Everyone From The US Should Know Which Of These Is A State
- by Arun Pundir
- – on
- in Lifestyle
Taking pride in one's country is a good thing - but pride should be accompanied by knowledge. One cannot be proud of a heritage one doesn't know about or fully understand. To understand your nation and to be a proud patriot, one needs to delve into the history of what made it such a great nation. We all dreaded those geography and historical pop quizzes, but hardly any of us can actually list out the names of all the states of our nation, let alone match the states with their designated capitals. There is history at every corner, echoing from every nook of this nation and the state boundaries don't divide the people - they should unite all everyone into one great big nation.
So it's important to know the history and the geography of the nation one belongs to, and what better way to test the knowledge, than a good quiz? So this quiz will take the reader on a roller coaster ride through all the states and test if the reader knows them all and can recognize them through the very obvious clues given. And even if not all questions can be solved right, at least all who attempt this quiz will take away a little more knowledge and information about the great nation and its great states. All the best to get cracking...
Remember the song Sweet Home ________?
This states name is derived from the same-name river that flows through it, which in turn was named for the local tribe that lived there. The name of the tribe itself comes from the Muskogee language that the Choctaw Indians spoke and basically means to gather herbs or vegetation. The people of this state basically were the tribe of the hunter/gatherers, or the tribe that cleared up the round for further farming activities. The Bryant-Denny stadium is also located in this state...
This state houses the rock and roll hall of fame and museum...
This state boasts of a rock and roll hall of fame and museum which houses memorabilia and more from famous music artists of the country – a must visit for any music lover. The actual meaning of the name of the state comes from the Iroquoian name for a river that passes through it, and can be roughly translated to as the “great river” or the “good river”. A French explorer mistakenly called it a “beautiful river” but the meaning stands for the river being more bountiful than picturesque.
Which state is famous for the Taylor Pork Roll?
This state is named after the birthplace of its founder, Sir George de Carteret who was born on the largest of the Channel Islands that lie just off the coast of France – a British dependency since the Norman Conquest of 1066. Sir George was born on this island and governed it as an adult – so when the colonization of the New World began, Sir George decided to call this state after his native place. It was a choice between its current name or New Caesarea!
Which state's name means reddish and is a skiing destination?
There’s a Chevy truck named after this state, and it’s very popular with the skiers. The name of the state was coined for the reddish river that flows through it and is actually Spanish for “reddish”. While the name stuck, the river is no longer that red hue – mostly because a dam was built over it and the silt and sediment no longer flow as freely. The name was officially adopted in 1861 after the suggestion was made by the first governor, William Gilpin.
Been to the Amana Colonies in this state, or the corn farms?
This state hosts many a corn festival amidst beautiful corn fields. But it isn’t named after corn! The nomenclature comes from a tribe that lived in this region but as it always is, the translation is a bit uncertain. One meaning of the tribe’s name comes to be “beautiful land” which this state certainly has. But according to another translation, the name of the tribe actually meant “sleepy people” which is not particularly flattering. The main tourist attraction has to be Amana Colonies.
This state's railroad is a marvel...
This place is as cold as they come, with unforgiving winters. Often known as the last frontier, it used to be home to the Aleuts – the native people of the Aleutian Islands and the extreme northwest of the mainland. The literal translation of this state’s name means “the mainland which the sea breaks against”. Tourism-wise, it’s known for the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park and the snow-clad railroad that manages to operate even in the dead of winter.
In which state is the Salt Lake City located?
There was an Apache term “yudah” which was a name they used for a tribe that lid higher than them in the mountains. This could have been the Navajo, but when the colonizers encountered a tribe even higher up in the White Mountains – they knew that this what the Apache referred to. So they used the same name, albeit Anglicized, and called this tribe the Utes. The state was coined in their favor and is famous for many things, including the Temple Square.
This is the state known for an infamous "strip".
The name is pretty simple, especially if you know Spanish. The translation from Spanish would be snow-capped mountains, because of the snow-capped range in the state. In 1861, it became the official name of the state famous for those mountains, but even more famous for a rather infamous “strip” located in it – where people go to try their luck in various games of chance. It houses the infamous Sin City, where sinning is a new religion and has avid followers too…
Supernatural's Winchester brothers hail from this state.
The answer my friend is blowing in the wind… And the name of the city itself came from the Sioux word for the Kaw tribe that lived here. Translated, it means people of the south wind or wind people. Other connotations also mean “small wind” or “those who make breeze near the ground”. You get it, it has to do something with the wind. This is the state known for its wheat production and the Flint Hills Tall Grass Prairie as well.
This state was named after Queen Elizabeth I.
When England began to first explore the New World as they called it, the east coast was where most of the ships arrived. So the very first colonies also happened to be around here, and a large area was named after Queen Elizabeth I, who never married and never bore children. This is the 10th state of the Union and was officially recognized in 1788 and is known today for the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Blue Ridge Walkway which it shares with another state.
Which state boasts of the Willis Tower?
This is the state that has the Navy Pier in it, so need we say more? This riverside attraction received almost 9 million visitors every year, making it one busy place indeed. The state’s name comes from the tribes that inhabited this region and is a translation of the Ottawa tribal name for them. The Algonquian translation means “the tribe of superior men” or even “normal speakers”- meaning the people who speak the Algonquin tongue rather than a foreign language.
In which state is the rodeo a much prized event?
This is the states of the cowboys and the rodeo and everything horses and fun. The name itself comes from a Hasinai Indian Caddo word that means friends, and it came to describe any tribe the Spanish explorers deemed as friendly. So apparently most of the tribes in this lovely and large state were pretty friendly and the name stuck since the middle of the 17th century. The state is also known for the San Antonio River Walk that receives an annual footfall of more than 5 million.
Which is the only state to be named after a homegrown leader?
Other than it being the center of all big decisions in the US, this state is also known for a world-wide export of apples, the red and juicy variety. Actually some 2,500 varieties of apples in all! The name is pretty simple, it honors the nation’s first leader. Apparently, there was a petition to name it Columbia but last minute changes were made to make sure it was named after a homegrown leader instead and it was thus renamed to do just that.
Name the state which houses the St. Louis Gateway Arch...
While the name of this state may sound rather romantic, its meaning is anything but. Roughly translated from the Sioux tribe language, it means muddy water! Another translation is a “town or people of the large canoes” – probably to navigate those muddy waters in the first place! The tribe used to use large dugout canoes to go about their daily river run. It is also known for the St. Louis gateway arch and the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial as well.
Which state is famous for a brand of fried chicken?
Despite its direct connection to a worldwide chain of juicy chicken, this Southern state remains one of disputed etymology. One meaning of its name comes from Iroquoian origin meaning “on the prairie”. Another meaning comes from an Algonquian phrase that translates to “the bottom of the river”, or another from Shawnees meaning “the head of the river”. And then there is another Iroquoian word that may translate to “the land of the tomorrow” where tribes dreamed to live in the future. However, on the map, this state does look a bit like a drumstick!
Which state is famous for its quartz crystals?
The state is prized for the quartz crystals mined from it, as well as for its Hot Springs National Park. The state’s name comes from the Quapaw Indians who lived here, and they were called a name by the Algonquian Indians that translated to “wind people” – well because the wind was a powerful force of nature back in the day of the teepees and the tents. Of course, this one state which is not pronounced as it is spelled – an agreement made between the state government and the tribe to move forward in peace.
Which state is the largest producer of maple syrup?
This cold, cold state is the largest producer of maple syrup in the US and produces some 500,000 gallons of this golden goodness every year. The name of the state comes from a French world and translated to green mountains because within it is a range of the Appalachians known as the Green Mountains! The name could also have come from the “Green Mountain Boys”, a rebel group led by Ethan Allen in the 1760s. The name was suggested by a statesman and officially adopted in 1777.
Which state holds the Mardi Gras?
The state of the blues and Mardi Gras is a must-visit for not just the parade, but also the French Quarter. It was laid claim to for France by French explorer Robert Cavalier de La Salle and name the conquered territories in honor of the French King. The name he chose was manlier than the one the Spanish used later – and the current name of this southern belle is an amalgamation of the two. There’s a mention of this state in the “Oh! Susanna” song by Stephen Foster…
Name this archipelago of a state.
So this is where the legendary Captain Cook first arrived and promptly named this archipelago The Sandwich Islands, in honor of the Earl of Sandwich (we kid you not!). The official name was soon changed by the local King Kamehameha I to something more in touch with the Polynesian traditions. The translation could be “small homeland” and frankly, fits perfectly with this tourist attraction that has nothing but sun, sand, and surfing. The main attraction has to be Waikiki beach…
This state is known for its delicious blue crabs!
So when a royal charter was signed by King Charles I in 1632 to colonize a new territory in the New World, Lord Baltimore IInd aka Caecilius Calvert was more than up for the task. He became the first governor and to thank his generous king, name the state in honor of the Queen. So there is a clear and definite link attached to royalty and the name of this state, which we personally love for those delicious blue crabs.
Which state hosts the Red Earth Festival?
The name of this state was suggested by a Choctaw Indian chief who sported the English name, Allen Wright! The state’s name basically means the nation or the tribe of the red people – meaning this was a true coming of many native tribes and as a Native Territory. The tribes themselves did not use this name but its popularity rose and in 1907 it became the official name of the 40th state. It is known for a National Memorial, in honor of a bombing that took place here.
Name the state that hosts Summerfest...
This state hosts a Summerfest – the world’s largest music festival with over 2,500 performers. It is also known for the Devil’s Lake State Park. The name of the state though was more a result of plenty mistakes and errors than actual choice. The first name that was coined came through explorer Jacques Marquette and his fur trapper companion Louis Joliet in 1673 when they came upon a tributary of the river that shares the states name. The flowery handwriting was mistaken by French explorer La Salle and one thing led to another – till the misspelled name became the correct one!
Which state has the Enchanted Highway?
The name of this state comes from the people who once lived here and the meaning was friend or ally. When this state was admitted into the Union in 1889, it was split up into two parts. This state is notorious for its endless long roads with nothing more than grasslands and farms for miles on end. A retired school teacher decided to humanize the endless stretch with large metal sculptures made up of recycled metal. The road to Regent has now been renamed the Enchanted Highway and on the entrance stands Geese In Flight…
Which state houses the city of "vice"?
You’d think the name of this state had got to something to do with the sun and the sand – but nope, nothing so tame. It was actually named after the Spanish feast of the flowers, which another name for Easter. The area was so discovered by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León landed in this region in 1513 and coincidentally it was Easter time. So he took the opportunity to name it in honor of the festival. Otherwise, the state is known for its city of vice and for the Everglades.
Which state is known for its potato crop?
George M Willing can be lauded, or blamed for the name of this state, famous for its potato crops. When Willing first introduced the name, he said it meant “sun or gem from the mountain” in Shoshone language. Later he said he named it after a girl he met, Ida. In reality, though, it was a derivative of the Apache word for enemy, so coined for the Comanches. The Silverwood Theme Park also resides in this state so visited by more than 5 million tourists annually.
Which state is 3M headquartered in?
The name of this state comes simply coined from a Dakota Sioux term that means “cloudy or milky water”, referring to the main river that shares the same name with the state. The state houses a park named after one of the the nation’s past leaders – rather well loved for his time. This state is also famous for 3M, a mining and manufacturing multinational conglomerate company that has its reach in industrial use, health care, and consumer goods. These are the guys who make scotch tape...
Which state houses Biltmore Estate and the Blue Ridge Parkway?
The British and the Scottish were pretty busy, as were the Spaniards and the French in the 17th century, eager to lay claim to the newly discovered Americas. In 1629, King Charles I so decreed the attorney general Sir Robert Heath go forth and lay English stake on the eastern seaboard. Sir Heath duly did just that and named the state in honor of King Charles, using the Latinized version of the name – which is also fairly girly! The state boasts of the Biltmore estate and the Blue Ridge Parkway with over 10 million visitors a year.
Which seaside state boasts of the oldest operating tavern?
This state has the distinction of housing the oldest operating tavern in the US, The White House Tavern in operation since 1673. Now the name of this state has two unusual stories, neither of which relates to native tribes. One story is that Dutch explorer Adrian Block named it as the red island in Dutch because of the red clay on the coast. The other story is that Italian Explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano thought it looked like one of the Greek islands. Either way, the name stuck…
Which state houses Mt. Rushmore?
What defines this state from its northern counterpart isn’t just a boundary. There is also the distinction of it not being a neighboring state with Canada, and the fact that it houses Mt. Rushmore. Carved on this mountain range are the faces of past leaders of the United States. It's quite a site to see and it's no wonder why it receives more than 2 million tourists every year and remains a popular attraction till date.
Which state houses the Yellowstone National Park?
Alphabetically speaking, this is the last of the 50 states and houses the Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone has the dubious distinction of having the largest number of geysers than any other geyser field in the world and receives an annual number of 3 million visitors. The name comes from a Delaware Indian word that loosely translates as “the land of the alternating mountains and valleys”. An 1809 poem further made this states name famous and it was officially confirmed for new territory bearing this name in 1865.
Which state is home to the Grand Canyon?
Yet again, the etymology of this state’s name comes from various places and stories. One popular belief is that it means an arid region. Others think it comes from a Basque phrase that translated to good oak, maybe referring to a large patch of oak trees growing at Planchas de Plata in the 18th century. The third story comes from the O’odham language where it comes to denote little spring. Of course, the biggest clue is that this state is home to the grandest of all canyons!
The Golden Gate Bridge lies in this state...
Home of the Golden Gate bridge, this state may yet have the strangest story behind its name. It came from a Spanish novel by Garcia Ordóñez de Montalvo so published in 1510. The novel was called 'Las Sergas de Esplandián', and featured a fictional queen who rules over a fictional land, by the same name this state sports! A more straightforward alternative is that the name was formed by two Catalan words that translate to “as hot as an oven”!
Which state's Six Flags park includes the Twisted Cyclone?
It’s actually surprising to know how many of the US states were named in honor of the kings who decreed their colonization. This particular state gets its name from King George II who signed a royal charter in 1732, sanctioning a settlement in an area that lay close to the Savannah River. The region was obviously named in honor of the said king. It also houses the Stone National Park and a 290-acre Six Flags entertainment park with a crazy roller coaster ride known as the Twisted Cyclone!
The Music City Walk of Fame is in this state...
So this is the state that houses the Great Smokey Mountains National Park as well as the Music City Walk of Fame. The name of the state does not have much of a romantic story except for the fact that when a Spanish explorer named Captain Juan Pardo was telling though it, he spotted a name on a village. There were other spellings of this name of the village as well, and finally, one selling was chosen. Origin-wise, some believes it means a bend in the river while others believe it means a meeting place.
John Denver sang about this state in his song 'Take Me Home, Country Roads'...
The two parts of this state split during the civil war with this state decided to join the Union and became the 35th state to do so in 1863. The other part joined the Confederacy and was readmitted in 1870. The name of course came from the same British Queen who never married and thus, never had children. This state has been lovingly sung about by singer John Denver and with good reason. It is sometimes referred to as the Switzerland of the US because of its beauty.
In which state does the Berks County Campus lie?
This one should be easy for it was named after Admiral Sir William Penn who was granted this territory by a charter by Charles II. Translated, it simply means Penn’s Woods – as in land belonging to Penn. It is said that this was done because the King owed Sir William a great debt and this territory was repayment of the same. We are sure it more than covered the said debts. The state also houses the famous Independence National Historic Park and the Berks County Campus.
Name the state known as the chile capital of the world.
This state was established in 1524 by Spanish conquistadors on the ruins of the great Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. The name itself may come from an Aztec God or from the word that the Aztecs used to call themselves. Another origin could mean “navel of the moon” to describe the location of this territory in the middle of a lake. It is known as the chile capital of the world and also houses the Albuquerque Biological Park visited by more than a million tourists each year.
In which state did the Battle of the Little Bighorn take place?
The perfect name from a mountainous state – the name here comes from the Spanish word that simply translated means “mountain”. It shares the Yellowstone National Park with Wyoming though the latter receives more tourist footfalls. This state is also famous for the Battle of the Little Bighorn, also referred to as Custer’s Last Stand. The Indian tribes may have won this battle, but the martyrs status of Custer and his troops reached sky high – enough for reenactments to happen even now.
A Harrison Ford character is this state's namesake...
Every time this state’s name comes up, we get a flashback picture of Harrison Ford and a swashbuckling character of his. But if you talk about this state, the name has a very simple etymology. It simply means the land of the Indians and became the 19th state of the Union way back in 1816. The state had a high population of natives so for the time being, the Union just named the state for them and let them be.
This state houses the Portland Head Lighthouse.
Much about the origin of this state has been lost in time, and the etymology has widespread theories. The name came into being in 1622 when Sir Ferdinand Gorges and Captain John Mason were granted this land to lay the foundations of the state. Now it could be that the name of this state came into being to distinguish it from the rest of the coastland, or it could have been named for the ancestral home of Sir Ferdinand. It houses the L L Bean Flagship store and the Portland Head Lighthouse.
This state houses a Seashore State Park.
This is the only state that managed to lend its name to the Indians that lived there, rather than the vice versa thing we have seen till now. The state was formed by Sir Thomas West who was the first Governor-General of Virginia in 1609. He played the peace pipe in forming an alliance with the original settlers and the native tribes that lived there. Now he also happened to be the third Baron “of the war” – and so the state the river as well as the local tribe that called themselves the Lenape took his name for their own, instead of the other way round
Which state boasts a famous institute of technology?
What do we say about this state? That it houses one of the world’s most famous institutes of technology? Or that the Faneuil Hall Marketplace is visited by some 20 million visitors each year? The name of the state is simply derived by the local Algonquian tribe that lived here. The name itself translates to “the place of the big hill”, so referring to the Great Blue hill some miles inland from the bay. Another means could also mean “Arrowhead Hill”
Which state is home to the Cornhuskers Football team?
Known for the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium as well as the Cornhuskers Football Team, this state was named after the river that flows through it. The name of the river was later changed to Platte but its original tribe-name meant flattened water or broad water. This was so because when the river was in a gush, the lowlands around would get flooded – resulting in a broad expanse of water. The official name of the state was suggested by Lt. John Fremont and was accepted in 1844.
Which state is home to Crater Lake?
While it’s tempting, this state’s name is not based on a popular herb. But it does boast of the deepest lake in the US formed on the remains of an ancient volcano and is home to the Crater Lake National Park. The territory was created in 1848 but the present day state came to be in 1859. The nomenclature perhaps came from a word meaning fish grease because this was a key trading substance by the local tribes. Another meaning simply translated to “good” or “beautiful”.
Which state is home to the "Great River'?
The name of this state means Great River and has been named after the river that flows through it rather majestically. The river meets the Gulf of Mexico here and makes for quite a sight with two-toned waters flowing side by side. This state also houses the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Name the state that's home to the Big Three auto giants.
This is the state that is home to the Big Three – the biggest domestic brands in the automotive market today. Obviously, it is home to the Henry Ford Museum as well. The name of the state is a bit unclear, it could be the latin derivative of the Ojibwe Algonquian word that means Great Lake. The name of this great lake is a namesake of the state itself, but it was the state named after the lake and not vice versa.
Which state houses the Empire State Building?
So King Charles II, who seems to feature quite a lot in this article, granted land to his brother James who was the Duke of York in 1664. Now the legitimacy was pretty far fetched because the Dutch were also laying claim to this land and calling it New Netherland. But English brute force prevailed and Dutch went back to their old Netherland, leaving this new territory to York. Of course, this very James went on to become King James II of England, so this state can boast of a rather royal lineage as well.
Which state is called the peach capital of the world?
This state’s capital is known as the peach capital of the world so be prepared for a peachy assault if you come here. The name comes from the same origin so shared by its sister state, in honor of King Charles I. In 1729, the region was separated into two territories. This state joined the Union in 1788 and its sister followed a year later. It also boasts of the Broadway at the Beach that sees an annual footfall of a whopping 14 million plus.
Which state has "the old man in the mountain"?
The same John Mason so involved in establishing the territory of main, and a former governor of Newfoundland was decreed by the King to go forth and form another territory. Mason decided to name it after the English county where he had once lived and had fond memories of. He never got to see his new land though because he died in England after receiving the charter. This state is known for the old man in the mountain, and the White Mountain national forest.
Which state is also known as the Nutmeg state?
This state boasts of the Hammonasset Beach State Park and for its famous downtown area as well. The name comes from the Mahican Algonquian name which roughly translated to “beside the long tidal river”. The modern name sounds similar to the old one but is an Anglicized corruption of the same. It is also known as the nutmeg state and was incorporated in the Union in 1788 as the 5th state to do so. Yankee Doodle is the state song for this rather connected state.