List of U.S. state and territory nicknames

File:Nicknames of the states, 1884.jpg

Map of the United States showing the state nicknames as hogs. Lithograph by Mackwitz, St. Louis, 1884.

The following is a table of U.S. state, federal district and territory nicknames, including officially adopted nicknames and other traditional nicknames for the 50 U.S. states, the U.S. federal district, as well as five U.S. territories.

State, federal district, and territory nicknames

Official state, federal district, and territory nicknames are highlighted in bold. A state nickname is not to be confused with an official state motto.

State, federal district, or territory	Nickname(s)
Template:Flag<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Efn	Alabama the Beautiful<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Cotton Plantation State<ref name="ala" /> Cotton State<ref name=AL>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Heart of Dixie (used on license plates)<ref name=AL/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Lizard State<ref name="ala">Introduction to Alabama, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.</ref> Sweet Home Alabama<ref name=":0" /> Yellowhammer State<ref name=AL/>
Template:Flag	Land of the Midnight Sun<ref name=ak/> Land of the Noonday Moon<ref name=ak/> The Last Frontier (used on license plates)<ref name="ak">The Last Frontier State, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.</ref><ref name="alaska">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Seward's Folly (named after U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward)<ref name=ak/> Seward's Ice Box, Icebergia, Polaria, Walrussia, and Johnson's Polar Bear Garden were satirical names coined by members of the U.S. Congress during debate over the Alaska Purchase<ref name=ak/>
Template:Flag	Motu o Fiafiaga (a Samoan phrase; in English, it is "Islands of Paradise")<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> (used on American Samoa license plates)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Football Island[s]<ref>"American Samoa Facts". Factretriever.com. Retrieved November 24, 2017.</ref>
Template:Flag	Apache State<ref name=az/> Aztec State<ref name=az/> Baby State (because Arizona is the newest contiguous state in the Union)<ref name=az/> Copper State<ref name=az/> Grand Canyon State (used on license plates)<ref name="az">Introduction to Arizona, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.</ref><ref>Ariz. HB 2549 Officially adopted by Arizona on February 14, 2011</ref> Italy of America<ref name=az/> Sand Hill State<ref name=az/> Sunset State<ref name=az/> Sweetheart State (see below)<ref name=az/> Valentine State (Arizona gained statehood on February 14, 1912)<ref name=az/>
Template:Flag	Bear State<ref name=ark/> Bowie State<ref name=ark/> Hot Springs State<ref name=ark/> Land of Opportunity (former official nickname; previously used on license plates)<ref name=ark/> The Natural State (used on license plates)<ref name=ark/><ref>Arkansas § 1-4-106 - State nickname Retrieved February 28, 2011</ref> Razorback State<ref name=ark/> Toothpick State<ref name="ark">Introduction to Arkansas, US States, retrieved April 24, 2009.</ref> Wonder State<ref name=ark/>
Template:Flag	El Dorado State<ref name=nie/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Golden State<ref>California Government Code Section 420.75 Retrieved February 28, 2011</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> (previously used on license plates)
Template:Flag	Buffalo Plains State<ref name=COnetstate>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> (no longer used) Centennial State<ref name=COnames>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> (previously used on license plates. Colorado was admitted to the Union one hundred years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.) Colorful Colorado<ref name=COnames/> Used on welcome signs since 1950 (previously used on license plates) Columbine State<ref name=COflower>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Highest State<ref name=COnetstate/> Lead State<ref name=COnetstate/> (no longer used) Mother of Rivers<ref name=COwater>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Rocky Mountain Empire<ref name = wikiDenver>Denver, Colorado</ref> (no longer used) Rocky Mountain State<ref name=COusatourist>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> (no longer used) Silver State<ref name=COnetstate/> (no longer used; see Nevada) Ski Country USA<ref name=CSCUSA>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Switzerland of America<ref name="colo">Introduction to Colorado, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flag	Constitution State (official, used on license plates)<ref>Conn. Stat. Sec. 3-110a, retrieved November 4, 2013</ref> Nutmeg State<ref name=nie/> Provision State<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Blue Law State<ref name=nie/> Freestone State<ref name=nie/> Land of Steady Habits<ref name=nie/>
Template:Flag	Chemical Capital of the World<ref name=del/> (due to one time being the corporate headquarters for several international chemical companies.) Corporate Capital (due to the state's business-friendly incorporation laws)<ref name=del/> Diamond State (Thomas Jefferson is supposed to have referred to Delaware as being like a diamond – small in size but great in value)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Blue Hen State or Blue Hen Chicken State<ref name="PopikSmoky">Barry Popik, Smoky City, barrypopik.com website, March 27, 2005</ref> The First State<ref name=del/><ref>Delaware Code Title 29 Section 318 retrieved on February 28, 2011</ref> (Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution; used on license plates) Peach State<ref name="del">Introduction to Delaware, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.</ref> (no longer used; see Georgia) Small Wonder<ref name=del/>
Template:FlagTemplate:Efn	Nation's Capital<ref name="farhi">Farhi, Paul. (July 30, 2010). After initial obscurity, 'The DMV' nickname for Washington area picks up speed. Washington Post. Retrieved December 20, 2013.</ref> DMV (nickname for the broader metropolitan area of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia)<ref name="farhi"/> Inside the Beltway<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Chocolate City<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flag	Alligator State<ref name=fla/> Everglade State<ref name="fla">Introduction to Florida, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.</ref> Flower State<ref name=fla/> Gulf State<ref name=fla/> Gunshine State <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Orange State<ref name=fla/> Citrus State Palm Tree State Peninsula State or Peninsular State<ref name=PopikSmoky/> Plywood State<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Sunshine State (used on license plates)
Template:Flag	Peach State<ref name=GAnames>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> (used on license plates) Cracker State — Along with Florida, Georgia had been called "The Cracker State" in earlier times, perhaps a derogatory term that referred to immigrants, called "crackers", from the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina.<ref name=GAnames2>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> See also Atlanta Crackers: Origin of the name Empire State of the South — Georgia is the largest Southern state in land area east of the Mississippi and was the leading industrial state of the Old South.<ref name=GAnames3>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> Goober State — Refers to peanuts, the official state crop.<ref name=GAnames5>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> State of Adventure
Template:Flag	Tano y Chamorro (Land of the Chamorro)<ref name="Guam">https://www.visittheusa.com/state/guam Guam (Visittheusa.com). Retrieved November 24, 2017.</ref> (used on Guam license plates)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Hub of the Pacific<ref name="Guam"/> Gateway to Micronesia<ref name="Guam"/>
Template:Flag	Aloha State (officially the "popular" name,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> used on license plates)<ref name="hi">Introduction to Hawaii, 50 States.</ref> Paradise of the Pacific<ref name=hi/> Pineapple State<ref name=hi/> Rainbow State<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Youngest State<ref name=hi/> 808 State (colloquial, refers to the state's area code.)<ref name="808statefaq">808 State Frequently Asked Questions: Where did 808 State get their name from? Template:Webarchive, 808 State Official Website.</ref><ref name="talkradiohawaii">808 State Update, Talk Radio Hawaii</ref>
Template:Flag	Gem State<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Gem of the Mountains<ref name="ida">Introduction to Idaho, 50 States.</ref> Little Ida<ref name=ida/> Spud State<ref name=spud>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flag<ref name=ILnames>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Land of Lincoln<ref name="ill"/> (used on license plates) Prairie State<ref name="ill"/> Corn State<ref name="ill">Introduction to Illinois, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.</ref> Garden of the West<ref name="ill"/>
Template:Flag	Hoosier State (Used at various times on license plates)<ref name="Hoosier_State">The unofficial sobriquet of the State of Indiana has given rise to the humorous constructions Hoosierana (the land of Hoosiers; see uses in Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame Template:Webarchive and by sports journalist Frank DeFord) and Hoosierstan (the place of Hoosiers).</ref> (Hoosier is also the official demonym of a resident of Indiana) Crossroads of America (Also used at various times on license plates and used on highway welcome signs)
Template:Flag	Hawkeye State
Template:Flag	America's Heartland (previously used on Licence Plates) Central State<ref name=nie/> Dorothy's Home Free State Midway USA (previously used on Kansas Licence Plates) Sunflower State<ref name=nie/> Wheat State (previously used on license plates)
Template:Flag	Bluegrass State (used on license plates)<ref name="ky">Introduction to Kentucky, 50 States.</ref> Corn-cracker State (reported in 1881)<ref name=PopikSmoky/> (corn-cracker – the nickname of a Kentucky man; pejorative) The Dark and Bloody Ground State (an allusion to battles between the Creek, Shawnee, Chickasaw, and Cherokee tribes)<ref name=ky/> Hemp State<ref name=ky/> Tobacco State<ref name=ky/>
Template:Flag	Bayou State (previously used on license plates) Creole State<ref name=nie/> Pelican State<ref name=nie/> Sportsman's Paradise (used on license plates)
Template:Flag	Pine Tree State<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> (co-official with Vacationland) Vacationland (used on license plates) Lumber State<ref name=nie/>
Template:Flag	America in Miniature<ref>Judy Colbert, Off the Beaten Path: Maryland and Delaware, 8th ed., 2007, Template:ISBN.</ref> Chesapeake State<ref name="netmd"/> Cockade State<ref name="netmd"/> Free State<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Monumental State<ref name="netmd"/> Old Line State<ref name="netmd"/> Oyster State<ref name="netmd">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Queen State<ref name="netmd"/> Terrapin State<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flag	Baked Bean State<ref name=mass/> Codfish State (formerly represented on license plates by a codfish) The Bay State<ref name="mass">Introduction to Massachusetts, 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.</ref> Old Colony State<ref>Massachusetts (state, United States), Britannica Online, retrieved April 24, 2009.</ref> Pilgrim State<ref name=mass/> The Spirit of America (used on license plates) Taxachusetts (colloquial)<ref>Andrew Ryan, Report: 'Taxachusetts' label remains part of Massachusetts' past, Boston Globe, April 6, 2007.</ref><ref>Daniel J. Flynn, 'Taxachusetts' no more?, Forbes, October 22, 2008.</ref><ref>'Taxachusetts' Voters May Eliminate State Income Tax, Fox News, October 7, 2008.</ref><ref>Michael D. Shear, Giuliani Backers Attack 'Taxachusetts Romney', The Washington Post, December 12, 2007.</ref><ref>Slate's Chatterbox: The Myth of 'Taxachusetts', National Public Radio, October 15, 2004.</ref>
Template:Flag	The Great Lakes State (previously used on license plates) Water Wonderland and Water-Winter Wonderland (previously used on license plates) The Wolverine State<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Mitten State <ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flag	Gopher State<ref name=nie/> Land of 10,000 Lakes ("10,000 Lakes" used on license plates) New England of the West<ref name=nie/> North Star State<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> State of Hockey<ref>Jess Myer s, Hockey roots run deep in Minnesota, ESPN.com, February 10, 2004</ref> "Minne(snow)ta" Bread and Butter State<ref name=nie/> The Loon State
Template:Flag	Hospitality State (previously used on license plates) Magnolia State The Birthplace of America's Music (being used on license plates) The Bayou State<ref name=nie/>
Template:Flag	Bullion State<ref name=nie/> Show-Me State (used on license plates) Gateway to the West Lead State Ozark State Mother of the West Iron Mountain State Pennsylvania of the West Cave State<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flag	Big Sky Country (previously used on license plates) The Last Best Place<ref>In Montana, a Popular Expression Is Taken Off the Endangered List New York Times, August 17, 2008; Retrieved February 28, 2011</ref> Treasure State (used on license plates) Land of the Shining Mountains
Template:Flag	Antelope State<ref name="Capace1999">Nancy Capace, Encyclopedia of Nebraska. Somerset Publishers, Inc., January 1, 1999, p2-3</ref><ref name=netstateneb/> Beef State (previously used on license plates)<ref name=netstateneb/> Cornhusker State (previously used on license plates)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Capace1999"/> Bug-eating State<ref name=netstateneb>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Capace1999"/> Blackwater State<ref name=nie/><ref name="Capace1999"/><ref name=netstateneb/> The Good Life (as seen on state border signs)Template:Citation needed Tree Planters State (formerly the official state nickname)<ref name="Capace1999"/><ref name=netstateneb/>
Template:Flag	Battle Born State (refers to the fact that Nevada joined the Union during the Civil War) Sagebrush State Silver State (used on license plates) Casino State
Template:Flag	Granite State<ref name="NHnickname">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Live Free or Die State (official motto; "Live Free or Die" used on license plates) Mother of Rivers<ref name=NHnickname/> White Mountain State<ref name=NHnickname/> Switzerland of America<ref name=NHnickname/>
Template:AnchorTemplate:Flag	Garbage State (pejorative)<ref name="Florio">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="McGurty_Page_31">Template:Cite book</ref> Garden State (used on license plates) The Crossroads of the Revolution (previously used on license plates) The Cornerstone State (used colloquially, especially with reference to Pennsylvania when it is called the Keystone State). The Suburban State
Template:Flag	Land of Enchantment<ref>New Mexico Revised Statutes, Sec. 12-3-4-N, retrieved November 4, 2013</ref> (used on license plates) Land of Sunshine (predates "Land of Enchantment"; this earlier nickname highlighted the large percentage of sunshine received statewide)<ref name="SHG-NM">New Mexico Symbols, State Names, SHG Resources website, accessed July 7, 2008</ref>
Template:Flag	Empire State (formerly used on license plates)<ref name=nie/> Excelsior State<ref name=nie/> (currently used on license plates)<ref name=nie/> Apple State Dairy State
Template:Flag	First in Flight<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> First in Freedom<ref name=":1" /> Old North State<ref name="nc">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Tar Heel State<ref name=nc/> Turpentine State<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Variety Vacationland<ref>Variety Vacationland Postcard Exhibit Template:Webarchive Retrieved February 28, 2011.</ref>
Template:Flag	Flickertail State Peace Garden State (used on license plates) Rough Rider State Sioux State Heaven on Earth
Template:FlagTemplate:Efn	Håfa Adai (a Chamorro phrase; in English, it is "Hello")<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> (used on Northern Mariana Islands license plates)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Efn America's Best Kept Secret<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flag	Buckeye State<ref name=PopikSmoky/> Birthplace of Aviation<ref name=OH>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> (used on license plates) The Heart of It All<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> (formerly used on license plates)
Template:Flag	Native America (used on license plates) Land of the Red Man Sooner State<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flag	Beaver State<ref>Writer John Francon Williams included a mention of Oregon as being the ‘Beaver State’ in 1892 in his book:The Advanced Class-Book of Modern Geography: Physical, Political, Commercial, by William Hughes and John Francon Williams, publ., London, George Philip & Son (1892) page 629: ‘OREGON, the ‘Beaver State,’ extends north of California to the Columbia River, which divides it from Washington.’</ref> Pacific Wonderland (previously used on license plates and available on an extra cost plate)<ref name=OR>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Webfoot State<ref name=nie/>
Template:Flag	Keystone State (previously used on license plates)<ref name=PopikSmoky/> Quaker State<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Coal StateTemplate:Citation needed Railroad StateTemplate:Citation needed Elk StateTemplate:Citation needed
Template:Flag	Isla del Encanto ("Island of Enchantment") (used on license plates) Borinquen (name given by indigenous people, the Tainos)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flag	Little Rhody<ref name=PopikSmoky/> Ocean State (used on license plates) Rogues Island<ref name=latimes>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Licentious Republic<ref name=latimes/> Smallest State
Template:Flag	Palmetto State<ref name=PopikSmoky/> Iodine Products State (no longer used)<ref name=SC>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> (previously used on license plates)
Template:Flag	Artesian State<ref name=SHG-SD/> Blizzard State<ref name=SHG-SD/> Coyote State<ref name="SHG-SD">South Dakota Symbols, State Names Template:Webarchive, SHG Resources website, accessed July 7, 2008</ref> Land of Infinite Variety The Mount Rushmore State<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> (officially adopted in 1980 in place of the former nickname of Coyote State)<ref name=SHG-SD/> Sunshine State<ref name=SHG-SD/> (no longer used; see Florida)
Template:Flag	Big Bend State (refers to the Tennessee River)<ref name="TNbluebook">Tennessee Symbols and Honors, in Tennessee Blue Book</ref> Butternut State (refers to the tan color of the uniforms worn by Tennessee soldiers in the American Civil War)<ref name=TNbluebook/> Hog and Hominy State<ref name=TNbluebook/> The Mother of Southwestern Statesmen<ref name=TNbluebook/> Volunteer State<ref name=TNbluebook/> (used on license plates)
Template:Flag	Lone Star State<ref name=PopikSmoky/><ref name="ELT">Template:Cite news</ref> (used on license plates)
Template:FlagTemplate:Efn	America's Caribbean (used on U.S. Virgin Islands license plates until 2015)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> American Paradise<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flag	Beehive State Crossroads of the West<ref name=netstate-utah>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> – Location the Golden Spike was driven into the railroad, the joining point of the First transcontinental railroad. Mormon State<ref name=netstate-utah /> Friendly State (formerly used on license plates)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flag	Green Mountain State<ref name=PopikSmoky/> (used on license plates) The Maple State
Template:Flag	Mother of Presidents<ref name=nie/> Mother of States<ref name=nie/> Horse Country<ref name=nie/> The Old Dominion<ref name=PopikSmoky/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:FlagTemplate:Efn	Evergreen State<ref name="WA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> (used on license plates)
Template:Flag	Mountain State (previously used on license plates) Panhandle State<ref name=nie/> The Switzerland of America<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Almost Heaven
Template:Flag<ref name="WI BB">"Wisconsin State Symbols Template:Webarchive" in Wisconsin Blue Book 2005-2006, p. 966. Wisconsin has no Official nickname.</ref>Template:Efn	Badger State<ref name=nie>Template:Cite NIE</ref> America's Dairyland<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> (also on license plates since a 1939 state law)<ref name="WI BB" /> The Mitten StateTemplate:Citation needed The Copper State (historical)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Traitor State (historical World War I)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Dairy State The Cheese State
Template:Flag	Cowboy State Equality State Forever West (on highway welcome signs)

See also

• List of U.S. state and territory mottos
• List of demonyms for U.S. states
• List of city nicknames in the United States
• List of provincial and territorial nicknames in Canada
• Lists of nicknames: nickname list articles on Wikipedia

External links

• Information about U.S. State Nicknames