Every State's Nickname—And Where It Comes From

State Nicknames

Ever wonder why Missouri is the "Show-Me State"? Do you know "The Badger State" doesn't mean what you think? Find out all the state nicknames and the stories behind them.

Alabama

"The Yellowhammer State"

Because the Yellowhammer is the official state bird. Other nicknames: "The Heart of Dixie."

Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Alaska

"The Last Frontier"

Because it was one of the last states to join America. Other nicknames: "Land of the Midnight Sun," "The North Star State."

Ingo70, Shutterstock

Arizona

"The Grand Canyon State"

Because it's home to the Grand Canyon. Other nicknames: "The Apache State," "The Copper State."

Grand Canyon National Park's Photostream, Flickr

Arkansas

"The Natural State"

Because of its natural beauty and resources. Other nicknames: "The Land of Opportunity," "The Wonder State."

Nicolas Henderson, Flickr

California

"The Golden State"

Because of the California gold rush as well as the Golden Gate Bridge. Other nicknames: "The Grape State," "The Land of Milk and Honey."

brock brannen, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons

Colorado

"The Centennial State"

Because Colorado became part of the US 100 years after the Declaration of Independence. Other nicknames: "The Columbine State," "The Rocky Mountain State."

Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Connecticut

"The Constitution State"

Because some of the very first laws were passed in Connecticut. Other nicknames: "The Arsenal of the Nation," "The Nutmeg State."

Jimmy Emerson, DVM, Flickr

Delaware

"The First State"

Because Delaware was the first state to sign the Constitution. Other nicknames: "The Diamond State," "The Spud State."

Howard Chandler Christy, Wikimedia Commons

Florida

"The Sunshine State"

Because it's so sunny! Other nicknames: "The Everglade State," "The Orange State."

Timothy Wildey. Flickr

Georgia

"The Peach State"

Because its peaches really are that good. Other nicknames: "The Empire State of the South."

cottonbro studio, Pexels

Hawaii

"The Aloha State"

Because "Aloha" is "Hello" in Hawaiian. Other nicknames: "The Pineapple State," "The Rainbow State."

Maridav, Shutterstock

Idaho

"The Gem State"

Because the name "Idaho" is a Shoshone Native American word that means "Gem of the Mountains." 

Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Illinois

"The Prairie State"

Because of its abundance of prairies. Other nicknames: "The Land of Lincoln," "The Rainy State."

Chris, Flickr

Indiana

"The Hoosier State"

Because of the John Finley poem "The Hoosier's Nest." Other nicknames: "The Hospitality State."

Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Iowa

"The Hawkeye State"

Because Chief Black Hawk had to move to what is now Iowa, and they named it in honor of him. 

George Catlin, Wikimedia Commons

Kansas

"The Sunflower State"

Because sunflowers grow there aplenty. Other nicknames: "The Jayhawk State," "The Wheat State."

Tom Fisk, Pexels

Kentucky

"The Bluegrass State"

Because the Kentucky grasslands have grass with blue-tipped flowers. 

Matt Lavin, Flickr

Louisiana

"The Pelican State"

Because Louisiana is home to a lot of pelicans. Other nicknames: "The Child of the Mississippi," "The Bayou State."

Zak Cole, Flickr

Maine

"The Pine Tree State"

Because of Maine's beautiful white pine trees. Other nicknames: "Vacationland."

smilla4, Flickr

Maryland

"The Old Line State"

Because during the Revolutionary War, Maryland men fought as the Maryland Line military. Other nicknames: "The Cockade State," "The Free State."

Maryland National Guard, Flickr

Massachusetts

"The Bay State"

Because of Cape Cod Bay and the old governing body, the Massachusetts Bay Company. Other nicknames: "The Colony State," "The Spirit of America."

NASA Johnson, Flickr

Michigan

"The Wolverine State"

Because wolverines often make their home in Michigan. Other nicknames: "The Mitten State," "The Winter Water Wonderland."

Magnus Johansson, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Minnesota

"The North Star State"

Because its state motto translates to "The Star of the North." Other nicknames: "The Gopher State," "The State of Hockey."

Lorie Shaull, Flickr

Mississippi

"The Magnolia State"

Because of its breathtaking magnolia trees. Other nicknames: "The Hospitality State," "The Mudcat State."

Julie from Wexford, Flickr

Missouri

"The Show-Me State"

Reportedly because Missouri congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver was attending a black-tie affair over in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania when he quipped, "frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I’m from Missouri. You have to show me." Other nicknames: "The Bullion State," "The Cave State."

The State Historical Society of Missouri, Wikimedia Commons

Montana

"The Treasure State"

Because of its abundant mineral resources. Other nicknames: "Big Sky Country," "The Last Best Place."

James St. John, Flickr

Nebraska

"The Cornhusker State"

Because cornhusking, a practice of growing corn competitively, happens all over Nebraska. Other nicknames: "The Beef State."

Eastman Johnson, Wikimedia Commons

Nevada

"The Silver State"

Because silver is one of its biggest natural resources. Other nicknames: "The Battle-Born State," "The Sagebrush State."

Jasperdo, Flickr

New Hampshire

"The Granite State"

Because it is teeming with granite. Other nicknames: "The Mother of Rivers," "The White Mountain State."

Doc Searls, Flickr

New Jersey

"The Garden State"

Because of an 1876 speech where Abraham Browning called it "The Garden State."

Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

New Mexico

"The Land of Enchantment"

Because of a phrase in a Lilian Whiting book. 

Pom', CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

New York

"The Empire State"

Because George Washington called it the "Seat of the Empire" in 1785. 

Gilbert Stuart, Wikimedia Commons

North Carolina

"The Tar Heel State"

Because of the state's roots in turpentine production. Other nicknames: "The Turpentine State," "The Old North State."

C. W. Yates & Co, Wikimedia Commons

North Dakota

"The Peace Garden State"

Because it houses the International Peace Garden on the border of the US and Canada. Other nicknames: "The Flickertail State," "The Sioux State."

Ken Lund, Flickr

Ohio

"The Buckeye State"

Because of the buckeye trees that were in the area when the territory was first colonized. Other nicknames: "The Mother of Modern Presidents."

James St. John, Flickr

Oklahoma 

"The Sooner State"

Because the Oklahoma territories were initially settled through "land runs," or (literally) land claims races. A pistol shot started these races, and those who "jumped the gun" were known as "Sooners." Other nicknames: "Cowboy Country."

Chris 73, Wikimedia Commons

Oregon

"The Beaver State"

Because beaver fur used to be incredibly popular, and much of it came from Oregon. Other nicknames: "The Union State."

Ralston Dan H, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wikimedia Commons

Pennsylvania

"The Keystone State"

Because of its crucial role in founding the United States. Other nicknames: "The Independence State," "The Quaker State."

Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Rhode Island

"The Ocean State"

Because of its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Other nicknames: "Little Rhody."

Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

South Carolina

"The Palmetto State"

Because of its sabal palmetto trees.

James St. John, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

South Dakota

"The Mount Rushmore State"

Because it houses the famous Mount Rushmore. Other nicknames: "The Coyote State."

The White House, Wikimedia Commons

Tennessee 

"The Volunteer State"

Because in the War of 1812, a huge number of volunteer fighters came from the state. Other nicknames: "The Butternut State."

Don Gunn, Flickr

Texas

"The Lone Star State"

Because of the "lone star" flag, which was adopted after Texas won independence from Mexico. 

Carol M Highsmith, Rawpixel

Utah

"The Beehive State"

Because beehives represent industry and hard work. Other nicknames: "The Deseret."

vxla, Flickr

Vermont

"The Green Mountain State"

Because of the "Monts Verts" (French for "Green Mountains") that run through the state. 

Diana Robinson, Flickr

Virginia

"The Old Dominion"

Because of Virginia's loyalty to the King in the English Civil War. Other nicknames: "The Mother of Presidents."

Ron Cogswell, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Washington

"The Evergreen State"

Because of its evergreen forests. Other nicknames: "The State of Love and Trust."

Jonathan Connolly, Flickr

West Virginia

"The Mountain State"

Because of its mountains. Other nicknames: "The Panhandle State."

Forest Wander, Flickr

Wisconsin 

"The Badger State"

Not because of the animal, but because the miners who came to find their fortunes there in the 1820s had to "live like badgers" in tunnels inside the hills to survive the winter. Other nicknames: "America's Dairyland," "The Cheese State."

Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Wyoming

"The Equality State"

Because it was the first state to grant women the right to vote. Other nicknames: "The Cowboy State," "The Park State."

1025wil, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Sources:  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15