The NiftyFifty

The Five Territories of the United States!!

The Western Territor

y

The Southwe

st

The Midwes

t

The Southwest

The Northea

st

The Midwest

OHIO

Michigan

Indiana

Illinois

Iowa

Alabama

Alaska

• Capital: Juneau• Governor: Sean Parnell, R (to Dec. 2010)• Motto: North to the Future• flower forget-me-not (1949) tree sitka spruce (1962) bird

willow ptarmigan (1955) fish king salmon (1962) song “Alaska's Flag” (1955) gem jade (1968) marine mammal bowhead whale (1983) fossil woolly mammoth (1986) mineral gold (1968) sport dog mushing (1972) Nickname: The state is commonly called “The Last Frontier” or “Land of the Midnight Sun”

• Origin of name: Corruption of Aleut word meaning “great land” or “that which the sea breaks against”

• Residents: Alaskan

Arizona• Capital: Phoenix• Governor: Jan Brewer, R (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Ditat Deus (God enriches)• flower flower of saguaro cactus (1931) bird cactus wren (1931)

colors blue and old gold (1915) song “Arizona” (1919) tree palo verde (1954) neckwear bola tie (1971) fossil petrified wood (1988) gemstone turquoise (1974) mammal ringtail (1986) reptile Arizona ridgenose rattlesnake (1986) fish Arizona trout (1986) amphibian Arizona tree frog (1986) butterfly two-tailed swallowtail (2001) Nickname: Grand Canyon State

• Origin of name: Uncertain. Perhaps from the O'odham Indian word for “little spring”

• Residents: Arizonan, Arizonian

Arkansas

• Capital: Little Rock• Governor: Mike Beebe, D (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Regnat populus (The people rule)• flower apple blossom (1901) tree pine (1939)

bird mockingbird (1929) insect honeybee (1973) song “Arkansas” (1963) Nickname: The Natural State

• Origin of name: From the Quapaw Indians• Residents: Arkansan

California

• Capital: Sacramento• Governor: Arnold Schwarzenegger, R (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Eureka (I have found it)• flower golden poppy (1903) tree California redwoods (Sequoia

sempervirens & Sequoiadendron giganteum) (1937, 1953) bird California valley quail (1931) animal California grizzly bear (1953) fish California golden trout (1947) colors blue and gold (1951) song “I Love You, California” (1951) Nickname: Golden State

• Origin of name: From a book, Las Sergas de Esplandián, by Garcia Ordóñez de Montalvo, c. 1500

• Residents: Californian

Colorado

• Capital: Denver• Governor: Bill Ritter, D (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Nil sine Numine (Nothing without Providence)• flower Rocky Mountain columbine (1899) tree Colorado

blue spruce (1939) bird lark bunting (1931) animal Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (1961) gemstone aquamarine (1971) colors blue and white (1911) song “Where the Columbines Grow” (1915) fossil stegosaurus (1991) Nickname: Centennial State

• Origin of name: From the Spanish, “ruddy” or “red”• Residents: Coloradan, Coloradoan

Connecticut• Capital: Hartford• Governor: M. Jodi Rell, R (to Jan. 2011)• flower mountain laurel (1907) tree white oak (1947) animal

sperm whale (1975) bird American robin (1943) hero Nathan Hale (1985) heroine Prudence Crandall (1995) insect praying mantis (1977) mineral garnet (1977) song “Yankee Doodle” (1978) ship USS Nautilus (1983) shellfish eastern oyster (1989) fossil Eubrontes Giganteus (1991) composer Charles Edward Ives (1991) Nickname: Constitution State (official, 1959); Nutmeg State

• Origin of name: From an Indian word (Quinnehtukqut) meaning “beside the long tidal river”

• Residents: Connecticuter; Nutmegger

Delaware

• Capital: Dover• Governor: Jack Markell, D (to Jan. 2013)• Motto: Liberty and independence• colors colonial blue and buff flower peach blossom (1895) tree

American holly (1939) bird blue hen chicken (1939) insect ladybug (1974) butterfly tiger swallowtail (1999) fish weakfish, cynoscion regalis (1981) song “Our Delaware” beverage milk fossil belemnite Nicknames: Diamond State; First State; Small Wonder

• Origin of name: From Delaware River and Bay; named in turn for Sir Thomas West, Baron De La Warr

• Residents: Delawarean

Florida

• Capital: Tallahassee• Governor: Charlie Crist, R (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: In God we trust (1868)• flower orange blossom (1909) bird mockingbird

(1927) song “Suwannee River” (1935) Nickname: Sunshine State (1970)

• Origin of name: From the Spanish Pascua Florida, meaning “feast of flowers” (Easter)

• Residents: Floridian, Floridan

Georgia

• Capital: Atlanta• Governor: Sonny Perdue, R (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Wisdom, justice, and moderation• flower Cherokee rose (1916) tree live oak (1937)

bird brown thrasher (1935) song “Georgia on My Mind” (1922) Nicknames: Peach State, Empire State of the South

• Origin of name: In honor of George II of England• Residents: Georgian

Hawaii• Capital: Honolulu (on Oahu)• Governor: Linda Lingle, R (to Dec. 2010)• Motto: Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono (The life of the land is

perpetuated in righteousness)• flower hibiscus (yellow) (1988) song “Hawaii Ponoi” (1967) bird nene

(Hawaiian goose) (1957) tree kukui (candlenut) (1959) Nickname: Aloha State (1959)

• Origin of name: 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.

• Residents: Hawaiian, also kamaaina (native-born nonethnic Hawaiian), malihini (newcomer)

Idaho

• Capital: Boise• Governor: C. L. Butch Otter, R (to Jan. 2010)• Motto: Esto perpetua (It is forever)• flower syringa (1931) tree white pine (1935) bird mountain

bluebird (1931) horse Appaloosa (1975) gem star garnet (1967) song “Here We Have Idaho” folk dance square dance fish cutthroat trout (1990) fossil Hagerman horse fossil (1988) Nickname: Gem State

• Origin of name: An invented name whose meaning is unknown.

• Residents: Idahoan

Kansas

• Capital: Topeka• Governor: Mark Parkinson, D (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Ad astra per aspera (To the stars through

difficulties)• flower sunflower (1903) tree cottonwood (1937) bird

western meadowlark (1937) animal buffalo (1955) song “Home on the Range” (1947) Nicknames: Sunflower State; Jayhawk State

• Origin of name: From a Sioux word meaning “people of the south wind”

• Residents: Kansan

Kentucky

• Capital: Frankfort • Governor: Steve Beshear, D (to Dec. 2011)• Motto: United we stand, divided we fall• tree tulip poplar (1994) flower goldenrod bird

Kentucky cardinal song “My Old Kentucky Home” Nickname: Bluegrass State

• Origin of name: From an Iroquoian word “Ken-tah-ten” meaning “land of tomorrow”

• Residents: Kentuckian

Louisiana

• Capital: Baton Rouge• Governor: Bobby Jindal, R (to Jan. 2012)• Motto: Union, justice, and confidence• flower magnolia (1900) tree bald cypress (1963)

bird eastern brown pelican (1958) songs “Give Me Louisiana” and “You Are My Sunshine” Nickname: Pelican State

• Origin of name: In honor of Louis XIV of France• Residents: Louisianan, Louisianian

Maine• Capital: Augusta• Governor: John Baldacci, D (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Dirigo (I lead)• flower white pine cone and tassel (1895) tree white pine tree (1945)

bird chickadee (1927) fish landlocked salmon (1969) mineral tourmaline (1971) song “State of Maine Song” (1937) animal moose (1979) cat Maine coon cat (1985) fossil pertica quadrifaria (1985) insect honeybee (1975) Nickname: Pine Tree State

• Origin of name: 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.

• Residents: Mainer

Maryland• Capital: Annapolis• Governor: Martin O'Malley, D (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Fatti maschii, parole femine (Manly deeds, womanly words)• bird Baltimore oriole (1947) boat skipjack (1985) crustacean Maryland

blue crab (1989) dinosaur Astrodon johnstoni (1998) dog Chesapeake Bay retriever (1964) beverage milk (1998) flower black-eyed susan (1918) fish rockfish (1965) folk dance square dance (1994) fossil shell ecphora gardnerae gardnerae (Wilson) (1994) insect Baltimore checkerspot butterfly (1973) reptile Diamondback terrapin (1994) song “Maryland! My Maryland!” (1939) sport jousting (1962) team sport lacrosse (2004) tree white oak (1941) Nicknames: Free State; Old Line State

• Origin of name: In honor of Henrietta Maria (queen of Charles I of England)

• Residents: Marylander

Massachusetts

• Capital: Boston• Governor: Deval Patrick, D (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem (By the sword

we seek peace, but peace only under liberty)• flower mayflower (1918) tree American elm (1941) bird

chickadee (1941) song “All Hail to Massachusetts” (1966) beverage cranberry juice (1970) insect ladybug (1974) cookie chocolate chip (1997) muffin corn muffin (1986) dessert Boston cream pie (1996) Nicknames: Bay State; Old Colony State

• Origin of name: From Massachusett tribe of Native Americans, meaning “at or about the great hill”

• Residents: Bay Stater

Minnesota

• Capital: St. Paul• Governor: Tim Pawlenty, R (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: L'Étoile du Nord (The North Star)• flower lady slipper (1902) tree red (or Norway) pine (1953)

bird common loon (also called great northern diver) (1961) song “Hail Minnesota” (1945) fish walleye (1965) mushroom morel (1984) Nicknames: North Star State; Gopher State; Land of 10,000 Lakes

• Origin of name: From a Dakota Indian word meaning “sky-tinted water”

• Residents: Minnesotan

Mississippi• Capital: Jackson• Governor: Haley Barbour, R (to Jan. 2012)• Motto: Virtute et armis (By valor and arms)• flower flower or bloom of the magnolia or evergreen magnolia (1952)

wildflower coreopsis (1991) tree magnolia (1938) bird mockingbird (1944) song “Go, Mississippi” (1962) stone petrified wood (1976) fish largemouth or black bass (1974) insect honeybee (1980) shell oyster shell (1974) water mammal bottlenosed dolphin or porpoise (1974) fossil prehistoric whale (1981) land mammal white-tailed deer (1974), red fox (1997) waterfowl wood duck (1974) beverage milk (1984) butterfly spicebush swallowtail (1991) dance square dance (1995) Nickname: Magnolia State

• Origin of name: From an Indian word meaning “Father of Waters”• Residents: Mississippian

Missouri• Capital: Jefferson City • Governor: Jay Nixon, D (to Jan. 2013)• Motto: Salus populi suprema lex esto (The welfare of the people shall be

the supreme law)• flower hawthorn (1923) bird bluebird (1927) aquatic animal paddlefish

(1997) fish channel catfish (1997) song “Missouri Waltz” (1949) fossil crinoid (1989) musical instrument fiddle (1987) rock mozarkite (1967) mineral galena (1967) insect honeybee (1985) tree flowering dogwood (1955) tree nut eastern black walnut (1990) animal mule (1995) dance square dance (1995) Missouri Day third Wednesday in October (1969) Nickname: Show-me State

• Origin of name: Named after the Missouri Indian tribe. “Missouri” means “town of the large canoes.”

• Residents: Missourian

Montana

• Capital: Helena• Governor: Brian Schweitzer, D (to Jan. 2013)• Motto: Oro y plata (Gold and silver)• flower bitterroot (1895) tree ponderosa pine (1949)

stones sapphire and agate (1969) bird Western meadowlark (1981) song “Montana” (1945) Nickname: Treasure State

• Origin of name: From the Spanish word meaning “mountain.”

• Residents: Montanan

Nebraska• Capital: Lincoln• Governor: David Heineman, R (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Equality before the law• flower goldenrod (1895) fish channel catfish (1997) American folk

dance square dance (1997) ballad “A Place Like Nebraska” (1997) tree cottonwood (1972) bird Western meadowlark (1929) insect honeybee (1975) gemstone blue agate (1967) rock prairie agate (1967) fossil mammoth (1967) song “Beautiful Nebraska” (1967) soil typic argiustolls, holdreges series (1979) mammal whitetail deer (1981) grass little bluestem (1969) beverage milk (1998) Nicknames: Cornhusker State (1945); Beef State

• Origin of name: From an Oto Indian word meaning “flat water”• Residents: Nebraskan

Nevada• Capital: Carson City• Governor: Jim Gibbons, R (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: All for Our Country• flower sagebrush (1959) trees single-leaf pinon (1953) and bristlecone

pine (1987) bird mountain bluebird (1967) animal desert bighorn sheep (1973) colors silver and blue (1983) song “Home Means Nevada” (1933) rock sandstone (1987) precious gemstone virgin valley black fire opal (1987) semiprecious gemstone Nevada turquoise (1987) grass Indian ricegrass (1977) metal silver (1977) fossil ichthyosaur (1977) fish lahontan cutthroat trout (1981) reptile desert tortoise (1989) state artifact tule duck decoy (1995) Nicknames: Sagebrush State; Silver State; Battle Born State

• Origin of name: Spanish: “snowcapped”• Residents: Nevadan, Nevadian

New Hampshire

• Capital: Concord• Governor: John Lynch, D (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Live free or die• flower purple lilac (1919) tree white birch (1947) animal white-

tailed deer (1983) insect ladybug (1977) saltwater fish striped bass (1994) freshwater fish brook trout (1995) amphibian spotted newt (1985) butterfly karner blue (1992) bird purple finch (1957) songs “Old New Hampshire” (1949) and “New Hampshire, My New Hampshire” (1963) Nickname: Granite State

• Origin of name: From the English county of Hampshire• Residents: New Hampshirite

New Jersey

• Capital: Trenton• Governor: Chris Christie, R (to Jan. 2014)• Motto: Liberty and prosperity• flower purple violet (1913) bird eastern goldfinch (1935)

insect honeybee (1974) tree red oak (1950) animal horse (1977) colors buff and blue (1965) folk dance square dance dinosaur hadrosaurus foulkii fish brook trout shell knobbed whelk fruit blueberry (2004) Nickname: Garden State

• Origin of name: From the Channel Isle of Jersey• Residents: New Jerseyite, New Jerseyan

New Mexico• Capital: Santa Fe• Governor: Bill Richardson, D (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Crescit eundo (It grows as it goes)• flower yucca (1927) tree pinon (1949) animal black bear (1963) bird

roadrunner (1949) fish cutthroat trout (1955) vegetables chili and frijol (1965) gem turquoise (1967) song “O Fair New Mexico” (1917) Spanish-language song “Asi Es Nuevo Méjico” (1971) poem “A Nuevo México” (1991) grass blue gramma (1973) fossil coelophysis (1981) cookie bizcochito (1989) insect tarantula hawk wasp (1989) ballad “Land of Enchantment” (1989) bilingual song “New Mexico—Mi Lindo Nuevo Mexico”, (1995) question “Red or Green?” (1999) Nickname: Land of Enchantment (1999)

• Origin of name: From Mexico, “place of Mexitli,” an Aztec god or leader• Residents: New Mexican

New York

• Capital: Albany • Governor: David Paterson (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Excelsior (Ever upward)• animal beaver (1975) fish brook trout (1975) gem

garnet (1969) flower rose (1955) tree sugar maple (1956) bird bluebird (1970) insect ladybug (1989) song “I Love New York” (1980) Nickname: Empire State

• Origin of name: In honor of the Duke of York• Residents: New Yorker

North Carolina• Capital: Raleigh• Governor: Beverly Perdue, D (to Jan. 2013)• Motto: Esse quam videri (To be rather than to seem)• flower dogwood (1941) tree pine (1963) bird cardinal (1943)

mammal gray squirrel (1969) insect honeybee (1973) reptile eastern box turtle (1979) gemstone emerald (1973) shell scotch bonnet (1965) historic boat shad boat (1987) beverage milk (1987) rock granite (1979) dog plott hound (1989) song “The Old North State” (1927) colors red and blue (1945) fruit scuppernong grape (2001) Nickname: Tar Heel State

• Origin of name: In honor of Charles I of England• Residents: North Carolinian

North Dakota• Capital: Bismarck• Governor: John Hoeven, R (to Dec. 15, 2012)• Motto: Liberty and union, now and forever: one and inseparable• tree American elm (1947) bird western meadowlark (1947) song

“North Dakota Hymn” (1947) fish northern pike (1969) grass western wheatgrass (1977) fossil teredo petrified wood (1967) beverage milk (1983) state march Spirit of the Land (1975) flower wild prairie rose (1907) equine Nokota horse (1993) dance square dance (1995) Nickname: Sioux State; Flickertail State; Peace Garden State; Rough Rider State

• Origin of name: From the Sioux tribe, meaning “allies”• Residents: North Dakotan

Oklahoma• Capital: Oklahoma City• Governor: Brad Henry, D (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Labor omnia vincit (Labor conquers all things)• flower mistletoe (1893) tree redbud (1937) bird scissor-tailed flycatcher

(1951) animal bison (1972) reptile mountain boomer lizard (1969) stone rose rock (barite rose) (1968) colors green and white (1915) song “Oklahoma” (1953) beverage milk butterfly black swallowtail fish white or sand bass folk dance square dance furbearer raccoon game animal white-tailed deer grass Indiangrass insect honeybee musical instrument fiddle poem “Howdy Folks,” David Randolph Milsten waltz “Oklahoma Wind” wildflower Indian blanket Nickname: Sooner State

• Origin of name: From two Choctaw Indian words meaning “red people”• Residents: Oklahoman

Oregon• Capital: Salem• Governor: Ted Kulongoski, D (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Alis volat Propriis (She flies with her own wings) (1987)• flower Oregon grape (1899) tree douglas fir (1939) animal beaver (1969)

bird western meadowlark (1927) fish chinook salmon (1961) rock thunderegg (1965) colors navy blue and gold (1959) song “Oregon, My Oregon” (1927) insect swallowtail butterfly (1979) dance square dance (1977) nut hazelnut (1989) gemstone sunstone (1987) seashell Oregon hairy triton (1991) beverage milk (1997) mushroom Pacific golden chanterelle (1999) Nickname: Beaver State

• Origin of name: 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.

• Residents: Oregonian

Pennsylvania

• Capital: Harrisburg• Governor: Ed Rendell, D (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Virtue, liberty, and independence• flower mountain laurel (1933) tree hemlock (1931)

bird ruffed grouse (1931) dog Great Dane (1965) colors blue and gold (1907) song “Pennsylvania” (1990) Nickname: Keystone State

• Origin of name: In honor of Adm. Sir William Penn, father of William Penn. It means “Penn's Woodland.”

• Residents: Pennsylvanian

Rhode Island

• Capital: Providence• Governor: Don Carcieri, R (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Hope• flower violet (unofficial) (1968) tree red maple (official) (1964)

bird Rhode Island red hen (official) (1954) shell quahog (official) mineral bowenite (1966) stone cumberlandite (1966) colors blue, white, and gold (in state flag) song “Rhode Island, It's for Me” (1996) Official name: The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

• Nickname: The Ocean State• Origin of name: From the Greek Island of Rhodes• Residents: Rhode Islander

South Carolina

• Capital: Columbia • Governor: Mark Sanford, R (to Jan. 2011)• Mottoes: Animis opibusque parati (Prepared in mind

and resources) and Dum spiro spero (While I breathe, I hope)

• flower Carolina yellow jessamine (1924) tree palmetto tree (1939) bird Carolina wren (1948) song “Carolina” (1911) Nickname: Palmetto State

• Origin of name: In honor of Charles I of England• Residents: South Carolinian

South Dakota• Capital: Pierre• Governor: Mike Rounds, R (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Under God the people rule• flower American pasqueflower (1903) grass Western wheat grass

(1970) soil houdek (1990) tree black hills spruce (1947) bird ring-necked pheasant (1943) insect honeybee (1978) animal coyote (1949) mineral stone rose quartz (1966) gemstone fairburn agate (1966) colors blue and gold (in state flag) song “Hail! South Dakota” (1943) fish walleye (1982) musical instrument fiddle (1989) dessert kuchen (2000) Nicknames: Mount Rushmore State; Coyote State

• Origin of name: From the Sioux tribe, meaning “allies”• Residents: South Dakotan

Tennessee• Capital: Nashville • Governor: Phil Bredesen, D (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Agriculture and Commerce (1987)• flower iris (1933) tree tulip poplar (1947) bird mockingbird (1933)

horse Tennessee walking horse animal raccoon (1971) wild flower passion flower (1973) songs “My Homeland, Tennessee” (1925); “When It's Iris Time in Tennessee” (1935); “My Tennessee” (1955); “Tennessee Waltz” (1965); “Rocky Top” (1982); “Tennessee” (1992); “The Pride of Tennessee” (1996) Nickname: Volunteer State

• Origin of name: Of Cherokee origin; the exact meaning is unknown• Residents: Tennessean, Tennesseean

Texas• Capital: Austin• Governor: Rick Perry, R (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Friendship• flower bluebonnet (1901) tree pecan (1919) bird mockingbird (1927)

song “Texas, Our Texas” (1929) fish guadalupe bass (1989) seashell lightning whelk (1987) dish chili (1977) folk dance square dance (1991) fruit Texas red grapefruit (1993) gem Texas blue topaz (1969) gemstone cut Lone Star cut (1977) grass sideoats grass (1971) reptile horned lizard (1993) stone petrified palmwood (1969) plant prickly pear cactus insect monarch butterfly pepper jalapeño pepper mammal longhorn small mammal armadillo flying mammal Mexican free-tailed bat Nickname: Lone Star State

• Origin of name: From an Indian word meaning “friends”• Residents: Texan

Utah• Capital: Salt Lake City• Governor: Gary Herbert, R (to Jan. 2010)• Motto: Industry• flower sego lily (1911) tree blue spruce (1933) bird California gull

(1955) emblem beehive (1959) song “Utah, We Love Thee” (1953) gem topaz animal Rocky Mountain elk (1971) insect honeybee (1983) grass Indian rice grass (1990) fossil allosaurus (1988) cooking pot dutch oven (1997) fish Bonneville cutthroat trout (1997) fruit cherry (1997) mineral copper rock coal (1991) Nickname: Beehive State

• Origin of name: From the Ute tribe, meaning “people of the mountains”

• Residents: Utahan, Utahn

Vermont

• Capital: Montpelier• Governor: Jim Douglas, R (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Vermont, Freedom and Unity• flower red clover (1894) tree sugar maple (1949) bird

hermit thrush (1941) animal Morgan horse (1961) insect honeybee (1978) song “These Green Mountains” (2000) Nickname: Green Mountain State

• Origin of name: From the French “vert mont,” meaning “green mountain”

• Residents: Vermonter

Virginia

• Capital: Richmond• Governor: Bob McDonnell, R (to Jan. 2014)• Motto: Sic semper tyrannis (Thus always to tyrants)• flower American dogwood (1918) bird cardinal (1950)

dog American foxhound (1966) shell oyster shell (1974) tree dogwood (1956) Nicknames: The Old Dominion; Mother of Presidents

• Origin of name: In honor of Elizabeth “Virgin Queen” of England

• Residents: Virginian

Washington• Capital: Olympia• Governor: Christine Gregoire, D (to Jan. 2013)• Motto: Al-Ki (Indian word meaning “by and by”)• flower coast rhododendron (1892) tree western hemlock (1947)

bird willow goldfinch (1951) fish steelhead trout (1969) gem petrified wood (1975) colors green and gold (1925) song “Washington, My Home” (1959) folk song “Roll On Columbia, Roll On” (1987) dance square dance (1979) grass bluebunch wheatgrass (1989) insect blue darner dragonfly (1997) fossil Columbian mammoth (1998) fruit apple (1989) Nicknames: Evergreen State

• Origin of name: In honor of George Washington• Residents: Washingtonian

West Virginia

• Capital: Charleston• Governor: Joe Manchin III, D (to Jan. 2013)• Motto: Montani semper liberi (Mountaineers are always free)• flower rhododendron (1903) tree sugar maple (1949) bird

cardinal (1949) animal black bear (1973) colors blue and gold (official) (1863) songs “West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home,” “The West Virginia Hills,” and “This Is My West Virginia” (adopted by Legislature in 1947, 1961, and 1963 as official state songs) Nickname: Mountain State

• Origin of name: In honor of Elizabeth, “Virgin Queen” of England

• Residents: West Virginian

Wisconsin• Capital: Madison• Governor: Jim Doyle, D (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Forward• flower wood violet (1949) tree sugar maple (1949) grain corn (1990) bird

robin (1949) animal badger wild life animal white-tailed deer (1957) domestic animal dairy cow (1971) insect honeybee (1977) fish musky (muskellunge) (1955) song “On Wisconsin” mineral galena (1971) rock red granite (1971) symbol of peace mourning dove (1971) soil antigo silt loam (1983) fossil trilobite (1985) dog American Water Spaniel (1986) beverage milk (1988) dance polka (1994) waltz “The Wisconsin Waltz” (2001) ballad “Oh Wisconsin, Land of My Dreams” (2001) Nickname: Badger State

• Origin of name: French corruption of an Indian word whose meaning is disputed

• Residents: Wisconsinite

Wyoming

• Capital: Cheyenne• Governor: Dave Freudenthal, D (to Jan. 2011)• Motto: Equal rights (1955)• flower Indian paintbrush (1917) tree cottonwood (1947) bird western

meadowlark (1927) dinosaur Triceratops (1994) fish cutthroat trout (1987) fossil Knightia (1987) gemstone jade (1967) insignia bucking horse (unofficial) mammal bison (1985) reptile horned toad (1993) soil Forkwood series (unofficial) song “Wyoming” (1955) Nickname: Equality State

• Origin of name: From the Delaware Indian word, meaning “mountains and valleys alternating”; the same as the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania

• Residents: Wyomingite

Works Cited