Charleston
is the capital city of which state? (Hint: not South Carolina)
Where
might you spend a year in jail for cutting down a certain plant?
All these answers and more can be found below.
Before learning about the individual states, the
country as a whole is called the United States of America. The ‘United States’
part is simple enough but what about ‘America’?
Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci visited the region in
1501 and was the first to (accurately) suggest that Christopher Columbus did
not land in India but on a “new” continent.
To honor him, a map from 1507 names this place
America, which is the Romanticized (Latin-ized) version of Amerigo.
Please note that two continents are named for Vespucci, not just one country.
…
And now, the states…
The Cotton State
22nd state, admitted in 1819
ETYMOLOGY
Creek and/or Choctaw terms meaning ‘tribal town’ or ‘vegetation gatherers’
CAPITAL
Montgomery
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Birmingham (Civil Rights Institute)
Huntsville (Space & Rocket Center)
Tuscaloosa (University of Alabama Crimson Tide)
WEIRD LAW
Confetti is illegal in Mobile, which held the first American Mardi Gras festival in 1703.
STATE MOTTO
“Audemus jura nostra defendere”
(Latin for “We dare to defend our rights”)
ALASKA
(AK)
The
Last Frontier
49th state, admitted in 1959
ETYMOLOGY
The Aleut word ‘Alyeska’ means ‘The Great Land’
CAPITAL
Juneau
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Anchorage (Chugach State Park)
Nome (end of Iditarod sled dog race)
Utqiagvik (formerly called Barrow; northernmost U.S. city)
WEIRD
LAW
Animals- specifically flamingoes- are not allowed in barber shops and places
where food is sold.
STATE
MOTTO
“North to the future”
ARIZONA (AZ)
The
Grand Canyon State
48th state, admitted in 1912
ETYMOLOGY
Native American words meaning ‘silver-bearing’ and/or ‘the land of the small
spring’
CAPITAL
Phoenix
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Flagstaff (Lowell Observatory)
Tucson (Saguaro National Park)
Yuma (Yuma Territorial Prison)
WEIRD
LAW
Cutting down a saguaro cactus could get you a year in jail. The species is
endangered and grows very slowly, sometimes taking 100 years or more to sprout
an arm.
STATE
MOTTO
“Ditat deus”
(Latin for “God enriches”)
ARKANSAS (AR)
The
Natural State
25th state, admitted in 1836
ETYMOLOGY
Early French explorers heard the Algonquian word ‘Arkansas’ referring to a ‘people
who live downstream’. The origin of the pronunciation is disputed but one
theory says explorer Zebulon Pike spelled it Arkansaw.
CAPITAL
Little Rock
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Fayetteville (Ozark Mountains)
Hot Springs (Hot Springs National Park)
Eureka Springs (Thorncrown Chapel)
WEIRD
LAW
Though it must certainly happen, flirting in public in Little Rock is illegal.
STATE
MOTTO
“Regnat populus
(Latin for “The people rule”)
CALIFORNIA (CA)
The
Golden State
31st state, admitted in 1850
ETYMOLOGY
A common hypothesis points to a fictional place in the 1510 novel ‘Las sergas
de Esplandián’, which is Spanish for ‘The Adventures Of Esplandián’
CAPITAL
Sacramento
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Los Angeles (Hollywood)
San Francisco (Alcatraz)
San Diego (Balboa Park)
WEIRD
LAW
Riding a bicycle in a public swimming pool is illegal.
STATE
MOTTO
“Eureka!”
(Greek for “I found it!”)
COLORADO (CO)
The
Centennial State
38th state, admitted in 1876
ETYMOLOGY
‘Colored red’ in Spanish. The state was named for the Colorado River, which
runs along red sandstone.
CAPITAL
Denver
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Boulder (Flatirons)
Colorado Springs (Garden of the Gods)
Aspen (Rocky Mountain skiing)
WEIRD
LAW
Lending a vacuum cleaner to your neighbor is prohibited in Denver.
STATE
MOTTO
“Nil sine numine”
(Latin for “Nothing without providence”)
CONNECTICUT (CT)
The
Constitution State
5th state, admitted in 1788
ETYMOLOGY
The Algonquian word ‘Quinnehtukqut’ means ‘land beside the long tidal river’
CAPITAL
Hartford
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Bridgeport (PT Barnum Museum)
New Haven (Yale University)
Stamford (World Wrestling Entertainment)
WEIRD
LAW
In several towns, walking backwards after sunset is prohibited.
STATE
MOTTO
“Qui transtulit sustinet”
(Latin for “He who transplanted still sustains”)
DELAWARE (DE)
The
First State
1st state, admitted in 1787
ETYMOLOGY
The first governor of Jamestown (England’s first settlement in North America)
was Thomas West, also known as Lord De La Warr. The origin of that moniker is
unknown but may have ties to the French military.
CAPITAL
Dover
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Wilmington (Grand Opera House)
Rehoboth Beach (boardwalk)
Milton (Dogfish Head Brewery)
WEIRD
LAW
You may not change clothes in a car or public restroom.
STATE
MOTTO
“Liberty and independence”
FLORIDA (FL)
The
Sunshine State
27th state, admitted in 1845
ETYMOLOGY
Original name was ‘Pascua Florida’, which means ‘flowery Easter’ in Spanish.
Spain discovered the region during the Easter period.
CAPITAL
Tallahassee
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Jacksonville (Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary)
Orlando (Disney World)
Cape Canaveral (Kennedy Space Center)
WEIRD
LAW
No singing in public while wearing a swimsuit.
STATE
MOTTO
“In God we trust”
GEORGIA (GA)
The
Peach State
4th state, admitted in 1788
ETYMOLOGY
King George II, who ruled Great Britain from 1727 to 1760
CAPITAL
Atlanta
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Savannah (haunted houses and tours)
Augusta (PGA golf tournament)
Athens (hometown of R.E.M.)
WEIRD
LAW
Giraffes may not be tied to telephone poles or street lamps.
STATE
MOTTO
“Wisdom, justice, moderation”
HAWAI’I (HI)
The
Aloha State
50th state, admitted in 1959
ETYMOLOGY
The exact origin is unclear but the name is from the Hawai’ian/Polynesian
language group and possibly means ‘homeland’, ‘land of the gods’, and/or is a
reference to a mythological figure
CAPITAL
Honolulu
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Hilo (Volcanoes National Park)
Waialua (setting for ‘Lost’ and other shows/movies)
Lahaina (whale watching)
WEIRD
LAW
Appearing anywhere in public other than a beach wearing only a swimsuit is technically
illegal.
STATE
MOTTO
“Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono”
(Hawai’ian for “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”)
IDAHO (ID)
The
Gem State
43rd state, admitted in 1890
ETYMOLOGY
The area was named by political lobbyist George Willing, supposedly from a
Shoshone phrase meaning ‘gem of the mountains’. By the time it was discovered
that Willing made the whole thing up, ‘Idaho’ was being widely used.
CAPITAL
Boise
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Couer d’Alene (lake town in panhandle)
Idaho Falls (Collector Corner Museum)
Twin Falls (Shoshone Waterfall)
WEIRD
LAW
Though enacted as a goof and never enforced, a law requires people to smile
while walking around the town of Pocatello.
STATE
MOTTO
“Esto perpetua”
(Latin for “Let it be perpetual”)
ILLINOIS (IL)
The
Prairie State / Land Of Lincoln
21st state, admitted in 1818
ETYMOLOGY
French version of the Peoria word meaning ‘tribe of superior men’. Oddly, the
name does not originate from the language of the Illinois tribe.
CAPITAL
Springfield
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Chicago (Millennium Park)
Aurora (Wayne’s World)
Rockford (Peaches of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League)
WEIRD
LAW
Mispronounce the town of Joliet (Joe-lee-ett) and receive a $5 fine.
STATE
MOTTO
“State sovereignty, national unity”
INDIANA (IN)
The
Hoosier State
19th state, admitted in 1816
ETYMOLOGY
An Anglicized (European-ized) word meaning ‘land of the Indians’, since
Christopher Columbus mistakenly thought he landed in India
CAPITAL
Indianapolis
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Fort Wayne (Johnny Appleseed Park)
Gary (Michael Jackson’s hometown)
South Bend (University of Notre Dame)
WEIRD
LAW
Taking a bath between October and March is illegal.
STATE
MOTTO
“The crossroads of America”
IOWA (IA)
The
Hawkeye State
29th state, admitted in 1846
ETYMOLOGY
The Ioway people formed a branch of the Sioux tribe
CAPITAL
Des Moines (French for ‘The Monks’)
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Sioux City (Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center)
Dubuque (Mississippi River Museum)
Dyersville (Field Of Dreams filming location)
WEIRD
LAW
Before you throw bricks and missiles onto public streets, get permission from
the Town Council.
STATE
MOTTO
“Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain”
KANSAS (KS)
The
Sunflower State
34th state, admitted in 1861
ETYMOLOGY
‘People of the wind’ in several local tribal languages, including Kanza
CAPITAL
Topeka
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Wichita (Botanica: The Wichita Gardens)
Dodge City (get out of Dodge)
Kansas City (Kansas Speedway)
Note:
Kansas City, Missouri, was named for the Kansas River eight years before Kansas
became a state. Kansas City, Kansas, was named after the Missouri city, hoping
to capitalize on its success. The two are separate cities but are included
together in the Kansas City Metro Area.
WEIRD
LAW
Do not throw a knife at anyone wearing stripes.
STATE
MOTTO
“Ad astra per aspera”
(Latin for “To the stars through difficulties”)
KENTUCKY (KY)
The
Bluegrass State
15th state, admitted in 1792
ETYMOLOGY
From a Wyandot (branch of Iroquois) term meaning ‘land of tomorrow’ or
referring to a meadow or field
CAPITAL
Frankfort
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Louisville (Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory)
Clermont (Jim Beam American Stillhouse)
Cave City (Mammoth Cave National Park)
WEIRD
LAW
According to statute 436.600, it is unlawful to dye fowl or rabbits any color
unless you are selling six or more of them. Less than that amount is animal
cruelty.
STATE
MOTTO
“United we stand, divided we fall”
LOUISIANA (LA)
The
Pelican State
18th state, admitted in 1812
ETYMOLOGY
Named for the French King Louis XIV, the territory known as Louisiana was sold
to the U.S. by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1803 and divided into all or part of 15
separate states
CAPITAL
Baton Rouge (French for ‘red stick’)
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
New Orleans (Bourbon Street)
Lafayette (Vermilionville living history museum)
Shreveport (Sci-Port Discovery Center)
WEIRD
LAW
Television reporters are not allowed to throw candy during parades in New
Orleans.
STATE
MOTTO
“Union, justice, confidence”
MAINE (ME)
The
Pine Tree State
23rd state, admitted in 1820
ETYMOLOGY
Thought to have been called the ‘main’ land to distinguish it from nearby
islands. Many older English words had an ‘e’ at the end.
CAPITAL
Augusta
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Portland (Old Port district)
Bangor (Stephen King’s house)
Bar Harbor (Acadia National Park)
WEIRD LAW
In Waterville, best to let snot drip from your face since blowing your nose in
public is forbidden.
STATE
MOTTO
“Dirigo”
(Latin for “I lead”)
MARYLAND (MD)
The
Old Line State
7th state, admitted in 1788
ETYMOLOGY
Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I of England
CAPITAL
Annapolis
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Baltimore (Fort McHenry)
Frederick (Museum of Civil War Medicine)
Ocean City (beaches)
WEIRD
LAW
In Baltimore, you may not take a lion to a movie theater.
STATE
MOTTO
“Fatti maschi, parole femine”
(Italian for “Strong deeds, gentle words”; formerly translated as “Manly deeds,
womanly words”)
MASSACHUSETTS (MA)
The
Bay State
6th state, admitted in 1788
ETYMOLOGY
Algonquian term thought to reference a ‘great hill’
CAPITAL
Boston
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Worcester (EcoTarium)
Salem (1692 witch trials)
Springfield (Basketball Hall Of Fame)
WEIRD
LAW
While mourning at a wake, eating more than three sandwiches is not permitted.
STATE
MOTTO
“Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem”
(Latin for “By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty”)
MICHIGAN (MI)
The
Great Lakes State
26th state, admitted in 1837
ETYMOLOGY
Chippewa word meaning ‘great water’, probably used to describe Lake Superior
CAPITAL
Lansing
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Detroit (Motown Museum)
Grand Rapids (Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park)
Dearborn (Henry Ford Museum)
WEIRD
LAW
Painting a sparrow to look like a parakeet is illegal.
STATE
MOTTO
“Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice”
(Latin for “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you”)
MINNESOTA (MN)
The
North Star State
32nd state, admitted in 1858
ETYMOLOGY
Sioux word meaning ‘cloudy water’, possibly referencing some of Minnesota’s
“10,000 lakes”, though it really has almost 12,000
CAPITAL
Saint Paul
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Minneapolis (Mall Of America)
Duluth (Aerial Lift Bridge)
Rochester (Mayo Clinic)
WEIRD
LAW
Women impersonating Santa Claus could face 30 days in jail.
STATE
MOTTO
“L'étoile du Nord”
(French for “The star of the North”)
MISSISSIPPI (MS)
The
Magnolia State
20th state, admitted in 1817
ETYMOLOGY
English version of a French version of a Native American word meaning ‘great
river’
CAPITAL
Jackson
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Biloxi (Beauvoir – Jefferson Davis’s house)
Gulfport (Model Railroad Museum)
Hattiesburg (Armed Forces Museum)
WEIRD
LAW
Practicing polygamy is forbidden and teaching it can get a person fined and/or
months in jail.
STATE
MOTTO
“Virtute et armis”
(Latin for “By valor and arms”)
MISSOURI (MO)
The
Show-Me State
24th state, admitted in 1821
ETYMOLOGY
Disputed but comes from a Native American word somehow relating to canoes
CAPITAL
Jefferson City
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Kansas City (barbecue)
Saint Louis (Budweiser)
Branson (Titanic Museum)
Note:
Kansas City, MO, was named for the Kansas River eight years before Kansas
became a state. Kansas City, Kansas, was named after the Missouri city, hoping
to capitalize on its success. The two are separate cities but are included
together in the Kansas City Metro Area.
WEIRD
LAW
Firefighters may not rescue women unless they are fully dressed.
STATE
MOTTO
“Salus populi suprema lex esto”
(Latin for “Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law”)
MONTANA (MT)
The
Treasure State
41st state, admitted in 1889
ETYMOLOGY
‘Montaña’ is the Spanish word for ‘mountain’
CAPITAL
Helena
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Billings (Yellowstone Art Museum)
Bozeman (Museum of the Rockies)
Missoula (Smokejumper Center)
WEIRD
LAW
City employees in Billings may not use speed-dial while working.
STATE
MOTTO
“Oro y plata”
(Spanish for “Gold and silver”)
NEBRASKA (NE)
The
Cornhusker State
37th state, admitted in 1867
ETYMOLOGY
The Oto word ‘nebrathka’, meaning ‘flat water’ and probably referencing the
Platte River
CAPITAL
Lincoln
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Omaha (Henry Doorly Zoo)
Bellevue (Volcanic Peppers store)
Ogallala (Petrified Wood Gallery)
WEIRD
LAW
A possibly fake but definitely amusing law bans the hunting of whales, even
though there are none in the state, not even at aquariums.
STATE
MOTTO
“Equality before the law”
NEVADA (NV)
The
Silver State
36th state, admitted in 1864
ETYMOLOGY
‘Snow-covered’ in Spanish, which is odd since the state is mostly desert, but the name probably refers to the Sierra Nevada mountains along its western border with
California
CAPITAL
Carson City
OTHER
NOTABLE CITIES
Las Vegas (casinos along the Strip)
Reno (National Automobile Museum)
Elko (Humboldt National Forest)
WEIRD
LAW
When traveling a highway, you better be in a vehicle and not on a camel.
STATE
MOTTO
“All for our country”
NEW HAMPSHIRE (NH)
The
Granite State
9th state, admitted in 1788
ETYMOLOGY
A county in southern England
CAPITAL
Concord
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Manchester (Palace Theatre)
Portsmouth (Strawbery Banke Open-air Museum)
Sargent’s Purchase (Mount Washington)
WEIRD
LAW
It is illegal to have a picnic in a cemetery.
STATE
MOTTO
“Live free or die”
NEW JERSEY (NJ)
The
Garden State
3rd state, admitted in 1787
ETYMOLOGY
The island of Jersey in the English Channel
CAPITAL
Trenton
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Newark (Prudential Center)
Jersey City (Liberty Science Center)
Asbury Park (beaches & boardwalk)
WEIRD
LAW
Only state where it is illegal to pump your own gas. (Oregon has eased its
restrictions, allowing self-service in certain areas.)
STATE
MOTTO
“Liberty and prosperity”
NEW MEXICO (NM)
Land
Of Enchantment
47th state, admitted in 1912
ETYMOLOGY
The state was established before the country of Mexico, which was also named
for a large valley and/or an Aztec god. The Spanish called the region of the
now-state Nuevo Mexico, which was changed to New Mexico in 1848 when the
Spanish gave control of the territory to the U.S.
CAPITAL
Santa Fe, oldest (and highest-altitude) capital city in the United States.
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Albuquerque (Museum of Nuclear Science & History)
Roswell (aliens)
Taos (Enchanted Circle Drive)
WEIRD
LAW
It is a misdemeanor to stop singing before the national or state anthem is
complete.
STATE
MOTTO
“Crescit eundo”
(Latin for “It grows as it goes”)
NEW YORK (NY)
The
Empire State
11th state, admitted in 1788
ETYMOLOGY
Named to honor England’s Duke of York, who would later become King James II
CAPITAL
Albany
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
New York City (Statue Of Liberty)
Buffalo (Buffalo wings)
Cooperstown (Baseball Hall Of Fame)
WEIRD
LAW
If jumping off a building does not kill you, the punishment for doing so is
death.
STATE
MOTTO
“Excelsior”
(Latin for “Ever upward”)
NORTH CAROLINA (NC)
The
Tar Heel State
12th state, admitted in 1789
ETYMOLOGY
King Charles I, who ruled England from 1625 until his execution for treason in
1649. He was married to Queen Henrietta Maria (see: Maryland). The Carolina
Territory was split up peacefully for ease of governance.
CAPITAL
Raleigh
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Charlotte (NASCAR Hall Of Fame)
Asheville (beer scene)
Greensboro (1960 Woolworth sit-in)
WEIRD
LAW
A gambling statute restricts the playing of Bingo to 10 hours per week.
STATE
MOTTO
“Esse quam videri”
(Latin for “To be rather than to seem”)
NORTH DAKOTA (ND)
The
Peace Garden State
39th state, admitted in 1889
ETYMOLOGY
‘Dakota’ is the Sioux word for ‘friend’. The Dakota Territory was split due to
a dispute over the location of the capital city but may have also been
politically motivated.
CAPITAL
Bismarck
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Fargo (famous for film and television show)
Minot (Scandinavian Heritage Park)
Medora (Theodore Roosevelt National Park)
WEIRD
LAW
Falling asleep with shoes on is against the law.
STATE
MOTTO
“Liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable”
OHIO (OH)
The
Buckeye State
17th state, admitted in 1803
ETYMOLOGY
Iroquois word meaning ‘good river’
CAPITAL
Columbus
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Cleveland (Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame)
Cincinnati (American Sign Museum)
Canton (Pro Football Hall Of Fame)
WEIRD
LAW
In Bexley, installing a slot machine in an outhouse is illegal.
STATE
MOTTO
“With God, all things are possible”
OKLAHOMA (OK)
The
Sooner State
46th state, admitted in 1907
ETYMOLOGY
‘Okla humma’, the Choctaw phrase meaning ‘red people’, though ‘humma’ may
alternately mean ‘brave’ or ‘noble’
CAPITAL
Oklahoma City
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Tulsa (Center of the Universe)
Norman (National Weather Center)
Broken Arrow (Military History Museum)
WEIRD
LAW
Considered a health hazard, biting someone else’s hamburger is not permitted.
STATE
MOTTO
“Labor omnia vincit”
(Latin for “Work conquers all”)
OREGON (OR)
The
Beaver State
33rd state, admitted in 1859
ETYMOLOGY
Possibly a Native American or French Canadian word referencing the Columbia
River
CAPITAL
Salem
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Portland (Japanese Garden)
Eugene (Cascades Raptor Center)
Bend (Tumalo waterfall)
WEIRD
LAW
Juggling in Hood River without a license is a crime.
STATE
MOTTO
“Alis volat propriis”
(Latin for “She flies with her own wings”)
PENNSYLVANIA (PA)
The
Keystone State
2nd state, admitted in 1787
ETYMOLOGY
William Penn, the peaceful Quaker who founded the colony, and the Latin word ‘silvania’,
meaning ‘woodland’ (which, by itself, was Penn’s initial suggestion)
CAPITAL
Harrisburg
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Philadelphia (Independence Hall)
Pittsburgh (Senator John Heinz History Center)
Hershey (chocolate)
WEIRD
LAW
Fishing is legal but using dynamite to catch them is not.
STATE
MOTTO
“Virtue, liberty, and independence”
RHODE ISLAND (RI)
The
Ocean State
13th state, admitted in 1790
ETYMOLOGY
When discovered, the explorers thought the area was an island containing red clay, similar to the Greek island
of Rhodes
CAPITAL
Providence
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Newport (mansions)
Narragansett (beaches)
Cranston (Pawtuxet Village)
WEIRD
LAW
You may not marry someone who is certifiably insane.
STATE
MOTTO
“Hope”
SOUTH CAROLINA (SC)
The
Palmetto State
8th state, admitted in 1788
ETYMOLOGY
King Charles I, who ruled England from 1625 until his execution for treason in
1649. He was married to Queen Henrietta Maria (see: Maryland). The Carolina
Territory was split up peacefully for ease of governance.
CAPITAL
Columbia
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Charleston (Fort Sumter National Monument)
Hilton Head Island (golf tournament)
Rock Hill (Fire Station Museum)
WEIRD
LAW
Minors (people under 18) may not play Pinball.
STATE
MOTTO
“Dum spiro spero”
(Latin for “While I breathe, I hope”)
SOUTH DAKOTA (SD)
The
Mount Rushmore State
40th state, admitted in 1889
ETYMOLOGY
‘Dakota’ is the Sioux word for ‘friend’. The Dakota Territory was split due to
a dispute over the location of the capital city but may have also been
politically motivated.
CAPITAL
Pierre
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Sioux Falls (Falls Park)
Mitchell (The Corn Palace)
Deadwood (‘Wild Bill’ & ‘Calamity Jane’ gravesites)
WEIRD
LAW
Challenging a pacifist to an arm-wrestling contest is illegal.
STATE
MOTTO
“Under God, the people rule”
TENNESSEE (TN)
The
Volunteer State
16th state, admitted in 1796
ETYMOLOGY
Tanasi was a Cherokee town, but the source of the name is not known
CAPITAL
Nashville
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Memphis (Graceland)
Lynchburg (Jack Daniels distillery)
Knoxville (World’s Fair Park)
WEIRD
LAW
In Memphis, panhandling is a misdemeanor unless a $10 permit is obtained first.
STATE
MOTTO
“Agriculture and commerce”
TEXAS (TX)
The
Lone Star State
28th state, admitted in 1845
ETYMOLOGY
Caddo word meaning ‘friends’
CAPITAL
Austin
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Houston (NASA Space Center – “Houston, we have a problem.”)
Dallas (Reunion Tower)
San Antonio (The Alamo)
WEIRD
LAW
An unfortunately un-passed bill would have required criminals to provide
24-hour notice of their crimes to victims.
STATE
MOTTO
“Friendship”
UTAH (UT)
The
Beehive State
45th state, admitted in 1896
ETYMOLOGY
Either a Ute word meaning ‘people of the mountains’ or an Apache word meaning
‘those that are higher up’
CAPITAL
Salt Lake City
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Provo (The Soap Factory)
Ogden (George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park)
Moab (Arches National Park)
WEIRD
LAW
In Provo, where the average annual snowfall is 43 inches, a $50 fine may be
assessed to anybody throwing a snowball.
STATE
MOTTO
“Industry”
VERMONT (VT)
The
Green Mountain State
14th state, admitted in 1791
ETYMOLOGY
‘Vert mont’ means ‘green mountain’ in French
CAPITAL
Montpelier
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Burlington (Lake Champlain)
Stowe (von Trapp Family Lodge)
Waterbury (Ben & Jerry’s Factory)
WEIRD
LAW
Still on the books is an 1856 law demanding women get permission from their
husbands before obtaining false teeth.
STATE
MOTTO
“Freedom and unity”
VIRGINIA (VA)
The
Old Dominion
10th state, admitted in 1788
ETYMOLOGY
Queen Elizabeth I (a.k.a. the Virgin Queen), who ruled England from 1558 to
1603
CAPITAL
Richmond
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Virginia Beach (boardwalk and beaches)
Charlottesville (Monticello – Thomas Jefferson’s house)
Williamsburg (colonial village)
WEIRD
LAW
Flipping a coin in a Richmond restaurant to decide who pays is not allowed.
STATE
MOTTO
“Sic semper tyrannis”
(Latin for “Thus always to tyrants”)
WASHINGTON (WA)
The
Evergreen State
42nd state, admitted in 1889
ETYMOLOGY
Honoring George Washington, first president of the United States
CAPITAL
Olympia
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Seattle (Space Needle)
Spokane (Manito Park)
Walla Walla (fun to say)
WEIRD
LAW
An X-ray machine may not be used for fitting shoes.
STATE
MOTTO
“Al-ki”
(Chinook for “By and by” or “Into the future”)
WEST VIRGINIA (WV)
The
Mountain State
35th state, admitted in 1863
ETYMOLOGY
Queen Elizabeth I (a.k.a. the Virgin Queen), who ruled England from 1558 to
1603. This region of the territory known as Virginia seceded due to political
differences, especially over the issue of slavery.
CAPITAL
Charleston
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Huntington (Museum of Radio & Technology)
Glen Jean (New River Gorge National Park)
Wheeling (Kruger Toy & Train Museum)
WEIRD
LAW
To counter laws forbidding things, collecting and eating roadkill is
legal in West Virginia. There is even an app-based system to find out where
“fresh ones” are.
STATE
MOTTO
“Montani semper liberi”
(Latin for “Mountaineers are always free”)
WISCONSIN (WI)
America’s
Dairyland
30th state, admitted in 1848
ETYMOLOGY
English spelling of the French version of the Miami word ‘meskonsing’, referring
to the red rocks along the Wisconsin River
CAPITAL
Madison
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Milwaukee (Pabst and Miller breweries)
Green Bay (Lambeau Field)
Eau Claire (Paul Bunyan Logging Camp)
WEIRD
LAW
Dairy is taken very seriously and many bills to restrict substitute butter
have been proposed.
STATE
MOTTO
“Forward”
WYOMING (WY)
The
Equality State
44th state, admitted in 1890
ETYMOLOGY
A word meaning ‘big river flat’, originally used by the Lenape for a region of
Pennsylvania
CAPITAL
Cheyenne
OTHER NOTABLE CITIES
Jackson (Jackson Hole region)
Casper (Tate Geological Museum)
Laramie (Deer wood Ranch Wild Horse Sanctuary)
WEIRD
LAW
Being drunk in a coal mine could get you a year in jail.
STATE
MOTTO
“Equal rights”
Though it is not (yet) a state, our nation’s capital is also worth mentioning…
WASHINGTON, D.C. (DC)
The
Federal City
founded in 1790
ETYMOLOGY
The first part was named for George Washington.
D.C. stands for District Of Columbia, meaning a federal district within
Columbia, an old (unofficial) name for the United States, representing
Christopher Columbus.
NOTABLE
SITES
Smithsonian Museums (Air & Space, African American History, Natural
History)
National Mall including Lincoln Memorial & Washington Monument
Memorials (Vietnam Veterans, World War 2, Grant’s Tomb)
WEIRD
LAW
People have been arrested for dancing inside the Jefferson Memorial.
MOTTO
“Justitia omnibus”
(Latin for “Justice for all”)
If all this did not satisfy your hunger for U.S. state
information, go [here] to find out official state things and other such
tidbits.
Please report any errors in the comments section at
the bottom of this page.
Thanks for reading!
SOURCES:
Google.com, Britannica.com, AL.com, State Symbols USA, Babbel, Arkansas.gov, jetpunk.com, Utah.gov, The Daily Meal, weirdfacts.com, stupidlaws.com, onlyinyourstate.com, planetware.com, kchistory.org, tripadvisor.com
