Each of the 50 States in the US have a unique flag that characterizes the state often with historical information, the state seal or other unique characteristic of the state.
Each of the 50 States in the United States has an abbreviation that is used for various reason but mainly used for postal services. Other uses of the state abbreviations are data collection, regulations in licensing such as boating, driving, hunting, fishing etc.
Alabama ~ AL
Alaska ~ AK
Arizona ~ AZ
Arkansas ~ AR
California ~ CA
Colorado ~ CO
Connecticut ~ CT
Delaware ~ DE
Florida ~ FL
Georgia ~ GA
Hawaii ~ HI
Idaho ~ ID
Illinois ~ IL
Indiana ~ IN
Iowa ~ IA
Kansas ~ KS
Kentucky ~ KT
Louisiana ~ LA
Maine ~ ME
Maryland ~ MD
Massachusetts ~ MA
Michigan ~ MI
Minnesota ~ MN
Mississippi ~ MS
Missouri ~ MO
Montana ~ MT
Nebraska ~ NE
Nevada ~ NV
New Hampshire ~ NH
New Jersey ~ NJ
New Mexico ~ NM
New York ~ NY
North Carolina ~ NC
North Dakota ~ ND
Ohio ~ OH
Oklahoma ~ OK
Oregon ~ OR
Pennsylvania ~ PA
Rhode Island ~ RI
South Carolina ~ SC
South Dakota ~ SD
Tennessee ~ TN
Texas ~ TX
Utah ~ UT
Vermont ~ VT
Virginia ~ VA
Washington ~ WA
West Virginia ~ WV
Wisconsin ~ WI
Wyoming ~ WY
The 50 states in the United States have taken there names from a wide range of languages and cultures throughout the world. Of these names many are from indigenous words and some are named in honor of a King, Queen, or Duke from the old world. A few states meaning are entirely unknown and one may have even been a practical joke.
To find the Origins of the each state's name simply use the Map and click on any state or scroll below to see an alphabetical list of US States.
Alabama ~ From Alabama River by early European explorers and named "Alibamu" after the local Indian tribe
Alaska ~ Corruption of Aleut word meaning “great land” or “that which the sea breaks against”
Arizona ~ Uncertain. Perhaps from the O'odham Indian word for “little spring”
Arkansas ~ From the Quapaw Indians
California ~ From a book, Las Sergas de Esplandián by Garcia Ordóñez de Montalvo
Colorado ~ From the Spanish, “ruddy” or “red”
Connecticut ~ From an Indian word (Quinnehtukqut) meaning “beside the long tidal river”
Delaware ~ From Delaware River and Bay; named in turn for Sir Thomas West, Baron De La Warr
Florida ~ From the Spanish Pascua Florida, meaning “feast of flowers”
Georgia ~ In honor of George II of England
Hawaii ~ Uncertain. The islands may have been named by Hawaii Loa, their traditional discoverer. Or they may have been named after Hawaii or Hawaiki, the traditional home of the Polynesians.
Idaho ~ An invented name which the meaning is unknown. (Practical Joke Possibly)
Illinois ~ Algonquin for “tribe of superior men”
Indiana ~ Meaning “land of Indians”
Iowa ~ From the Iowa River which was named after the Ioway Indian tribe
Kansas ~ From a Sioux word meaning “people of the south wind”
Kentucky ~ From an Iroquoian word “Ken-tah-ten” meaning “land of tomorrow”
Louisiana ~ In honor of Louis XIV of France
Maine ~ First used to distinguish the mainland from the offshore islands. It has been considered a compliment to Henrietta Maria, queen of Charles I of England. She was said to have owned the province of Mayne in France.
Maryland ~ In honor of Henrietta Maria (queen of Charles I of England)
Massachusetts ~ From Massachusett tribe of Native Americans, meaning “at or about the great hill”
Michigan ~ From Indian word “Michigana” meaning “great or large lake”
Minnesota ~ From a Dakota Indian word meaning “sky-tinted water”
Mississippi ~ From an Indian word meaning “Father of Waters”
Missouri ~ Named after the Missouri Indian tribe. “Missouri” means “town of the large canoes.”
Montana ~ From the Spanish word meaning “mountain.”
Nebraska ~ From an Oto Indian word meaning “flat water”
Nevada ~ Spanish Translation: “snowcapped”
New Hampshire ~ From the English county of Hampshire
New Jersey ~ From the Channel Isle of Jersey
New Mexico ~ From Mexico, “place of Mexitli,” an Aztec god or leader
New York ~ In honor of the Duke of York
North Carolina ~ In honor of Charles I of England
North Dakota ~ From the Sioux tribe, meaning “allies”
Ohio ~ From an Iroquoian word meaning “great river”
Oklahoma ~ From two Choctaw Indian words meaning “red people”
Oregon ~ Unknown. However, it is generally accepted that the name, first used by Jonathan Carver in 1778, was taken from the writings of Maj. Robert Rogers, an English army officer.
Pennsylvania ~ In honor of Adm. Sir William Penn, father of William Penn. It means “Penn's Woodland.”
Rhode Island ~ From the Greek Island of Rhodes
South Carolina ~ In honor of Charles I of England
South Dakota ~ From the Sioux tribe, meaning “allies”
Tennessee ~ Of Cherokee origin; the meaning is unknown
Texas ~ From an Indian word meaning “friends”
Utah ~ From the Ute tribe, meaning “people of the mountains”
Vermont ~ From the French “vert mont,” meaning “green mountain”
Virginia ~ In honor of Elizabeth “Virgin Queen” of England
Washington ~ In honor of George Washington
West Virginia ~ In honor of Elizabeth, “Virgin Queen” of England
Wisconsin ~ French corruption of an Indian word whose meaning is disputed
Wyoming ~ From the Delaware Indian word, meaning “mountains and valleys alternating”
Alaska State Flower: Forget-Me-Not
Scientific Name: Myosotis alpestris
State Flower Description: The Alpine Forget Me Not grows throughout Alaska in open, rocky places high in the mountains and it flowers in midsummer. The color of the Alpine Forget Me Not is a very blue, and grows 5 to 12 inches high. The alpine forget me not can actually pick up its roots and move to another location or "walk".
Where It's Found: The Forget-Me-Not (Alpine) is found throughout Alaska in open, rocky places high in the mountains.
Alaska State Flower Dedication: 1949
The official state song of Alabama is the song "Alabama" which was written by Julia S. Tutwiler who was an educator and humanitarian. Julia S. Tutwiler wrote the words of the song when she returned home from Germany where she was studying education. The Alabama State Song was declared the state song on March 9th, 1931 by state legislature House Joint Resolution 74 and was approved by Governor B. M. Miller.
The State Quarter of Alabama features Helen Keller seated a longleaf pine (state tree) branch and magnolia blossoms with a banner with text reading: "Spirit of Courage" and a Caption of: "Helen Keller" in standard print and Braille beside her sitting in a chair. The Alabama Quarter was released March 17, 2003 and there was 457,400,000 printed by the mint. The engraver of the Alabama Quarter was Norman E. Nemeth
The official State Food (Tree Fruit) of Alabama is the Peach (Rosacea, genus Prunus, Species P. persica). The peach was declared the Alabama State Tree Fruit in 2006 via state legislature Acts of Alabama 2006, HB205. In Alabama there are 34 different varieties of peaches grown throughout the state, most commercial growers of peaches in Alabama harvest their fruit later in the season due to them being sold locally in the state. Peaches in the southern areas of Alabama are harvested in early May and in the northern sections of Alabama they are harvested in September. You can find Alabama peaches in grocery stores in Alabama as wells as road side fruit vendors in the state.
The official State Mammal of Alabama is the Black Bear (Ursus americanus). The black bear was declared the the Alabama State Mammal in 2006 via Acts of Alabama 2006, SB76. Black bears are found throughout Alabama and generally are black with a brown muzzle and range in weights from 150lbs to 350lbs with the males being larger than the females. Black bears mostly eat plants and berries but will eat other animals when the opportunity presents itself as a very easy prey. Female black bears begin to have cubs around 5 years of age and generally give birth to 1 to 5 cubs with twins being the most common.
The official State Fruit of Alabama is the blackberry (Rubus, R. occidentalis) The blackberry was designated the state fruit of Alabama on April 30, 2004 via state legislature Senate Bill 163. Blackberries are a aggregate fruit that is composed of many smaller fruits called drupes and are often confused with rasberries. One way to tell the difference between the two is rasberries are hollow inside and blackberries are not. Blackberries are also very good for you and are antioxidants that contain vast amounts of anthocyanocides which have been reported to helpding prevent heart disease, cancer and strokes.
The official state amphibian of the state of Alabama is the Red Hills salamander, (Phaeognathus hubrichti Highton). The red hills salamander became the state amphibian on April 13th, 2000 via state legislature Act 2000-232. The Red Hills salamander is extremely rare and currently is on the endangered species list and is under federal protection since 1976. The salmandar is only thought to be found in the southern section of Alabama in Butler, Conecuh, Crenshaw, Covington and Monroe Counties.