The United States of America is a commonwealth of 50 states that have been affiliated throughout the history of this country. Let's look at how the US states got their names.
- Alabama -
Alabama flag
Before Europeans landed on American shores, along the upper reaches of the Alabama River in modern-day Alabama lived a tribe of Indians called - drum roll... - Alabama ( Albaamaha in their language). The river and state take their names from this tribe. Conquistador Hernando de Soto was the first to make contact with them, followed by other Spanish, French and British explorers and settlers (who recorded the tribe in different ways: Albama, Alebamon, Alibama, Alibamou, Alibamon, Alabama, Allibamou, Alibamo and Alibamu) - no one ever received a clear explanation of the meaning of this word. An article published on July 27, 1842 in Jacksonville introduced the idea that the word meant this is where we relax(“here we rest”). After this, Alexander Beaufort Meek, who served as Attorney General of Alabama, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, and President of the First American Chess Congress, popularized this theory in his writings over the next decade.
It should be clarified that experts on the Alabama language could not find any evidence to support this option. They found two words in the Choctaw language (the languages of both tribes belong to the Muskogee language group), the first - alba(“plants” or “weeds”) and amo(“cut” or “gather”) that can be connected Albaamo, or "plant gatherers". Today, the prevailing theory is that the phrase was used by the Choctaw tribes to describe their neighbors, and the Alabama tribe eventually adopted it as their own. The state's official nickname is "Heart of the South"
— Alaska —
Flag of Alaska
Like Alabama (and many other state names), the name Alaska comes from the language of the region's indigenous people. Aleuts (the name of the local people given to them by Russian fur traders in the mid-18th century; they also call themselves Unangans), called their peninsula and territory on the mainland the word alaxxaq, the literal translation is “an object towards which the power of the sea is directed.” State nicknames: "The Last Frontier", "Land of the Midnight Sun"
— Arizona —
Arizona flag
There is no consensus on the etymology of the name Arizona; the main hypotheses include Spanish and Indian. The name of the state comes from the Pima Indian word found by the Spaniards - “place of a small stream”, and in the language of the Aztec tribe - “bearer of silver”. State nickname "Grand Canyon State"
— Arkansas —
Arkansas flag
The first Europeans to arrive in the area of modern Arkansas were the French, accompanied by Indian guides from Illinois. The Indians named the local people Akansa(“people of the wind” or “people of the south wind”), this is the name that the French adopted. They added "s" at the end for plural, and secured it as the name of the state. The Arkansas pronunciation was formalized by an act of the state legislature in 1881. State nickname "Natural State"
— California —
California flag
California existed in European literature even before Europeans settled the Western United States. This was not a state full of vineyards and movie stars, but an island in the West Indies filled with gold and women. The fictional paradise, first mentioned in the early 1500s by Spanish writer Garcí Ordóñez de Montalvo in his novel Las Sergas de Esplandián, was ruled by Queen Califia and "populated by black women, none of whom were men, living like Amazons." This island abounds in gold and precious stones and is home to griffins and other mythical beasts.
While there is some consensus that the state was named after a fictional island, scholars have also suggested that the name comes from the Catalan words calor(“hot”) and forn(“oven”) or from the Indian phrase - kali forno(High Hill). State nickname "Golden State"
— Colorado —
Flag of Colorado
Colorado is a Spanish adjective that means "red". Early Spanish colonizers named the river they found "Rio Colorado" because of the reddish silt that the water carried from the mountains. When Colorado became a state in 1861, the Spanish word was used as the name because the source of the Rio Colorado was believed to be in its territory. However, this turned out not to be the case. State nickname: "Centennial State"
- Connecticut -
Connecticut flag
The state is named after the Connecticut River, which was named after a Native American word quinnitukqut Mohegan tribe, who lived in the eastern upper reaches of the Thames River. In their Algonquian language the word means "place of the long river" or "on a long tidal river."
The official nickname since 1959 is the Constitution State. Previously, the official nickname was Nutmeg State.
- Delaware -
Flag of Delaware
Delaware is named after the Delaware River and Bay. They in turn were named after Sir Thomas West, 3rd Baron de la Warr, the first colonial governor of Virginia, who traveled along the river in 1610. Ultimately derived from Old French de la werre(“from the war” or “warrior”).
Delaware is known as the "First State" because it was the first of the 13 colonies to ratify the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787. State nicknames: "First State", "Diamond State", "Blue Rooster State"
— Florida —
Florida flag
Six days after Easter 1513, Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon landed near what now stands as St. Augustine (the oldest living city in the United States). In honor of the holiday and the lush vegetation of this territory, he named the peninsula La Tierra Florida("blooming land") from a Spanish phrase for the Easter season pascua florida(Feast of Flowers). Florida has the oldest surviving European name in the United States.
— Georgia —
Flag of Georgia
In the early 18th century, the British Parliament appointed a committee to investigate conditions in Britain's debtor's prisons, and politicians didn't like what they found. A group of philanthropists, concerned about the plight of the prisoners, proposed creating a colony in North America where the “deserving poor” could get back on their feet and become productive citizens again. Their plan ultimately failed as the colony was not settled by debtors, but the colonial authorities still wanted to thank King George II for granting them rights to the colony, so they named the place after him, Georgia. State nickname: "Peach State", "Imperial State of the South"
(Bonus: Georgia is supposedly called this because its people revere St. George and display his cross on their flag, although Georgians call themselves Kartvelebi and their country Sakartvelo.)
— Hawaii —
Flag of Hawaii
The origin of the state's name is not clearly defined by anyone, so choose which theory you like... The name of the state comes from the largest island of the Hawaiian Islands - the island of Hawaii. There are several versions about the etymology of the name of the island. According to one of them, the island is named after Hawaiiiloa, a character in Hawaiian myth who discovered the island when it was first settled. According to another version, insulin comes from the name of the legendary ancestral home of the Polynesians Hawaii
In Hawaiian the word Hawaii(Ga. Hawaiʻi) very similar to Proto-Polynesian Sawaiki(“homeland”) Similar words to "Hawaii" are also found in other Polynesian languages, in particular Maori Hawaiians, Kuk Avaiki and Samoan Savaii. According to linguists Pukui and Elbert, “everywhere in Polynesia the word “Hawaii” or its cognates is the name of the underworld or the home of the ancestors, but in Hawaii itself the name has no meaning.” The state's nickname is the Aloha State.
— Idaho —
Idaho Flag
The origin of the name Idaho is a mystery. The name was proposed in 1860 by mining lobbyist George Willing as the name of a new US mining territory, it was explained that the word came from a Native American term and meant "mountain jewel". When Congress considered creating a mining territory in the Rocky Mountains in 1860, Willing and Williams, delegates from the region, championed "Idaho." A request for the name was submitted to the Senate in January 1861, but Senator Joseph Lane of Oregon objected to "Idaho" stating, "I do not believe it is an Indian word. No Indian tribe in this country has that word, in my opinion... It is corrupt, counterfeit, and should not be accepted.” Lane's statement was ignored.
After the Senate approved the name, Williams became interested for some reason and reviewed Lane's application. He had heard from several sources that Willing or one of his associates had made up "Idaho" and that the word didn't really mean anything. Williams returned to the Senate and asked to change the name. The Senate agreed and used the name that was on the table before Willing and Williams came along, then the state of Colorado came into being.
A year later, Congress decided to create another mining territory in the northwestern part of the continent. "Idaho" was again a contender for the title. Without Williams, "Idaho" was unchallenged and the word became the name of the territory and state.
According to another version, the word Idaho(“ee-dah-how” (and-da-how)) in the Shoshone language meant the phrase “the Sun rises”; the word may also come from the Arapaho language. According to the third version, the word Idaho("idaahe") means "enemy" and was used by the Athabascan tribe to refer to the Comanche tribe. Thanks to the abundance natural resources Idaho's nickname is the "Gem State"
— Illinois —
Illinois flag
Illinois is the modern spelling of the name of the people whom the French colonists found living in the territory of the future state, and recorded in endless variations in their records. The first meeting of Europeans with Illinois took place in 1674. Father Jacques Marquette, a Jesuit missionary and explorer, walked along the road to a village and asked the people there who they were. According to Marquette's writings, "they answered that they were Illinoisans...they spoke this word...apparently it is 'man' in their language." The colonialists decided that the name of the tribe meant an adult in the prime of life and superior to people of other tribes.
The state's official nickname is the "Land of Lincoln" and also the "Prairie State". The official motto is “State Sovereignty, National Unity.”
— Indiana —
Indiana Flag
The state's name means "Indian Land" or "Indian Land" and is named after the Native American tribes that lived there when white settlers arrived. The meaning of the word is quite simple, but how it got its name is more interesting. At the end of the French and Indian War, the French were driven out of the Ohio Valley, after which the Philadelphia Trading Company entered the territory to monopolize trade with the Indians in the area. At this time, the Iroquois tribes had already formed a confederation and were conquering territory outside of their homelands, conquering other tribes and treating them as colonies. In the fall of 1763, members of the Shawnee and other tribes that were colonies of the Iroquois raided Philadelphia Company traders and stole their goods. The company complained to the Iroquois chiefs and demanded restitution. The tribal leaders accepted responsibility for the behavior of their colonies, but did not have the money to repay the debt. Instead, in a boundary treaty with the English five years later, the chiefs gave a 5,000-square-mile tract of land to the Philadelphia Company, which accepted the land as payment.
The new owners of the land, in search of a name, decided to honor the people who originally owned the land and from whom it was received, and named it Indiana, land of the Indians.
The official nickname is the Hoosier State.
- Iowa -
Iowa Flag
The name of the state is borrowed from the name of the tribe. Iowa, one of the Indian tribes that lived in the state before the arrival of European settlers.
One of the pioneers in the area wrote in 1868 - “the Indians, in search of a new home, located on the high bluff of the Iowa River near its mouth ... and were very pleased with the location and the land around them and in their native dialect exclaimed: “Iowa, Iowa, Iowa” ( beautiful, beautiful, beautiful), hence the name Iowa from the river and those Indians.” The 1879 Iowa General Assembly Report translated the word slightly differently, stating that it meant "beautiful land." At the same time, members of the Iowa Nation, who today inhabit Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma, will tell you that Iowa is the French spelling of the word Ayuhwa, meaning "sleepy", given to the Sioux as a joke. State nickname "Hawkeye State"
— Kansas —
Kansas flag
Kansas was named after the Kansas River, which was named after the tribe kanza who lived along its shores. Kansa, a Siouan word, very old. How much? Its original meaning was lost to the tribe itself even before they met their first white settler. Today we only know that this word has some kind of reference to the wind, perhaps “people of the wind” or “people of the south wind.”
The state is also called the “breadbasket of America”: it is the leader among states in wheat cultivation. The state flower is the sunflower and the state tree is the cottonwood. The motto is “Through thorns to the stars” (Latin: “Ad astra per aspera”).
— Kentucky —
Flag of Kentucky
The state was named after the river of the same name. There is no consensus on where the Kentucky River got its name. Among the options are various words Indians, all from the Iroquoian language group, it means "Land of the Grasslands", "Prairie", "Land of the Prairies", "Land of the Tomorrow", "Bottom of the River", "River of Blood" and "Dark and Bloody Hunting Ground".
The official mottos of the state are “United we stand, divided we fall” and “Let us give thanks to the Lord” (Latin: “Deo Gratiam Habeamus”). The official nickname is “The Bluegrass State.”
— Louisiana —
Louisiana flag
Louisiana comes from French La Louisiane, or "Louis' Lands". It was named after Louis XIV, King of France from 1643 to 1715. Exciting story?🙂
In ancient times, the territory of the state was inhabited by Indians of the Atakapa, Tunica-Biloxi, Chitimacha, Choctaw, Natchez, and other tribes. The official nickname of Louisiana is the “Pelican State.”
— Maine —
Maine State Flag
Maine is another case where no one is quite sure how the name came about. Ferdinando Gorges and John Mason, who were granted land titles in Maine, were both veterans of the English Royal Navy, and the name may have come from sailors referring to mainland lands as opposed to island ones as main(from “going to the main” - “to go to the mainland”). But the Maine Legislature passed a resolution in 2001 establishing Franco-American Day and declared that the state was named after the French province of Maine.
The original inhabitants of the state were Indians who spoke Algonquian languages. The first European settlement in Maine was founded by the French in 1604 on Holy Cross Island. The first English settlement was created by the Plymouth Company in 1607.
The official nickname is “The Pine Tree State.”
— Maryland —
Flag of Maryland
The English colony of Maryland was named after Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I, who granted the patent to settle Maryland. “Land of Mary” was proposed as the name of the colony, which eventually became the name of the state.
Official nicknames: "Old Frontier State", "Cockade State" and "Free State". This name was given to the state by one of the Baltimore newspapers in the 1920s during the 18th Amendment to the US Constitution, which introduced Prohibition throughout the country. Then the state of Maryland was the first to announce that it did not want to comply with the ban on the sale and production of alcohol.
— Massachusetts —
Massachusetts flag
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which preceded the state, were named after the indigenous people Massachusetts. The tribe's name translates to "near the big hill", which refers to the Blue Hills southwest of Boston. An alternative form of the tribe's name is Moswetuset, meaning "arrowhead-shaped hill", refers to Moswetuset Hummock, an arrow-shaped hill in the city of Quincy. State nickname "Bay State"
— Michigan —
Michigan flag
The state takes its name from Lake Michigan. Michigan is a French derivative of the Ojibwe Indian word. mishigamaa, which translates as “big lake” or “big water”.
The state is located on two peninsulas, the Lower and Superior, separated by the Straits of Mackinac, an eight-kilometer-wide channel connecting Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. For several thousand years, Indian tribes lived in Michigan. By the time Europeans arrived, the Indian tribes of the Ojibwe (Chippewa), Ottawa, Potawatomi and Huron lived here. The first European to visit the Upper Peninsula was Etienne Brulé (1622). In 1668, Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette founded the first settlement of Sault Ste. Marie here - initially located on what is now the Canadian shore, it then expanded to the opposite shore. In 1679, Robert da La Salle built the first European sailing ship on Lake Superior.
— Minnesota —
Minnesota flag
Derived from the Dakota name for the Minnesota River, mni sota(“clear blue water”), or from Mnißota(“muddy water”) The English language is not particularly rich in words starting with mn(only one - mnemonic), so the early pioneers added "i" and gradually transformed the sounds into mini, which they wrote as mine. The largest city in the state of Minneapolis combines Indian think with Greek polis, which means "city".
Before the arrival of Europeans, Minnesota was inhabited by the Ojibwe, Sioux, Cheyenne and Winnebago Indian tribes. State nickname "North Star State", "Gopher State"
— Mississippi —
Mississippi flag
The state is named after the Mississippi River. The word Mississippi means “father of waters,” as learned from novelist James Fenimore Cooper or President Abraham Lincoln, who wrote in a letter after the Civil War, “The Father of Waters goes again undisturbed to the sea.” There is also a word from the Ojibwe tribe of French origin - messipi(pronounced misi-sipi or misi-ziibi), meaning "big river". This is not as dramatic as Lincoln's words, but this theory of the origin of the name of the great US river looks more plausible.
The official nickname is the “Magnolia State,” and the unofficial nickname is the “Hospitality State.”
— Missouri —
Flag of Missouri
The state and the Missouri River are named after the Missouri people, a Southern Sioux tribe that lived along the river. The pronunciation of the word Missouri comes from the Illinois Tribal word meaning tribe ouemessurita("ouemessourita"), translated as "those who have canoes", "people with a wooden canoe" or "man of a large canoe".
The official nickname is the "Show Me State."
— Montana —
Flag of Montana
Montana - from the Spanish word montana, which means "mountain". A name that ideally characterizes the state, on whose territory there are many mountain formations (3510 peaks). Who first used the name and when is unknown.
Official nickname: "Treasure State"
Since ancient times, the lands of the future state of Montana were inhabited by Indians of such tribes as: Cheyenne, Crow, Blackfoot, Assiniboine, Gros Ventre, Sioux (aka Dakotas and Lakotas)
— Nebraska —
Nebraska flag
Nebraska comes from archaic Indian words of the Oto tribes Ñí Brásge(V modern language Oto СÑí Bráhge), which means "calm water". The words refer to the Platte River, which flows through the “Corn State,” which is the nickname the state now has, and the inhabitants are called cornmen.
Thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans, people lived along the rivers of Nebraska. By the time Europeans arrived, Indians of the Omaha, Oto, Missouri, Ponca, and part of the Lakota tribes, who all belong to the Sioux linguistic group, settled here. In addition, the Arapaho of the Algonquin and the Pawnee, a Caddo language group, lived here.
— Nevada —
Nevada flag
The state's name means "snowfall" in Spanish and comes from the name "snow-capped mountains" of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Non-Nevada pronunciation of the state name neh-vah-dah(with a long "A") differs from local pronunciation nuh-vae-duh(with a short "A") and causes endless irritation among Nevadans.
Nevada became part of the United States during the Civil War between the southern and northern states and now the official slogan of Nevada is “The State Born in Battle.” The state flag bears the inscription “Battle Born.”
— New Hampshire —
Flag of New Hampshire
British captain John Mason received the territory in the form of a land grant and named it after an English county Hampshire, where he lived as a child. Mason invested heavily in land clearing and building in New Hampshire, but died in England without going to New World to see your property.
The unofficial name is "Granite State". The state motto is “Live Free or Die.”
- New Jersey -
Flag of New Jersey
New Jersey was named by its founders Lord John Berkeley and Sir George Carteret in honor of Jersey, the largest of the British Channel Islands. Carteret was born on the island of Jersey and served as lieutenant governor of New Jersey for several years. Official nickname: "Garden State"
— New Mexico —
Flag of New Mexico
New Mexico and the country of which it was a part, Mexico, have several hypotheses for the origin of the name. According to one legend, the god of war and patron of the country Huitzilopochtli had a secret name Metztli, or Mexi. In this case, the toponym "Mexico" would mean "place of Mexico" or "land of war."
Another hypothesis is based on the fact that the name “Mexico” comes from the merger of Astec words mētztli(“moon”) and xīctli("navel") and thus means "the place in the center of the Moon", which may allegorically refer to the location of Tenochtitlan in the middle of Lake Texcoco.
Another hypothesis says that the name of the country came from Mektli, goddess of the agave.
The official nickname is "Land of Enchantment."
- NY -
New York flag
Both the state and city of New York were named after James Stuart, Duke of York and future King James II of England. "Old" York- a city in England that existed before the Romans invaded the British Isles, the word "York" comes from the Roman Latin name for the city, which was called by various names Eboracum, Eburacum And Eburaci. Tracing the word back to an earlier period is difficult, since the language of the pre-Roman indigenous population was never written down. It is believed that they spoke a Celtic language, and Eboracum may have been obtained from Brythonic Eborakon, which means "place of yew trees". State nickname "Imperial State"
- North Carolina -
Flag of North Carolina
King Charles II of England, who commissioned the founding of a colony in present-day North Carolina, named the land after his father Charles I. Caroline comes from Carolus- Latin form of the word Karl. Official nickname: "Tar State", "Tobacco State"
- North Dakota -
Flag of North Dakota
North and South Dakota take their names from the Dakota, the Sioux tribes that lived in the region. No etymology of Dakota is generally accepted, but the most common explanation is that the word means "friend" or "ally" in the Sioux language. Official nicknames: "Squirrel State", "Sioux State", "Peace Garden State"
— Ohio —
Ohio flag
The translation used for this word, “beautiful river,” originates from a French traveler's account of visiting the region in 1750. He named the Ohio River une belle riviere and indicated the local Indian name Ohio. People have taken this description of the river as a translation from the Indian name, although there is no evidence that this is what the author intended or that it correct translation. No definite meaning is known for this word, although it is believed that Ohio is most likely a Huron word meaning "large" or "great" rather than "beautiful river." Possibly derived from the words of the Seneca tribe ohi:yo(“Big River”)
The official nickname is “The Buckeye State.”
— Oklahoma —
Oklahoma Flag
Oklahoma is a combination of words from the Choctaw people. ukla(“person”) and huma("red"). These words were used by the Choctaw to describe the Native Americans - "redskins." Allen Wright (chief of the Choctaw Nation from 1866 to 1870) proposed the name in 1866 during negotiations with the federal government over the use of Indian Territory. When Indian Territory was reduced to what is now Oklahoma, the new territory took its name from the Choctaw word. The official nickname is "Nimble State."
- Oregon -
Oregon flag
The origin of Oregon's name is apparently the most hotly debated. Here are several competing explanations:
- Derived from French ouragan(“hurricane”) and the state was named so because French pioneers named the Columbia River le fleuve aux ouragans("river of hurricanes") due to strong winds in the Columbia Gorge.
- From the word oolighan, a Chinook name for a smelt fish found along the Pacific coast and prized as a food source for Native Americans in the area.
— Derived from Spanish Oregon("big ears"), which the early Spanish pioneers used to refer to the local aborigines.
— Derived from word Ouragon, used by Major Robert Rogers in a 1765 petition asking the British government to fund an overland search for the Northwest Passage. As to where Rogers got the word from, it may have been due to an error on a French map from the early 1700s where Ouisiconsink("Wisconsin River") was misspelled Ouaricon-sint.
— Retrieved from the Shoshone Ogwa(“river”) and Pe-On(“west”) or from the Sioux Indians, who called the Columbia River “The River of the West,” as reported by American explorer Jonathan Carver.
Official nickname: "Beaver State" or "Beaver State"
— Pennsylvania —
Pennsylvania flag
Named after Admiral William Penn. The land was granted to Penn's son, Quaker William Penn, to repay the crown's debt to the elder Penn. The title consists of Penn + sylva(“forests”) + nia(noun suffix), it becomes "Penn's Wooded Land." The younger Penn was embarrassed by the name and feared that people would think he named the colony after himself, but King Charles did not rename the region.
Official nickname: "Capstone State"
- Rhode Island -
Flag of Rhode Island
A similar name was first used in a letter by Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, in which he compares an island near the mouth of Narragansett Bay (a bay on the northern side of Rhode Island Sound) to an island Rhodes in the Mediterranean Sea. There is another explanation for the appearance of the name of the state, preferred by its government, which is that the Dutch navigator Adrian Block named the region Roodt Eylandt("red island") referring to the red clay that lined the shore, and this name was later brought to pronunciation in English language under British rule.
State nicknames: "Ocean State", "Little Rhody".
- South Carolina -
Flag of South Carolina
Like North Carolina (see above), the state is named after Charles I. The state's nickname is the "Sabal Palm State."
- South Dakota -
Flag of South Dakota
Like North Dakota (see above), the state is named after the Dakota Indian tribes. The state's nickname is the "Mount Rushmore State".
— Tennessee —
Tennessee flag
While traveling inland from South Carolina in 1567, Spanish conquistador Juan Pardo passed through an Indian village Tanaski in what is now Tennessee. Almost two centuries later, British traders came across a Cherokee village called Tanasi(now Monroe County, Tennessee). It is not known whether there were Tanasi And Tanaski the same village. It is known that Tanasi was located on the Little Tennessee River and recent research indicates that Tanaski stood close to the confluence of the Pigeon and French Broad Rivers (near present-day Newport). Name Tennessee could have come from any of these Indian villages, the meaning of both words has been lost. The state's nickname is the "Volunteer State."
— Texas —
Texas flag
Texas comes from the word teysha(sometimes written tejas, tayshas, texias, thecas, techan, teysas or techas), widely used by natives of the eastern Texas region before the arrival of the Spanish. Tribes had different spellings and interpretations of the word, but the usual meaning was "friends" or "allies." Some tribes, such as the Hasinai and Caddo, used it as a "hello friend" greeting. European pioneers used the word as a name for the Caddo people and the area around their settlements in East Texas. The state's nickname is the "Lone Star State"
— Utah —
Utah flag
Derived from the name of an Indian tribe Nuutsiu or Utes, which the Spanish first encountered in modern-day Utah in the late 16th century. In the language of the tribe ute means "Land of the Sun". The people from the tribe called themselves Nuciu or Noochew, which simply means "The People". The state's nickname is "The Beehive State"
— Vermont —
Flag of Vermont
Name from French words vert(“green”) and mont("mountain"). Samuel Peters claimed that he christened the state lands with this name in 1763, standing on the top of a mountain and saying: “The new name for these lands is Vert-Mont, as a sign that her mountains and hills will always be green." Most historians disagree, as did Thomas Young. statesman from Pennsylvania, who proposed using his state's constitution as the basis for Vermont's and is credited with suggesting the name to honor the memory of the Green Mountain Boys, a militia organization formed to resist the attempted takeover of the region by New Yorkers.
— Virginia —
Flag of Virginia
Named by Walter Raleigh in honor of Queen Elizabeth I of England (known as the Maid Queen - Virgin Queen), which granted Walter the rights to establish a colony north of Spanish Florida. Official nicknames: “Old Dominion”, “Mother of Presidents”
— Washington —
Washington Flag
Named in honor of the first US President George Washington. This state is called "Washington State" by residents of the eastern United States to distinguish it from the District of Columbia, which is commonly referred to simply as "Washington" and "D.C." Residents of the state itself and other residents of the northwestern part of the United States near the Pacific Ocean call this state simply “Washington”, and the capital “Washington, DC” or “District of Columbia”. The official nickname is “The Evergreen State.”
— West Virginia —
Flag of West Virginia
West Virginia, formed from 39 counties in the state of Virginia, whose residents voted to create a new state rather than join the Confederacy, the newly formed state was named after the same Queen Elizabeth I, although it was originally conceived as a state Canova(“Kanawha”). Official nickname: "Mountain State"
— Wisconsin —
Wisconsin flag
Derived from Meskousing- the name of the Wisconsin River by the Algonquian-speaking tribes of the region. French explorer Jacques Marquette described this name in 1673, then the word was distorted into Ouisconsin in the early 19th century, and its current spelling was promulgated by the territorial legislature in 1845. Modern linguists have not been able to find a word in the Algonquian language, similar to that, which Marquette recorded and is now believed to have been borrowed from other tribes Meskonsing(“lies red”), which refers to the reddish sandstone of the banks of the Wisconsin River. State nickname "Badger State"
— Wyoming —
Flag of Wyoming
Derived from a Delaware (Lenape) Indian word. mecheweami-ing(“in/on the great plains”), which the tribe used to refer to their home region (which was eventually called the Wyoming Valley). Other names considered for the state were Cheyenne, Shoshoni, Arapahoe, Sioux, Platte, Big Horn, Yellowstone And Sweetwater, But Wyoming was chosen because it was already in use by local people. Official nickname: "The Equality State"
This is the most large country among the largest countries in the world.
There are 50 subjects here - these are 49 administrative units - states and Colombia, which is considered a federal district. It is there that the main capital center of the country is located. Every state in America has its own capital, but not every capital is Big City of this area.
The USA also includes 14 islands.
What is a “state” and how many are there in the USA?
A state is an administrative-territorial division of a given country. From 1959 to this day, there are exactly 50 of them. All states have their own flag, as well as a motto. In addition, each state has its own constitution and an extensive system of government, which includes the legislature, the judiciary and the executive system.
Each state has its own counties, which are smaller in size than the state, but larger than a standard city, and sometimes equal to it. In some states, cities are larger than counties, such as New York. If we focus on the latest population census, this territorial unit has 3,140 districts.
The life of the local population in the areas where citizens live is managed by city municipalities and townships.
The names of the 50 states have been borrowed from many languages. Mostly the names came from the Indian tribes living in this territory. Others come from Latin, English, French.
Just as has already been said, along with the states in America there is the Federal District of Columbia and several islands.
It is in the Federal District of Columbia, which does not have state status, that the center of the United States is located - Washington.
Read also
National capitals
Washington DC has been the capital of the United States since 1800..
Over the years, the central cities were the following:
- Philadelphia.
- NY.
- Baltimore.
- Trenton.
- Lancaster.
- York.
- Princeton.
- Annapolis.
Complete list of US states and their capitals
- Idaho (Boise Center).
- Iowa (Main Des Moines Center).
- Alabama (Montgomery).
- Alaska (Juneau Center).
- Arizona (Phoenix metropolitan area).
- Arkansas (Little Rock).
- Wyoming (Cheyenne).
- Washington (Olympia).
- Vermont (Montpelier).
- Virginia (Richmond).
- West Virginia (Charleston).
- Wisconsin (Madison Metropolitan Area).
- Hawaii (Honolulu Center).
- North Dakota (Bismarck Center).
- Dakota South (Pierre Center).
- Delaware (Dover).
- Georgia (Atlanta Center).
- Illinois (Springfield).
- Indiana (Indianapolis Center).
- California (Sacramento).
- Kansas (Topeka).
- Carolina North (Raleigh).
- Carolina South (Columbia Center).
- Kentucky (Frankfort Center).
- Colorado (Denver Center).
- Connecticut (Hartford Core).
- Louisiana (Downtown Baton Rouge).
- Massachusetts (Boston Center).
- Minnesota (St. Paul).
- Mississippi (Jackson)
- Missouri (Jefferson City).
- Michigan (Lansing Center).
- Montana (Helena).
- Maine (Augusta Center).
- Maryland (Annapolis Metropolitan Area).
- Nebraska (Lincoln Center).
- Nevada (Carson City).
- New Hampshire (Concord).
- New Jersey (Trenton).
- New York (Albany Center).
- New Mexico (Santa Fe).
- Ohio (Columbus)..
- Oklahoma (Oklahoma City)
- Oregon (Salem metropolitan area).
- Pennsylvania (Harrisburg).
- .Rhode Island (Providence).
- Tennessee (Downtown Nashville).
- Texas (Austin Center).
- Florida (Tallahassee Center).
- Utah (Capital area of Salt Lake City).
Confederate States of America
During the Civil War, they were slave territories, while the northern part of America was free from slavery.
The confederate states include:
- Mississippi State
- Florida area
- Georgia area
- State of Texas
- South Carolina,
- State of Alabama,
- North Carolina region,
- Louisiana,
- State of Virginia,
- Arkansas area
- Tennessee,
- Missouri State
- Kentucky region
- State of Arizona.
Republic of Texas
The state of Texas is a rich region with its own deep history. In 1836, Texas separated from Mexican territory and declared independence. From this period, this territory became known as the Republic of Texas. It existed in this status until 1845. From this period, Texas becomes the 28th state of America and receives a new name - the state of Texas.
Thus, Texas was the only territory that entered the Union while remaining sovereign.
During the American Civil War, the state of Texas found itself outside the Union; its re-entry occurred only in 1970.
Currently, Texas is one of the richest areas of the country, with its developed economy and high level life.
As many years ago, this state practices mining. In particular, these are oil and natural gas. Along with them there is production of sulfur, helium and salt.
Texas is also an agricultural region, where mainly cotton and grains are grown. Livestock farming and, in some areas, fishing play a significant role.
The state's territory and population are vast, ranking second only to the state of Alaska.
Kingdom and Republic of Hawaii
It is the 50th state of the American state. Hawaii, along with four US states, was briefly considered an independent territory.
From 1795 to 1810, the territory of Hawaii, previously ruled by several chiefs, was proclaimed a kingdom.
July 4, 1894 The Kingdom of Hawaii becomes a republic. And since July 7, 1898, the Republic of Hawaii falls under the protectorate of the United States and becomes dependent on America. In the period from 1939 to 1945. Hawaii was an important strategic location for military operations. Only in 1959 did they join the United States as the 50th state.
Hawaii has been considered the sugar monopoly of the United States for many years, and pineapples are also grown here for export.
Currently, tourism is thriving here, thanks to the mild climate of the area and its proximity to the ocean.
US states on the map 
USA map online
What is a “state” and how many are there in the USA?
The United States of America is a federation of 50 states ( US states).
A state is the main political and territorial unit of the United States. There have been 50 of them since 1959. Each of them has its own flag and motto.
Word "state"(state) appeared during the colonial period (around 1648). This word was sometimes used to describe individual colonies. It began to be used everywhere after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The state has its own constitution, legislative, executive and judicial powers.
Each US state is divided into districts - administrative-territorial units of the second level. They are smaller than a state but larger than or equal to a city. The exception is the five boroughs within the City of New York. According to the Census Bureau, there are 3,140 counties in the country.
The third level of administrative-territorial division is city municipalities and townships, which govern local life settlements. According to the National League of Cities, in 2002 there were 19,429 urban municipalities and 16,504 townships in the United States.
50 US states borrowed their names from many languages. The names of half of them came from North American Indian languages. The remaining states received names from European languages: Latin, English and French.
In addition to the states, the country includes and is governed by administrative-territorial units with the status federal district or federal territory - the District of Columbia and a number of islands.
District of Columbia(The District of Columbia, D.C.) is not part of any state. The capital of the country, Washington, is located there.
The island territories of the United States include: Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa.
51st state
There is such a term as the “51st state.” This term refers to territories that apply to receive US state status in addition to the already existing fifty states. Possible candidates for the title of “fifty-first state” include the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, and Puerto Rico. The issue of granting statehood to New York City has also been raised repeatedly.
There is one curious fact in history. In 2012, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, in support of American colonization of the Earth's satellite, said: "When we have 13,000 Americans living on the moon, they can petition to become a state." However, in accordance with Article II of the Outer Space Treaty, outer space, the Moon and other celestial bodies are not subject to national appropriation, either by claim of sovereignty, by use or occupation, or by any other means.
How they are part of the United States
In order for any territory to become part of the United States, a lengthy procedure is required. The territory must adopt its own constitution. The Constitution must satisfy the US Congress, which decides to accept the territory into the United States.
States cannot secede from the United States unilaterally.
The United States of America plays a leading role in the world community. Researchers call this state an empire that influences politics Western countries. Tourists who plan to visit the American states should familiarize themselves with the history of its formation.
The United States of America is not difficult to find on a map - it is located on a continent called North America and occupy a considerable part of it. A state in the USA is a territorial unit, through their annexation over a number of years the United States of America was formed.
Anyone who seriously studies this state can accurately answer the question of how many states there are in the United States. To be precise, today the United States consists of 50 states. Colombia, sometimes listed as 51 states, is actually a federal district, an independent federal unit. In addition to this, the United States has several island territories, which also have sovereignty; they are not subordinate to any state. Each state is divided into districts governed by city municipalities. Rural areas may consist of townships.
Each state is a federation and they all have equal rights. There is nothing unusual in this; a similar structure can be found in other large states. The interesting thing is that all states are equal, but they have their own branches of government and their own constitution. Therefore, each state may have different penalties for the same crime.
Names of US states, detailed alphabetical list
When studying the USA, questions may arise from a person who knows English well. The thing is that the word “state” can be translated not only as “states”, but also as “state”. In the mid-17th century, when the United States was in its formation stage, individual colonies were considered states.
Each state has not only its own capital, but also a flag and motto. Next we list the US states and their capitals.
| # | State name (in Russian) | State name (in English) | State capital (in Russian) | State capital (in English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | Idaho | Boise | Boise |
| 2 | Iowa | Iowa | Des Moines | Des Moines |
| 3 | Alabama | Alabama | Montgomery | Montgomery |
| 4 | Alaska | Alaska | Juneau | Juneau |
| 5 | Arizona | Arizona | Phoenix | Phoenix |
| 6 | Arkansas | Arkansas | Little Rock | Little Rock |
| 7 | Wyoming | Wyoming | Cheyenne | Cheyenne |
| 8 | Washington | Washington | Olympia | Olympia |
| 9 | Vermont | Vermont | Montpelier | Montpelier |
| 10 | Virginia | Virginia | Richmond | Richmond |
| 11 | Wisconsin | Wisconsin | Madison | Madison |
| 12 | Hawaii | Honolulu | Honolulu | |
| 13 | Delaware | Delaware | Dover | Dover |
| 14 | Georgia | Georgia | Atlanta | Atlanta |
| 15 | West Virginia | West Virginia | Charston | Charleston |
| 16 | Illinois | Illinois | Springfield | Springfield |
| 17 | Indiana | Indiana | Indianapolis | Indianapolis |
| 18 | California | California | Sacramento | Sacramento |
| 19 | Kansas | Kansas | Topeka | Topeka |
| 20 | Kentucky | Kentucky | Frankfort | Frankfort |
| 21 | Colorado | Colorado | Denver | Denver |
| 22 | Connecticut | Connecticut | Hartford | Hartford |
| 23 | Louisiana | Louisiana | Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge |
| 24 | Massachusetts | Massachusetts | Boston | Boston |
| 25 | Minnesota | Minnesota | Saint Paul | St. Paul |
| 26 | Mississippi | Mississippi | Jackson | Jackson |
| 27 | Missouri | Missouri | Jefferson City | Jefferson City |
| 28 | Michigan | Michigan | Lansing | Lansing |
| 29 | Montana | Montana | Helena | Helena |
| 30 | Maine | Maine | Augusta | Augusta |
| 31 | Maryland | Maryland | Annapolis | Annapolis |
| 32 | Nebraska | Nebraska | Lincoln | Lincoln |
| 33 | Nevada | Nevada | Carson City | Carson City |
| 34 | New Hampshire | New Hampshire | Concord | Concord |
| 35 | New Jersey | New Jersey | Trenton | Trenton |
| 36 | NY | New York | Albany | Albany |
| 37 | New Mexico | New Mexico | Santa Fe | Santa Fe |
| 38 | Ohio | Ohio | Columbus | Columbus |
| 39 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City |
| 40 | Oregon | Oregon | Salem | Salem |
| 41 | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Harrisburg | Harrisburg |
| 42 | Rhode Island | Rhode Island | Providence | Providence |
| 43 | North Dakota | North Dakota | Bismarck | Bismarck |
| 44 | North Carolina | North Carolina | Roles | Raleigh |
| 45 | Tennessee | Tennessee | Nashville | Nashville |
| 46 | Texas | Texas | Austin | Austin |
| 47 | Florida | Florida | Tallahassee | Tallahassee |
| 48 | South Dakota | South Dakota | Pyrrhus | Pierre |
| 49 | South Carolina | South Carolina | Colombia | Columbia |
| 50 | Utah | Utah | Salt Lake City | Salt Lake City |
Moreover, the state capital is not necessarily the largest city. The word "state" began to be used in modern meaning since 1776, after the Declaration of Independence. At that time, the United States consisted of 46 states. Although you can still find indications that these were separate states. For example, the official flag of California bears the inscription “Republic of California.”
Confederate States of America
There was a period in US history when the state was practically divided into two parts. And although this lasted only 4 years, the fact remains that in 1861 the Confederate States of America (CSA) appeared. This is a self-proclaimed independent state, which was also called the “Confederation” or “Dixie”. It existed until 1865. What caused it to happen?
It is sometimes believed that the Confederacy was formed as a result of the abolition of slavery in the United States, which is why Civil War. This is not entirely correct, because CSA appeared after presidential elections Abraham Lincoln won. As a result of this, 6 southern states announced their withdrawal from the United States. A month later, Texas joined them. And when Abraham Lincoln announced that he intended to preserve the Union, 4 more states announced their accession to the Confederacy.
It is sometimes believed that the Confederacy included not 11, but 13 American states. This is partly correct. The fact is that Kentucky and Missouri turned out to be “border states” between the United States and the United States. For some time there were two governments, one on the side of the United States, and the second supporting the Confederacy. Basically, the CSA included states that did not want to give up the slave system. Maryland, although it was a slave state, martial law was introduced in it in time, so it remained part of the United States. Delaware remained neutral until the very end of the war. In 1865, the Confederacy, having suffered defeat in military operations, ceased to exist. In these states, the constitution was changed and slavery was abolished.
Texas is a state in the southern USA. It is in second place in terms of territory (only Alaska is larger) and in second place after California in terms of population. At first, this territory belonged to Mexico, and then there was a separate state that existed for almost 10 years - from 1836 to 1845. It appeared as a result of the war in northeastern Mexico.
There are several reasons why problems in Mexico led to the war. On the one hand, there is the dictatorship of the Mexican president, on the other, the adoption of a new constitution in the country, thanks to which slavery was abolished in 1835. As a result, Texas gained independence in 1836. The state was recognized by the international community as a separate state. But hostilities did not stop.
Clashes between Mexico and Texas continued for another 10 years. And only as a result of the US victory in the war with Mexico (1846-1848) was the issue of territorial claims settled - Texas received freedom. But most of Texans had previously wanted to join the United States. Texas is the only independent state within the United States recognized by other countries. Although separatist movements seeking independence for this state of America are still active. They believe that Texas was annexed by the United States.
Kingdom and Republic
are islands located in Pacific Ocean. They are located 3,700 km from the American mainland. This is the very last state to become part of the United States, and this happened already in the 20th century - in 1959. But at first it was a kingdom, and then a separate republic. Why did islands located far from the United States become part of this state as one of the states?
In the 18th century, Hawaii had several parastatals. Then King Kamehameha I managed to unite the islands by force and found a single kingdom. Since 1810, one dynasty has ruled here for 85 years. In 1893, a coup d'état took place in Hawaii with the support of American sailors. But the United States refused to annex the islands, considering that this was contrary to the popular will of the Hawaiians. As a result of the coup, a republic appeared instead of a kingdom. But in 1898 they came under US protectorate, and already in the middle of the 20th century they became one of the states. It is considered to be the “sugar” state of the USA.
The most amazing states of the USA
Which American states can be highlighted and what is worth paying attention to? It is difficult to find a definite answer to this question, because each of them has a “zest”. Absence state language is also distinctive feature America.
Many state names have unusual origins.
- As the researchers note, 25 or 26 names have Indian roots.
- The name of the northernmost state of Alaska is taken from the Eskimo language.
- Only 20 states have names of European origin: 11 are English, 6 are Spanish and 3 are French.
- There is an assumption that Rhode Island is a Dutch place name.
But what about the Americans, didn’t they really give a name to a single state? It turns out that there is still one, and we are talking about the state of Washington. It is named after President D. Washington.
There are states that are distinguished by their extraordinary beauty.
- Florida is the southernmost part of North America. It is often called the “Sunshine State”.
- Oregon is full of contrasts and diverse landscapes. It could easily compete with the panoramas presented in the film “The Lord of the Rings”.
- Michigan is distinguished by its natural beauty. In addition, there are many large lakes here.
- Colorado is famous for its rocky mountains and unusually beautiful canyons. This state is often called the home of wonderful national parks.
- stands out for its richness of flora and fauna.
- Arizona is home to amazingly beautiful canyons. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit them every year.
The United States was founded in 1776 when 13 English colonies signed the Declaration of Independence. From that moment on, England lost power over them. In order to regain the colonial territories, troops had to be sent in. This sparked the war that gave the United States its independence. But some of the colonies still remained loyal to the English crown. In 1787, the Constitution was adopted, which was ratified by 9 of the 13 states. For late XVIII and throughout the 19th century, other states were annexed. In the 20th century, the remaining five became part of the United States: Oklahoma (1907), New Mexico (1912), Arizona (1912), Alaska (1959) and (1959).
Why is the District of Columbia (Washington) not part of any state?
The District of Columbia is the capital city of Washington, DC, and its surrounding area. Attempts were made repeatedly to make it a separate state, but American legislators never came to a clear decision. The last time this issue was brought up for discussion in Congress was in 1993. But the project was rejected. This is also due to the fact that only one person is delegated to the House of Representatives from the district. And even he without the right to vote.
Conclusion
Can we say that the number of US states will remain the same tomorrow? There is no specific answer to this question. This figure has been unstable for more than 100 years. Today, several territories and states would not refuse to join the United States as individual states. The most likely candidate is Puerto Rico. It is quite possible that a 51st state under this name will soon appear. The Philippines, Haiti, and Yucatan are also contenders.
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