Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
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Michigan
(26th state—1837) is also derived from two Indian words meaning “great lake.”
Michigan is also called the Wolverine State for the bushy-tailed animal that is not a wolf. In a bit
of interstate one-upmanship, Michigan trumpets itself as the Wonderland of 11,000 Lakes, to top
Minnesota (see below).
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Minnesota
(32nd state—1858) gets its name from a Dakota Indian word meaning “sky-tinted
water.” The big question remains: is Minnesota truly the Land of 10,000 Lakes? And who coun-
ted them? If anything, 10,000 is a low figure. Estimates range from 11,000 to 15,000 lakes in the
state also called the Gopher State and the Bread and Butter State.
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Mississippi
(20th state—1817) is an Indian word meaning “father of the waters.” It is officially
called the Magnolia State.
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Missouri
(24th state—1821) was named for the Missouri tribe, from the Indian word meaning
“town of the large canoes.” It is known as the Show-Me State, apparently reflecting the proudly
skeptical character of its natives. For some reason, Missouri is also known as the Puke State.
Wouldn't that make a nice license plate!
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Montana
(41st state—1889) is derived from the Spanish for “mountainous.” The fourth-largest
state, it is officially nicknamed the Treasure State—mining played a significant part in its history
and its official Latin motto is Oro y Plata, or Gold and Silver—but most folks prefer to think of
it as the Big Sky State.
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Nebraska
(37th state—1867) is from an Oto Indian word meaning “flat water.” Best known as
the Cornhusker State in honor of its most significant product and the farmers who harvest it,
the state is also more colorfully known as the Bug-Eating State, in honor of bull bats, which eat
bugs.
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Nevada
(36th state—1864) comes from Spanish for “snow-capped.” While its mountains have
the snow, there isn't much rain. Nevada is the driest state, with desert areas that receive less than
four inches of rain each year. Although known as the Silver State for the Comstock Lode, a rich
silver deposit discovered in 1859, it is also called the Battle-Born State because it joined the
Union during the Civil War.
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New Hampshire
(9th state—1788) is named for the English county of Hampshire. Nicknamed
the Granite State for the bedrock underlying its surface, it's probably better known for its defiant
motto,
Live free or die.
It was the first colony to declare its independence from British rule.
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New Jersey
(3rd state—1787) is named for the Isle of Jersey in the English Channel. Those only
familiar with its urbanized and industrialized turnpike region are hard-pressed to understand its
nickname, the Garden State.
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New Mexico
(47th state—1912) is of course derived from the country of Mexico, from which it
was severed after the Mexican War (1846-48). Cartoon fans will appreciate the fact that its offi-
cial bird is the roadrunner (“Beep, Beep”). It also boasts an official state cookie, the bizcochito,
and has been called the Vermin State, another of those nicknames that never made it onto a li-
cense plate.
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New York
(11th state—1788) started its colonial history under Dutch rule as New Amsterdam,
but was renamed in honor of the English Duke of York after the British took over the colony and
