Bugeating State[66] Blackwater State[12] The Good Life (as seen on state border signs)
Nevada	Battle Born State (refers to the fact that Nevada joined the Union during the Civil War) Sagebrush State Silver State (currently used on license plates)
New Hampshire	Granite State[67] The Live Free or Die State (official motto) Mother of Rivers[67] White Mountain State[67]
New Jersey	Garden State (currently used on license plates) The Crossroads of the Revolution (previously used on license plates) The Tomato State
New Mexico	Cactus State[68] The Colorful State Land of Enchantment[69] (currently used on license plates) Land of Sunshine (predates "Land of Enchantment"; this earlier nickname highlighted the large percentage of sunshine received statewide)[68] New Andalusia[68] The Outer Space State The Spanish State
New York	Empire State (currently used on license plates)[12] Excelsior State[12]
North Carolina	Old North State[70] Tar Heel State[70] Turpentine State[71] Variety Vacationland[72] Rip Van Winkle State Land of the Sky First in Flight State (currently used on license plates)
North Dakota	Flickertail State Peace Garden State (currently used on license plates) Rough Rider State Sioux State
Ohio	Buckeye State[26] Birthplace of Aviation[73] (currently used on license plates) Mother of Modern Presidents The Heart Of It All[74] (formerly used on license plates)
Oklahoma	Native America (currently used on license plates) Land of the Red Man Sooner State[75]
Oregon	Beaver State Union State Pacific Wonderland (previously used on license plates and currently available on an extra cost plate)[76] Sunset State Webfoot State[12]
Pennsylvania	Liberty Bell State Independence State Keystone State (previously used on license plates)[26] Quaker State Toll Booth State[77]
Puerto Rico	Isla del Encanto ("Island of Enchantment") (currently used on license plates) Borinquen (name given by indigenous people, the Tainos)[78] The Shining Star of the Caribbean Progress Island[79]
Rhode Island	Little Rhody[26] Ocean State (currently used on license plates)
South Carolina	Palmetto State[26] Sandlapper State Iodine Products State (no longer used)[80] (previously used on license plates)
South Dakota	Artesian State[81] Blizzard State[81] Coyote State[81] Land of Infinite Variety The Mount Rushmore State[82] (officially adopted in 1980 in place of the former nickname of Sunshine State)[81] Sunshine State[81]
Tennessee	Big Bend State (refers to the Tennessee River)[83] Butternut State (refers to the tan color of the uniforms worn by Tennessee soldiers in the American Civil War)[83] Hog and Hominy State[83] The Mother of Southwestern Statesmen[83] Volunteer State[83] (currently used on license plates)
Texas	Friendship State[84] Lone Star State[26][84] (currently used on license plates) Chili State
Utah	Beehive State Mormon State[85] Friendly State (formerly used on license plates)[86]
Vermont	Green Mountain State[26] (currently used on license plates)
Virginia	Mother of Presidents[12] Mother of States[12] The Old Dominion[26] The Commonwealth
Washington	Evergreen State[87] (currently used on license plates) Apple State
West Virginia	Mountain State (previously used on license plates) Almost Heaven Panhandle State[12]
Wisconsin (No official nickname)[88]	Cheese State Badger State[12] America's Dairyland[89][90] (Also on license plates since a 1939 state law)[88] The Copper State (historical)[91][92]
Wyoming	Cowboy State Equality State Park State Like No Place On Earth Forever West (On highway welcome signs)

See also

• List of U.S. state mottos
• List of demonyms for U.S. states
• List of city nicknames in the United States
• List of U.S. nicknames
• List of provincial and territorial nicknames in Canada
• Lists of nicknames – nickname list articles on Wikipedia

References

1. "Emblems Index". State of Alabama. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
2. Introduction to Alabama, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
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. 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. Introduction to Arizona, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
9. Ariz. HB 2549 Officially adopted by Arizona on February 14, 2011
10. Introduction to Arkansas, US States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
11. Arkansas § 1-4-106 - State nickname Retrieved Feb. 28, 2011
12.  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. "Colorado". NetState.com. NState, LLC. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
16. "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. Introduction to Delaware, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
25. "Jewel among the states (Quotation)". Monticello.ORG. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
26. Barry Popik, Smoky City, barrypopik.com website, March 27, 2005
27. Delaware Code Title 29 Section 318 retrieved on February 28, 2011
28. Farhi, Paul. (2010, July 30). After initial obscurity, 'The DMV' nickname for Washington area picks up speed. Washington Post. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
29. 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. Retrieved 2008-03-03. External link in |publisher= (help)
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. 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. Introduction to Idaho, 50 States.
42. "SuperPages: Idaho History". Retrieved 2008-03-21.
43. "Illinois". Illinois State Symbols & Emblems. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
44. 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. 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. "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. 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. "New Hampshire Almanac >Fast New Hampshire Facts". State of New Hampshire official website. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
68. New Mexico Symbols, State Names, SHG Resources website, accessed July 7, 2008
69. New Mexico Revised Statutes, Sec. 12-3-4-N, retrieved Nov. 4, 2013
70. Introduction to North Carolina, 50 States, retrieved February 28, 2011.
71. "Why We are Called Tar Heels". UNC Libraries. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
72. Variety Vacationland Postcard Exhibit Retrieved February 28, 2011.
73. "It's official: Ohio IS the birthplace of aviation". The Cincinnati Enquirer. 2003-06-14. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
74. Elkins, Keith A. (2011). Mr. E. 2003: Manifest Lessons from Ohio's Bicentennial Celebration. iUniverse. p. 293.
75. "Nicknames: America's 50 States (Fourth of Four Parts)". Voice of America (VOA Special English program). 2008-01-26. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
76. "Oregon's license plate from 1960 to circa 1966". Plate Shack. Retrieved 2007-07-12.
77. "Turnpikes and Toll Roads in Nineteenth Century America". Retrieved 8 November 2012.
78. "98.03.04: The Taínos of Puerto Rico: Rediscovering Borinquen". Yale.edu. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
79. Progress Island U.S.A.
80. "Iodine". South Carolina Encyclopedia. 2007-04-14. Archived from the original on May 19, 2006. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
81. South Dakota Symbols, State Names, SHG Resources website, accessed July 7, 2008
82. "South Dakota Laws 1-6-16.5". Retrieved November 4, 2013.
83. Tennessee Symbols and Honors, in Tennessee Blue Book
84. "Texas:Facts, Map, and State Symbols". EnchantedLearing.com. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
85. "NetState: Utah". Retrieved 2008-03-24.
86. "State it on a plate — Over the years, slogans, designs have taken some poetic license". Deseret News.
87. "Symbols of Washington State". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
88. "Wisconsin State Symbols" in Wisconsin Blue Book 2005-2006, p. 966. Wisconsin has no Official nickname.
89. Dornfeld, Margaret; Hantula, Richard (2010). Wisconsin: It's my state!. Marshall Cavendish. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-60870-062-2.
90. Urdang, Laurence (1988). Names and Nicknames of Places and Things. Penguin Group USA,. p. 8. ISBN 9780452009073. "America's Dairyland" A nickname of Wisconsin
91. 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 ...
92. 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.

External links

• Information about U.S. State Nicknames