Alabama

Name: Alabama, from the Choctaw language, meaning “thicket clearers.” Nickname: Heart of Dixie. Capital: Montgomery. Rank: population: 23rd; area: 30th; pop. density: 25th. Motto: Audemus Jura Nostra De-fendere (We Dare Defend Our Rights). Song: “Alabama,” words by Julia S. Tutwiler and music by Edna Gockel Gussen. Amphibian: Red Hills salamander. Bird: yellowhammer. Fish: largemouth bass (freshwater); tarpon (saltwater). Flower: camellia. Fossil: Basilosaurus cetoides. Gemstone: star blue quartz. Insect: monarch butterfly. Mineral: hematite. Reptile: Alabama red-bellied turtle. Rock: marble. Tree: southern longleaf pine.

Natural features

Land area: 51,700 sq mi, 133,902 sq km. Mountain ranges: Appalachian, Raccoon, Lookout. Highest point: Cheaha Mountain, 2,407 ft (734 m). Largest lake: Lake Guntersville. Major rivers: Mobile, Alabama, Tombigbee, Tennessee, Chattahoochee, Conecuh, Pea, Tensaw, Tallapoosa. Natural regions: the Appalachian Plateaus, extending across the north-central region; Interior Low Plateaus, far north; Valley and Ridge Province and small portion of the Piedmont Province, covering the east; Coastal Plain, covering the southern half of the state. Location: Southeast, bordering Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi. Climate: temperate, with mild winters and hot, humid summers; temperatures mellowed by altitude in the northern counties and relatively higher in the southern counties; summer heat is often alleviated by winds blowing in from the Gulf of Mexico. Land use: forest, 64.4%; agricultural, 7.5%; pasture, 0.2%; other, 27.9%.

People

Population (2006): 4,599,030; 89.0 persons per sq mi (34.3 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 13.3; death rate, 10.4; marriage rate, 9.5; divorce rate, 4.9. Major cities (2006): Birmingham 229,424; Montgomery 201,998; Mobile 192,830; Huntsville 168,132; Tuscaloosa 83,052.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 14 Dec 1819 as the 22nd state. State constitution: adopted 1901. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 7 representatives. Electoral college: 9 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 67 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 25.2%; trade 21.6%; manufacturing 16.9%; government 16.4%; construction 6.2%; finance, insurance, real estate 4.9%; transportation, public utilities 4.6%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.5%; mining 0.5%. Production: manufacturing 19.0%; services 16.9%; trade 16.9%; government 15.8%; finance, insurance, real estate 14.7%; transportation, utilities 8.7%; construction 4.7%; agriculture, forestry, fisheries 2.0%; mining 1.3%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: cotton, corn, soybeans, peanuts (groundnuts), potatoes, sweet potatoes, peaches, pecans, fruits and vegetables, winterwheat, hay, honey. Livestocfc-cattle and calves, poultry, hogs. Fish catch: marine fish, including red snapper; freshwater fish, including catfish; marine crustaceans, in-cludingshrimp, crab; marine mollusks, including mussels, oysters. Chief manufactured products: food products, meat products, poultry processing, textiles, apparel, wood products, mobile homes, paper and paperboard, petroleum products, plastics and rubber products, iron and steel, aluminum products, semiconductors, electronic components, motor vehicle parts.

Alaska

Name: Alaska, from the Aleut word Alyeska, meaning “great land.” Nickname: The Last Frontier. Capital: Juneau. Rank: population: 47th; area: 1st; pop. density: 50th. Motto: North to the Future. Song: “Alaska’s Flag,” words by Marie Drake and music by Elinor Dusenbury. Bird: willow ptarmigan. Fish: giant king salmon. Flower: forget-me-not. Fossil: Mammuthus primigenius (woolly mammoth). Gemstone: jade. Insect: four-spot skimmer dragonfly. Mammal: moose. Marine mammal: bowhead whale. Mineral: gold. Tree: sitka spruce.

Natural features

Land area: 589,194 sq mi, 1,526,005 sq km. Mountain ranges: Wrangell, Chugach, Alaska, Brooks, Aleutian, Boundary. Highest point: Mt. McKinley (Denali), 20,320 ft (6,194 m). Largest lake: Iliamna Lake. Major rivers: Yukon, Porcupine, Tanana, Koyukuk, Noatak, Kuskokwim, Susitna, Copper. Natural regions: panhandle, a narrow strip of land that includes portions of the Coast Mountains; coastal archipelago and the Gulf of Alaska islands; the Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian island chain that separates the North Pacific from the Bering Sea; the Alaska Range, extending across the south-central region; the Interior Plateau, including the basin of the Yukon River, the central plains and tablelands of the interior, the Seward Peninsula to the west, and the Brooks Range, sometimes called the North Slope, to the north; the Arctic Coastal Plain, a treeless region of tundra lying at the northernmost edge of the state; tundra-covered islands of the Bering Sea. Location: international border with Canada. Climate: temperate with much regional variation in temperature and precipitation; southern coastal and southeastern region, GulfofAlaska and Aleutian Islands: cool summers and moderate winters, with high precipitation; interior basin: moderate summers and very cold winters, with low to moderate precipitation; islands and coast of the Bering Sea: cool summers and very cold winters; central plains and uplands:moderate summers and frigid winters; North Slope:moderate summers and frigid winters, though not as severe as interior regions. Land use: forest, 24.1%; pasture, 0.0%; other, 75.9%.

People

Population (2006): 670,053; 1.1 persons per sq mi (0.4 person per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 15.8; death rate, 4.4; marriage rate, 8.3; divorce rate, 5.8. Major cities (2006): Anchorage 278,700; Fairbanks 31,142; Juneau 30,737; College 12,000; Sitka 8,920.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 3 Jan 1959 as the 49th state. State constitution: adopted 1956. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 1 representative. Electoral college: 3 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 16 boroughs.

Economy

Employment: services 26.9%; government 24.4%; trade 18.7%; transportation, public utilities 7.7%; finance, insurance, real estate 5.3%; construction 5.1%; manufacturing 4.8%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 4.1%; mining 3.0%. Production: mining 20.1%; government 19.4%; transportation, utilities 16.7%; services 13.0%; trade 10.1%; finance, insurance, real estate 10.1%; construction 4.6%; manufacturing 4.2%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.7%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: hay, milk, potatoes, timber. Livestocfc-cattle and calves, pigs. Fish catch: marine fish, salmon, herring, groundfish, shellfish, crab, shrimp. Chief manufactured products: processed fish and seafood (fresh, frozen, canned, and cured), lumber and wood products, paper products, transportation products.

Arizona

Name: Arizona, from arizonac, derived from two Pa-pago Indian words meaning “place of the young spring.” Nickname: Grand Canyon State. Capital: Phoenix. Rank: population: 16th; area: 6th; pop. density: 33rd. Motto: Ditat Deus (God Enriches). Song: “Arizona March Song,” words by Margaret Rowe Clifford and music by Maurice Blumenthal. Amphibian: Arizona treefrog. Bird: cactus wren. Fish: Arizona trout. Flower: saguaro blossom. Fossil: petrified wood. Gemstone: turquoise. Mammal: ringtail. Reptile: Arizona ridgenose rattlesnake. Tree: palo verde.

Natural features

Land area: 113,999 sq mi, 295,256 sq km. Mountain ranges: Black, Gila Bend, Chuska, Hualapai,San Francisco, White. Highest point: Humphreys Peak, 12,633 ft (3,851 m). Largest lake: Lake Roosevelt. Major rivers: Colorado, Little Colorado, Verde, Salt, Gila. Natural regions: the Colorado Plateaus, northeast third of the state, include the Grand Canyon and the Painted Desert; the Basin and Range Province, south, east, central, and northwest, includes the Sonoran Desert in the southwest corner and part of the Great Basin Desert to the northwest. Location: Southwest, bordering Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, California, and Nevada; international border with Mexico. Climate: varies with location; half of Arizona is semiarid, one-third is arid, and the remainder is humid; basin and range region: arid and semiarid to subtropical climate; Colorado Plateaus: cool to cold winters and a semiarid climate; Transition Zone: climate ranges widely, from arid to humid. Land use: pasture, 44.2%; forest, 5.7%; agricultural, 1.3%; other, 48.8%.

People

Population (2006): 6,166,318; 54.1 persons per sq mi (20.9 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 16.2; death rate, 7.7; marriage rate, 6.3; divorce rate, 4.1. Major cities (2006): Phoenix 1,512,986; Tucson 518,956; Mesa 447,541; Glendale 246,531; Chandler 240,595; Scottsdale 231,127; Gilbert 191,517; Tempe 169,712.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 14 Feb 1912 as the 48th state. State constitution: adopted 1911. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 8 representatives. Electoral college: 10 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 15 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 32.5%; trade 22.7%; government 13.4%; manufacturing 8.8%; finance, insurance, real estate 8.3%; construction 6.6%; transportation, public utilities 4.5%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.6%; mining 0.6%. Production: services 22.0%; finance, insurance, real estate 18.7%; trade 17.4%; manufacturing 14.4%; government 12.1%; transportation, public utilities 10.9%; construction 5.8%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.5%; mining 0.8%. Chief agricultural products: Crops. cotton and cottonseed, wheat, sorghum, hay, barley, corn (maize), potatoes, grapes, apples, vegetables and melons, dairy products, lettuce. Livestock:cattle and calves, hogs and pigs, sheep and lambs, angora goats. Chief manufactured products: semiconductors, communications equipment, electric and electronic equipment, transportation equipment, soap products, nonferrous metal products.

Arkansas

Name: Arkansas, from an unknown Native American word describing the Quapaw tribe (also known as the Arkansaw), meaning “people who live downstream.” Nickname: Natural State. Capital: Little Rock. Rank: population: 32nd; area: 27th; pop. density: 35th. Motto: Regnat Populus (The People Rule). Songs: “Arkansas,” words and music by Way-land Holyfield; “Oh, Arkansas,” words and music by by Terry Rose and Gary Klaff. Bird: mockingbird. Flower: apple blossom. Gemstone: diamond. Insect: honeybee. Mammal: white-tailed deer. Mineral: quartz crystal. Rock: bauxite. Tree: pine tree.

Natural features

Land area: 53,178 sq mi, 137,730 sq km. Mountain ranges: Ozark, Ouachita. Highest point: Mt. Magazine, 2,753 ft (839 m). Largest lake: Lake Chicot. Major rivers: Arkansas, Red, Quachita, White. Natural regions: the Ozark Plateaus, including the Boston Mountains, north and northwest regions; the Ouachita Province, including the Arkansas valley and the Ouachita Mountains, central region; the Coastal Plain, extends from southwest to northeast. Location: South, bordering Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma. Climate: temperate, with mild winters and hot summers. Land use: forest, 44.1%; agricultural, 22.1%; pasture, 0.1%; other, 33.7%.

Population (2006): 2,810,872; 52.9 persons per sq mi (20.4 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 14.1; death rate, 10.2; marriage rate, 12.6; divorce rate, 6.0. Major cities (2006): Little Rock 184,422; Fort Smith 83,461; Fayetteville 68,726; Springdale 63,082; Jonesboro 60,489.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 15 Jun 1836 as the 25th state. State constitution: adopted 1874. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 4 representatives. Electoral college: 6 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 75 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 24.4%; trade 21.3%; manufacturing 18.3%; government 13.9%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 6.6%; construction 5.8%; transportation, public utilities 5.5%; finance, insurance, real estate 4.8%; mining 0.4%. Production: manufacturing 22.5%; trade 18.4%; services 15.6%; government 12.3%; finance, insurance, real estate 11.6%; transportation, public utilities 10.5%; construction 4.6%; agriculture, forestry, fisheries 3.7%; mining 0.8%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: corn (maize), cotton, hay, rice, sorghum, soybeans, wheat, apples, blueberries, grapes, peaches, pecans, strawberries, tomatoes, watermelon. Livestock:cattle and calves, hogs and pigs, poultry. Aquaculture.catfish. Chief manufactured products: food products, meatpacking, poultry processing, lumber, paper and paper products, refined petroleum, chemical products, plastic and rubber products, iron and steel manufacturing, fabricated metal products, machinery, transportation products.

California

Nickname: Golden State. Capital: Sacramento. Rank: population: 1st; area: 3rd; pop. density: 11th. Motto: Eureka (I Have Found It). Song: “I Love You, California,” words by F.B. Silverwood and music by A.F. Frankenstein. Bird: California quail. Fish: golden trout (freshwater); garibaldi (saltwater). Flower: California poppy. Fossil: saber-tooth cat. Gemstone: benitoite. Insect: California dogface butterfly. Mammal: California grizzly bear. Marine mammal: California gray whale. Mineral: gold. Reptile: desert tortoise. Rock: serpentine. Tree: California redwood.

Natural features

Land area: 158,633 sq mi, 410,858 sq km. Mountain ranges: Coast, Sierra Nevada, Santa Lucia, Cascade, Klamath, Tehachapi, San Gabriel, San Bernardino. Highest point: Mt. Whitney, 14,494 ft (4,418 m). Largest lake: Lake Tahoe. Major rivers: Colorado, Sacramento, Pit, San Joaquin. Natural regions: Basin and Range Province, northeast corner, also eastern border with Arizona and southern Nevada; Cascade-Sierra Mountains, running from north to south along the east-central region; Pacific Border Province, west, including the Coast Ranges to the west, the Klamath Mountains to the north, the Los Angeles Ranges to the south, and the California Trough (commonly referred to as the Central Valley) to the east; Lower Californian Province, southwestern tip. Location: West, bordering Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona; international border with Mexico. Climate: Mediterranean climate, with moderate temperatures, warm, dry summers, and cool, rainy winters. Land use: pasture, 17.5%; forest, 13.7%; agricultural, 9.3%; other, 59.5%.

People

Population (2006): 36,457,549; 229.8 persons per sq mi (88.7 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 15.2; death rate, 6.4; marriage rate, 6.3; divorce rate (2001), 6.6. Major cities (2006): Los Angeles 3,849,378; San Diego 1,256,951; San Jose 929,936; San Francisco 744,041; Long Beach 472,494; Fresno 466,714; Sacramento 453,781; Oakland 397,067.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 9 Sep 1850 as the 31st state. State constitution: adopted 1879. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 53 representatives. Electoral college: 55 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 58 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 33.8%; trade 20.7%; government 13.3%; manufacturing 11.2%; finance, insurance, real estate 8.0%; construction 4.6%; transportation, public utilities 4.5%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.7%; mining 0.2%. Production: services 23.4%; finance, insurance, real estate 21.7%; trade 15.9%; manufacturing 14.6%; government 10.7%; transportation, utilities 7.3%; construction 3.8%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.9%; mining 0.6%. Chief agricultural products: Crops/wheat, oats, rice, grains, apples, apricots, cherries, grapes, olives, peaches, pears, citrus fruits, strawberries, onions, lima beans, artichokes, broccoli, snap beans, vegetables, dairy products, eggs. Livestock/cattle and calves, sheep and lambs. Fish catch.bonito, halibut, mackerel, groundfish, rockfish (commonly called Pacific red snapper), sablefish (also called black cod), soles and sand dabs, sardines, white seabass, shark, swordfish, tuna, crab, California spiny lobster, Pacific Ocean (pink) shrimp, prawns, squid. Extractive products: timber. Chief manufactured products: food products, meat and poultry processing, soft-drink products, beer and wine, textiles, apparel, lumber and wood products, paper and paper products, printing, refined petroleum, asphalt, chemical products, pharmaceuticals, plastic and rubber products, glass and glass products, construction materials, steel products, metal products, machinery, communications equipment, semiconductors and computers, electronics, transportation equipment, furniture, medical equipment, sporting goods.

Colorado

Name: Colorado, from a Spanish word meaning “red.” Nickname: Centennial State. Capital: Denver. Rank: population: 22nd; area: 8th; pop. density: 37th. Motto: Nil sine Numine (Nothing Without Providence). Songs: “Where the Columbines Grow,” words and music by A.J. Flynn; “Rocky Mountain High,” words and music by John Denver. Bird: lark bunting. Fish: greenback cutthroat trout. Flower: white and lavender columbine. Fossil: stegosaurus. Gemstone: aquamarine. Insect: Colorado hairstreak butterfly. Mammal: Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Tree: Colorado blue spruce.

Natural features

Land area: 104,094 sq mi, 269,602 sq km. Mountain ranges: Rocky, Front, Medicine Bow, Park, Rabbit Ears, San Juan, Sangre de Cristo, Sawatch. Highest point: Mt. Elbert, 14,433 ft (4,399 m). Largest lakes: Blue Mesa Reservoir (man-made); Grand Lake (natural). Major rivers: Colorado, Arkansas, South Platte, Rio Grande. Natural regions: the Great Plains Province, eastern half of state, includes the High Plains to the east, Colorado Piedmont to the west, and Raton Section to the south; Southern Rocky Mountains, running down the middle of the state; Middle Rocky Mountains and Wyoming Basin, northwest corner; Colorado Plateaus, western and southwestern border, include the Uinta Basin to the north, the Canyon Lands in the middle, and the Navajo Section to the south. Location: West, bordering Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Utah. Climate: eastern plains: hot summers and dry, cold, windy, and generally harsh winters; piedmont: similar to eastern plains; also experiences the Chinook wind, a dry, descending winter airstream from the high mountains that is warmed by compression as it descends; mountains and high plateaus: cool summers, cold winters, and much increased precipitation; snow may fall during any month of the year, with amounts ranging from about 20 to 50 inches. Land use: pasture, 37.2%; agricultural, 12.5%; forest, 4.9%; other, 45.4%.

People

Population (2006): 4,753,377; 45.7 persons per sq mi (17.6 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 14.8; death rate, 6.3; marriage rate, 6.4; divorce rate, 4.4. Major cities (2006): Denver 566,974; Colorado Springs 372,437; Aurora 303,582; Lakewood 140,024; Fort Collins 129,467.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 1 Aug 1876 as the 38th state. State constitution: adopted 1876. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 7 representatives. Electoral college: 9 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 64 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 32.3%; trade 22.0%; government 13.5%; finance, insurance, real estate 8.4%; manufacturing 8.2%; construction 6.5%; transportation, public utilities 5.4%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.8%; mining 0.9%. Production: services 23.1%; finance, insurance, real estate 17.5%; trade 16.1%; transportation, utilities 12.2%; government 11.9%; manufacturing 10.2%; construction 6.0%; mining 1.6%; agriculture 1.5%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: millet, corn (maize), hay, potatoes, onions, sugar beets, sunflowers, wheat, dairy products, eggs, greenhouse products. Livestock: cattle and calves, hogs and pigs, sheep and lambs. Chief manufactured products: meat products, beverages, printing, semiconductors, computer and electronic products.

Connecticut

Name: Connecticut, from the Mohegan word Quinnehtukqut, meaning “long river place” or “beside the long tidal river.” Nickname: Constitution State. Capital: Hartford. Rank: population: 29th; area: 48th; pop. density: 4th. Motto: Qui Transtulit Sustinet (He Who Transplanted Still Sustains). Song: “Yankee Doodle,” words and music from folk tradition. Bird: robin. Flower: mountain laurel. Fossil: Eu-brontes giganteus. Insect: praying mantis. Mammal: sperm whale. Mineral: garnet. Shellfish: eastern oyster. Tree: white oak.

Natural features

Land area: 5,006 sq mi, 12,966 sq km. Mountain range: Berkshire Hills. Highest point: Mt. Frissell, 2,380 ft (725 m). Largest lake: Candlewood Lake. Major rivers: Connecticut, Housatonic, Thames. Natural regions: the New England Province covers the state, divided into the Western Upland, Central Lowland (Connecticut Valley), and Eastern Upland. Location: New England, bordering Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York. Climate: moderate temperate climate; coastal portions have somewhat warmer winters and cooler summers than does the interior; northwestern uplands have cooler and longer winters with heavier falls of snow; occasional hurricanes cause flooding and damage, particularly along the coastline. Land use: forest, 53.4%; agricultural, 5.4%; other, 41.2%.

People

Population (2006): 3,504,809; 700.1 persons per sq mi (270.3 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 11.9; death rate, 8.4; marriage rate, 5.5; divorce rate, 2.7. Major cities (2006): Bridgeport 137,912; Hartford 124,512; New Haven 124,001; Stamford 119,261; Waterbury 107,251.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 9 Jan 1788 as the 5th state. State constitution: adopted 1965. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 5 representatives. Electoral college: 7 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 8 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 34.3%; trade 20.2%; manufacturing 14.0%; government 11.2%; finance, insurance, real estate 9.5%; construction 4.8%; transportation, public utilities 4.2%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.5%; mining 0.1%. Production: finance, insurance, real estate 28.7%; services 22.0%; manufacturing 16.5%; trade 14.5%; government 8.3%; transportation, utilities 5.9%; construction 3.3%; agriculture 0.7%; mining 0.1%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: corn (maize), silage, hay, tobacco, apples, pears, dairy products, eggs. Livestock:poultry, cattle and calves, sheep and lambs, horses. Fish catch: lobster, clams, oysters, shad, marine fish. Chief manufactured products: printing, pharmaceutical products, soap and cleaning products, plastics, metal products, machinery, communications equipment, electronics, aerospace products, aircraft engines.

Delaware

Name: Delaware, from Delaware River and Bay; named in turn for Sir Thomas West, Baron De La Warr. Nickname: First State. Capital: Dover. Rank: population: 45th; area: 49th; pop. density: 6th. Motto: Liberty and Independence. Song: “Our Delaware,” words by George B. Hynson and music by Will M.S. Brown. Bird: Blue Hen chicken. Fish: weak-fish. Flower: peach blossom. Insect: ladybug. Mineral: sillimanite. Tree: American holly.

Natural features

Land area: 2,026 sq mi, 5,247 sq km. Highest point: Ebright Azimuth, 448 ft (137 m). Largest lake: Red Mill Pond. Major rivers: Delaware, Nanticoke, Pocomoke. Natural regions: the Piedmont Province, including the Piedmont Upland, covers the northernmost tip of the state; the remainder consists of the Coastal Plain. Location: East, bordering Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. Climate: temperate, with high humidity, hot summers, and cold winters. Land use: agricultural, 29.8%; forest, 22.2%; other, 48.0%.

People

Population (2006): 853,476; 421.3 persons per sq mi (162.7 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 13.8; death rate, 8.8; marriage rate, 5.5; divorce rate, 3.9. Major cities (2006): Wilmington 72,826; Dover 34,735; Newark 30,014; Pike Creek 20,500; Bear 18,500.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 7 Dec 1787 as the 1st state. State constitution: adopted 1897. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 1 representative. Electoral college: 3 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 3 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 28.6%; trade 20.6%; government 13.5%; finance, insurance, real estate 12.8%; manufacturing 12.6%; construction 6.1%; transportation, public utilities 3.8%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.9%. Production: finance, insurance, real estate 39.8%; services 15.5%; manufacturing 14.2%; trade 11.1%; government 9.2%; transportation, utilities 5.1%; construction 4.3%; agriculture 0.8%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, peas, vegetables, dairy products. Livestock:poultry, cattle and calves, hogs. Fish catch: crustaceans, crab, clams. Chief manufactured products: chemicals, food products, paper products, rubber and plastics products, metal products, printed materials.

District of Columbia

Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All). Bird: woodthrush. Flower: American Beauty rose. Tree: scarlet oak.

Natural features

Land area: 68 sq mi, 176 sq km. Major river: Potomac. Location: East, bordered by Maryland and Virginia. Climate: humid, subtropical climate.

People

Population (2006): 581,530; 8,551.9 persons per sq mi (3,304.1 persons per sq km). Vital statistics: (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 14.3; death rate, 9.3; marriage rate, 4.2; divorce rate, 2.0.

Government

Representation in US Congress: 1 congressional delegate. Political divisions: 8 wards.

Economy

Employment: services 43.5%; government 36.0%; trade 7.3%; finance, insurance, real estate 5.2%; transportation, public utilities 3.0%; manufacturing 1.9%; construction 1.5%; agricultural service, forestry, fishing 1.4%. Production: services 38.3%; government 36.6%; finance, insurance, real estate 13.5%; transportation, utilities 5.0%; trade 4.0%; manufacturing 1.4%; construction 1.0%; other 0.2%. Chief manufactured products: printing and publishing products.

Florida

Name: Florida, in honor of Pascua Florida (“feast of the flowers”), Spain’s Easter celebration. Nickname: Sunshine State. Capital: Tallahassee. Rank: population: 4th; area: 24th; pop. density: 8th. Motto: In God We Trust. Song: “Old Folks at Home” (“Swanee River”), words and music by Stephen Foster. Bird: mockingbird. Butterfly: zebra longwing. Fish: sailfish (saltwater); largemouth bass (freshwater). Flower: orange blossom. Gemstone: moonstone. Mammal: Florida panther. Marine mammal: manatee. Saltwater mammal: porpoise. Reptile: alligator. Rock: agatized coral. Tree: sabal palm.

Land area: 58,599 sq mi, 151,771 sq km. Highest point: Britton Hill 345 ft (105 m). Largest lake: Lake Okeechobee. Major rivers: Kissimmee, Suwannee, St. Johns, Caloosahatchee, Indian, Withlacoochee, Apalachicola, Perdido, St. Marys. Natural regions: Western Highlands, a region at the westernmost end of the panhandle; Marianna Lowlands, east of the Western Highlands; Tallahassee Hills, covering the northern border with Georgia; Central Highlands, extending down the middle two-thirds of the peninsula; Coastal Lowlands, curving along the eastern, southern, and western coasts of the peninsula; the Everglades, far southern quarter of the peninsula. Location: Southeast, bordering Georgia and Alabama. Climate: tropical south of a west-east line drawn from Bradenton along the south shore of Lake Okeechobee to Vero Beach; subtropical north of this line; hot, humid summers and mild, pleasant winters; hurricane season from June to November. Land use: forest, 33.9%; agricultural, 7.7%; pasture, 7.2%; other, 51.2%.

People

Population (2006): 18,089,888; 308.7 persons per sq mi (119.2 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 12.7; death rate, 9.6; marriage rate, 8.9; divorce rate, 4.6. Major cities (2006): Jacksonville 794,555; Miami 404,048; Tampa 332,888; St. Petersburg 248,098; Orlando 220,186; Hialeah 217,141; Fort Lauderdale 185,804; Tallahassee 159,012.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 3 Mar 1845 as the 27th state. State constitution: adopted 1968. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 25 representatives. Electoral college: 27 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 67 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 35.3%; trade 23.2%; government 13.1%; finance, insurance, real estate 8.2%; manufacturing 6.4%; construction 5.7%; transportation, public utilities 4.8%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.0%; mining 0.1%. Production: services 24.4%; finance, insurance, real estate 21.5%; trade 19.1%; government 12.2%; transportation, utilities 8.6%; manufacturing 7.2%; construction 5.1%; agriculture 1.8%; mining 0.2%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: citrus fruit, fruits and vegetables, corn (maize), cotton, peanuts (groundnuts), soybeans, sugarcane, tobacco, honey, dairy products, eggs, nursery plants and flowers. Livestock:cattle and calves, poultry, hogs and pigs. Aquaculture:catfish. Fish catch: marine fish, crab, shrimp, oyster. Chief manufactured products: food products, meatpacking, soft drinks, apparel, paper products, pesticides and fertilizers, agricultural chemicals, plastics, construction materials, fabricated metal products, machinery, communications equipment, semiconductors, electronics, aerospace products, airplane engines, ships and boats, medical and surgical equipment.

Georgia

Name: Georgia, named for George II, king of England at the time the colony of Georgia was founded. Nicknames: Empire State of the South; Peach State. Capital: Atlanta. Rank: population: 9th; area: 23rd; pop. density: 17th. Mottoes: Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation; Agriculture and Commerce, 1776. Song: “Georgia on My Mind,” words by Stuart Gorrell and music by Hoagy Carmichael. Bird: brown thrasher. Fish: large-mouth bass. Flower: Cherokee rose. Fossil: shark tooth. Gemstone: quartz. Insect: honeybee. Marine mammal: right whale. Mineral: staurolite. Reptile: gopher tortoise. Tree: live oak.

Natural features

Land area: 58,922 sq mi, 152,607 sq km. Mountain range: Blue Ridge. Highest point: Brasstown Bald, 4,784 ft (1,458 m). Largest lake: Lanier. Major rivers: Chattahoochee, Flint, Apalachicola, Ocmulgee, Oconee, Altamaha, Savannah. Natural regions: Blue Ridge Province, north-central edge; Valley and Ridge Province, northwest corner; Piedmont Province, northern half of state; Coastal Plain, southern half of state, divided into the Sea Island Section (southeast) and the East Gulf Coastal Plain (southwest). Location: Southeast, bordering North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and Tennessee. Climate: temperate, though maritime tropical air masses dominate the climate in summer; generally hot summers and cool winters; precipitation somewhat evenly distributed throughout the seasons in the north, whereas the southern and coastal areas have more summer rains; snow seldom occurs outside the mountainous northern counties. Land use: forest, 58.0%; agricultural, 11.0%; other, 31.0%.

People

Population (2006): 9,363,941; 158.9 persons per sq mi (61.4 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 15.7; death rate, 7.2; marriage rate, 6.9; divorce rate (2001), 3.8. Major cities (2006): Atlanta 486,411; Augusta 189,366; Columbus 188,660; Savannah 127,889; Athens 111,580.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 2 Jan 1788 as the 4th state. State constitution: adopted 1982. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 13 representatives. Electoral college: 15 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 159 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 27.7%; trade 23.1%; government 14.9%; manufacturing 13.5%; finance, insurance, real estate 6.7%; transportation, public utilities 5.8%; construction 5.7%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.5%; mining 0.2%. Production: services 19.2%; trade 18.4%; manufacturing 17.0%; finance, insurance, real estate 15.3%; government 11.9%; transportation, utilities 11.4%; construction 5.0%; agriculture 1.3%; mining 0.5%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: peanuts (groundnuts), pecans, rye, corn (maize), cotton, cottonseed, hay, oats, sorghum, soybeans, tobacco, wheat, peaches, apples, onions, watermelon, snap beans, cabbage, cucumbers, blueberries, grapes, honey, dairy products. Livestock: poultry, pigs, cattle and calves. Aquaculture:catfish, trout. Extractive products: timber. Chief manufactured products: food products, soft drinks, textiles, wood products, paper products, chemical products, transportation equipment.

Hawaii

Nickname: Aloha State. Capital: Honolulu. Rank: population: 42nd; area: 47th; pop. density: 13th. Motto: Ua Mau ke Ea o ka Aina i ka Pono (The Life of the Land Is Perpetuated in Righteousness). Song: “Hawai’i Pono’i” (“Our Hawaii”), words by King David Kalakaua and music by Henry Berger. Bird: nene, or Hawaiian goose. Fish: rectangular triggerfish (in Hawaiian, humuhumunukunuku apua’a). Flower: yellow hibiscus (in Hawaiian, pua ma’o hau hele). Gemstone: black coral. Marine mammal: humpback whale. Tree: kukui, or candlenut.

Natural features

Land area: 6,461 sq mi, 16,734 sq km; the eight largest islands: Hawaii: 4,028 sq mi, 10,433 sq km; Maui: 728 sq mi, 1,886 sq km; Oahu: 607 sq mi, 1,574 sq km; Kauai: 552 sq mi, 1,430 sq km; Molokai: 280 sq mi, 725 sq km; Lanai: 140 sq mi, 363 sq km; Niihau: 72 sq mi, 186 sq km; Ka-hoolawe: 45 sq mi, 117 sq km. Mountain ranges: Koolau, Waianae (both Oahu). Highest point: Mauna Kea (Hawaii), 13,796 ft (4,205 m). Major rivers: Wailuku (Hawaii); Waimea, Hanalei (Kauai). Natural regions: The eight major islands at the eastern end of the 1,500-mile-long chain of islands are, from west to east, Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Maui, and Hawaii; each island contains regions of mountains, deeps, ridges, and wide beaches; active volcanoes are found on the island of Hawaii. Location: islands surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. Climate: tropical; rainfall variations throughout the state are dramatic, ranging from 8.7 inches (220 mm) a year at Kawaihae on the island of Hawaii, to roughly 444 inches (11,280 mm) at Mt. Waialeale on the island of Kauai. Land use: forest, 28.9%; pasture, 23.4%; agricultural, 7.1%; other, 40.6%.

People

Population (2006): Total, 1,285,498; 199.0 persons per sq mi (76.8 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 14.1; death rate, 7.2; marriage rate, 22.5; divorce rate (2001), 3.8. Major cities (2000): Honolulu (2006) 377,357; Hilo 40,759; Kailua 36,513; Kaneohe 34,970; Waipahu 33,108.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 21 Aug 1959 as the 50th state. State constitution: adopted 1950. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 2 representatives. Electoral college: 4 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 4 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 31.3%; government 22.3%; trade 22.0%; finance, insurance, real estate 8.4%; transportation, public utilities 6.3%; construction 4.2%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.8%; manufacturing 2.7%; mining 0.1%. Production: finance, insurance, real estate 23.2%; services 22.1%; government, 21.8%; trade 14.7%; transportation, utilities 10.4%; construction 4.0%; manufacturing 2.5%; agriculture 1.2%; mining 0.1%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: pineapples, sugarcane, cut flowers, macadamia nuts, coffee, milk, eggs. Livestock: cattle and calves. Aquaculture: fish, shellfish. Chief manufactured products: food products, processed sugar, canned pineapple, preserved fruits and vegetables, wearing apparel and textile products, printing and publishing.

Idaho

Nickname: Gem State. Capital: Boise. Rank: population: 39th; area: 14th; pop. density: 44th. Motto: Esto Perpetua (It Is Forever). Song: “Here We Have Idaho,” words by McKinley Helm and Albert J. Tompkins and music by Sallie Hume Douglas. Bird: mountain bluebird. Fish: cutthroat trout. Flower: syringa. Fossil: Hagerman horse fossil (Equus sim-plicidens). Gemstone: star garnet. Horse: Ap-paloosa. Insect: monarch butterfly. Tree: western white pine.

Natural features

Land area: 83,570 sq mi, 216,445 sq km. Mountain ranges: Northern Rocky, Middle Rocky, Sawtooth, Pioneer, Continental Divide, Beaverhead, Clearwater, Bitterroot, Salmon River, Lost River, Lemhi. Highest point: Borah Peak, 12,662 ft (3,859 m). Largest lake: Lake Pend Oreille. Major rivers: Snake, Salmon. Natural regions: Northern Rocky Mountains, covering most of the northern half of the state; Columbia Plateau, extending across the south-central and southwestern regions; Great Basin region of the Basin and Range Province, southeast; Middle Rocky Mountains, extreme southeastern tip. Location: Northwest, bordering Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington; international border with Canada. Climate: continental, with warm wet summers and cold dry winters, but regionally diverse; in general, precipitation increases and mean temperatures drop with increases in altitude. Land use: pasture, 12.0%; agricultural, 10.2%; forest, 7.5%; other, 70.3%.

People

Population (2006): 1,466,465; 17.5 persons per sq mi (6.8 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 16.1; death rate, 7.5; marriage rate, 10.5; divorce rate, 4.9. Major cities (2006): Boise 198,638; Nampa 76,587; Meridian 59,832; Pocatello 53,932; Idaho Falls 52,786.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 3 Jul 1890 as the 43rd state. State constitution: adopted 1889. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 2 representatives. Electoral college: 4 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 44 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 26.1%; trade 22.7%; government 15.0%; manufacturing 11.4%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 7.5%; construction 7.1%; finance, insurance, real estate 5.4%; transportation, public utilities 4.4%; mining 0.5%. Production: manufacturing 21.6%; trade 16.6%; services 16.3%; government 13.4%; finance, insurance, real estate 11.8%; transportation, utilities 7.8%; construction 6.6%; agriculture 5.2%; mining 0.6%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: potatoes, wheat, hay, sugar beets, barley, alfalfa seed, Kentucky bluegrass seed, hops, beans, onions, lentils, peas, honey, dairy products. Livestock: cattle and calves, sheep and lambs. Extractive products: timber, trout. Chief manufactured products: food processing, lumber and wood products, paper, printing, chemicals, plastics and rubber products, nonmetallic mineral products, fabricated metal products, machinery, computers and electronic products, transportation equipment, furniture.

Illinois

Name: Illinois, from a Native American word meaning “tribe of superior men.” Nickname: Prairie State. Capital: Springfield. Rank: population: 5th; area: 25th; pop. density: 12th. Motto: State Sovereignty, National Union. Slogan: Land of Lincoln. Song: “Illinois,” words by Charles H. Chamberlain and music by Archibald Johnston. Bird: cardinal. Fish: bluegill. Flower: violet. Fossil: Tully monster. Insect: monarch butterfly. Mammal: white-tailed deer. Mineral: fluorite. Tree: white oak.

Natural features

Land area: 57,915 sq mi, 149,999 sq km. Highest point: Charles Mound, 1,235 ft (376 m). Largest lake: Carlyle Lake. Major rivers: Mississippi, Ohio, Wabash. Natural regions: Central Lowland, a region of sloping hills and broad, shallow river valleys covering almost the entire state; Ozark Plateaus, extreme southwest; Interior Low Plateaus and Coastal Plain, extreme southeastern tip. Location: Midwest, borderingWisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Iowa. Climate: continental, with hot summers and cold, snowy winters; wide seasonal and regional variations. Land use: agricultural, 66.5%; forest, 11.0%; other, 22.5%.

Did you know ?

Cairo, Illinois was so named because the site was thought to resemble that of the Egyptian capital.

Population (2006): 12,831,970; 221.6 persons per sq mi (85.5 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 14.0; death rate, 8.1; marriage rate, 5.8; divorce rate, 2.5. Majorcities (2006): Chicago2,833,321;Aurora 170,617; Rockford 155,138; Naperville 142,901; Joliet 142,702.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 3 Dec 1818 as the 21st state. State constitution: adopted 1970. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 20 representatives. Electoral college: 21 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 102 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 30.9%; trade 21.2%; manufacturing 14.0%; government 12.2%; finance, insurance, real estate 9.0%; transportation, public utilities 5.5%; construction 4.7%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.3%; mining 0.3%. Production: services 22.6%; finance, insurance, real estate 20.4%; manufacturing 16.3%; trade 16.2%; government 9.9%; transportation, utilities 9.2%; construction 4.5%; agriculture 0.8%; mining 0.3%. Chief agricultural products: Crops:corn (maize), soybeans, wheat, hay, oats, sorghum, apples, peaches, snap beans, sweet corn, potatoes, cabbage, dairy products, eggs. Livestock: pigs, cattle and calves, horses, poultry. Chief manufactured products: food products, beverages, textiles, leather goods, apparel, wood products, paper products, printing, petroleum and coal products, asphalt paving, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, plastics and rubber products, non-metallic mineral products, iron and steel products, fabricated metals, machinery, computers and electronics, appliances, and transportation equipment.

Indiana

Name: Indiana, generally thought to mean “land of the Indians.” Nickname: HoosierState. Capital: Indianapolis. Rank: population: 15th; area: 38th; pop. density: 15th. Motto: The Crossroads of America. Song: “On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away,” words and music by Paul Dresser. Bird: cardinal. Flower: peony. Rock: limestone. Tree: tulip tree (yellow poplar).

Natural features

Land area: 36,418 sq mi, 94,322 sq km. Highest point: Hoosier Hill, 1,257 ft (383 m). Largest lake: Lake Monroe. Major rivers: Wabash, Ohio. Natural regions: Central Lowland comprises most of the state and includes the Eastern Lake Section to the north and the Till Plains in the center; Interior Low Plateaus, including the Highland Rim Section, cover the southern quarter of the state. Location: Midwest, bordering Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois. Climate: continental, with four distinct seasons; hot summers, cold winters, and mild spring and fall, with increased risk of tornadoes in spring. Land use: agricultural, 57.5%; forest, 16.5%; other, 26.0%.

Population (2006): 6,313,520; 173.4 persons per sq mi (66.9 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 13.9; death rate, 8.8; marriage rate, 7.7; divorce rate, N/A. Major cities (2006): Indianapolis 785,597; Fort Wayne 248,637; Evansville 115,738; South Bend 104,905; Gary 97,715.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 11 Dec 1816 as the 19th state. State constitution: adopted 1851. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 10 representatives. Electoral college: 11 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 92 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 26.2%; trade 22.7%; manufacturing 19.7%; government 11.7%; finance, insurance, real estate 6.0%; construction 5.8%; transportation, public utilities 4.8%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.0%; mining 0.3%. Production: manufacturing 30.9%; services 16.6%; trade 15.4%; finance, insurance, real estate 13.0%; government 10.0%; transportation, utilities 7.6%; construction 5.1%; agriculture 1.0%; mining 0.4%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: corn (maize), soybeans, wheat, hay, popcorn, tobacco, tomatoes, peppermint, spearmint, watermelon, blueberries, snap beans, cucumbers, apples, milk, eggs. Livestock: pigs, cattle and calves, poultry. Chief manufactured products: iron and steel, metal products, motor vehicle parts, machinery, food products, dairy products, soft drinks, wood products, paper products, mobile homes, asphalt.

Iowa

Name: Iowa, named for the Iowa (or Ioway) Indians who once inhabited the area. Nickname: Hawkeye State. Capital: Des Moines. Rank: population: 30th; area: 26th; pop. density: 34th. Motto: Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain. Song: “The Song of Iowa,” words by S.H.M. Byers, to the tune of “O Tannenbaum.” Bird: eastern goldfinch. Flower: wild rose. Rock: geode. Tree: oak.

Natural features

Land area: 56,271 sq mi, 145,741 sq km. Highest point: Hawkeye Point, 1,670 ft (509 m). Largest lake: Spirit Lake. Major rivers: Des Moines, Mississippi, Missouri, Big Sioux. Natural regions: overall, Central Lowland, including the Western Lake Section, north and central regions; Dissected Till Plains, south; Wisconsin Driftless Section, northeast corner. Location: Midwest, bordering Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Climate: continental, with hot summers and cold, snowy winters. Land use: agricultural, 70.8%; forest, 6.4%; other, 22.8%.

People

Population (2006): 2,982,085; 53.0 persons per sq mi (20.5 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 13.3; death rate, 9.4; marriage rate, 6.9; divorce rate, 2.7. Major cities (2006): Des Moines 193,886; Cedar Rapids 124,417; Davenport 99,514; Sioux City 83,262; Waterloo 65,998.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 28 Dec 1846 as the 29th state. State constitution: adopted 1857. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 5 representatives. Electoral college: 7 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 99 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 26.8%; trade 22.4%; manufacturing 14.0%; government 13.2%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 7.7%; finance, insurance, real estate 6.2%; construction 5.1%; transportation, public utilities 4.4%; mining 0.1%. Production: manufacturing 22.4%; services 17.0%; trade 16.9%; finance, insurance, real estate 15.1%; government 12.0%; transportation, utilities 8.5%; construction 4.4%; agriculture 3.5%; mining 0.3%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: corn (maize), soybeans, hay, oats, grain, milk, eggs, butter, honey, popcorn, sorghum. Livestock:poultry, hogs and pigs, beef cattle, sheep and lambs. Chief manufactured products: food products, dairy products, meatpacking, pesticide, fertilizer, and other agricultural chemicals, farm machinery, construction machinery, household appliances, motor vehicle parts.

Kansas

Name: Kansas, from the Sioux word kansa (“people of the south wind”) for the Native Americans who lived in the region. Nickname: Sunflower State. Capital: Topeka. Rank: population: 33rd; area: 15th; pop. density: 40th. Motto: Ad Astra per Aspera (To the Stars Through Difficulties). Song: “Home on the Range,” words by Brewster Higley and music by Dan Kelly. Amphibian: barred tiger salamander. Bird: western meadowlark. Flower: wild native sunflower. Insect: honeybee. Mammal: American buffalo. Reptile: ornate box turtle. Tree: cottonwood.

Natural features

Land area: 82,277 sq mi, 213,096 sq km. Highest point: Mount Sunflower, 4,039 ft (1,231 m). Largest lake: Milford Lake. Major rivers: Kansas, Arkansas, Big Blue, Republican, Solomon, Saline, Smoky Hill, Cimarron, Verdigris, Neosho (Grand). Natural regions: the Great Plains Province, covering the western half of the state, consists of the High Plains to the west and the Plains Border to the east; the Central Lowland covers the eastern half of the state and consists of the Dissected Till Plains to the north and the Osage Plains to the south. Location: Central, bordering Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Colorado. Climate: temperate but continental, with great extremes between summer and winter temperatures but few long periods of extreme hot or cold. Land use: agricultural, 50.3%; pasture, 30.1%; forest, 2.9%; other, 16.7%.

People

Population (2006): 2,764,075; 33.6 persons per sq mi (13.0 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 14.5; death rate, 9.0; marriage rate, 7.0; divorce rate, 3.1. Major cities (2006): Wichita 357,698; Overland Park 166,722; Kansas City 143,801; Topeka 122,113; Olathe 114,662.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 29 Jan 1861 as the 34th state. State constitution: adopted 1859. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 4 representatives. Electoral college: 6 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 105 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 26.5%; trade 22.2%; government 16.0%; manufacturing 12.6%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 5.9%; finance, insurance, real estate 5.7%; construction 5.2%; transportation, public utilities 4.9%; mining 1.2%. Production: trade 18.2%; services 17.4%; manufacturing 16.8%; government 13.5%; finance, insurance, real estate 12.9%; transportation, utilities 12.5%; construction 4.6%; agriculture 2.9%; mining 1.3%. Chief agricultural products: Crops:wheat, corn (maize), sorghum, hay, soybeans, sunflower seed and oil, apples, peaches, pecans. Livestock: beef cattle, dairy cattle, hogs, sheep and lambs, horses and other equines. Chief manufactured products: food products, grain and oilseed milling, meat products, printing, refined petroleum, soap and cleaning products, plastic products, aerospace products and parts, aircraft.

Kentucky

Name: Kentucky, possibly from the Iroquois word for “prairie.” Nickname: Bluegrass State. Capital: Frankfort. Rank: population: 26th; area: 37th; pop. density: 22nd. Motto: United We Stand, Divided We Fall. Song: “My Old Kentucky Home,” words and music by Stephen Foster. Bird: cardinal. Butterfly: viceroy butterfly. Fish: Kentucky bass. Flower: gold-enrod. Horse: Thoroughbred. Tree: tulip poplar. Wild animal: gray squirrel.

Natural features

Land area: 40,409 sq mi, 104,659 sq km. Mountain ranges: Cumberland, Pine. Highest point: Black Mountain, 4,145 ft (1,263 m). Largest lake: Kentucky Lake. Major rivers: Mississippi, Ohio, Big Sandy, Licking, Kentucky, Salt, Green, Tradewater, Cumberland, Tennessee. Natural regions: Appalachian Plateaus cover the eastern third of the state; Interior Low Plateaus, including the Highland Rim Section and the Lexington Plain, cover the remainder, with the exception of the Coastal Plain, which covers the extreme southwestern tip. Location: Midwest, bordering Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, and Illinois. Climate: temperate continental climate, with hot, humid summers and cold winters. Land use: forest, 40.6%; agricultural, 21.2%; other, 38.2%.

People

Population (2006): 4,206,074; 104.1 persons per sq mi (40.2 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 13.5; death rate, 9.7; marriage rate, 8.8; divorce rate, 4.5. Major cities (2006): Louisville 554,496; Lexington 270,789; Owensboro 55,525; Bowling Green 53,176; Coving-ton 42,797.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 1 Jun 1792 as the 15th state. State constitution: adopted 1891. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 6 representatives. Electoral college: 8 (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 120 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 25.4%; trade 21.7%; government 14.9%; manufacturing 14.9%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 6.4%; construction 5.8%; transportation, public utilities 5.2%; finance, insurance, real estate 4.5%; mining 1.2%. Production: manufacturing 27.5%; services 16.0%; trade 15.7%; government 13.5%; finance, insurance, real estate 10.9%; transportation, utilities 8.0%; construction 4.5%; mining 2.1%; agriculture 1.8%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: tobacco, soybeans, corn (maize), wheat, hay, sorghum, eggs, dairy products. Livestock: racing and show horses, beef cattle, dairy cattle, hogs, poultry, sheep and lambs. Chief manufactured products: food products, meatpacking, beverages, tobacco, apparel, paper products, printing, chemical products, paint, resin and synthetic rubber products, plastic products, iron and steel, aluminum, fabricated metal products, machinery, appliances, motor vehicles.

Louisiana

Name: Louisiana, named for Louis XIV, king of France. Nickname: Pelican State. Capital: Baton Rouge. Rank: population: 25th; area: 31st; pop. density: 24th. Motto: Union, Justice and Confidence. Songs: “Give Me Louisiana,” words and music by Do-ralice Fontane; “You Are My Sunshine,” words and music by Jimmy H. Davis and Charles Mitchell. Amphibian: green tree frog. Bird: brown pelican. Crustacean: crawfish. Fish: white perch (freshwater); spotted sea trout, or speckled trout (saltwater). Flower: magnolia. Fossil: petrified palmwood. Gem-stone: agate. Insect: honeybee. Mammal: black bear. Reptile: alligator. Tree: bald cypress.

Natural features

Land area: 47,716 sq mi, 123,584 sq km. Highest point: Driskill Mountain, 535 ft (163 m). Largest lake:

Lake Ponchartrain. Major rivers: Mississippi, Red, Sabine. Natural regions: the entire state consists of the Coastal Plain and is divided into the West Gulf Coastal Plain to the west, the Mississippi Alluvial Plain to the northeast, and the East Gulf Coastal Plain in the southeast. Location: South, bordering Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas. Climate: subtropical, with hot, humid summers, tempered by frequent afternoon thunder showers, alternating with mild winters; subject to tropical storms: hurricane season from June through November. Land use: forest, 42.5%; agricultural, 17.3%; pasture, 0.9%; other, 39.3%.

People

Population (2006): 4,287,768; 89.9 persons per sq mi (34.7 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2001; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 13.5; death rate, 9.3; marriage rate, 8.1; divorce rate, N/A. Major cities (2006): Baton Rouge 229,553; New Orleans 223,388; Shreveport 200,199; Metairie 130,000; Lafayette 114,214.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 30 Apr 1812 as the 18th state. State constitution: adopted 1974. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 5 representatives. Electoral college: 9 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 64 parishes.

Economy

Employment: services 29.2%; trade 21.6%; government 17.4%; manufacturing 8.7%; construction 6.8%; transportation, public utilities 5.6%; finance, insurance, real estate 5.3%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.8%; mining 2.7%. Production: services 17.6%; manufacturing 15.2%; trade 15.1%; finance, insurance, real estate 13.0%; government 12.3%; mining 11.7%; transportation, utilities 9.2%; construction 4.9%; agriculture 1.0%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: soybeans, cotton, corn (maize), sorghum, hay, sugarcane, rice, wheat, sweet potatoes, pecans, strawberries, peaches, milk, eggs. Livestock: cattle and calves, chickens, hogs. Aquaculture: catfish, crawfish. Fish catch: shrimp, oysters, marine fish, freshwater fish. Extractive products: timber. Chief manufactured products: industrial chemicals, agricultural chemicals, plastics materials and resins, refined petroleum, cane sugar products, beverages, food and food products, paper and paper products, fabricated metal products, wood and wood products, communications equipment, ships, boats, and nautical equipment.

Maine

Name: Maine, possibly named for the former French province of Maine, or used to distinguish the mainland portion of the territory from offshore islands. Nickname: Pine Tree State. Capital: Augusta. Rank: population: 40th; area: 39th; pop. density: 38th. Motto: Dirigo (I Direct). Song: “State of Maine Song,” words and music by Roger Vinton Snow. Bird: chickadee. Fish: landlocked salmon. Flower: white pine cone and tassel. Fossil: Pertica quadrifaria. Gemstone: tourmaline. Insect: honeybee. Mammal: moose. Tree: white pine.

Natural features

Land area: 33,126 sq mi, 85,795 sq km. Mountain ranges: Appalachian, Longfellow. Highest point: Mount Katahdin, 5,268 ft (1,606 m). Largest lake: Moosehead Lake. Major rivers: Saco, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Penobscot, St. John’s, St. Croix, Allagash. Natural regions: entire state is part of the larger New England Province, subdivided into the White Mountain section (southwest), Seaboard Lowland Section (southeast coastline), and New England Upland Section (north and central regions). Location: New England, bordering New Hampshire; international border with Canada. Climate: cool maritime climate, with coldest temperatures and greatest snowfall occurring in northern regions. Land use: forest, 84.0%; agricultural, 1.8%; other 14.2%.

People

Population (2006): 1,321,574; 39.9 persons per sq mi (15.4 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 10.7; death rate, 9.7; marriage rate, 7.9; divorce rate, 3.5. Major cities (2006): Portland 63,011; Lewis-ton 35,734; Bangor 31,008; South Portland 23,784; Auburn 23,156.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 15 Mar 1820 as the 23rd state. State constitution: adopted 1819. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 2 representatives. Electoral college: 4 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 16 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 30.2%; trade 23.0%; government 13.7%; manufacturing 13.1%; construction 6.3%; finance, insurance, real estate 5.9%; transportation, public utilities 4.1%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.7%. Production: services 20.1%; finance, insurance, real estate 18.8%; trade 18.0%; manufacturing 15.4%; government 14.0%; transportation, utilities 7.0%; construction 4.6%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.0%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: potatoes, blueberries, hay, apples, cranberries, oats, honey, corn (maize), dairy products, eggs. Livestock: poultry, cattle and calves, sheep and lambs. Aquacul-ture:salmon, rainbow trout. Fish catch: marine fish, lobster, shrimp, crab, clams, haddock, cod, mackerel. Extractive industries: timber. Chief manufactured products: paper, leather, lumber and wood products, food products, semiconductors, apparel, printing and publishing, plastic products, ships and boats.

Maryland

Name: Maryland, in honor of Henrietta Maria, queen of England at the time the colony of Maryland was founded. Nickname: Old Line State. Capital: Annapolis. Rank: population: 19th; area: 42nd; pop. density: 5th. Motto: Fatti Maschii, Parole Femine (Manly Deeds, Womanly Words). Song: “Maryland, My Maryland,” words by James Ryder Randall, to the tune of “O Tan-nenbaum.” Bird: Baltimore oriole. Crustacean: Maryland blue crab. Dinosaur: Astrodon johnstoni. Fish: rockfish (striped bass). Flower: black-eyed Susan. Insect: Baltimore checkerspot. Reptile: diamondback terrapin. Tree: white oak.

Natural features

Land area: 10,454 sq mi, 27,076 sq km. Mountain ranges: Allegheny, Appalachian. Highest point: Backbone Mountain, 3,360 ft (1,024 m). Largest lake: Deep Creek Lake. Major rivers: Potomac, Patuxent, Susquehanna. Natural regions: Coastal Plain, eastern half of the state, includes the Embayed Section near the southwest corner of the peninsula; Piedmont Province, central, includes the Piedmont Upland to the north and the Piedmont Lowlands to the west; Blue Ridge Province, northwest; Valley and Ridge Province, part of western neck; Appalachian Plateau, extreme western neck. Location: East, bordering Pennsylvania, Delaware, District of Columbia, Virginia, and West Virginia. Climate: continental in the west, but a humid, subtropical climate prevails in the east; hurricanes often bring much rain to eastern regions. Land use: forest, 30.1%; agricultural, 19.3%; other, 50.6%.

People

Population (2006): 5,615,727; 537.2 persons per sq mi (207.4 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 13.4; death rate, 7.9; marriage rate, 6.7; divorce rate, 3.1. Major cities (2006): Baltimore 631,366; Columbia 94,700; Silver Spring 73,000; Rockville 59,114; Frederick 58,882.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 28 Apr 1788 as the 7th state. State constitution: adopted 1867. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 8 representatives. Electoral college: 10 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 23 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 34.4%; trade 21.1%; government 17.3%; finance, insurance, real estate 8.3%; manufacturing 6.4%; construction 6.3%; transportation, public utilities 4.4%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.8%; mining 0.1%. Production: services 24.2%; finance, insurance, real estate 21.3%; government 17.5%; trade 15.2%; manufacturing 8.1%; transportation, utilities 7.5%; construction 5.4%; agriculture 0.8%; mining 0.1%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: corn (maize), soybeans, wheat, vegetables, potatoes, tobacco, dairy products, eggs. Livestock:cattle and calves, pigs, poultry. Aquaculture: hybrid striped bass, catfish, tilapia, trout, oysters. Fish catch: blue crab, other crustaceans, oysters, mollusks, marine fish. Chief manufactured products: primary metals, ships and boats, food products, motor vehicles, chemical products, paper and printing, plastics and rubber, fabricated metal products, machinery, computers and electronics, transportation equipment.

Massachusetts

Name: Massachusetts, named for the Massachu-sett tribe of Native Americans who lived in the Great Blue Hill region south of Boston; the word Massachusett means “at or about the great hill.” Nickname: Bay State. Capital: Boston. Rank: population: 13th; area: 45th; pop. density: 3rd. Motto: Ense Petit Placidam sub Libertate Quietem (By the Sword We Seek Peace, but Peace Only Under Liberty). Song: “All Hail to Massachusetts,” words and music by Arthur J. Marsh. Bird: black-capped chickadee. Fish: cod. Flower: mayflower. Fossil: theropod dinosaur tracks. Gemstone: rhodonite. Insect: ladybug. Marine mammal: right whale. Mineral: babingtonite. Rock: Roxbury puddingstone. Tree: American elm.

Natural features

Land area: 8,263 sq mi, 21,401 sq km. Mountain ranges: Berkshire Mountains, Hoosac Range, Taconic Range. Highest point: Mount Greylock, 3,491 ft (1,064 m). Largest lake: Webster Lake. Major rivers: Connecticut, Charles, Merrimack, Housatonic, Taunton. Natural regions: the New England Province, comprising most of the state, subdivided into the Taconic Section along the west, the New England Upland Section in the central region, and the Seaboard Lowland Section, covering the eastern third of the state; Coastal Plain, comprising the peninsula region. Location: New England, bordering New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and Vermont. Climate: temperate continental climate, with cold snowy winters and warm, humid summers; climate is colder but drier in western Massachusetts, although its winter snowfalls may be more severe. Land use: forest, 49.9%; agricultural, 4.7%; other, 45.4%.

People

Population (2006): 6,437,193; 779.0 persons per sq mi (300.8 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 12.0; death rate, 8.3; marriage rate, 6.1; divorce rate, 2.2. Major cities (2006): Boston 590,763; Worcester 175,454; Springfield 151,176; Lowell 103,229; Cambridge 101,365.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 6 Feb 1788 as the 6th state. State constitution: adopted 1780. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 10 representatives. Electoral college: 12 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 14 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 38.2%; trade 20.6%; manufacturing 11.9%; government 11.2%; finance, insurance, real estate 8.2%; construction 4.6%; transportation, public utilities 4.1%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.3%; mining0.1%. Production: services 26.8%; finance, insurance, real estate 24.5%; trade 15.3%; manufacturing 13.9%; government 9.1%; transportation, utilities 5.6%; construction 4.1%; agriculture 0.5%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: tobacco, cranberries, hay, potatoes, sweet corn, dairy products, eggs. Livestock:cattle and calves, poultry. Fish catch: marine fish, lobster, crab, mollusks. Aquaculture: oysters, qua-hogs, soft-shelled clams, scallops. Chief manufactured products: food products, dairy products, soft drinks, textiles, paper products, printing, pharmaceuticals, plastic products, nonferrous metal products, fabricated metal products, machinery, communications equipment, semiconductors and electronics, electrical equipment, software, aerospace equipment, aircraft engines, surgical and medical equipment.

Michigan

Name: Michigan, from Native American word Michigana meaning “great, or, large lake.” Nicknames: Wolverine State; Great Lake State. Capital: Lansing. Rank: population: 8th; area: 11th; pop. density: 21st. Motto: Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoe-nam, Circumspice (If You Seek a Pleasant Peninsula, Look Around You). Song: “Michigan, My Michigan,” words by Giles Kavanagh and music by H.J. Clint. Bird: robin. Fish: brook trout. Flower: apple blossom. Gemstone: chlorastrolite. Mammal: white-tailed deer (game mammal). Reptile: painted turtle. Rock: Petoskey stone. Tree: white pine.

Natural features

Land area: 96,716 sq mi, 250,493 sq km. Highest point: Mount Arvon, 1,979 ft (603 m). Largest lake: Houghton Lake. Major rivers: Montreal, Brule, Menominee, St. Clair. Natural regions: the Central Lowland, Eastern Lake Section, covers all of Lower Michigan and part of the Upper Peninsula region; the western half of the Upper Peninsula consists of Superior Upland, as do two small areas at the eastern end. Location: Midwest, bordering Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin; international border with Canada. Climate: continental; the Great Lakes cool the hot winds of summer and warm the cold winds of winter, giving Michigan a milder climate than some other north-central states, although the Upper Peninsula is relatively cooler; very high snowfall along the coast of Lake Michigan. Land use: forest, 44.7%; agricultural, 21.7%; other, 33.6%.

People

Population (2006): 10,095,643; 104.4 persons per sq mi (40.3 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 12.6; death rate, 8.6; marriage rate, 6.1; divorce rate, 3.4. Major cities (2006): Detroit 871,121; Grand Rapids 193,083; Warren 134,589; Sterling Heights 127,991; Flint 117,068.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 26 Jan 1837 as the 26th state. State constitution: adopted 1963. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 15 representatives. Electoral college: 17 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 83 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 29.2%; trade 22.2%; manufacturing 18.4%; government 12.1%; finance, insurance, real estate 6.9%; construction 4.9%; transportation, public utilities 3.8%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.3%; mining 0.2%. Production: manufacturing 26.2%; services 19.6%; trade 17.1%; finance, insurance, real estate 14.1%; government 10.3%; transportation, utilities 6.6%; construction 4.8%; agriculture 0.9%; mining 0.3%. Chief agricultural products: Crops:apples, asparagus, beans, blueberries, carrots, celery, cherries, corn (maize), flowers, grapes and wine, honey, wool, maple syrup, mint, onions, peaches, plums, potatoes, dairy products, eggs, strawberries, sugar, soybeans. Livestock: beef and dairy cattle and calves, pigs, poultry, sheep and lambs. Aquaculture: Rainbow, brook, and brown trout, yellow perch, catfish. Extractive industries: Christmas trees. Chief manufactured products: motor vehicles, salt, plastics, pharmaceuticals, soaps, milled grain, dry cereals, agricultural machinery, office furniture, dairy products, preserved fruits and vegetables, printed matter, electrical equipment, measuring and control devices.

Minnesota

Name: Minnesota, from a Dakota word meaning “sky-tinted water.” Nickname: North Star State. Capital: St. Paul. Rank: population: 21st; area: 12th; pop. density: 32nd. Motto: L’Etoile du Nord (The Star of the North). Song: “Hail! Minnesota,” first verse and music by Truman E. Rickard, second verse by Arthur E. Upson. Bird: common loon. Fish: walleye pike. Flower: pink and white lady slipper. Gemstone: Lake Superior agate. Insect: monarch butterfly. Tree: Norway pine.

Natural features

Land area: 86,939 sq mi, 225,171 sq km. Mountain ranges: Mesabi, Vermillion, Cuyuna. Highest point: Eagle Mountain, 2,301 ft (701 m). Largest lake: Red Lake. Major rivers: Minnesota, St. Croix, Mississippi. Natural regions: Superior Upland, northeast corner; Central Lowland, covering most of the state; Western Lake Section, center; Dissected Till Plains, extreme southwest corner and south-central edge; Wisconsin Driftless Section, extreme southeast. Location: North central, bordering Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota; international border with Canada. Climate: continental, with very cold winters and warm summers. Land use: agricultural, 39.1%; forest, 30.3%; other, 30.6%.

People

Population (2006): 5,167,101; 59.4 persons per sq mi (22.9 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 13.8; death rate, 7.3; marriage rate, 5.9; divorce rate (2004), 2.8. Major cities (2006): Minneapolis 372,833; St. Paul 273,535; Rochester 96,975; Duluth 84,167; Bloomington 80,869.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 11 May 1858 as the 32nd state. State constitution: adopted 1857. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 8 representatives. Electoral college: 10 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 87 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 30.3%; trade 22.0%; manufacturing 14.3%; government 12.0%; finance, insurance, real estate 7.6%; transportation, public utilities 4.7%; construction 4.6%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 4.2%; mining 0.3%. Production: services 20.8%; finance, insurance, real estate 18.5%; manufacturing 18.1%; trade 17.6%; government 10.2%; transportation, utilities 7.6%; construction 5.0%; agriculture 1.7%; mining 0.5%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: corn (maize), green peas, dry beans, onions, carrots, apples, oats, hay, spring wheat, barley, soybeans, potatoes, sugar beets, flaxseed, dairy products, eggs. Livestock: pigs, cattle and calves, poultry, sheep and lambs. Chief manufactured products: food and food processing, malt beverages and other alcoholic products, dairy products, meatpacking, industrial machinery, computers and office machines, electronics and electric equipment, precision instruments, printing and publishing, call centers and communications, information technology, forest products, medical manufacturing, plastics and rubber manufacturing.

Mississippi

Name: Mississippi, from a Native American word meaning “great waters” or “father of waters.” Nickname: Magnolia State. Capital: Jackson. Rank: population: 31st; area: 32nd; pop. density: 31st. Motto: Virtute etArmis (By Valor and Arms). Song: “Go, Mississippi,” words and music by Houston Davis. Bird: mockingbird. Fish: largemouth bass. Flower: magnolia. Fossil: prehistoric whale. Insect: honeybee. Mammal: white-tailed deer. Marine mammal: bottle-nosed dolphin (porpoise). Rock: petrified wood. Tree: magnolia tree.

Natural features

Land area: 47,692 sq mi, 123,522 sq km. Highest point: Woodall Mountain, 806 ft (246 m). Major rivers: Mississippi, Pearl, Big Black, Yazoo, Tombig-bee, Pascagoula, Tennessee. Natural regions: the entire state consists of the Coastal Plain, subdivided into the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, in the west, and the East Gulf Coastal Plain, comprising the central and eastern regions. Location: South, bordering Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Climate: mild, with hot, humid summers and mild winters; coastal area is subject to hurricanes from June to October. Land use: forest, 54.9%; agricultural, 16.3%; other, 28.8%.

People

Population (2006): 2,910,540; 61.0 persons per sq mi (23.6 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 14.5; death rate, 10.1; marriage rate, 5.9; divorce rate, 4.5. Major cities (2006): Jackson 176,614; Gulfport 64,316; Hattiesburg 48,012; Biloxi 44,342; Southaven 41,295.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 10 Dec 1817 as the 20th state. State constitution: adopted 1890. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 5 representatives. Electoral college: 6 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 82 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 24.5%; trade 19.7%; government 17.8%; manufacturing 17.5%; construction 5.5%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 5.2%; finance, insurance, real estate 4.7%; transportation, public utilities 4.5%; mining 0.6%. Production: manufacturing 20.6%; services 17.4%; trade 16.8%; government 16.0%; finance, insurance, real estate 11.4%; transportation, utilities 9.5%; construction 4.7%; agriculture 2.6%; mining 1.0%. Chief agricultural products: Crops:cotton, soybeans, rice, wheat, corn, greenhouse and nursery plants, sweet potatoes, pecans. Livestocfc-cattle and calves. Aquacu/ture:catfish, pearl farming. Fish catch: marine fish, freshwater fish, shrimp, oysters, crustaceans. Extractive industries: timber. Chief manufactured products: food products, transport equipment, apparel, textiles, electrical equipment, rubber products, metal products.

Missouri

Name: Missouri, named for Native American tribe that lived in the region; the name means “town of the large canoes.” Nickname: Show Me State. Capital: Jefferson City. Rank: population: 18th; area: 20th; pop. density: 28th. Motto: Sa/us Popu/i Suprema Lex Esto (The Welfare of the People Shall Be the Supreme Law). Song: “Missouri Waltz,” words by J.R. Shannon and music by John Valentine Eppel. Aquatic animal: paddlefish. Bird: bluebird. Fish: channel catfish. Flower: white hawthorn blossom. Fossil: crinoid. Insect: honeybee. Mammal: Missouri mule. Mineral: galena. Rock: mozarkite. Tree: flowering dogwood.

Natural features

Land area: 69,704 sq mi, 180,533 sq km. Mountain ranges: Ozark Plateau, St. Francois. Highest point: Taum Sauk Mountain, 1,772 ft (540 m). Largest lake: Truman Lake. Major rivers: Missouri, Mississippi, Des Plaines. Natural regions: Central Lowland, northwestern, subdivided into the Dissected Till Plains to the north and the Osage Plains to the west; Ozark Plateaus, including the Springfield-Salem Plateaus, southeast; Coastal Plain, including the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, extreme southeastern tip. Location: Midwest, bordering Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. Climate: continental, with hot, humid summers and cold winters; the state lies in “Tornado Alley,” the zone of maximum tornado occurrence, and has an average of 27 tornadoes annually. Land use: agricultural, 30.7%; forest, 28.1%; pasture, 0.2%; other, 41.0%.

People

Population (2006): 5,842,713; 83.8 persons per sq mi (32.4 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 13.6; death rate, 9.4; marriage rate, 8.1; divorce rate, 3.6. Major cities (2006): Kansas City 447,306; St. Louis 347,181; Springfield 150,797; Independence 109,400; Columbia 94,428.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 10 Aug 1821 as the 24th state. State constitution: adopted 1945. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 9 representatives. Electoral college: 11 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 114 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 29.3%; trade 21.8%; government 13.3%; manufacturing 12.9%; finance, insurance, real estate 6.8%; transportation, public utilities 5.8%; construction 5.5%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 4.5%; mining 0.2%. Production: services 20.5%; manufacturing 19.3%; trade 17.1%; finance, insurance, real estate 15.3%; government 11.4%; transportation, utilities 10.1%; construction 4.9%; agriculture 1.1%; mining 0.3%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: soybeans, corn (maize), cotton, rice, grain sorghum, hay, wheat, fruits and vegetables, dairy products. Livestocfccattle and calves, pigs, sheep and lambs, poultry. Extractive industries: timber. Chief manufactured products: industrial machinery, transportation equipment, food processing, malt beverages, soft drinks, meat and poultry products, preserved fruits and vegetables, soaps and detergents, agricultural chemicals, pharmaceuticals, printing and publishing, primary metals, nonelectrical machinery, fabricated metals, petroleum and coal products, electrical equipment, stone, clay, and glass products.

Montana

Name: Montana, from the Spanish word montana (“mountain,” or “mountainous region”). Nickname: Treasure State. Capital: Helena. Rank: population: 44th; area: 4th; pop. density: 48th. Motto: Oro y P/ata (Gold and Silver). Song: “Montana,” words by Charles C. Cohan and music by Joseph E. Howard. Bird: western meadowlark. Fish: cutthroat trout. Flower: bitterroot. Fossil: Maiasaura. Gemstones: agate; sapphire. Mammal: grizzly bear. Tree: pon-derosa pine.

Land area: 147,042 sq mi, 380,837 sq km. Mountain ranges: Rocky, Grand Teton. Highest point: Granite Peak, 12,799 ft (3,901 m). Largest lake: Flathead Lake. Major rivers: Kootenai, Clark Fork, Flathead, Missouri, Yellowstone. Natural regions: Northern Rocky Mountains, western two-fifths of the state; Middle Rocky Mountains, small area along the south-central border; Missouri Plateau region of the Great Plains Province, eastern three-fifths of the state. Location: Northwest, bordering North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Idaho; international border with Canada. Climate: continental; most of the Great Plains region is semiarid, with warm summers and cold winters; west of the Rocky Mountains the climate is milder. Land use: pasture, 39.0%; agricultural, 15.4%; forest, 5.7%; other, 39.9%.

People

Population (2006): 944,632; 6.4 persons per sq mi (2.5 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per I,000 population): birth rate, 12.4; death rate, 9.0; marriage rate, 7.3; divorce rate, 3.8. Major cities (2006): Billings 100,148; Missoula 64,081; Great Falls 56,215; Bozeman 35,061; Butte 32,110.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 8 Nov 1889 as the 41st state. State constitution: adopted 1972. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 1 representative. Electoral college: 3 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 56 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 30.4%; trade 23.4%; government 15.5%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 6.7%; finance, insurance, real estate 6.1%; construction 6.1%; manufacturing 5.6%; transportation, public utilities 5.0%; mining 1.3%. Production: services 20.3%; trade 16.9%; government 16.4%; finance, insurance, real estate 13.7%; transportation, utilities II.9%; manufacturing 7.5%; construction 5.6%; agriculture 4.0%; mining 3.7%. Chief agricultural products: Crops:wheat, barley, hay, oats, safflowers, sunflowers, mustard, sugar beets, dry beans, grapes, garlic, oil seeds, corn (maize), potatoes, honey, cherries, dairy products. Livestock: beef and dairy cattle and calves, sheep and lambs, poultry, horses, llamas. Extractive industries: timber, Christmas trees. Chief manufactured products: food processing, lumber and wood products, metal processing, petroleum products, chemical manufacturing, cement and concrete products, fabricated metal products, machinery.

Nebraska

Name: Nebraska, from a Native American word meaning “flat water,” a reference to the Platte River. Nickname: Cornhusker State. Capital: Lincoln. Rank: population: 38th; area: 16th; pop. density: 42nd. Motto: Equality Before the Law. Song: “Beautiful Nebraska,” words by Jim Fras and Guy Gage Miller and music by Jim Fras. Bird: western meadowlark. Fish: channel catfish. Flower: goldenrod. Fossil: mammoth. Gemstone: blue agate. Insect: honeybee. Mammal: white-tailed deer. Rock: prairie agate. Tree: cotton-wood.

Natural features

Land area: 77,353 sq mi, 200,343 sq km. Highest point: Panorama Point 5,424 ft (1,653 m). Largest lake: Lake McConaughy. Major rivers: Missouri, Platte, Elkhorn, Loup, Republican, Big Blue, Niobrara. Natural regions: Great Plains Province, western three-quarters of the state; Missouri Plateau, at the northern corners; High Plains, central and north central; Plains Border, southern border; Central Lowland, including the Dissected Till Plains, eastern quarter of the state. Location: Central, bordering South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming. Climate: continental, with hot summers and very cold winters; blizzards are not uncommon in winter; western half of state is semiarid. Land use: pasture, 46.6%; agricultural, 39.5%; forest, 1.6%; other, 12.3%.

People

Population (2006): 1,768,331; 22.9 persons per sq mi (8.8 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 14.9; death rate, 8.5; marriage rate, 7.0; divorce rate, 3.4. Major cities (2006): Omaha 419,545; Lincoln 241,167; Bellevue 47,594; Grand Island 44,632; Kearney 29,385.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 1 Mar 1867 as the 37th state. State constitution: adopted 1875. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 3 representatives. Electoral college: 5 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 93 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 28.1%; trade 22.2%; government 14.1%; manufacturing 10.4%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 7.3%; finance, insurance, real estate 7.2%; transportation, public utilities 5.5%; construction 5.0%; mining 0.2%. Production: services 19.1%; trade 16.7%; finance, insurance, real estate 15.5%; government 14.1%; manufacturing 14.0%; transportation, utilities 10.8%; agriculture 4.8%; construction 4.8%; mining 0.1%. Chief agricultural products: Crops:corn (maize), soybeans, hay, wheat, sorghum, dry edible beans, sugar beets. Livestock: beef cattle, dairy cattle, pigs, sheep and lambs, poultry. Chief manufactured products: meatpacking, canned and frozen fruits and vegetables, flour, cereal, grain products, beverages, dairy products, livestock feeds, transportation equipment (significantly motorcycles and small commercial vehicles), printing and publishing, rubber and plastic goods, fabricated metal products, primary metals.

Nevada

Name: Nevada, from the Spanish nevada (“snow-clad”), a reference to the high mountain scenery of the Sierra Nevada on the southwestern border with California. Nicknames: Sagebrush State; Silver State. Capital: Carson City. Rank: population: 35th; area: 7th; pop. density: 43rd. Motto: All for Our Country. Song: “Home Means Nevada,” words and music by Bertha Raffeto. Bird: mountain bluebird. Fish: Lahon-tan cutthroat trout. Flower: sagebrush. Fossil: ichthyosaur. Gemstones: fire opal; turquoise. Mammal: desert bighorn sheep. Metal: silver. Reptile: desert tortoise. Rock: sandstone. Trees: single-leaf pinon; bristlecone pine.

Natural features

Land area: 110,561 sq mi, 286,352 sq km. Mountain ranges: Snake, Schell Creek, Monitor, Toiyabe, Shoshone, Humboldt, Santa Rosa. Highest point: Boundary Peak, 13,143 ft (4,006 m). Largest lakes: Pyramid Lake (natural), Lake Mead (man-made). Major rivers: Humboldt, Truckee, Carson, Walker, Muddy, Virgin. Natural regions: the Basin and Range Province covers all of the state, except for the southwestern corner, which consists of the Cascade-Sierra Mountains, and the northeastern corner, which comprises part of the Columbia Plateau. Location: West, bordering Idaho, Utah, Arizona, California, and Oregon. Climate: semiarid but with regional variation: northern and eastern areas have long, cold winters and short, relatively hot summers, whereas in southern Nevada the summers are long and hot and the winters brief and mild. Land use: pasture, 11.7%; agricultural, 0.9%; forest, 0.4%; other, 87.0%.

People

Population (2006): 2,495,529; 22.6 persons per sq mi (8.7 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 15.4; death rate, 7.7; marriage rate, 61.0; divorce rate, 7.7. Major cities (2006) Las Vegas 552,539; Henderson 240,614; Reno 210,255; North Las Vegas 197,567; Sunrise Manor 191,858; Paradise 186,370; Spring Valley 172,110; Enterprise 119,100.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 31 Oct 1864 as the 36th state. State constitution: adopted 1864. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 3 representatives. Electoral college: 5 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 16 counties; 1 independent city.

Economy

Employment: services 42.2%; trade 19.5%; government 10.7%; construction 8.9%; finance, insurance, real estate 7.0%; transportation, public utilities 4.7%; manufacturing 4.1%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.5%; mining 1.5%. Production: services 32.5%; finance, insurance, real estate 16.9%; trade 15.0%; government 10.3%; construction 10.2%; transportation, utilities 8.0%; manufacturing 4.1%; mining 2.2%; agriculture 0.7%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: hay, wheat, corn (maize), potatoes, rye, oats, alfalfa, barley, vegetables, dairy products, some fruits. Livestock: cattle and calves, horses, sheep and lambs, hogs, poultry. Chief manufactured products: food processing, candy, frozen desserts, dairy products, soft drinks, paper products, chemical products, plastics, construction materials, industrial machinery, printing and publishing.

New Hampshire

Name: New Hampshire, named for Hampshire, England, by Captain John Mason. Nickname: Granite State. Capital: Concord. Rank: population: 41st; area: 44th; pop. density: 19th. Motto: Live Free or Die. Songs: “Old New Hampshire,” words by John F. Holmes and music by Maurice Hoffmann; “New Hampshire, My New Hampshire,” words by Julius Richelson and music by Walter P. Smith. Amphibian: red-spotted newt. Bird: purple finch. Fish: brook trout (freshwater); striped bass (saltwater). Flower: purple lilac. Gemstone: smokey quartz. Insect: ladybug. Mammal: white-tailed deer. Mineral: beryl. Rock: granite. Tree: white birch.

Natural features

Land area: 9,282 sq mi, 24,040 sq km. Mountain ranges: White, Ossipee, Sandwich, Presidential. Highest point: Mt. Washington, 6,288 ft (1,917 m). Largest lake: Lake Winnipesaukee. Major rivers: Mer-rimack, Salmon Falls, Connecticut, Saco, Piscataqua, Androscoggin. Natural regions: the New England Province covers the entire state and is subdivided into the White Mountain Section in the northern third, the New England Upland Section in the south-central region, and the Seaboard Lowland Section in the southeast corner. Location: New England, bordering Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont; international border with Canada. Climate: temperate but highly varied: winter temperatures may drop below 0 °F (-18 °C) for days at a time; summers are relatively cool, and precipitation is rather evenly distributed over the four seasons. Land use: forest, 65.6%; agricultural, 2.1%; other, 32.3%.

People

Population (2006): 1,314,895; 141.7 persons per sq mi (54.7 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 11.0; death rate, 7.6; marriage rate, 7.3; divorce rate, 3.3. Major cities (2006): Manchester 109,497; Nashua 87,157; Concord 42,378; Rochester 30,117; Dover 28,422.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 21 Jun 1788 as the 9th state. State constitution: adopted 1784. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 2 representatives. Electoral college: 4 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 10 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 31.5%; trade 24.0%; manufacturing 15.5%; government 10.9%; finance, insurance, real estate 6.9%; construction 6.0%; transportation, public utilities 3.5%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.6%; mining 0.1%. Production: finance, insurance, real estate 23.2%; manufacturing 22.1%; services 19.6%; trade 16.5%; government 7.8%; transportation, utilities 5.8%; construction 4.1%; agriculture 0.7%; mining 0.1%. Chief agricultural products: Crops:apples, honey, fruits and vegetables, ornamental horticulture, Christmas trees, dairy products, eggs, herbs, maple syrup, wool. Livestock: horses, dairy cattle, sheep and lambs. Fish catch: marine fish, seafood. Extractive products: timber. Chief manufactured products: industrial machinery, computers and software, electrical equipment, semiconductors, processed foods, precision instruments, medical and surgical instruments, fabricated metal products, rubber and plastic products, printing and publishing, paper and paper products.

New Jersey

Name: New Jersey, named for the island of Jersey in the English Channel. Nickname: Garden State. Capital: Trenton. Rank: population: 11th; area: 46th; pop. density: 1st. Motto: Liberty and Prosperity. Bird: eastern goldfinch. Fish: brook trout. Flower: violet. Fossil: Hadrosaurus foulkii. Insect: honeybee. Mammal: horse. Tree: red oak.

Natural features

Land area: 7,813 sq mi, 20,236 sq km. Mountain range: Appalachian. Highest point: Kittatinny Mountain, 1,803 ft (550 m). Largest lake: Lake Hopat-cong. Major rivers: Delaware, Hudson, Passaic, Hackensack, Raritan. Natural regions: the Valley and Ridge Province, Middle Section, northwest corner; the New England Province, consisting of the New England Upland Section, east of the Valley and Ridge area; the Piedmont Province, including the Piedmont Lowlands, extending from the northeast corner to part of the border with Pennsylvania; the Coastal Plain, Embayed Section, southern half of the state. Location: Northeast, bordering New York, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Climate: continental; relatively colder winters in northwest, milder conditions in the south, and hot summers throughout the state. Land use: forest, 30.8%; agricultural, 10.1%; other, 59.1%.

People

Population (2006): 8,724,560; 1,116.7 persons per sq mi (431.1 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 13.0; death rate, 8.3; marriage rate, 5.0; divorce rate, 2.9. Major cities (2006): Newark 281,402; Jersey City 241,789; Paterson 148,708; Elizabeth 126,179; Edison 99,523.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 18 Dec 1787 as the 3rd state. State constitution: adopted 1947. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 13 representatives. Electoral college: 15 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 21 counties.

Employment: services 32.8%; trade 21.6%; government 13.0%; manufacturing 11.0%; finance, insurance, real estate 9.7%; transportation, public utilities 6.3%; construction 4.3%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.2%; mining 0.1%. Production: finance, insurance, real estate 23.7%; services 23.5%; trade 17.0%; manufacturing 11.9%; government 10.1%; transportation, utilities 9.5%; construction 3.8%; agriculture 0.5%; mining 0.1%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: cranberries, blueberries, peaches, asparagus, bell peppers, spinach, lettuce, cucumbers, sweet corn, tomatoes, snap beans, cabbage, esca-role and endive, eggplants, nursery and greenhouse products, dairy products, eggs. Livestock: horses, cattle, poultry. Fish catch: bluefish, tilefish, flounder, hake, shellfish. Chief manufactured products: chemical products, pharmaceuticals, electronic and electrical equipment, communications equipment, semiconductors, industrial equipment, petroleum products, fabricated metal products, clay products, food products.

New Mexico

Name: New Mexico, named for the country of Mexico. Nickname: Land of Enchantment. Capital: Santa Fe. Rank: population: 36th; area: 5th; pop. density: 45th. Motto: Crescit Eundo (It Grows as It Goes). Songs: “O, Fair New Mexico,” words and music by Elizabeth Garrett; “Asf es Nuevo Mexico,” words and music by Amadeo Lucero. Bird: roadrunner. Fish: New Mexico cutthroat trout. Flower: yucca. Fossil: coelophysis. Gemstone: turquoise. Insect: tarantula hawk wasp. Tree: pinon pine.

Natural features

Land area: 121,590 sq mi, 314,917 sq km. Mountain ranges: Rocky, Sangre de Cristo. Highest point: Wheeler Peak, 13,161 ft (4,011 m). Largest lake: Elephant Butte Reservoir. Major rivers: Rio Grande, Pecos, Canadian, San Juan, Gila. Natural regions: Great Plains Province, eastern third of the state, subdivided into the Raton Section to the north, the High Plains along the eastern edge, and the Pecos Valley to the west; Southern Rocky Mountains, north-central region; Colorado Plateau, northwest corner, including the Navajo Section and Datil Section; Basin and Range Province, central region and southwest corner, with the Sacramento Section to the east and the Mexican Highland to the south. Location: Southwest, bordering Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, and Arizona; international border with Mexico. Climate: arid; moderate temperatures but great variation by altitude; temperatures drop dramatically after dark. Land use: pasture, 51.3%; forest, 7.0%; agricultural, 2.0%; other, 39.7%.

People

Population (2006): 1,954,599; 16.1 persons persq mi (6.2 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 15.0; death rate, 7.7; marriage rate, 6.7; divorce rate, 4.6. Major cities (2006): Albuquerque 504,949; Las Cruces 86,268; Santa Fe 72,056; Rio Rancho 71,607; Roswell 45,582.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 6 Jan 1912 as the 47th state. State constitution: adopted 1911. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 3 representatives. Electoral college: 5 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 33 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 29.7%; trade 21.9%; government 20.4%; construction 6.4%; finance, insurance, real estate 6.0%; manufacturing 5.7%; transportation, public utilities 4.2%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.6%; mining 2.1%. Production: services 18.0%; government 16.8%; manufacturing 16.7%; trade 13.6%; finance, insurance, real estate 13.1%; mining 8.4%; transportation, utilities 7.4%; construction 4.0%; agriculture 2.1%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: pecans, apples, potatoes, onions, dry beans, chile, peanuts (groundnuts), hay, sorghum, corn (maize), wheat, eggs, dairy products, wool. Livestock: dairy cattle, beef cattle, poultry, sheep and lambs. Extractive industries: timber. Chief manufactured products: electronic equipment, semiconductors, printing and publishing, processed foods.

New York

Name: New York, named in honor of the English duke of York. Nickname: Empire State. Capital: Albany. Rank: population: 3rd; area: 28th; pop. density: 7th. Motto: Exce/sior (Ever Upward). Song: “I Love New York,” words and music by Steve Karmen. Bird: bluebird. Fish: brook trout. Flower: rose. Fossil: Eu-rypterus remipes. Gemstone: garnet. Mammal: beaver. Tree: sugar maple.

Natural features

Land area: 53,097 sq mi, 137,521 sq km. Mountain ranges: Adirondack, Catskill, Shawangunk, Taconic. Highest point: Mt. Marcy, 5,344 ft (1,629 m). Largest lake: Oneida Lake. Major rivers: Hudson, Mohawk, Genesee, Oswego, Delaware, Susquehanna, Allegheny. Natural regions: Central Lowland, Eastern Lake Section, extends along the northern coast of Lake Ontario; St. Lawrence Valley, Northern Section, extends along the northern border with Canada; Adirondack Province, northeast; Appalachian Plateaus, including the Mohawks, Southern New York, and Catskill Sections, extend along the southern border with Pennsylvania and up halfway through the state; Valley and Ridge Province, southeastern edge bordering Connecticut and Massachusetts; Coastal Plain, Embayed Section, covers the islands of Manhattan and Long Island. Location: Northeast, bordering Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania; international border with Canada. Climate: temperate continental, with hot, humid summers and cold, dry, snowy winters. Land use: forest, 56.1%; agricultural, 17.1%; other, 26.8%.

Population (2006): 19,306,183; 363.6 persons per sq mi (140.4 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 12.8; death rate, 8.0; marriage rate, 7.0; divorce rate, 2.8. Major cities (2006): New York 8,214,426; Buffalo 276,059; Rochester 208,123; Yonkers 197,852; Syracuse 140,658.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 26 Jul 1788 as the 11th state. State constitution: adopted 1894. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 29 representatives. Electoral college: 31 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 62 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 35.9%; trade 19.0%; government 14.1%; finance, insurance, real estate 11.1%; manufacturing 9.7%; transportation, public utilities 4.9%; construction 3.9%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.3%; mining 0.1%. Production: finance, insurance, real estate 32.8%; services 23.0%; trade 12.9%; manufacturing 10.3%; government 10.2%; transportation, utilities 7.3%; construction 3.0%; agriculture 0.4%; mining 0.1%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: apples, cabbage, corn (maize), potatoes, onions, grapes, snap beans, dry beans, grain, hay, cherries, strawberries, maple syrup, horticulture products, milk, eggs, other dairy products. Livestock: cattle and calves, chickens. Chief manufactured products: food processing, chemical products, apparel, primary metals, industrial machinery, computers and software, scientific and measuring instruments, transportation equipment, electric and electronic equipment, industrial machinery, printing and publishing, biotechnology.

North Carolina

Name: North Carolina, named in honor of Charles I of England. Nickname: Old North State. Capital: Raleigh. Rank: population: 10th; area: 29th; pop. density: 16th. Motto: Esse Quam Videri (To Be Rather Than To Seem). Song: “The Old North State,” words by William Gaston, to the tune of a traditional German melody. Bird: cardinal. Fish: channel bass. Flower: dogwood. Gemstone: emerald. Insect: honeybee. Mammal: gray squirrel. Reptile: eastern box turtle. Rock: granite. Tree: pine.

Natural features

Land area: 52,671 sq mi, 136,417 sq km. Mountain ranges: Appalachian, Great Smoky, Blue Ridge. Highest point: Mt. Mitchell, 6,684 ft (2,037 m). Largest lake: Lake Mattamuskeet. Major rivers: Roanoke, Yadkin, Pee Dee. Natural regions: Valley and Ridge Province, far western edge; Piedmont Province, consisting of the Piedmont Upland, extending in a southwest to northeast direction through the center of the state; Coastal Plain, eastern third, divided into the Sea Island Section to the south and the Embayed Section to the north. Location: East, bordering Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. Climate: ranges from medium continental conditions in the mountain region (though summers are cooler and rainfall heavier) to the subtropical conditions of the state’s southeastern corner; hurricanes occasionally occur along the coast, and there have been tornadoes inland. Land use: forest, 45.9%; agricultural, 16.4%; other, 37.7%.

People

Population (2006): 8,856,505; 168.1 persons per sq mi (64.9 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 14.2; death rate, 8.6; marriage rate, 6.8; divorce rate, 3.8. Major cities (2006): Charlotte 630,478; Raleigh 356,321; Greensboro 236,865; Durham 209,009; Winston-Salem 196,990; Fayetteville 168,033.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 21 Nov 1789 as the 12th state. State constitution: adopted 1970. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators, 13 representatives. Electoral college: 15 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 100 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 25.1%; trade 21.2%; manufacturing 18.5%; government 15.2%; construction 6.6%; finance, insurance, real estate 5.9%; transportation, public utilities 4.3%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.1%; mining 0.1%. Production: manufacturing 24.1%; finance, insurance, real estate 18.3%; services 16.4%; trade 15.0%; government 12.5%; transportation, utilities 7.1%; construction 4.9%; agriculture 1.5%; mining 0.2%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: tobacco, corn (maize), barley, potatoes, peanuts (groundnuts), apples, blueberries, grapes, peaches, pecans, strawberries, tomatoes, cabbages, watermelons, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, horticultural products, Christmas trees, dairy products, eggs. Livestock:cattle and calves, chickens, pigs, horses. Aquaculture:catfish, trout. Extractive industries: timber. Chief manufactured products: textiles, cotton and synthetic fibers, yarns, threads, knitted goods, cigarettes and tobacco products, chemical products, pharmaceuticals, electronic and electrical equipment, furniture, lumber, paper products, processed foods.

North Dakota

Name: North Dakota, from the Dakota division of the Sioux, the Native American tribe that inhabited the plains before the arrival of Europeans; dakota is the Sioux word for “friend.” Nickname: Peace Garden State. Capital: Bismarck. Rank: population: 48th; area: 18th; pop. density: 47th. Motto: Liberty and Union Now and Forever, One and Inseparable. Song: “North Dakota Hymn,” words by James W. Foley and music by C.S. Putnam. Bird: western meadowlark. Fish: northern pike. Flower: wild prairie rose. Fossil: teredo petrified wood. Tree: American elm.

Land area: 70,700 sq mi, 183,112 sq km. Highest point: White Butte, 3,506 ft (1,069 m). Largest lake: Devils Lake. Major rivers: Red, Souris, Missouri, Little Missouri, James. Natural regions: Central Lowland covers eastern half of the state, with the Western Lake Section lying in the east-central region; Great Plains Province covers western half of the state, including sections of the Missouri Plateau to the north and south. Location: North central, bordering Minnesota, South Dakota, and Montana; international border with Canada. Climate: continental, with hot summers and cold winters, warm days and cool nights in summer, low humidity and low precipitation, and much wind and sunshine. Land use: agricultural, 53.6%; pasture, 24.5%; forest, 1.0%; other, 20.9%.

People

Population (2006): 635,867; 9.0 persons per sq mi (3.5 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 13.2; death rate, 9.1; marriage rate, 6.5; divorce rate, 2.4. Major cities (2006) Fargo 90,056; Bismarck 58,333; Grand Forks 50,372; Minot 34,745; West Fargo 21,508.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 2 Nov 1889 as the 39th state. State constitution: adopted 1889. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 1 representative. Electoral college: 3 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 53 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 28.5%; trade 22.5%; government 16.4%; agriculture, forestry, fishing9.7%; manufacturing 5.7%; finance, insurance, real estate5.6%; transportation, public utilities 5.3%; construction 5.2%; mining 1.1%. Production: trade 19.5%; services 19.4%; government 14.4%; finance, insurance, real estate 14.1%; transportation, utilities 10.3%; manufacturing 9.0%; construction 5.5%; agriculture 4.1%; mining 3.6%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: hard red spring wheat, durum wheat, flaxseed, canola, dry beans, sunflowers, barley, honey, potatoes, dairy products, wool. Livestock: cattle and calves, sheep and lambs, pigs. Extractive industries: timber. Chief manufactured products: food processing, wood products, petroleum products, transportation equipment, machinery and apparatus.

Ohio

Name: Ohio, from an Iroquois word meaning “great river.” Nickname: Buckeye State. Capital: Columbus. Rank: population: 7th; area: 34th; pop. density: 10th. Motto: With God, All Things Are Possible. Song: “Beautiful Ohio,” words by Ballard MacDonald and music by Mary Earl. Bird: cardinal. Flower: red carnation. Fossil: Trilobite isotelus. Gemstone: flint. Insect: ladybug. Mammal: white-tailed deer. Reptile: black racer snake. Tree: Ohio buckeye.

Natural features

Land area: 44,825 sq mi, 116,096 sq km. Highest point: Campbell Hill, 1,549 ft (472 m). Largest lake: Grand Lake St. Marys. Major rivers: Ohio, Maumee, Cuyahoga, Miami, Scioto, Muskingum. Natural regions: the Appalachian Plateau, eastern half of the state, includes the Southern New York Section to the north and the Kanawha Section to the east; the Central Lowlands, western half of the state, includes the Eastern Lake Section in the northwest corner, the Till Plains in the central region, and the Lexington Plain in the southwest. Location: Midwest, bordering Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana. Climate: continental, with hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. Land use: agricultural, 42.5%; forest, 27.3%; other, 30.2%.

People

Population (2006): 11,478,006; 256.1 persons per sq mi (98.9 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 13.0; death rate, 9.4; marriage rate, 6.6; divorce rate, 3.6. Major cities (2006): Columbus 733,203; Cleveland 444,313; Cincinnati 332,252; Toledo 298,446; Akron 209,704; Dayton 156,771; Youngstown 81,520; Parma 80,009.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 1 Mar 1803 as the 17th state. State constitution: adopted 1851. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 18 representatives. Electoral college: 20 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 88 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 29.0%; trade 22.8%; manufacturing 17.0%; government 12.1%; finance, insurance, real estate 7.2%; construction 5.1%; transportation, public utilities 4.3%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.3%; mining 0.3%. Production: manufacturing 25.8%; services 18.2%; trade 16.8%; finance, insurance, real estate 15.5%; government 10.7%; transportation, utilities 7.4%; construction 4.3%; agriculture 0.8%; mining 0.4%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: corn (maize), soybeans, grapes, apples, vegetables, tobacco, winter wheat, dairy products, eggs, greenhouse and nursery products. Livestock: cattle and calves, hogs, poultry, goats. Extractive industries. timber. Chief manufactured products: industrial machinery, nonelectrical machinery, food processing, transportation equipment, fabricated metals, iron and steel, chemical products and pharmaceuticals, rubber products.

Oklahoma

Name: Oklahoma, from two Choctaw words: ok/a, meaning “people,” and humma, meaning “red.” Nickname: Sooner State. Capital: Oklahoma City.

Rank: population: 28th; area: 19th; pop. density: 36th. Motto: Labor Omnia Vincit (Labor Conquers All Things). Song: “Oklahoma,” words by Oscar Hammerstein and music by Richard Rodgers. Bird: scissor-tailed flycatcher. Fish: white, or sand, bass. Flower: mistletoe. Insect: honeybee. Mammal: bison. Reptile: collared lizard (also known as the mountain boomer). Rock: rose rock. Tree: redbud.

Natural features

Land area: 69,898 sq mi, 181,035 sq km. Mountain ranges: Ouachita, Arbuckle, Wichita, Sandstone Hills. Highest point: Black Mesa, 4,973 ft (1,516 m). Largest lake: Lake Eufaula. Major rivers: Arkansas, Red, Canadian. Natural regions: Great Plains Province, panhandle region, includes the High Plains to the west and the Plains Border to the east; Central Lowland, covering most of the state, includes the Osage Plains in the central region; West Gulf Coastal Plain, southeastern corner; Ouachita Province, east-central region, includes the Arkansas Valley in the center and the Ouachita Mountains to the south; Ozark Plateaus, northeast corner, include the Boston Mountains and Spring-field-Salem Plateaus. Location: South central, bordering Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. Climate: variable by region: the southern humid belt merges with a colder northern continental one and humid eastern and dry western zones that cut through the state; no region is free from heavy wind; typical sudden rises and falls in temperature cause many heavy thunderstorms, blizzards, and tornadoes. Land use: pasture, 31.6%; agricultural, 20.1%; forest, 16.5%; other, 31.8%.

People

Population (2006): 3,579,212; 51.2 persons per sq mi (19.8 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 14.6; death rate, 10.2; marriage rate, 7.3; divorce rate, 5.6. Major cities (2006): Oklahoma City 537,734; Tulsa 382,872; Norman 102,827; Broken Arrow 88,314; Lawton 87,540.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 16 Nov 1907 as the 46th state. State constitution: adopted 1907. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 5 representatives. Electoral college: 7 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 77 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 28.3%; trade 20.9%; government 16.6%; manufacturing 10.0%; finance, insurance, real estate 5.8%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 5.6%; transportation, public utilities 5.1%; construction 4.8%; mining 3.0%. Production: services 18.2%; manufacturing 16.9%; trade 16.5%; government 15.9%; finance, insurance, real estate 12.2%; transportation, utilities 9.2%; mining 4.9%; construction 3.8%; agriculture 2.3%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: wheat, hay, sorghum, soybeans, cotton, dairy products. Livestock:cattle and calves, poultry, hogs and pigs. Chief manufactured products: electronics and electrical equipment, communications equipment, transportation equipment, food processing, petroleum products.

Oregon

Name: Oregon, of uncertain origin. Nickname: Beaver State. Capital: Salem. Rank: population: 27th; area: 10th; pop. density: 39th. Motto: A/is Vo/at Propiis (She Flies with Her Own Wings). Song: “Oregon, My Oregon,” words by J.A. Buchanan and music by Henry B. Murtagh. Bird: western meadowlark. Fish: Chinook salmon. Flower: Oregon grape. Gemstone: Oregon sunstone. Insect: Oregon swallowtail. Mammal: beaver. Rock: thunder egg. Tree: Douglas fir.

Natural features

Land area: 97,047 sq mi, 251,351 sq km. Mountain ranges: Coast, Klamath, Cascade, Blue, Wallowa. Highest point: Mt. Hood, 11,239 ft (3,425 m). Largest lake: Upper Klamath Lake. Major rivers: Snake, Owyhee, Columbia, Coquille. Natural regions: northern Rocky Mountains, northeastern corner, include the Blue Mountain Section; Columbia Plateaus, north and north-central region, include the Walla Walla Plateau in the central region, Harney Section to the south, and Payette Section to the southeast; Basin and Range Province, south-central border, includes the Great Basin; Cascade Sierra Mountains, west central region, include the Middle and Southern Cascades; Pacific Border Province, western coast, includes the Klamath Mountains to the south, the Oregon Coast Range in the center and north, and the Puget Trough to the east. Location: Northwest, bordering Washington, Idaho, Nevada, and California. Climate: ranges from equable, mild, marine conditions on the coast to continental conditions of dryness and extreme temperature in the interior. Land use: forest, 20.5%; pasture, 15.1%; agricultural, 6.0%; other, 58.4%.

People

Population (2006): 3,700,758; 38.1 persons per sq mi (14.7 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 12.6; death rate, 8.6; marriage rate, 7.4; divorce rate, 4.3. Major cities (2006): Portland 537,081; Salem 152,239; Eugene 146,356; Gresham 97,105; Beaverton 89,643.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 14 Feb 1859 as the 33rd state. State constitution: adopted 1857. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 5 representatives. Electoral college: 7 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 36 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 29.4%; trade 22.8%; manufacturing 13.1%; government 12.6%; finance, insurance, real estate 6.6%; construction 5.7%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 5.1%; transportation, public utilities 4.5%; mining 0.2%. Production: manufacturing 24.8%; services 17.6%; trade 16.1%; finance, insurance, real estate 14.4%; government 11.8%; transportation, utilities 7.1%; construction 5.3%; agriculture 2.8%; mining 0.1%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: horticulture and nursery products, Christmas trees, berries, pears, cherries, apples, hazelnuts, snap beans, peas, onions, carrots, wheat, hay, potatoes, barley, dry beans, mint, hops, corn (maize), sugar beets. Livestock: cattle and calves, horses, mink, poultry, sheep and lambs. Fish catch: marine fish, tuna, salmon, shellfish, crab, shrimp. Extractive industries: timber. Chief manufactured products: lumber and wood products, food processing, aircraft and spacecraft, semiconductors, computers.

Pennsylvania

Name: Pennsylvania, named for Admiral Sir William Penn, father of the territory’s founder, William Penn, and also including the Latin term sy/vania (“woodlands”). Nickname: Keystone State. Capital: Harris-burg. Rank: population: 6th; area: 33rd; pop. density: 9th. Motto: Virtue, Liberty, and Independence. Song: “Pennsylvania,” words and music by Eddie Khoury and Ronnie Bonner. Bird: ruffled grouse. Fish: brook trout. Flower: mountain laurel. Fossil: Phacops rana. Insect: firefly. Mammal: white-tailed deer. Tree: hemlock.

Natural features

Land area: 46,056 sq mi, 119,284 sq km. Mountain ranges: Appalachian, Allegheny. Highest point: Mt. Davis, 3,213 ft (979 m). Largest lake: Raystown Lake. Major rivers: Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill, Susque-hanna, Ohio. Natural regions: Central Lowland, Eastern Lake Section, extreme northwestern edge; Appalachian Plateaus, including the Southern New York, Allegheny Mountain, and Kanawha sections, western half of state; Valley and Ridge Province, central region, including portions of the Appalachian Mountains; Piedmont Province, comprising the Piedmont Lowlands and Upland, southeast corner; Coastal Plain, extreme southeast edge; New England Province, New England Upland Section, east-central border. Location: Northeast, bordering New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio. Climate: continental, with warm humid summers and cold snowy winters in general, but with wide fluctuations in seasonal temperatures. Land use: forest, 53.9%; agricultural, 17.7%; other, 28.4%.

People

Population (2006): 12,440,621; 270.1 persons per sq mi (104.3 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 11.7; death rate, 10.4; marriage rate, 4.7; divorce rate, 2.3. Major cities (2006): Philadelphia 1,448,394; Pittsburgh 312,819; Allentown 107,294; Erie 102,036; Reading 81,183.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 12 Dec 1787 as the 2nd state. State constitution: adopted 1968. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators, 19 representatives. Electoral college: 21 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 67 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 32.7%; trade 21.5%; manufacturing 14.5%; government 11.4%; finance, insurance, real estate 7.7%; construction 5.0%; transportation, public utilities 4.9%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.0%; mining 0.4%. Production: services 22.4%; manufacturing 19.4%; finance, insurance, real estate 18.4%; trade 15.2%; government 10.2%; transportation, utilities 8.6%; construction 4.2%; agriculture 0.9%; mining 0.7%. Chief agricultural products: Crops. mushrooms, apples, tobacco, grapes, peaches, cut flowers, dairy products. Livestock/cattle and calves, poultry, pigs, horses. Chief manufactured products: electronic equipment, communications systems, semiconductors, chemical and pharmaceutical products, food processing, iron and steel, industrial machinery, transportation equipment, paper products.

Rhode Island

Name: Rhode Island, from the Greek island of Rhodes. Nicknames: Little Rhody; Ocean State. Capital: Providence. Rank: population: 43rd; area: 50th; pop. density: 2nd. Motto: Hope. Song: “Rhode Island’s It for Me,” words by Charlie Hall and music by Maria Day. Bird: Rhode Island Red chicken. Flower: violet. Mineral: bowenite. Rock: cumberlandite.

Natural features

Land area: 1,223 sq mi, 3,168 sq km. Highest point: Jerimoth Hill, 812 ft (247 m). Largest lake: Scituate Reservoir. Major rivers: Blackstone, Paw-tuxet, Pawcatuck. Natural regions: the entire state is part of the New England Province, subdivided into the New England Upland (western two-thirds) and the Seaboard Lowland (eastern third). Location: New England, bordering Connecticut and Massachusetts. Climate: humid continental climate; marine influences are discernible in differences between coastal and inland location; extreme weather conditions, including tropical storms, ice storms, and heavy snow. Land use: forest, 45.9%; agricultural, 2.5%; other, 51.6%.

People

Population (2006): 1,067,610; 872.9 persons per sq mi (337.0 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 11.8; death rate, 9.4; marriage rate, 7.0; divorce rate, 2.9. Major cities (2006): Providence 175,255; Warwick 85,925; Cranston 81,479; Pawtucket 72,998; East Providence 49,123.

Did you  knows

An alternate source for the name of Rhode Island is Roodt Eyland (Red Island), which is what the Dutch called an island in Narra-gansett Bay because of its red soil.

Statehood: entered the Union on 29 May 1790 as the 13th state. State constitution: adopted 1986. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 2 representatives. Electoral college: 4votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 5 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 34.7%; trade 20.3%; manufacturing 14.8%; government 13.4%; finance, insurance, real estate 7.6%; construction 4.4%; transportation, public utilities 3.4%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.3%; mining 0.1%. Production: finance, insurance, real estate 26.7%; services 21.7%; trade 14.3%; manufacturing 12.6%; government 12.0%; transportation, utilities 6.7%; construction 5.3%; agriculture 0.7%. Chief agricultural products: Crops. hay, corn (maize), apples, peaches, dairy products, eggs, potatoes. Livestock/poultry, cattle and calves, sheep and lambs. Fish catch: marine fish, shellfish. Chief manufactured products: jewelry, silverware, textiles, fabricated metals, electrical equipment, machinery, surgical instruments, plastic goods, printing and publishing, primary metals.

South Carolina

Name: South Carolina, named in honor of Charles I of England. Nickname: Palmetto State. Capital: Columbia. Rank: population: 24th; area: 40th; pop. density: 20th. Mottoes: Animis Opibusque Parati (Prepared in Mind and Resources); Dum Spiro Spero (While I Breathe, I Hope). Songs: “Carolina,” words by Henry Timrod and music by Anne Custis Burgess; “South Carolina on My Mind,” words and music by Hank Martin and Buzz Arledge. Amphibian: spotted salamander. Bird: Carolina wren. Fish: striped bass. Flower: Carolina jessamine. Gemstone: amethyst. Insect: Carolina mantid. Mammal: white-tailed deer. Reptile: loggerhead turtle. Rock: blue granite. Tree: palmetto.

Natural features

Land area: 31,118 sq mi, 80,595 sq km. Mountain range: Blue Ridge. Highest point: Sassafras Mountain, 3,560 ft (1,085 m). Largest lake: Lake Marion. Major rivers: Pee Dee, Savannah, Ashley, Combahee, Edisto. Natural regions: Coastal Plain covers the eastern two-thirds of the state and includes the Sea Island Section in the central region; Piedmont Province extends across the central and western region and includes the Piedmont Upland; Blue Ridge Province covers the far northwestern corner and includes the Southern Section. Location: Southeast, bordering North Carolina and Georgia. Climate: subtropical, with hot, humid summers and generally mild winters; an average of 10 tornadoes a year, usually occurring during the spring; hurricanes are less frequent, but they do in some years cause damage to the coast. Land use: forest, 56.0%; agricultural, 11.9%; other, 32.1%.

People

Population (2006): 4,321,249; 138.9 persons per sq mi (53.6 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; = per 1,000 population): birth rate, 13.6; death rate, 8.8; marriage rate, 8.3; divorce rate, 2.9. Major cities (2006): Columbia 119,961; Charleston 107,845; North Charleston 87,482; Rock Hill 61,620; Mount Pleasant 59,113.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 23 May 1788 as the 8th state. State constitution: adopted 1895. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 6 representatives. Electoral college: 8 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 46 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 24.7%; trade 22.4%; manufacturing 17.3%; government 16.7%; construction 6.4%; finance, insurance, real estate 5.9%; transportation, public utilities 4.1%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.4%; mining 0.1%. Production: manufacturing 21.4%; trade 17.4%; services 16.4%; government 15.1%; finance, insurance, real estate 13.7%; transportation, utilities 8.9%; construction 5.9%; agriculture 1.1%; mining 0.2%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: tobacco, cotton, barley, corn (maize), peanuts (groundnuts), oats, grains, peaches, apples, pecans, watermelons, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, snap beans, cucumbers, dairy products, eggs. Livestock:cattle and calves, chickens, pigs. Chief extractive products: timber, marine fish, oysters, clams, shrimp. Chief manufactured products: Chemical products, industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural fertilizers, textiles, apparel, industrial machinery, plastic and rubber products, paper and paperboard, electronics and electrical equipment, motor vehicle parts and accessories, lumber.

South Dakota

Name: South Dakota, from the Dakota division of the Sioux, the Native American tribe that inhabited the plains before the arrival of Europeans; dakota is the Sioux word for “friend.” Nickname: Mount Rushmore State. Capital: Pierre. Rank: population: 46th; area: 17th; pop. density: 46th. Motto: Under God the People Rule. Song: “Hail! South Dakota,” words and music by Deecort Hammitt. Bird: Chinese ring-necked pheasant. Fish: walleye. Flower: pasque. Fossil: triceratops. Gemstone: Fairburn agate. Insect: honeybee. Mammal: coyote. Mineral: rose quartz. Tree: Black Hills spruce.

Natural features

Land area: 77,117 sq mi, 199,732 sq km. Mountain range: Black Hills. Highest point: Harney Peak, 7,242 ft (2,207 m). Largest lake: Lake Thompson. Major rivers: Big Sioux, Vermillion, James, Grand, Moreau, Cheyenne, Bad, White. Natural regions: the Central Lowland, eastern third of the state, includes the Dissected Till Plains along the eastern edge and the Western Lake Section at the center; the Great Plains Province, western two-thirds of the state; the Black Hills, far west; the High Plains, southern border; the Missouri Plateau, west. Location: North central, bordering North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana. Climate: characterized by extremes in temperature, low precipitation, and relatively low humidity; cyclonic storms occur frequently in the east-river section during the spring and summer. Land use: pasture, 44.7%; agricultural, 34.6%; forest, 1.0%; other, 19.7%.

People

Population (2006): 781,919; 10.1 persons per sq mi (3.9 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 14.8; death rate, 9.1; marriage rate, 8.4; divorce rate, 3.0. Major cities (2006): Sioux Falls 142,396; Rapid City 62,715; Aberdeen 24,071; Watertown 20,526; Brookings 18,802.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 2 Nov 1889 as the 40th state. State constitution: adopted 1889. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 1 representative. Electoral college: 3 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 66 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 27.5%; trade 22.3%; government 13.7%; manufacturing 10.3%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 9.1%; finance, insurance, real estate 7.2%; construction 5.0%; transportation, public utilities 4.5%; mining 0.5%. Production: finance, insurance, real estate 18.1%; trade 17.7%; services 17.6%; manufacturing 14.0%; government 12.6%; transportation, utilities 8.2%; agriculture 6.9%; construction 4.1%; mining 0.6%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: corn (maize), hay, wheat, sunflowers, dairy products, eggs, flaxseed, barley, wool, rye. Livestock: cattle and calves, pigs, sheep and lambs. Chief manufactured products: industrial machinery, office machines, computers, food products, electronics, printing and publishing, lumber mills, fabricated metal products, medical instruments, jewelry.

Tennessee

Name: Tennessee, from Cherokee village name. Nickname: Volunteer State. Capital: Nashville. Rank: population: 17th; area: 35th; pop. density: 18th. Motto: Agriculture and Commerce. Songs: “My Homeland, Tennessee,” words by Nell Grayson Taylor and music by Roy Lamont Smith; “When It’s Iris Time in Tennessee,” words and music by Willa Mae Waid; “The Tennessee Waltz,” words and music by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King; “Rocky Top,” words and music by Boudleaux and Felice Bryant; “The Pride of Tennessee,” words and music by Fred Congdon, Thomas Vaughn, and Carol Elliot. Amphibian: cave salamander. Bird: mockingbird. Fish: largemouth bass; channel catfish. Flower: iris. Gemstone: river pearl. Insects: firefly; ladybug. Mammal: raccoon. Reptile: box turtle. Rocks: limestone; agate. Tree: tulip poplar.

Natural features

Land area: 42,143 sq mi, 109,150 sq km. Mountain ranges: Unaka, Great Smoky. Highest point: Clingmans Dome, 6,643 ft (2,025 m). Largest lake: Reelfoot. Major rivers: Tennessee, Cumberland, Mississippi. Natural regions: Blue Ridge Province, eastern border; Valley and Ridge Province, extending from southwest to northeast; Appalachian Plateau, central, running from south to north, includes the Cumberland Plateau Section in the center and the Cumberland Mountain Section at the northern end; Interior Low Plateau, west central, includes the Nashville Basin and Highland Rim Section. Location: South, bordering Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri. Climate: moderate continental climate, with cool, but not cold, winters and warm summers. Land use: forest, 44.3%; agricultural, 17.6%; other, 38.1%.

People

Population (2006): 6,038,803; 143.3 persons per sq mi (55.3 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 13.7; death rate, 9.6; marriage rate, 10.3; divorce rate, 4.6. Major cities (2006): Memphis 670,902; Nashville 552,120; Knoxville 182,337; Chattanooga 155,190; Clarksville 113,175.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 1 Jun 1796 as the 16th state. State constitution: adopted 1870. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 9 representatives. Electoral college: 11 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 95 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 27.8%; trade 21.8%; manufacturing 16.2%; government 12.1%; finance, insurance, real estate 6.7%; construction 5.9%; transportation, public utilities 5.4%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.8%; mining 0.2%. Production: manufacturing 20.8%; services 20.6%; trade 19.1%; finance, insurance, real estate 14.1%; government 11.5%; transportation, utilities 8.3%; construction 4.4%; agriculture 0.9%; mining 0.3%. Chief agricultural products: Crops:cotton, tobacco, peaches, apples, tomatoes, snap beans, honey, dairy products, eggs, wool, hay, corn (maize), wheat, sorghum. Livestock: cattle and calves, poultry, hogs, sheep and lambs. Aquacu/ture:catfish, trout. Extractive products: timber. Chief manufactured products: transportation equipment, motor vehicles, aircraft parts, boats, chemical and pharmaceutical products, printing and publishing, electronics, lumber, paper, apparel, surgical appliances and supplies.

Texas

Name: Texas, from the Caddo Indian word teysha, or tejas, which means “hello friend.” Nickname: Lone Star State. Capital: Austin. Rank: population: 2nd; area: 2nd; pop. density: 26th. Motto: Friendship. Song: “Texas, Our Texas,” words and music by William J. Marsh and Gladys Yoakum Wright. Bird: mockingbird. Fish: Guadalupe bass. Flower: bluebonnet. Fossil: pleurocoelus. Gemstone: Texas blue topaz. Insect: monarch butterfly. Mammal: Mexican free-tailed bat (flying); longhorn (large); armadillo (small). Reptile: horned lizard. Rock: petrified palmwood. Tree: pecan.

Land area: 266,853 sq mi, 691,146 sq km. Mountain ranges: Rocky, Guadalupe. Highest point: Guadalupe Peak, 8,749 ft (2,667 m). Largest lake: Caddo Lake. Major rivers: Red, Trinity, Brazos, Colorado, Rio Grande. Natural regions: Coastal Plain, southern and eastern regions, includes the West Gulf Coastal Plain near the east-central coast; Central Lowland, north central, includes the Osage Plains; Great Plains Province, extending from the panhandle across most of central and western Texas, includes the Edwards Plateau to the south, Pecos Valley to the west, High Plains to the north, and Central Texas Section; Basin and Range Province, extreme western region, comprises the Mexican Highland to the south and the Sacramento Section to the north. Location: Southwest, bordering Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and New Mexico; international border with Mexico. Climate: varies by region, though summers are generally very hot and winters are somewhat mild; East Texas is considerably wetter than the very dry West Texas region; tornadoes are a frequent threat between April and November. Land use: pasture, 56.2%; agricultural, 14.9%; forest, 6.2%; other, 22.7%.

People

Population (2006): 23,507,783; 88.1 persons per sq mi (34.0 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 16.9; death rate, 6.8; marriage rate, 7.4; divorce rate, 3.2. Major cities (2006): Houston 2,144,491; San Antonio 1,296,682; Dallas 1,232,940; Austin 709,893; Fort Worth 653,320; El Paso 609,415; Arlington 367,197; Corpus Christi 285,267.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 29 Dec 1845 as the 28th state. State constitution: adopted 1876. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 32 representatives. Electoral college: 34 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 254 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 29.1%; trade 21.6%; government 14.5%; manufacturing 10.1%; finance, insurance, real estate 7.5%; construction 6.1%; transportation, public utilities 5.4%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.5%; mining 2.2%. Production: services 19.9%; trade 17.6%; finance, insurance, real estate 14.7%; manufacturing 14.0%; government 11.2%; transportation, utilities 10.9%; mining 5.7%; construction 4.7%; agriculture 1.3%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: cotton, apples, greenhouse and nursery products, corn (maize), sorghum, wheat, dairy products, eggs, rice. Livestock: cattle and calves, pigs, chickens. Extractive products: timber, shrimp. Chief manufactured products: Refined petroleum, petroleum products, food products, computers and electronics, chemicals and plastics, apparel, wood and paper products, nonelectrical machinery, fabricated metal products, aerospace products and parts, aircraft parts, motor vehicle parts.

Utah

Name: Utah, named for the Ute tribe; the word ute means “people of the mountains.” Nickname: Beehive State. Capital: Salt Lake City. Rank: population: 34th; area: 13th; pop. density: 41st. Motto: Industry. Song: “Utah, This Is the Place,” words by Sam and Gary Francis and music by Gary Francis. Bird: California seagull. Fish: Bonneville cutthroat trout. Flower: sego lily. Fossil: allosaurus. Gemstone: topaz. Insect: honeybee. Mammal: Rocky Mountain elk. Mineral: copper. Rock: coal. Tree: blue spruce.

Natural features

Land area: 84,899 sq mi, 219,887 sq km. Mountain ranges: Uinta, Wasatch, Rocky. Highest point: Kings Peak, 13,528 ft (4,123 m). Largest lake: Great Salt Lake. Major rivers: Colorado, Green, Sevier. Natural regions: Basin and Range Province, western half of the state, includes the Great Salt Lake Desert and Bonneville Salt Flats to the north and the Great Basin to the south; Middle Rocky Mountains, northeast; Colorado Plateaus, east-central and southeast regions, include the Grand Canyon Section to the south, the High Plateaus of Utah and Canyon Lands in the center, the Navajo Section in the extreme southeast corner, and the Uinta Basin to the north. Location: West, bordering Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and Nevada. Climate: primarily arid; southwest has a warm, almost dry, subtropical climate, while the southern part of the Colorado Plateau has cool, dry winters and wet summers. Land use: pasture, 19.6%; forest, 3.5%; agricultural, 3.1%; other, 73.8%.

People

Population (2006): 2,550,063; 30.0 persons per sq mi (11.6 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 20.9; death rate, 5.4; marriage rate, 8.6; divorce rate, 4.0. Major cities (2006): Salt Lake City 178,858; West Valley City 119,841; Provo 113,984; West Jordan 94,309; Sandy 94,203.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 4 Jan 1896 as the 45th state. State constitution: adopted 1895. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 3 representatives. Electoral college: 5 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 29 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 29.7%; trade 22.0%; government 14.6%; manufacturing 10.9%; finance, insurance, real estate 7.8%; construction 7.0%; transportation, public utilities 4.9%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.4%; mining 0.7%. Production: services 20.6%; trade 16.9%; finance, insurance, real estate 16.4%; government 14.4%; manufacturing 13.3%; transportation, utilities 8.8%; construction 6.5%; mining 1.8%; agriculture 1.1%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: hay, grains, peaches, cherries, onions, dairy products. Livestock:cattle and calves, sheep and lambs, mink, poultry. Aquacu/ture: trout. Chief manufactured products: industrial machinery, computers, office equipment, transportation equipment, aerospace products, missile parts, motor vehicle parts, surgical tools, electromedical equipment, food processing.

Vermont

Name: Vermont, from the French vertmont, meaning “green mountain.” Nickname: Green Mountain State. Capital: Montpelier. Rank: population: 49th; area: 43rd; pop. density: 30th. Motto: Freedom and Unity. Song: “These Green Mountains,” words and music by Diane Martin. Bird: hermit thrush. Flower: red clover. Insect: honeybee. Mammal: Morgan horse. Tree: sugar maple.

Natural features

Land area: 9,615 sq mi, 24,903 sq km. Mountain ranges: Green, Appalachian, Hoosac, Taconic. Highest point: Mt. Mansfield, 4,393 ft (1,339 m). Largest lake: Lake Champlain. Major rivers: Lamoille, Winooski, Otter Creek, Poultney, White, Missisquoi. Natural regions: the New England Province, eastern two-thirds of the state, includes the Taconic Section to the south, the Green Mountain Section in the center, the New England Upland Section along the east-central edge, and the White Mountain Section in the far northeast corner; the St. Lawrence Valley, western edge of the state, includes the Champlain Section in the central portion; the Valley and Ridge Province, small section along the west-central edge, includes the Hudson Valley. Location: New England, bordering New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and New York; international border with Canada. Climate: cool continental, with very cold, snowy winters and warm, mild summers. Land use: forest, 67.1%; agricultural, 9.5%; other, 23.4%.

People

Population (2006): 623,908; 64.9 persons per sq mi (25.1 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 10.4; death rate, 7.9; marriage rate, 8.9; divorce rate, 3.3. Major cities (2006): Burlington 38,358; South Burlington 17,014; Rutland 16,964; Montpelier 7,954.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 4 Mar 1791 as the 14th state. State constitution: adopted 1793. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 1 representative. Electoral college: 3 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 14 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 32.4%; trade 21.0%; manufacturing 13.7%; government 12.8%; construction 6.5%; finance, insurance, real estate 5.7%; transportation, public utilities 4.0%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.7%; mining 0.2%. Production: services 22.3%; finance, insurance, real estate 17.7%; manufacturing 17.5%; trade 15.7%; government 12.4%; transportation, utilities 7.6%; construction 4.4%; agriculture 2.2%; mining 0.3%. Chief agricultural products: Crops:apples, honey, corn (maize), hay, greenhouse and nursery products, Christmas trees, maple syrup, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, eggs, wool. Livestock: cattle and calves, chickens, turkeys, sheep and lambs, horses. Extractive products:timber. Chief manufactured products: electrical and electronic equipment, fabricated metal products, nonelectrical machinery, paper and allied products, printing and publishing, food products, transportation equipment, lumber and wood products.

Virginia

Name: Virginia, named in honor of Elizabeth I of England, known as the “Virgin Queen.” Nickname: Old Dominion. Capital: Richmond. Rank: population: 12th; area: 36th; pop. density: 14th. Motto: Sic Semper Tyrannis (Thus Ever to Tyrants). Song: “Carry Me Back to Old Virginia,” words and music by James B. Bland. Bird: cardinal. Fish: brook trout. Flower: dogwood. Fossil: Chesapecten jeffersonius. Insect: tiger swallowtail butterfly. Tree: dogwood.

Natural features

Land area: 40,600 sq mi, 105,154 sq km. Mountain ranges: Blue Ridge, Appalachian. Highest point: Mt. Rogers, 5,729 ft (1,746 m). Largest lake: Smith Mountain Lake. Major rivers: Potomac, Shenandoah, James, Roanoke. Natural regions: Coastal Plain, eastern region below the Potomac River; Piedmont Province, extending from the south-central border up to the border with Maryland, includes the Piedmont Upland and Piedmont Lowlands; Blue Ridge Province, west of the Piedmont Province; Valley and Ridge region, covering most of western Virginia, includes the Shenandoah Valley and Allegheny, Shenandoah, and Appalachian mountains; Appalachian Plateau, extreme western tip of the state, includes the Cumberland Mountain and Kanawha sections. Location: East, bordering Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Climate: generally mild and equable but varies according to elevation and proximity to Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic. Land use: forest, 48.7%; agricultural, 10.6%; other, 40.7%.

People

Population (2006): 7,642,884; 188.2 persons per sq mi (72.7 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 13.8; death rate, 7.6; marriage rate, 8.2; divorce rate, 3.9. Major cities (2006): Virginia Beach 435,619; Norfolk 229,112; Chesapeake 220,560; Arlington 199,776; Richmond 192,913; Newport News 178,281; Hampton 145,017; Alexandria 136,974.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 26 Jun 1788 as the 10th state. State constitution: adopted 1970. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 11 representatives. Electoral college: 13 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 95 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 30.1%; trade 20.1%; government 18.9%; manufacturing 10.2%; finance, insurance, real estate 6.9%; construction 6.2%; transportation, public utilities 4.7%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.5%; mining 0.3%. Production: services 22.6%; government 17.8%; finance, insurance, real estate 17.3%; trade 14.4%; manufacturing 13.1%; transportation, utilities 9.0%; construction 4.6%; agriculture 0.8%; mining 0.4%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: tobacco, soybeans, corn (maize), peanuts (groundnuts), cotton, apples, tomatoes, wheat, hay, potatoes, honey. Livestock: chickens, turkeys, pigs, cattle and calves, sheep and lambs. Aquaculture: clams, soft-shell crabs, oysters, trout, catfish, hybrid striped bass. Extractive products:timber, blue crab. Chief manufactured products: electronics and electrical equipment, paper and paper products, tobacco products, plastic and rubber materials, pharmaceuticals and chemical products, food and food products, printing and publishing.

Washington

Name: Washington, named in honor of George Washington. Nickname: Evergreen State. Capital: Olympia. Rank: population: 14th; area: 21st; pop. density: 23rd. Motto: Alki (By and By). Song: “Washington My Home,” words and music by Helen Davis. Bird: willow goldfinch. Fish: steelhead trout. Flower: coast rhododendron. Fossil: Columbian mammoth. Gemstone: petrified wood. Insect: green darner dragonfly. Tree: western hemlock.

Natural features

Land area: 68,097 sq mi, 176,370 sq km. Mountain ranges: Olympic, Cascade, Blue. Highest point: Mt. Rainier, 14,410 ft (4,392 m). Largest lake: Moses Lake. Major rivers: Columbia, Pend Oreille, Snake, Yakima. Natural regions: Pacific Border Province, western quarter of the state, includes the Olympic Mountains to the west and the Puget Trough to the east; Cascade-Sierra Mountains, running north to south down center of state, include the Northern and Middle Cascades; Northern Rocky Mountains, northeast corner; Columbia Plateaus, eastern, central, and southern regions, include the Walla Walla Plateau in the center and the Blue Mountain Section in the southeast corner. Location: Northwest, bordering Idaho and Oregon; international border with Canada. Climate: moderate winters and cool summers west of the Cascades; east of the Cascade Range seasonal temperature variations are greater, with cold winters and warm, mild summers; throughout the state precipitation is greatest in the cooler months, with frequent cyclonic storms, some with gale-force winds. Land use: forest, 28.9%; agricultural, 14.7%; pasture, 13.3%; other, 43.1%.

Population (2006): 6,395,798; 93.9 persons per sq mi (36.3 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 13.2; death rate, 7.3; marriage rate, 6.6; divorce rate, 4.0. Major cities (2006): Seattle 582,454; Spokane 198,081; Tacoma 196,532; Vancouver 158,855; Bellevue 118,186.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 11 Nov 1889 as the 42nd state. State constitution: adopted 1889. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 9 representatives. Electoral college: 11 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 39 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 28.7%; trade 21.9%; government 15.7%; manufacturing 11.8%; finance, insurance, real estate 7.3%; construction 5.6%; transportation, public utilities 4.6%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 4.2%; mining 0.2%. Production: services 25.0%; finance, insurance, real estate 17.4%; trade 16.8%; government 13.2%; manufacturing 12.6%; transportation, utilities 7.9%; construction 4.9%; agriculture 2.1%; mining 0.2%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: apples, peaches, pears, cherries, grapes, apricots, raspberries, dried peas, lentils, asparagus, carrots, sweet corn, green peas, potatoes, mint oil, hops, wheat, hay. Livestock: cattle and calves, chickens, turkeys, horses. Extractive products: oysters, clams, mussels, crab, shrimp, geoduck, sea cucumbers, marine fish, salmon, timber. Chief manufactured products: aerospace equipment, food processing, forest products, advanced medical and technology products, aluminum products, fish processing.

West Virginia

Name: West Virginia, named in honor of Elizabeth I of England, known as the “Virgin Queen.” Nickname: Mountain State. Capital: Charleston. Rank: population: 37th; area: 41st; pop. density: 29th. Motto: Mon-tani Semper Liberi (Mountaineers Are Always Free). Songs: “This Is My West Virginia,” words and music by Iris Bell; “West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home,” words and music by Julian G. Hearne, Jr.; “The West Virginia Hills,” words by Ellen King and music by H.E. Engle. Bird: cardinal. Fish: brook trout. Flower: rhododendron. Gemstone: West Virginia fossil coral. Insect: monarch butterfly. Mammal: black bear. Tree: sugar maple.

Natural features

Land area: 24,230 sq mi, 62,755 sq km. Mountain ranges: Appalachian, Allegheny. Highest point: Spruce Knob, 4,863 ft (1,482 m). Largest lake: Summersville Lake. Major rivers: Ohio, Big Sandy, Guyandotte, Great Kanawha, Little Kanawha, Monongahela, Potomac. Natural regions: the Valley and Ridge Province, eastern edge of the state, includes portions of the Shenandoah Mountains; the remainder of the state consists of the Appalachian Plateaus and includes the Kanawha Section to the south, and the Allegheny Mountains in the northeast. Location: East, bordering Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio. Climate: humid continental, except for a marine modification in the lower panhandle. Land use: forest, 68.1%; agricultural, 5.3%; other, 26.6%.

People

Population (2006): 1,818,470; 75.1 persons per sq mi (29.0 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 11.5; death rate, 11.4; marriage rate, 7.4; divorce rate, 5.1. Major cities (2006): Charleston 50,846; Huntington 49,007; Parkersburg 31,755; Wheeling 29,330; Mor-gantown 28,654.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 20 Jun 1863 as the 35th state. State constitution: adopted 1872. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 3 representatives. Electoral college: 5 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 55 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 28.1%; trade 22.2%; government 17.1%; manufacturing 9.9%; construction 5.9%; transportation, public utilities 5.2%; finance, insurance, real estate 4.8%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.3%; mining 3.3%. Production: services 17.9%; manufacturing 16.0%; government 15.5%; trade 15.5%; finance, insurance, real estate 11.3%; transportation, utilities 11.3%; mining 7.3%; construction 4.6%; agriculture 0.6%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: hay, apples, corn (maize), tobacco, peaches, dairy products. Livestock: cattle and calves, sheep and lambs, poultry. Extractive products: timber. Chief manufactured products: chemical products, automobile parts, primary metal and fabricated metal products, glassware, computer software, wood products, electrical equipment, industrial machinery, pharmaceuticals.

Wisconsin

Name: Wisconsin, an anglicized version of a French rendering of a Native American name said to mean “the place where we live.” Nickname: Badger State. Capital: Madison. Rank: population: 20th; area: 22nd; pop. density: 27th. Motto: Forward. Song: “On, Wisconsin,” words and music by William T. Purdy. Bird: robin. Fish: muskellunge (muskie). Flower: wood violet. Fossil: trilobite. Insect: honeybee. Mammal: badger. Mineral: galena. Rock: red granite. Tree: sugar maple.

Natural features

Land area: 65,498 sq mi, 169,639 sq km. Mountain ranges: Baraboo, Rib, Gogebic. Highest point: Timms Hill, 1,952 ft (595 m). Largest lake: Lake Winnebago. Major rivers: Wisconsin, St. Croix, Rock, Mississippi, Namekagon, Wolf, Pine-Popple, Brule, Pike. Natural regions: Superior Upland, northern half of the state, divided into highland and lowland sections; Central Lowland, southern half of the state, divided into the Wisconsin Drift-less Section to the west and the Eastern Lake Section to the east, with a section of the Till Plains occupying a small area at the southern border. Location: Midwest, bordering Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota. Climate: continental, with long, cold winters and warm, but relatively short, summers. Land use: forest, 40.4%; agricultural, 28.7%; other, 30.9%.

People

Population (2006): 5,556,506; 84.8 persons per sq mi (32.8 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 12.8; death rate, 8.4; marriage rate, 6.1; divorce rate, 3.0. Major cities (2006): Milwaukee 573,358; Madison 223,389; Green Bay 100,353; Kenosha 96,240; Racine 79,592.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 29 May 1848 as the 30th state. State constitution: adopted 1848. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 8 representatives. Electoral college: 10 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 72 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 26.7%; trade 21.8%; manufacturing 19.2%; government 11.9%; finance, insurance, real estate 6.8%; construction 4.8%; transportation, public utilities 4.4%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 4.2%; mining 0.1%. Production: manufacturing 26.3%; services 17.8%; trade 15.8%; finance, insurance, real estate 15.6%; government 10.6%; transportation, utilities 7.1%; construction 4.7%; agriculture 1.9%; mining 0.1%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: dairy products, corn (maize), honey, maple syrup, oats, hay, snap and green beans, potatoes, strawberries, tart cherries, cranberries, Christmas trees, mint for oil, beets, cabbage, carrots, green peas, cucumbers. Livestock:cattle and calves, hogs, mink. Extractive products: freshwater fish. Chief manufactured products: processed foods, beer, industrial machinery, paper and paper products, fabricated metal products, transportation equipment, household appliances.

Wyoming

Name: Wyoming, from a Delaware Indian word meaning “mountains and valleys alternating.” Nicknames: Equality State; Cowboy State. Capital: Cheyenne. Rank: population: 50th; area: 9th; pop. density: 49th. Motto: Equal Rights. Song: “Wyoming,” words by Charles E. Winter and music by George E. Knapp. Bird: meadowlark. Fish: cutthroat trout. Flower: Indian paintbrush. Fossil: knightia. Gemstone: jade.

Mammal: bison. Reptile: horned toad. Tree: plains cottonwood.

Natural features

Land area: 97,813 sq mi, 253,334 sq km. Mountain ranges: Rocky, Big Horn, Grand Teton, Wind River, Continental Divide, Sierra Madre, Washakie. Highest point: Gannett Peak, 13,804 ft (4,207 m). Largest lake: Yellowstone Lake. Major rivers: Snake, Colorado, Green, Columbia. Natural regions: Great Plains Province, eastern third of the state, includes the Black Hills in the northeast corner, the High Plains in the southwest corner, and the Missouri Plateau in the center; Wyoming Basin, central and southern regions; Southern Rocky Mountains, southern border; Middle Rocky Mountains, northwest third of the state, also cover a small area on the southern border; Northern Rocky Mountains, extreme northwestern tip of the state. Location: West, bordering Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho. Climate: semiarid continental, with long, cold winters and relatively short, warm summers. Land use: pasture, 44.0%; agricultural, 3.5%; forest, 1.5%; other, 51.0%.

People

Population (2006): 515,004; 5.3 persons per sq mi (2.0 persons per sq km). Vital statistics (2005; per 1,000 population): birth rate, 14.2; death rate, 8.0; marriage rate, 9.4; divorce rate, 5.3. Major cities (2006): Cheyenne 55,314; Casper 52,089; Laramie 25,688; Gillette 23,899; Rock Springs 19,324.

Government

Statehood: entered the Union on 10 Jul 1890as the 44th state. State constitution: adopted 1889. Representation in US Congress: 2 senators; 1 representative. Electoral college: 3 votes (based on the 2000 census). Political divisions: 23 counties.

Economy

Employment: services 25.0%; trade 21.3%; government 19.5%; construction 6.9%; finance, insurance, real estate 6.6%; mining 5.9%; transportation, public utilities 5.4%; agriculture, forestry, fishing 5.3%; manufacturing 4.1%. Production: mining 22.0%; transportation, utilities 14.8%; government 14.1%; trade 11.8%; services 11.6%; finance, insurance, real estate 11.3%; manufacturing 6.6%; construction 5.4%; agriculture 2.5%. Chief agricultural products: Crops: hay, wheat, barley, sugar beets, corn (maize), wool. Livestock: cattle and calves, sheep and lambs. Chief manufactured products: refined petroleum, lumber and wood products, food products, fabricated metal products.

Did  you knows

The United States has the largest known reserves of coal in the world, and roughly half of the coal it produces comes from Wyoming, while one-third of the coal that is consumed in the nation is taken from that state’s Powder River Basin.