Why Is Texas Called the Beef State

Page update:
25-Jan-2007
� 1996-2009
Mike Todd

Every US state has a nickname (or ii, or more), but not all American states accept official nicknames. Past "official" I hateful a nickname that has been formally adopted as a "state symbol" by the state'southward legislature, rather than ane that is simply in mutual apply. However, a number of states have officially added a nickname to their licence plates (either every bit an option, or every bit an obligation nether the legislation) even though the nickname is non recognised separately as a "state symbol".

The table shows all those that I've been able to research. I haven't included slogans or land mottos (which sometimes get mixed up with nicknames), and it'south important to note that some nicknames were never widely adopted, having sometimes simply appeared in one or two places.

I take used numerous reference sources for this research, although I don't include them individually here as this page is already rather long. Autonomously from various Almanacs, directories, dictionaries and official Web sites, my main reference source has been H.L. Mencken'due south The American Linguistic communication. Not surprisingly there are often conflicts between sources when it comes to details, and I've tried to express this in the text.

Where possible I've tried to specifically identify whether a land has a nickname which is officially recognised as such by the state's legislature. When I've been able to practice so, the details appear alongside the country'south name (with the engagement it was adopted). No nickname alongside the land's name, means that so far I've been unable to observe any formal confirmation either fashion.

Alabama (no official nickname)
	Alabama has a central position within the cotton wool-growing area east of the Mississippi, which has led it to be known as the Cotton State (1844) or the Cotton Plantation State . However, this term was besides applied to all the states of the area equally a grouping. In that location were too many variations quoted, such as Cottondom (first seen in 1856), Cotton Chugalug (1871), Cotton wool Country (1871), and even Cottonia (1862). The first Alabamians were sometimes known as "lizards", which gave the state its earlier nickname of Lizard Land dorsum in 1845. In more recent times the state has been known as the Yellowhammer Land , from Ceremonious War days, and many people believe that it derives from the species of woodpecker - in reality, it arose from the yellow colour of the home-dyed uniforms that the Alabama troops wore during the Ceremonious War. Occasionally, Alabama also gets the Camelia State . While there is no official nickname for the state, The Heart of Dixie is the most commonly used. It was introduced by the state'due south Chamber of Commerce in the 1940s for publicity purposes, and in 1951 was canonical by the legislature for inclusion on licence plates, although the kickoff of these did not appear until iv years later.
Alaska (no official nickname)
	Alaska has no official nickname although, when it joined the spousal relationship in 1959 a number of suggestions were made. The 49th State is the most obvious, and Great State was as well suggested. It was likewise suggested that information technology be known as the Sourdough Land , every bit well as the North Star State (this proper name also being claimed by Minnesota). It was even at one time referred to as Up Over (in comic opposition to New Zealand and Commonwealth of australia, which are "Down Under"). Diverse facetious nicknames were too applied, including Seward's Ice Box and Seward's Folly, afterwards William Henry Seward who bought Alaska from the Russians in 1867. However, Alaska is more unremarkably (only unofficially) known equally The Last Borderland , or The Land of the Midnight Sun. Alaska licence plates display North to the Futurity
Arizona
	When Arizona was admitted to the union in 1912, it quickly gained the nickname The Baby State , which it held on to until 1959 when Alaska was admitted. However, it was also sometimes known as The Valentine State , based on the fact that information technology was admitted on Valentine'south Twenty-four hours. It'south non surprising that the success of copper mining the state ways that it is occasionally known as the Copper Country. Its connectedness with American Indians gave Arizona the name Apache Country , with other nicknames such as Aztec State , Sand Hill Country , Sunset State and Grand Canyon State existence used at one fourth dimension or another, with the last of these actualization on licence plates..
Arkansas (The Natural State - 1995)
	The earliest known nickname for Arkansas seems to be Bear State , recorded first in 1858, and this is a nickname to which several states have laid claim. Information technology was also sometimes known every bit The Bowie Country and The Toothpick State (both alluding to the Bowie pocketknife, the favourite weapon of the area, and which was sometimes called "a toothpick knife"), and the Hot-water Country (because of the number of hot springs in the expanse). However, the first official nickname for Arkansas came in 1923 when the legislature designated the state every bit The Wonder State . In more than modern times, Arkansas has had the unofficial nickname of The Razorback State , merely was more officialy known every bit The Land of Opportunity for many years. Arkansas licence plates display another nickname ( The Natural State ) which became the state's virtually recent official nickname in 1995.
California (The Gilt Country - 1968)
	California was first known simply every bit The Golden Land , because of the Gold Blitz of 1848. Information technology was also sometimes known as El Dorado and, because of its wine connections, The Grape State . The "Gold" was changed to "Golden" by 1867, and since so the land has been known as The Golden Land , which became the state'due south official nickname in 1968 (appearing also on licence plates). California'due south state flower is the Gilt Poppy, which has led some to assume that it is from this which the state gets its nickname whereas in reality it is much more likely that the country flower was called considering of the "gilt" reference.
Colorado
	Admitted to the union 100 years from the founding of the Union, Colorado quickly became known as The Centennial State . At about the same time, and because of the arable silver mines, it as well laid claim to The Silver Country , but which Nevada disputed its right to as early equally 1871. The minerals of the state also led to, according to some unconfirmed reports, The Lead State . Information technology also tried for Switzerland of America , but iv other states (Maine, New Jersey, New Hampshire and West Virginia) disputed this 1. Information technology so tried for Treasure State , but Montana wanted that. Its high elevation has led to the state occasionally being known as the Mile-loftier State (although that'southward an epithet now reserved for Denver, the "Mile High Urban center") and the Highest State , its cracking beauty produced Colorful Colorado , and the many roaming bison herds led to The Buffalo Plains State . In practice, Colorado remains The Centennial Land, but it is The Mountain State which appears on licence plates.
Connecticut (The Constitution Land - 1959)
	First known as Land of Wooden Nutmegs (later on a scam unremarkably perpetrated there of selling useless nutmegs fabricated of forest), the land quickly became known every bit The Wooden Nutmeg State , and and then just The Nutmeg State . Connecticut has had its fair share of other nicknames. The fact that the first formal constitution written on American soil, dorsum in Hartford, 1639, gave it The Constitution Land , a nickname that was made the state's official nickname in 1959, and which appears on licence plates. It was as well given the Provisions Land and The Blue Law State , from some of its "Blue Laws" in colonial times. In 1843, the only nickname recorded for the state was The Freestone State , and it has besides been known as The Land of Steady Habits .
Delaware (The First Country - 23 May 2002)
	Nobody quite knows where the modern-day Delaware'south Blue Hen State comes from. It was outset recorded in the early 1800s, and may exist an innuendo to a "blue hen chicken", a term meaning a "choleric and fiery person", perchance deriving from the fact that Delaware soldiers took "Blue Hen Cocks" with them equally entertainment in the class of cock fights. In the 16th cenury, the Spanish introduced peaches into the state, and a hundred years later the state was almost overrun with them, leading to the nickname The Peach State (which in turn led the state to adopt the Peach Bloom equally the state flower in 1895). Information technology as well once had the nickname New Sweden , after the name of the original Swedish settlement of "Nye Sverige", founded in 1638. And its pocket-size size gave it the nickname of Uncle Sam's Pocket Handkerchief , or more recently, Modest Wonder. The state also had two other mutual nicknames - The Diamond State (because of its small size) and the semi-official name (as it appears on licence plates), The Kickoff Country (being the first to be admitted to the Union in 1787). In 2002, the land formally adopted The Start State as its official nickname after a group of uncomplicated school children approached the majority leader of the House and asked for help in getting the unofficial nickname made official.
District of Columbia
	Non really a state as such, DC has no official nickname - just is oft called The Nation's Capital (which appears on its licence plates) and America's First City
Florida (The Sunshine Land - 1970)
	At one fourth dimension, dorsum in the 1860s, Florida was known as The Peninsula State , for obvious reasons. Later in the 19th century, it as well became known as The Everglades State . Florida is a large producer of oranges which led the state to be known equally The Orangish Land (and in one reference, The Citrus Country ) , the pregnant of the state's name ("flowery") led to The Flower State and its location on the e of the Gulf of Mexico led to The Gulf State . For many years, Florida appears equally The Sunshine State on its licence plates, but this name was only given official condition in 1970 when it was officially adopted by the legislature. The nickname is besides unofficially claimed by New Mexico and (until 1980) South Dakota.
Georgia (No Official Nickname)
	In 1843, Georgia was listed as The Pino Country , but thirty years later some were calling it The Cracker State . A "cracker" in this context was slang for a low Southern white human, coined in the mid-18th century (although other sources suggest that it may relate to the many teamsters in the country, and be an allusion to the peachy of their whips). Whatever the origin, many Georgians hated the nickname. Georgia has as well been known as The Buzzard Country (from laws Georgia introduced to protect buzzards), from the peanut came The Goober Land, and from its leadership, Yankee-land of the South. The nicknames for Georgia these days are The Empire Country of the South (originally used in the mid 19th century, merely since and so has been hotly disputed by Taxes), and the name that appears on licence plates, The Peach Land (the peach being the official country fruit since 1995). However, Georgia's legislature has not designated an official nickname for the state.
Hawaii (The Aloha State - 1959)
	Many of Hawaii'south supporters phone call information technology Paradise of the Pacific , or Crossroads of the Pacific (although this is mostly associated with the city of Honolulu), and others phone call it the Pineapple State . But since 1959 a Polynesian greeting has given the land's official nickname (which besides appears on licence plates), The Aloha Land.
Idaho
	The proper name of the state is frequently (but incorrectly) supposed to exist Indian for "gem of the mountains" . This has led the country to be nicknamed Gem of the Mountains , or virtually succinctly in more recent times, The Jewel State. But Idaho'due south famous potatoes aren't ignored, and Land of the Famous Potato and Spud State are sometimes seen, with Famous Potatoes appearing on the licence plates.
Illinois
	The sucker fish once gave Illinois the nickname , The Sucker State (and also, incidentally, gave us the slang word "sucker", for someone who is piece of cake casualty). The state has actually had numerous nicknames over the years - Garden of the Due west, The Garden Country and The Corn State being just three of them. Lincoln began his political career in Illinois, and in 1955 its slogan became State of Lincoln (which at present appears on its licence plates). However, these days it is often known as The Prairie State , a name which it has had since at to the lowest degree equally early equally 1842, before which it was a term applied to all the obviously states.
Indiana (no official nickname)
	Indiana is ane of the few states that has had only 1 nickname - The Hoosier State - a proper noun information technology has had since the 1830s. At ane fourth dimension, a "hoosier" was whatever rough person in the Wild West, but it eventually came to be applied contemptuously (similar "Yankee") to anyone from Indiana. Nobody quite knows where "Hoosier" comes from, but information technology seems to have commencement appeared in 1826. Indiana licence plates display the motto, The Hospitality State
Iowa
	Nobody is quite sure where the name "Hawkeye" came from, but it is possibly from Fennimore Cooper's "The Last of the Mohicans" - alternatively, it may have been coined as a tribute to the Indian leader, Chief Black Hawk. It seems to have applied to Iowans from effectually 1840, and The Hawkeye State is get-go recorded around 1859. A more popular and contempo (simply also only semi-official) nickname is the Corn State , which has appeared on the country licence plates.
Kansas (The Sunflower State)
	Kansas has probably had more nicknames in its history than any other state. Around the time of the Civil State of war, it was known equally The Battleground of Freedom , only later was known every bit The Garden of the West , or just The Garden State . Yet, these last ii nicknames were disputed past other states and never really caught on. Another pre-Civil War nickname, based on the old "squatter laws", was The Squatter State . In 1890 it was The Grasshopper State, and other natural calamities gave The Whirlwind State and The Dust Bowl Land. It has also been called The Common salt of the Earth. The Jayhawker Country is a proper name derived from the slang name for a Kansan from around 1875 (although it was used in a wider sense as a fighting abolitionist earlier and so), and all the same occasionally used, but shortened to Jayhawk State . Kansas itself officially favoured the more demure Sunflower Land, which is the official nickname (and the sunflower is the state flower), with The Wheat State appearing on its licence plates.
Kentucky (The Bluegrass State)
	The "Blue Grass" region of the US once extended from Pennsylvania in the east to Ohio in the west, and down into Tennessee in the s. Although the grass is light-green, the blueish buds produced in the spring requite the grass a distinctly blue color. Kentucky itself was the Bluegrass State from the fourth dimension of the Civil State of war, and remains and then (the proper noun appears on the state licence plates). One suggestion for the origin of the proper name "Kentucky" is that it means "dark and bloody ground", and this led to the state (actually its a commonwealth) beingness known as Dark and Bloody Basis . This refers to battles between tribes of Indians, and not to any conflict with the white man, despite the fact that references as early on as 1839 were saying that it was an allusion to battles between Indians and the get-go white settlers, and brought to the linguistic communication by Daniel Boone. Over the years, Kentucky has been known as the Hemp State , the Stone-Ribbed State and the Tobacco Land .
Louisiana
	Louisiana has been the Pelican State since around 1859 (the Pelican is as well the official state bird), and has had few nicknames since and then. In 1872, it was listed as being the Creole Country , but the misunderstandings of northerners, who thought it suggested African blood rather than the correct meaning of "caucasian", led to its demise. Occasionally, Louisiana gets called the Carbohydrate Land. The influence of the peachy river has led some to call information technology Child of the Mississippi , and the state's many waterways have as well results in the Bayou State (which is the name on the land'south licence plates) .
Maine
	Maine has a pine tree on its seal, and has been known as the Pino Tree State since the middle of the 19th century, possibly aroun the 1850s. It derives from the white pine, the official country tree. Simply it was besides recorded equally the Lumber Land in 1843. The country motto is Dirigo, meaning "I direct", and this has led some to call it the Old Dirigo State . Licence plates in Maine declare the state to exist Vacationland , and it has likewise been known every bit the Border State .
Maryland
	Maryland is another state that has had numerous nicknames since colonial times. Onetime Line State (from the Maryland Line in the old Colonial army, which some say was bestowed on the country by George Washington) and Terrapin Country (representative of the reject in standing of the land), are probably the oldest, only in 1923 the editor of the Baltimore Sun used the name Maryland Free State in an ironic editorial when the state was denounced equally a traitor to the marriage for not introducing legislation to enforce prohibition. In fact the editorial was never published, but he went on to use the term in other articles and this shortly spread amongst other newspapers in the state, often existence shortened to the Free State. Maryland has as well been known equally the Awe-inspiring State (a proper noun which had appeared past 1843, and which derives from Baltimore'due south nickname of "Monumental Metropolis"), the Oyster Country (from the Chesapeake oyster, once considered a great pride for the state) and too the Chesapeake Land (by which proper noun it is known on its licence plates).
Massachusetts
	Massachusetts is a republic, and is usually known as the Bay Country, a nickname that goes correct back to its early settlers in 1789, with Onetime Bay State actualization some l years later. Both allude to the colony of Massachusetts Bay, founded in 1628. The earlier Plymouth settlement gave Massachusetts Old Colony , a name which kickoff appeared around 1798, and those kickoff colonists also led to the land sometimes being known equally the Pilgrim Land and the Puritan Country . There are reports of it also existence called the Baked Edible bean Country , an innuendo to the fact that the puritans would serve baked beans on Sundays. Only Massachusetts licence plates declare The Spirit of America or The Codfish State
Michigan
	Michigan has been known as the Wolverine State from at least 1846, when it first appeared in the "Knickerbocker Magazine", although "Wolverine" for an inhabitant of Michigan goes dorsum at least 10 years earlier. Nobody is quite sure exactly why this name should take been applied, as at that place is no evidence that wolverines actually existed in the state. It is probable that the proper noun was given to Michiginians considering of their vicious and gluttonous deportment, either past the Ohians during the Toledo War (over a disputed strip of land around Toledo) or by the Indians who saw how aggressively the land was being taken. Michigan is also known as the Lake State, or the Great Lakes Land (which appeared on the state licence plates) for its proximity to Lake Michigan, only this name conflicts with the "Lake States", given to the states which border the Great Lakes. To avoid this disharmonize, some have turned it into the Lady of the Lake and the more remote Water Wonderland. Detroit'due south heavy car manufacturing industry has besides led some to refer to the Auto State .
Minnesota
	The official nickname of Minnesota is the Due north Star State , and the state seal has the motto L'Etoile du Nord on it. It is too normally known every bit the Gopher Land , a nickname which dates back to around 1880 and is based on the fact that the American football squad of the Minnesota State Academy were known as "The Golden Gophers" (a variety of squirrel) - just Arkansas also laid claim to the proper name 35 years earlier. Energetic supporters of the state have variously given information technology names like Bread and Butter State or Bread Basket of the Nation , Cream Pitcher of the Nation , and the Wheat State, all based on the state's production of wheat and dairy produce, and Playground of the Nation. The numerous lakes in the state have also led it to be known occasionally as the Land of 10,000 Lakes (in fact, Minnesota has more similar 12,000 lakes) - Minnesota licence plates have 10,000 Lakes on them.
Mississippi
	In 1872, Mississippi was known every bit the Mudcat State , after a large catfish that lived in the river mud (a like allusion may also have given information technology the less common nickname the Mud-Waddler State ) . Bayou Country dates from around 1867, and Eagle State is possibly a shortening of Border-Eagle State, which outset appeared around 1846, and both may be from the eagle that appears on the state's seal. The state is also sometimes known equally the Groundhog State or the Hospitality State (which appears on the licence plates) . Notwithstanding, the abundance of the magnolia, and its adoption every bit the official state flower and tree, has led to the modernistic nickname of the Magnolia Land.
Missouri
	Missouri has been known as the Iron Mountain State , Bullion Country (from around 1848, and possibly an allusion to the nickname of Missouri senator Benton, who was known as "Old Bullion") , the Lead State , the Ozark Land , the Puke State (possibly a abuse of "Thruway", equally there is a Thruway County in Missouri, and another simply beyond the river in Illinois), the Cave Land , and the Pennsylvania of the West . The modern nickname of the Show Me Country (which also appears on licence plates) was given national popularity at the cease of the 19th century from a phrase included in a spoken language by a Missouri congressman, William Vandiver, although it had existed before then.
Montana
	In its early on days, Montana was the Bonanza State (around 1893, and from the rich mineral deposits) and the Stub-Toe State (from 1890, and an innuendo to its steep mountain slopes). Merely the rich gold and silver deposits have led information technology at present to be known as the Treasure State , although the broad open spaces have also produced Large Sky Country (which is what appears on the land'due south licence plates)
Nebraska (The Cornhusker Country - 1945)
	In 1922, Nebraska was sometimes known equally the Antelope State , and the Blackness Water Country . But the legislatures has already passed an act in 1895 which declared the state as the Tree Planters State, and its licence plates showed the Beef State . The nighttime colour of its rivers resulted in some calling it the Black Water Country in around 1916. Others have called it the Bugeating State, subsequently a nickname of "Bug-eaters" given to Nebraskans, a derogatory term based on the poverty-stricken advent of the state. In 1945, the original nickname (which too appears on licence plates) was replaced past the Cornhusker State, where "Cornhusker" was originally applied to the Academy of Nebraska'southward athletic and football teams.
Nevada
	Having been admitted to the Union during the Civil War, Nevada adopted the Battle-Built-in Land as its nickname, and this is still used today, having been officially adopted as the staet slogan in 1937. Facetious nicknames, like Divorce State have appeared (in this case, due to the rise of Reno and Las Vegas), merely the land was more seriously known equally Silverland (traced back to 1863, from the wealth of silver deposits). This eventually became the Silver State (a nickname challenged past Colorado, only which is what appears on the state's licence plates today), and as well led to the Mining State. However, the Sagebrush State (challenged by Wyoming) is more common (the sagebrush beingness the country's official bloom), occasionally shortened to Sage State
New Hampshire
	Back in 1830, New Hampshire was known every bit the Granite State , and this nickname has prevailed to the present solar day (there was once a huge industry based on the quarrying of granite). On the style, diverse other nicknames take appeared, such every bit White Mountain Country , Switzerland of America (both considering of the abundance of white-topped mountains) and the Female parent of Rivers (because of the many rivers which commencement in the white mountains). New Hampshire licence plates declare the land motto, Live Free or Die !
New Jersey (no official nickname)
	In the 1880s, New York suffered plagues of insects which originated in the marshes of New Jersey, which led the state to be known as the Mosquito State . The clam fisheries on the coast led some to telephone call information technology the Clam State , and others chosen it Switzerland of America (i of five states to be and so-chosen). The famous "Camden and Aboy Railroad" led to the state sometimes beingness known every bit the Camden and Aboy Land , and the blue uniforms of the Civil war gave it the Bailiwick of jersey Blue State . But these days New Jersey is simply known as the Garden Land , a proper noun coined by Abraham Browning in a oral communication at the Centennial Exhibition in 1876, and which has, despite the objection and veto of the governor, appeared officially on land licence plates since most 1954.
New Mexico
	New United mexican states has been known as the Sunshine State , a name recorded from around 1926, as well as the Cactus State , and the Spanish Land . Enthusiastic supporters accept variously regaled New Mexico with State of Cactus , State of the Delight Makers , Land of Opportunity , State of Heart's Desires and Country of Enchantment, but information technology is the last of these which has stuck and which appears on licence plates.
New York
	The country motto is "Excelsior", and some have called New York the Excelsior State. The trousers worn by the early Dutch settlers resulted in the Knickerbocker Country It has also sometimes been known as the Gateway to the Due west . But, when George Washington referred to New York land every bit "the seat of Empire" in 1784, he set the seed for the country'due south long-term nickname which appeared in around 1820 - the Empire State . Information technology is this which appears on state licence plates.
Due north Carolina
	In one case commonly known as the Quondam Northward State , considering of its position and history, North Carolina has some cute mountain country which led it to also exist known every bit the Land of the Sky. But the mod day nickname of the Tarheel State goes back to the mid 19th century. North Carolinians were known equally "tarboilers" every bit early on every bit 1845, as well as "Tar Heels". Why they were so chosen is not really known - one suggestion is that a brigade of North Carolinians failed to agree a position during the war in 1869, and Mississippians blamed the fact that they had failed to tar their heels that morning. By 1844, the state was being called the Tar and Turpentine State , and by 1859 just Turpentine Country. The Wright Brothers launched their kickoff flying in N Carolina, and this has led to Offset In Flight , a nickname or motto which now appears on car licence plates, along with Commencement in Freedom
Northward Dakota
	A local ground squirrel, the flickertail, gave North Dakota its Flickertail State nickname (an effort to brand this the official nickname in 1953 was defeated), and the Indian tribes its Sioux Land and Land of the Dakota .Its importance led it to exist sometimes known every bit Great Central State. But the International Peace Gardens (crossing the northern edge of the country into Manitoba) have given the land its modern nickname (and automobile licence plate slogan) of the Peace Garden State (it's worth noting that some references incorrectly give "Peach Garden Land", which is a transcription error that seems to have propagated through many works!) - information technology first appeared on licence plates in 1956, and in 1957 the legislature formally required information technology to appear on licence plates.North Dakota was also known as the Roughrider State (an allusion to the "Rough Rider" cavalry that Theodore Roosevelt is supposed to have led) and this name was used in the 1960s and 1970s as role of a tourist campaign, but attempts in 1971 and 1973 to take this supervene upon "Peace Garden Land" on licence plates failed.
Ohio
	During the very early part of the 19th century, Ohio was sometimes known every bit the Yankee State since many settlers had come up from New England, but that's a nickname that was given up a long fourth dimension agone. Some of the country'due south proponents claimed Mother of Presidents , (sometimes Mother of Modern Presidents ) having been where more than one-half a dozen presidents had started their lives (it's a proper noun that Virginia once used). Merely the land tree, a diverseness of equus caballus chestnut, gives the state its current nickname of the Buckeye State - although its adoption owes a lot to William Henry Harrison who, during the 1840 presidential adopted a log cabin made of buckeye timber as his emblem, and many of his supporters would carry buckeye canes. Ohio licence plates declare The Center of information technology All
Oklahoma
	Fifty-fifty before the land was thrown open to white settlement, many early settlers snuck across the border and made claims there. When the kickoff official settlers were immune across, they found these "sooners" already in possession of the state that they were hoping to accept. This led to the country being chosen the Sooner State . Those who had waited patiently for the canon'due south "blast", a signal that they could cross into Oklahoma, resulted in the much rarer nickname Boomer Land, or Boomer's Paradise. According to some Oklahoma licence plates, Oklahoma is OK!
Oregon
	Through the years, Oregon has various been called the Sunshine State (yes, another i!) , Webfoot State (derived from the nickname given to residents, considering of the high level of rainfall) and Hard-case State (named subsequently the evil characters who flocked to the state in its early days, and from their austere descendants). But Oregon's land animal is the beaver (since 1969), and information technology is a widely recognised symbol for the state - which has led the State University athletic team to be known as "the Beavers", and country to being called the Beaver State . Oregon licence plates call the state Pacific Wonderland
Pennsylvania
	One of the oldest land nicknames (and that which appeasr on its licence plates) is the Keystone Country , probably applied to Pennsylvania from the belatedly 18th century (although the showtime official citation is from 1802, when at a rally Pennsylvania was toasted as "the keystone in the union"). The industry of Pennsylvania one time gave it the nicknames of the Coal State and Steel Land , merely these accept long drifted into oblivion. Philadelphia is known as "The Quaker City", a name which was sometimes been transferred to Pennsylvania itself as the Quaker State .
Rhode Island (no official nickname)
	The smallest state (but the i with the longest full name of "Rhode Island and Providence Plantations") is oft just called Niggling Rhody, dating back possibly as early as 1851 (and more recently, the Smallest State ). In 1847, it was being referred to as the Plantation State (a reference to the state's full name). Because of its position, its other common nickname (mainly for the benefit of tourists) is the Ocean State , and this is what appears on its licence plates.
Southward Carolina
	The palmetto palm (a variety of fan palm) has been associated with South Carolina since colonial days, and the start appearance of Palmetto State (the nickname used in modern times) appears to have been around 1843. But numerous other nicknames have emerged over the years - Rice State , the Swamp Country , the Iodine Land (used to promote iodine-rich produce) and the Sand-lapper State . Information technology is as well sometimes known as the Keystone of the South Atlantic , and the Seaboard State. State licence plates employ the beginning words of the song - Nothing Could be Effectively
Southward Dakota (The Mount Rushmore State - 1980)
	When Dakota split into two parts, South Dakota became variously known as the Blizzard Country, the Artesian State (for the many artesian wells in the state), and the Land of Enough . It was likewise known as the Sunshine Country a name, which dissimilar the other three, was retained and which was depicted on the state flag until 1980. In that year, South Dakota deferred to Florida's merits on the nickname and relaunched the land officially as the Mountain Rushmore Land , which appears in words on the country flag. The other mutual nickname is The Coyote State , which comes from the prairie wolf, named by the Nahuatl Indians as the "coyotl", from which nosotros get "Coyote" (and which is also a nickname for the residents of the state). Licence plates declare Groovy Faces, Great Places.
Tennessee
	Tennessee is known officially (by some accounts) and on its licence plates equally the Volunteer State, a name which goes back (depending on which reference yous utilise) either to 1812, when the volunteer soldiers showed item backbone in the Boxing of New Orleans, or to 1847 when the Governor chosen for three regiments to serve in the Mexican State of war, and 30,000 men volunteered. The country was also known equally the Lion's Den , back in 1843, peradventure because border ruffians were and so known as "lions of the W". Tennessee is named subsequently the Indian proper noun for the state, which ways "The River with the Large Bend", and which led to The Large Bend State , and the diet of fatback grunter and cornmeal (both abundant produce in the state) gave it the Sus scrofa and Hominy State (it is also sometimes known as the Hog Country , and the Hominy State ). Tennessee remembers the fact that it was the home of three United states Presidents, in the nickname Mother of Southwestern Statesmen . The tan colour of Tennessee soldiers' uniforms in the War Between the States gave them the nickname of "butternuts" (later on the squash), and the state is sometimes known as the Butternut State as a outcome.
Texas (no official nickname)
	Probably no state has a more well-known nickname than Texas - the Solitary Star State (which is how information technology is described on its licence plates). It represents the symbol on the 1836 Texas Republic flag (itself based on history going back to the "Long Trek" in 1819), and on the state flag and seal of today. Despite its prominence, the nickname is purely traditional and has non been enshrined in legislation. Many attempts have been made to apply other nicknames to the country, with various levels of success. Its huge cattle "manufacture" led it to be known equally the Beef State for a while, and its size gave information technology the Jumbo Land . In 1961, the New Yorker called it the Super-American Country , and others have tried for the Banner Country , and the Blizzard State.
Utah
	The first settlers in Utah were the members of the Church of Latter 24-hour interval Saints, likewise chosen the Mormons. Their hard work and great influence in the state has given Utah nigh of its various nicknames. Its common, and long-standing, nickname, the is Mormon Land , of which there are a couple of variations - such every bit Land of the Mormons and Land of the Saints . The Mormons named the country "Deseret" when they arrived, then Utah was besides sometimes known as the Deseret State. "Deseret", from the Book of Mormon, is really a honeybee, and the early Mormon settlers were described as having carried with them "swarms of bees". This is what gave the state its symbol (officially adopted in 1959) of a conical beehive with a swarm of bees around information technology (on the state flag), and the nickname of the Beehive Country . The only "non-Mormon" nickname is the Salt Lake State , but even this is closely linked with the Mormons, who first settled in what is now known as Salt Lake Metropolis, next to the great Salt Lake.
Vermont
	I can observe no reference to whatever other nickname for Vermont other than the Green Mountain State (which, not surprisingly, is likewise on the licence plates). This name comes from "Green Mountain Boy", a name for an inhabitant going back to 1772, in turn named afterwards the militia of the previous year which was organised to protect the state confronting the New Yorkers (and, of course, derives from the country's name itself, coined in 1761 by Rev Dr Peters, who named the mountains "Verd Mont", meaning "green mountain", which itself probably came from the "Green Mountains" which were named by Samuel de Champlain in 1647).
Virginia
	Virginia has the oldest citation for any state nickname. Old Dominion has its get-go recorded sighting in 1778, just this derives from Ancient Dominion, the nickname for the state from the stop of the 17th century. Information technology is also known equally the Mother of States , being the kickoff land to be colonised (a name not attributed to Virginia until 1855, whereas Connecticut had been given the name in 1838), and Mother of Presidents , because Virginia supplied 7 of the first twelve of the Usa Presidents. Some as well developed this final name into Mother of Statesmen . The early British loyalists who settled in the states were Cavaliers, and this gave the state another nickname, the Cavalier Land . Virginia's licence plates are a little less ambitious, and only declare Visit Virginia !
Washington
	The many conifer forests of Washington state produced the nickname the Evergreen State, coined by Seattle Realtor and historian, C.T. Conver. Although numerous references say that the nickname was officially adopted by the legislature in 1893, the Washington legislature's own Web site says that it "has never been officially adopted by law". Information technology is also known as the Green Tree State, which appears on its licence plates. Before that, the Chinook Indians lent their proper name to the Chinook Land , a nickname which has been traced back to 1890.
West Virginia
	West Virginia is one of united states of america which attempted to lay claim to the Switzerland of America , but is more ordinarily known (including on licence plates) every bit the Mountain State. The shape of the country also gave West Virginia The Panhandle State .
Wisconsin
	Wisconsin inhabitants are "badgers", and Wisconsin is the Annoy Land. The name appears to accept arisen from the early lead miners who worked at the Illinois Galena lead mines in the 1830s. These mines are close to where Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin meet, and were also responsible for giving the "Sucker" and "Puke" nicknames to those from Illinois and Iowa. However, "badger" arose not from the burrowing in the lead mines, simply because those from Wisconsin did not live in houses, but in caves in the hillside that looked similar annoy burrows. They earned the nickname at the mines, and took information technology back on their return to Wisconsin. Interestingly, Wisconsin adopted the badger as the official state animal in 1957. Just Wisconsin is predominantly a dairy state, producing 40% of the country'southward cheese, and 20% of its butter - not surprisingly, then, the state is sometimes nicknamed the Dairy State , America's Dairyland (which is how information technology appears on licence plates) or even the Cheese State .
Wyoming
	The outset grant of suffrage in the Us was fabricated in Wyoming in 1869, leading to the state existence called the Suffrage State or the current Equality State. Just the land's symbol is a cowboy on a bucking bronco, leading to some calling it the Cowboy Country. Wyoming'south licence plates declare, Like No Place on Earth.

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Source: http://miketodd.net/encyc/statenicks.htm

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