United States of AmericaAll 50 States

New England States

• Connecticut• Rhode Island• Massachusetts• Vermont• New Hampshire• Maine

Connecticut

• Connecticut was the 5th state in the USA; it became a state on January 9, 1788 . State Abbreviation - CT

• State Capital - HartfordLargest City - Bridgeport

• Area - 5,544 square miles [Connecticut is the 48th biggest state in the USA]Population – 3,400,000 (as of 2000) [Connecticut is the 29th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - agriculture, industry (especially insurance), tourism

Presidential Birthplace – George Walker Bush was born in New Haven on July 6, 1946 (he is the 43rd US President, serving from 2001 to the present).

• Bordering States Conneticut, Rhode Island, New YorkOrigin of the Name Connecticut - The name Connecticut is from a Mohican/Algonquin Indian word "quonehtacut", which means "long tidal river."

• State Nickname - Constitution State

Rhode Island

• Rhode Island was the 13th state in the USA; it became a state on May 29, 1790 . State Abbreviation - RIState Capital - ProvidenceLargest City - Providence

• Area - 1,545 square miles square miles [Rhode Island is the smallest state in the USA]Population – 1,400,000[Rhode Island is the 43rd most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - textiles, jewelry, rubber products, machinery, tourism

Origin of the Name Rhode Island - Rhode Island was either named for the Isle of Rhodes (in the Mediterranean Sea) or for its red clay (the Dutch explorer Adriaen Block may have named it "Rood Eylandt" meaning Red Island, in Dutch).

• State Nickname - The Ocean State, Little Rhody

• Rhode Island is the smallest state. It’s 2x the size of Duval County.

Massachusetts

• Massachusetts was the 6th state in theUSA; it became a state on February 6, 1788. State Abbreviation - MAState Capital - BostonLargest City - BostonArea - 10,555 square miles [Massachusetts is the 44th biggest state in the USA]Population - 6,349,097 (as of 2000) [Massachusetts is the 13th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - textiles, electronics, publishing, education, tourism, fishing

•Presidential BirthplacesJohn Adams was born in Braintree (now Quincy) on October 30, 1735 (he was the 2nd US President, serving from 1797 to 1801).

• John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born in Brookline on May 29, 1917 (he was the 35th US President, serving from 1961 to 1963).

• George Herbert Walker Bush was born in Milton on June 12, 1924 (he was the 41st US President, serving from 1989 to 1993).

Origin of the Name Massachusetts - Massachusetts was named for an Algonquian Indian word that means "a big hill place." State Nickname - Bay State

• Boston, MA is famous for the “Boston Tea Party” and Paul Revere.

Vermont

• Vermont was the 14th state in the USA; it became a state on March 4, 1791 . State Abbreviation - VTState Capital - MontpelierLargest City - BurlingtonPopulation – 610,000 (as of 2000) [Vermont is the 49th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - maple syrup, farming (dairy), tourism, electronics, forest products (especially paper)

Presidential BirthplaceChester Alan Arthur was born in Fairfield on October 5, 1830 (he was the 21th US President, serving from 1881 to 1885).Calvin Coolidge was born in Plymouth on July 4, 1872 (he was the 30th US President, serving from 1923 to 1929).

Origin of the Name Vermont - The name Vermont comes from the French words for green mountain, "mont vert."State Nickname - Green Mountain State

New Hampshire

• New Hampshire was the 9th state in the USA; it became a state on June 21, 1788. State Abbreviation - NH

• State Capital - Concord

• Largest City - Manchester

• Origin of the Name New Hampshire - New Hampshire was named for Hampshire, England

• Population – 1,300,000 (as of 2000) [New Hampshire is the 41st most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - textiles, lumber, tourism, electronic equipment, software

Presidential Birthplace - Franklin Pierce was born in Hillsborough (now Hillsboro) on November 23, 1804 (he was the 14th US President, serving from 1853 to 1857).

State Nickname - Granite StateState Motto - "Live Free or Die"State Song - Old New Hampshire

Maine

Maine was the 23rd state in the USA; it became a state on March 15, 1820 . State Abbreviation - MEState Capital - Augusta

Largest City - Portland

Area - 35,387 square miles [Maine is the 39th biggest state in the USA]Population – 1,274,000 (as of 2000) [Maine is the 40th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - agriculture (especially potatoes), shipbuiding, fishing (especially lobsters), footwear, machinery, electronics, tourism

Bordering Country - Canada

Middle Atlantic States

• Maryland

• Delaware

• New Jersey

• Pennsylvania

• New York

Maryland• Maryland was the 7th state in the USA; it became a state on

April 28,1788. State Abbreviation - MD

• State Capital - AnnapolisLargest City - Baltimore

• Population -5,296,486 (as of 2000) [Maryland is the 19th most populous state in the USA]

• Major Industries - farming (corn, soybeans, tobacco, poultry and dairy products), mining (coal), steel products, communications equipment, fishing (crabs and oysters),

Origin of the Name Maryland - Maryland was named to honor the Queen consort Henrietta Maria (1609-1669), the wife of Britain's King Charles I

• Baltimore, Maryland is where the National Anthem takes place. During the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key was a prisoner aboard a British ship during the British bombardment of Ft. McHenry. This inspired him to write the words.

“The rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof

through the night, that our flag was still there”

Delaware

• Delaware was the 1st state in the USA; it became a state on December 7, 1787 . State Abbreviation - DEState Capital - DoverLargest City - Wilmington

• Area - 1,954 square miles [Delaware is the 49th biggest state in the USA]Population – 784,341 (as of 2000) [Delaware is the 45th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - business, agriculture and tourism

Origin of the Name Delaware - Delaware was named to honor the early Virginia governor, Lord De La Warr.State Nickname - First State (this is because on Dec. 7, 1787, Delaware was the first of the 12 US states to ratify the new US Constitution), Diamond State, Blue Hen State, Small Wonder

• The Delaware river is the site of the famous painting of Washington crossing the “Delaware”.

New Jersey

• New Jersey was the 3rd state in the USA; it became a state on December 18, 1787. State Abbreviation - NJ

• State Capital - Trenton

• Largest City - Newark

• Area - 8,722 square miles [New Jersey is the 47th biggest state in the USA]Population -8,414,350 (as of 2000) [New Jersey is the ninth most populous state in the USA]

• Major Industries - farming (potatoes, tomatoes, peaches), chemicals, pharmaceuticals, petroleum-based products, insurance, tourism

• Presidential Birthplace - Grover Cleveland was born in Caldwell on March 18, 1837 (he was the 22nd and 24th US President, from 1885 to 1889 and from 1893 to 1897).

Origin of the Name New Jersey - New Jersey was named by James, Duke of York (the brother of King Charles II of England), after Jersey, a British island in the English Channel.

• State Nickname - Garden State

Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania was the 2nd state in the USA; it became a state on December 12, 1787. State Abbreviation - PA

• State Capital - Harrisburg

• Largest City - Philadelphia

• Area - 46,058 square miles [Pennsylvania is the 33rd biggest state in the USA]Population – 12,281,054 (as of 2000) [Pennsylvania is the sixth most populous state in theUSA]

• Major Industries – Pittsburg – steel (Hence the name of the football team Steelers), farming (corn, oats, soybeans, mushrooms), mining (iron, portland cement, lime, stone), electronics equipment, cars, pharmaceuticals

Presidential Birthplace - James Buchanan was born in Cove Gap (near Mercersburg) on April 23, 1791 (he was the 15th US President, serving from 1857 to 1861)

Origin of the Name Pennsylvania - This state was named to honor Admiral William Penn and his son, William Penn, Pennsylvania's

• founder.

• State Nickname - Keystone StateState Motto - "Virtue, Liberty, and Independence"

Pennsylvania was the location of the famous Civil War battle of Gettysburg. Gettysburg is a small town in Southern Pennsylvania.

New York• New York was the 11th state in the USA it became a state on July 26, 1788.• State Abbreviation - NY

State Capital - AlbanyBiggest City - New York City

• Population - 18,976,457 (as of 2000) [New York is the third most populous state in the USA,

• Major Industries - finance, communications, international trade, publishing, fashion, communications, farming (fruit and dairy), tourism

Presidential BirthplacesTheodore Roosevelt was born in New York City on October 27, 1858 (he was the 26th US President, serving from 1901 to 1909).

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born in Hyde Park on January 30, 1882 (he was the 32th US President, serving from 1933 to 1945).

Martin Van Buren (President 1837-1841)

Origin of the Name New York - The English took over of the area that had been called "New Netherland" in 1664, and renamed it New York to honor of the Duke of York (York is a city in England).

New York City, NY was the site of the September 11, 2001 attack on the World trade center.

Many immigrants to the USA were greeted by the Statue of Liberty on their way into New York harbor.

The South Atlantic States

• Florida• Georgia• South Carolina• North Carolina• Virginia• West Virginia

Florida

• Florida was the 27th state in the USA; it was admitted on March 3, 1845.

State Abbreviation - FLState Capital - TallahasseeLargest City - JacksonvilleArea - 65,758 square miles [Florida is the 22 biggest state in the USA]Population – 15 million (as of 2000) [Florida is the fourth most populous state Major Industries - tourism, agriculture (oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes), electronics

Highest Point - A hill in Walton County - 345 feet

Origin of the Name Florida - Florida was first seen by the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon on Palm Sunday on April 2, 1513 - he then named the "Pascua de Florida," meaning "Feast of Flowers" and claimed it for SpainState Nickname - The Sunshine State

• St. Augustine was the first European settlement in North America• Florida fought for the Confederate States of America during the

Civil War

Georgia

Georgia was the 4th state in the USA; it became a state on January 2, 1788. State Abbreviation - GAState Capital - AtlantaLargest City - AtlantaArea - 59,441 square miles [Georgia is the 24th biggest state in the USA]Population - 8,186,453 (as of 2000) [Georgia is the tenth most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - textiles, timber (especially pine), agriculture (cotton, corn, peanuts, soybeans, poultry) Peaches

•Presidential Birthplace - James Earl Carter, Jr., was born in Plains on October 1, 1924 (he was the 39th US President, serving from 1977 to 1981). Martin Luther King, Champion of Civil Rights, was born in Georgia in 1929.

•

Origin of the Name Georgia - Georgia was named to honor King George II of England.State Nickname - Empire State of the South, Peach State

• Georgia fought for the Confederate States of America during the Civil War

South Carolina

• South Carolina was the 8th state in the USA; it became a state on May 23, 1788. State Abbreviation - SCState Capital - ColumbiaLargest City - ColumbiaArea - 32,007 square miles [South Carolina is the 40th biggest state in the USA]Population - 4,012,012 (as of 2000) Major Industries - farming (tobacco, soybeans), textiles, manufacturing chemicals, processed foods, machinery, electronics, paper products, tourism

Presidential Birthplace - Andrew Jackson was born in Waxhaw on March 15, 1767 (he was the 7th US President, serving from 1829 to 1837). ($20 dollar bill)

•Origin of the Name South Carolina - South Carolina was named to honor King Charles I (Carolus is Latin for Charles).State Nickname - Palmetto StateState Motto - "Dum Spiro Spero" - While I breathe, I hope

South Carolina fought for the Confederate States of America During the Civil War. The first shots of the Civil War when South Carolina Fired on Fort Sumpter in Charleston Harbor.

The palmetto tree has been a symbol of South Carolina since June 28, 1776 because the first Fort Moultrie was built of palmetto logs.

North Carolina

• North Carolina was the 12th state in the USA; it became a state on November 21, 1789. State Abbreviation - NCState Capital - RaleighLargest City - CharlottePopulation - 8,049,313 (as of 2000) [North Carolina is the 11th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - farming (tobacco, poultry), textiles, furniture

Presidential BirthplacesJames Knox Polk was born in Mecklenburg County on November 2, 1795 (he was the 11th US President, serving from 1845 to 1849).

• Andrew Johnson was born in Raleigh on December 29, 1808 (he was the 17th US President, serving from 1865 to 1869).

Origin of the Name North Carolina - North Carolina was named to honor King Charles I (Carolus is Latin for Charles).

• State Nickname - Tar Heel State

• North Carolina fought for the Confederate States of America during the Civil War• North Carolina is called the “Tar Heal State” because during the Civil War, soldiers

from North Carolina would never retreat, even when outnumbered.

Virginia• Virginia was the 10th state in the USA; it became a state on June 25, 1788.

State Abbreviation - VAState Capital - Richmond

• Area - 42,769 square miles [Virginia is the 35th biggest state in the USA]Population - 7,078,515 (as of 2000) [Virginia is the 12th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - farming (tobacco, peanuts, corn, sweet potatoes, poultry, ham), tourism, US Navy warships, mining (coal), lumber (for paper and furniture), government workers

Presidential Birthplaces George Washington was born in Westmoreland County on February 22, 1732 (he was the 1st US President, serving from 1789 to 1797).

• Thomas Jefferson was born in Shadwell on April 13, 1743 (he was the 3rd US President, serving from 1801 to 1809).

• Woodrow Wilson was born in Staunton on December 28, 1856 (he was the 28th US President, serving from 1913 to 1921).

• James Madison was born in Port Conway 1751 (president 1809-1817)•

Virginia fought for the Confederate States of America during the Civil War• The Confederate Capital was Richmond during the Civil War

West Virginia• West Virginia was the 35th state in the USA; it became a state

on June 20, 1863. • West Virginia split from Virginia during the civil war. The

western part of Virginia sided with the North, and did not want to be part of the Confederate States. The USA made West Virginia into a state during the Civil War.

• State Abbreviation - WVState Capital - CharlestonLargest City - CharlestonArea - 24,231 square miles Population - 1,808,344 (as of 2000) [West Virginia is the 37th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - mining (coal), livestock, chemical manufacturing, glass products, tourism

State Nickname - Mountain StateState Motto - "Montani semper liberi" - Mountaineers are always free

South Central and Gulf States

• Alabama• Mississippi• Tennessee• Kentucky• Louisiana• Arkansas• Texas• Oklahoma• Missouri

Alabama

• Alabama was the 22nd state in the USA; it became a state on December 14, 1819. State Abbreviation - ALState Capital - MontgomeryLargest City - BirminghamArea - 52,423 square miles [Alabama is the 30th biggest state in the USA]Population - 4,447,100 (as of 2000) [Alabama is the 23rd most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - agriculture (cotton, corn, peanuts, soybeans, poultry, and livestock), hydroelectric power, mining (coal, limestone, iron ore), steel-making

Origin of the Name Alabama - Alabama means "tribal town" in the language of the local Creek Indians

• Alabama fought for the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.

• What states flag does Alabama’s look like?

Mississippi• Mississippi was the 20th state in the USA; it became a state

on December 10, 1817 . State Abbreviation - MSState Capital - JacksonLargest City - JacksonArea - 48,434 square miles [Mississippi is the 32nd biggest state in the USA]Population - 2,844,658 (as of 2000) [Mississippi is the 31st most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - farming (cotton, corn, soybeans, rice), oil, textiles, electronic equipment, transportation equipment, fishing

Origin of the Name Mississippi - Mississippi is perhaps from the Ojibwa (Chippewa) Indian words "mici zibi," which means "great river" or "gathering of waters"

• State Nickname - Magnolia State

• Mississippi fought for the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.

Tennessee

• Tennessee was the 16th state in the USA; it became a state on June 1, 1796. State Abbreviation - TNState Capital - NashvilleLargest City - MemphisArea - 42,146 square miles [Tennessee is the 36th biggest state in the USA]Population - 5,689,283 (as of 2000) [Tennessee is the 16th most populous state in the USA]

• Major Industries - mining (coal), electrical power, enriched uranium production, music, automobile manufacturing, farming (tobacco, cattle, soybeans, cotton), walking horses, tourism

Origin of the Name Tennessee - The name Tennessee came from a Cherokee village in the region that is called "Tanasie."State Nickname - The Volunteer State- many Tennesseans volunteered for service during the war of 1812.

Tennessee fought for the Confederate States of

America during the Civil War.

Davie Crockett, pictured left, known as the “King of the wild frontier”, was born in Tennessee. He died in Texas at the Alamo fighting the Empire of Mexico

Kentucky

• Kentucky was the 15th state in the USA; it became a state on June 1, 1792. State Abbreviation - KYState Capital - FrankfortLargest City - Louisville

• Population - 4,041,769 (as of 2000) [Kentucky is the 25th most populous state in the USA]

• Major Industries - agriculture (tobacco, corn, peanuts, wheat), mining (anthracite coal), horse-raising, whiskey manufacturing, automobile and truck manufacturing, chemical manufacturing

Presidential Birthplace - Abraham Lincoln was born in Hardin County (now called Larue County) on February 12, 1809 (he was the 16th US President, serving from 1861 to 1865).

Origin of the Name Kentucky - Kentucky is from the Iroquois Indian word "Ken-tah-ten," which means "land of tomorrow." State Nickname - Bluegrass State

• Home of the famous Kentucky Derby Horse race

Louisiana

• Louisiana was the 18th state in the USA; it became a state on April 30, 1812.

• State Abbreviation - LAState Capital - Baton RougeLargest City - New OrleansArea - 51,843 square miles [Louisiana is the 31st biggest state in the USA]Population - 4,468,976 (as of 2000) [Louisiana is the 22nd most populous state in the USA]

• Major Industries - agriculture (rice, cotton, soybeans), salt production, oil and natural gas, fishing (especially shellfish)

Lowest Point - New Orleans - 8 feet (2.5 m) below sea level

Origin of the Name Louisiana - Louisiana was named in 1682 to honor King Louis XIV (14) of France.State Nickname - Sportsman's Paradise (previously - Pelican State)

Louisiana fought for the Confederate States of America during the Civil war.

Louisiana was originally a French colony, and many in Louisiana still speak French. These French speaking Louisianans are called Cajuns.

•

Arkansas

• Arkansas was the 25th state in the USA; it became a state on June 15, 1836. State Abbreviation - ARState Capital - Little RockLargest City - Little RockArea - 53,182 square miles [Arkansas is the 29th biggest state in the USA]Population - 2,673,400 (as of 2000) [Arkansas is the 33rd most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - agriculture (chickens, soybeans, rice, cotton), paper and wood products (including furniture), electronic equipment, mining (aluminum and diamonds)

Presidential Birthplace - William Jefferson Clinton was born in Hope on August 19, 1946 (he was the 42nd US President, serving from 1993 to 2001).

Lowest Point - Ouachita River; 55 feet, (17 m) above sea level

Origin of the Name Arkansas - Arkansas is from the Quapaw (Sioux) word "acansa," which means "downstream place" or "south wind."State Nickname - The Natural State

• • Arkansas fought for the Confederate

States of America during the Civil War.

Texas• Texas was the 28th state in the USA; it was admitted on

December 29, 1845. State Abbreviation - TXState Capital - Austin

• Area - 268,601 square miles [Texas is the second largest state in country Population - 20,851,820 (as of 2000) [Texas is the second most populous state in the USA

• Major Industries - petroleum and natural gas, farming (cotton, livestock), steel, banking, insurance, tourism

Presidential BirthplacesDwight David Eisenhower was born in Denison on October 14, 1890 (he was the 34th US President, serving from 1953 to 1961).

• Lyndon Baines Johnson was born near Johnson City on August 27, 1908 (he was the 36th US President, serving from 1963 to 1969).

Origin of the Name Texas - The Caddo Indians of eastern Texas called their group of tribes the "Tejas," meaning "those who are friends".

• Texas fought for the confederate States of America during the Civil War• The Building on this slide is the famous Alamo, where over 200 Texans made a

stand against the Empire of Mexico (and lost).

Oklahoma

Oklahoma was the 46th state in the USA; it became a state on November 16, 1907. State Abbreviation - OKState Capital - Oklahoma CityLargest City - Oklahoma City

Area - 69,903 square miles [Oklahoma is the 20th biggest state in the USA]Population - 3,450,654 (as of 2000) [Oklahoma is the 27th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - farming (wheat, cattle), oil, natural gas

Origin of the Name Oklahoma - The name Oklahoma is from the Choctaw Indian words "okla" meaning people and "humma" meaning red.State Nickname - Sooner State

Missouri

• Missouri was the 24th state in the USA; it became a state on August 10, 1821. State Abbreviation - MOState Capital - Jefferson CityLargest City - St. LouisArea - 69,709 square miles [Missouri is the 21st biggest state in the USA]Population - 5,595,211 (as of 2000) [Missouri is the 16th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - farming (corn, soybeans), mining (zinc, lead), aircraft equipment, cars, beer

Presidential Birthplace - Harry S. Truman was born in Lamar (near Joplin) on May 8, 1884 (he was the 33rd US President, serving from 1945 to 1953).

Origin of the Name Missouri - Missouri was named for an Algonquian Indian word that means "river of the big canoes." State Nickname - The Show Me StateState Motto - "Salus populi suprema lex esto " - The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law

North Central Plains States

• Ohio• Michigan• Indiana• Illinois• Iowa• Wisconsin• Kansas• Nebraska• Minnesota• North

Dakota• South

Dakota

Ohio

Ohio was the 17th state in the USA; it became a state on March 1, 1803. State Abbreviation - OHState Capital - ColumbusLargest City - ColumbusPopulation - 11,353,140 (as of 2000) [Ohio is the seventh most populous state in the USA,

Major Industries - manufacturing (steel, cars, airplanes, rubber products, chemicals, plastics), farming, mining (coal)

Presidential BirthplacesUlysses Simpson Grant was born in Point Pleasant on April 27, 1822 (he was the 18th US President, serving from 1869 to 1877).

Rutherford Birchard Hayes was born in Delaware on October 4, 1822 (he was the 19th US President, serving from 1877 to 1881).

William McKinley was born in Niles on January 29, 1843 (he was the 25th US President, serving from 1897 to 1901).

William Howard Taft was born in Cincinnati on September 15, 1857 (he was the 27th US President, serving from 1909 to 1913).

Origin of the Name Ohio - Ohio derives from the Iroquois Indian word meaning "good river" or "large river."

State Nickname - Buckeye StateState Motto - "With God, All Things Are Possible"

Michigan• Michigan was the 26th state in the USA

it became a state on January 26, 1837. State Abbreviation - MIState Capital - LansingLargest City - DetroitArea - 96,810 square miles Population - 9,938,444 (as of 2000) [Michigan is the eighth most populous state in the USA, farming (corn, soybeans, wheat), timber, fishing

Origin of the Name Michigan - Michigan is from an Algonquian Chippewa Indian word "meicigama" that means "big sea wate" (referring to the Great Lakes).

• State Nickname - Wolverine State

• Detroit is famous for it’s production of American cars

Indiana

• Indiana was the 19th state in the USA; it became a state on December 11, 1816. State Abbreviation - INState Capital - IndianapolisLargest City - IndianapolisArea - 36,420 square miles [Indiana is the 38th biggest state in the USA]Population - 6,080,485 (as of 2000) [Indiana is the 14th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - agriculture (corn, soybeans, wheat), manufacturing, mining (coal, limestone), steel-making

Origin of the Name Indiana - Indiana is a word that refers to the local Indians.State Nickname - Hoosier StateState Motto - "The Crossroads of America"

Illinois

• Illinois was the 21st state in the USA; it became a state on December 3, 1818. State Abbreviation - ILState Capital - SpringfieldLargest City - ChicagoArea - 57,918 square miles [Illinois is the 25th biggest state in the USA]Population - 12,419,293 (as of 2000) [Illinois is the fifth most populous state in the USA

• Major Industries - agriculture (corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, barley, rye, sorghum), cattle, manufacturing, mining

Presidential Birthplace - Ronald Wilson Reagan was born in Tampico on February 6, 1911 (he was the 40th US President, serving from 1981 to 1989)

Origin of the Name Illinois - Illinois comes from the word Illini, a confederation of the Cahokia, Kaskaskia, Michigamea, Moingwena, Peoria and Tamaroa Indian tribes.State Nickname - Prairie State

Iowa

Iowa was the 29th state in the USA; it became a state on December 28, 1846 . State Abbreviation - IAState Capital - Des MoinesLargest City - Des MoinesArea - 56,276 square miles [Iowa is the 26th biggest state in the USA]Population - 2,926,324 (as of 2000) [Iowa is the 30th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - agriculture (corn, soybeans, hogs, pigs), food manufacturing, insurance

Presidential Birthplace - Herbert Clark Hoover was born in West Branch on August 10, 1874 (he was the 31st US President, serving from 1929 to 1933).

Origin of the Name Iowa - The name Iowa comes from Ioway, the French word for the Bah-kho-je Indian tribe that lived in the area.State Nickname - Hawkeye State

Wisconsin

• Wisconsin was the 30th state in the USA; it became a state on May 29,1848. State Abbreviation - WIState Capital - MadisonLargest City - MilwaukeeArea - 65,503 square miles [Wisconsin is the 23r biggest state in the USA]Population - 5,363,675 (as of 2000) [Wisconsin is the 18th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - dairy products (milk, butter, cheese), farming (corn), machinery, paper manufacturing, beer, tourism

Origin of the Name Wisconsin - Wisconsin is from an Indian word, but the origin is uncertain. It is perhaps an Algonquian Indian word that means "long river," a Chippewa/Ojibwa/Anishinabe word, "Ouisconsin," that means "grassy place," or "gathering of the waters."State Nickname - Badger State

• Milwaukee was settled primarily by Germans, who brought their craft with them, hence the name Milwaukee Brewers.

Kansas

Kansas was the 34th state in the USA; it became a state on January 29, 1861. State Abbreviation - KS State Capital - TopekaLargest City - WichitaArea - 82,282 square miles

Population - 2,688,418 (as of 2000) [Kansas is the 32nd most populous state in the USA]

Major Industries - agriculture (wheat and other grains), aircraft manufacturing, automobile manufacturing

Origin of the Name Kansas - Kansas was named for Konza (also called Kansa or Kaw) Indians who lived in the area.State Nickname - Sunflower State

Nebraska

• Nebraska was the 37th state in the USA; it became a state on March 1, 1867. State Abbreviation - NEState Capital - LincolnLargest City - Omaha Area - 77,358 square miles

• Population - 1,711,263 (as of 2000) [Nebraska is the 38th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - farming (corn, soybeans, wheat, sorghum), grain processing, Air Force Strategic Air Command,

Presidential Birthplace - Gerald Rudolph Ford was born in Omaha on July 14, 1913 (he was the 38th US President, serving from 1974 to 1977).

Origin of the Name Nebraska - The name Nebraska is from an Oto Indian word that means "flat water" (referring to the Platte River, which means "flat river" in French)

• State Nickname - Cornhusker State, The Tree Planters' State

Minnesota

• Minnesota was the 32nd state in the USA; it became a state on May 11, 1858. State Abbreviation - MNState Capital - St. PaulLargest City - MinneapolisArea - 86,943 square miles [Minnesota is the 12th biggest state in the USA]

• Population - 4,919,479 (as of 2000) [Minnesota is the 21st most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - farming (corn, soybeans, sugar beets, wheat, dairy products),

• Origin of the Name Minnesota - Minnesota is from a Dakota Sioux Indian word that means "cloudy water" or "sky water" and refers to local rivers.

• State Nickname - North Star Stateand the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” but Minnesota actually has 12,000 lakes.

• Minnesota was primarily settled by Scandinavians, hence the name Minnesota Vikings.

North Dakota

• North Dakota was the 39th state in the USA; it became a state on November 2, 1889. State Abbreviation - NDState Capital - BismarckLargest City - FargoArea - 70,704 square miles [North Dakota is the 19th biggest state in the USA]

• Population - 642,200 (as of 2000) [North Dakota is the 47th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - farming (wheat, barley, oats, flaxseed), cattle, mining (lignite, soft coal), electrical power generation

Origin of the Name North Dakota - Dakota was what the Sioux Indians called themselves.

• State Nickname - Peace Garden State, Flickertail State, Roughrider State

South Dakota

• South Dakota was the 40th state in the USA; it became a state on November 2, 1889. State Abbreviation - SDState Capital - PierreLargest City - Sioux Falls

• Area - 77,121 square miles [South Dakota is the 17th biggest state in the USA]Population - 754,844 (as of 2000) [South Dakota is the 45th most populous state in the USA]

Origin of the Name South Dakota - Dakota was what the Sioux Indians called themselves.State Nickname - Mount Rushmore State

Rocky Mountain States

• New Mexico• Colorado• Wyoming• Montana• Arizona• Utah• Idaho• Nevada

New Mexico• New Mexico was the 47th state in the USA; it became

a state on January 6, 1912 . State Abbreviation - NMState Capital - Santa FeLargest City - AlbuquerqueArea - 121,593 square miles [New Mexico is the 5th biggest state in the USA]Population - 1,819,046 (as of 2000) [New Mexico is the 36th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - mining (potash, copper, silver, uranium), oil, natural gas, tourism

Origin of the Name New Mexico - Named by the Spanish, in reference to MexicoState Nickname - Land of Enchantment

Many speculate about aliens at Roswell, New Mexico

Do your homework Earthlings

Colorado

• Colorado was the 38th state in the USA; it became a state on August 1, 1876 . State Abbreviation - COState Capital - DenverLargest City - Denver

• Population - 4,301,261 (as of 2000) [Colorado is the 24th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - agriculture (wheat, cattle, sheep), tourism (especially skiers), mining (gold, silver), oil, finance, and manufacturing

• Highest Point - Mt. Elbert; 14,433 feet (4,399 m) above sea level

Origin of the Name Colorado - The word Colorado is Spanish for the "color red," and refers to the muddy Colorado RiverState Nickname - Centennial State, Colorful Colorado

Montana

• Montana was the 41st state in the USA; it became a state on November 8,1889. State Abbreviation - MTState Capital - HelenaLargest City - BillingsArea - 147,046 square miles [Montana is the 4th biggest state in the USA]Population - 902,195 (as of 2000) [Montana is the 44th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - farming (wheat, sugar beets), cattle ranching, mining (gold, silver, copper, coal), oil, lumber, tourism

Origin of the Name Montana - The name Montana is the from the Spanish word from mountainous.State Nickname - Big Sky Country, Treasure State

Wyoming

• Wyoming was the 44th state in the USA; it became a state on July 10, 1890 . State Abbreviation - WYState Capital - CheyenneLargest City - Cheyenne

• Area - 97,818 square miles [Wyoming is the 10th biggest state in the USA]Population - 493,782 (as of 2000) [Wyoming is the least populous state in the USA]Major Industries - farming (cattle, sheep), mining (coal, uranium), oil, natural gas, tourism

Origin of the Name Wyoming - The name Wyoming may be derived from the Delaware Indian word "Maughwauwama," which means "large plains."State Nickname - Equality State

Idaho

• Idaho was the 43rd state in the USA; it became a state on July 3, 1890 State Abbreviation - IDState Capital - BoiseLargest City - BoiseArea - 83,574 square miles [Idaho is the 14th biggest state in the USA]Population - 1,293,953 (as of 2000) [Idaho is the 39th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - agriculture (potatoes, wheat, sugar beets, barley), lumber, mining

Origin of the Name Idaho - UnknownState Nickname - Gem StateState Motto - "Esto perpetua" - May it Endure Forever

Utah

• Utah was the 45th state in the USA; it became a state on January 4, 1896. State Abbreviation - UTState Capital - Salt Lake CityLargest City - Salt Lake CityArea - 84,904 square miles

• Population - 2,233,169 (as of 2000) [Utah is the 34th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - oil, natural gas, mining (coal, copper, iron ore, silver, gold), steel-making, farming (cattle, sheep, dairy products), tourism (especially skiing)

Origin of the Name Utah - The name Utah is from the Ute Indians.State Nickname - Beehive State

Arizona

• Arizona was the 48th state in the USA; it became a state on February 14, 1912. State Abbreviation - AZState Capital - PhoenixLargest City - PhoenixPopulation - 5,130,632 (as of 2000) [Arizona is the 20th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - mining (copper, molybdenum, gold, and silver), manufacturing, and tourism

Origin of the Name Arizona - The word Arizona comes from one of the following (its origin is not certain): the Aztec Indian word "arizuma," that means "silver-bearing," State Nickname - Grand Canyon State

Nevada

• Nevada was the 36th state in the USA; it became a state on October 31, 1864 . State Abbreviation - NVState Capital - Carson CityLargest City - Las Vegas

• Area - 110,567 square miles [Nevada is the 7th biggest state in the USA]Population - 1,998,257 (as of 2000) [Nevada is the 35th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - tourism, mining (gold, silver), hydro-electric power, gambing

Origin of the Name Nevada - Nevada is from the Spanish word meaning "snowcapped."

• State Nickname - Silver State, Sagebrush State

Pacific Coastal States

• Washington

• Oregon

• California

• Hawaii

• Alaska

Washington

• Washington was the 42nd state in the USA; it became a state on November 11, 1889. State Abbreviation - WAState Capital - OlympiaLargest City - SeattleArea - 71,303 square miles [Washington is the 18th biggest state in the USA]Population - 5,894,121 (as of 2000) [Washington is the 15th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - farming (fruit, berries, nuts, cattle, wheat), lumber, tourism, hydroelectric power, computer software, aircraft, aluminum refining

Highest Point - Mt. Rainier - 14,410 feet (4,392 m) above sea level

Origin of the Name Washington - This state is named for George Washington, the first president of the USA.State Nickname - The Evergreen State

Oregon• Oregon was the 33rd state in the USA; it became a state

on February 14, 1859. State Abbreviation - ORState Capital - SalemLargest City - PortlandArea - 98,386 square miles [Oregon is the 9th biggest state in the USA]Population - 3,421,399 (as of 2000) [Oregon is the 28th most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - timber, paper products, farming (wheat, cattle), mining (coal), computer equipment, electronics

Origin of the Name Oregon - The origin is unknown. It may have come from the French word Ouragan (which means Hurricane) and was a former name of the Columbia River.State Nickname - Beaver State

California

• California was the 31st state in the USA; it was admitted on September 9, 1850. State Abbreviation - CAState Capital - Sacramento

• Area - 163,707 square miles [California is the 3rd biggest state in the USA Population - 33,871,648 (as of 2000) California is the most populous state in the USA]Major Industries agriculture (many, many products), oil, mining, electronics, movie making/entertainment, and tourism

Presidential Birthplace - Richard Milhous Nixon was born in Yorba Linda on January 9, 1913 (he was the 37th US President, serving from 1969 to 1974).

Origin of the Name California - The name California comes from a mythical Spanish island ruled by a queen called Califia that was featured in a Spanish romance ("Las Sergas de Esplandian") written by Garcia Ordonez de Montalvo in 1510. The Spanish explorers originally thought that California was an island. State Nickname - The Golden State

Hawaii

• Hawaii was the 50th state in the USA; it became a state on August 21, 1959. It consists of a long chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean. State Abbreviation - HIState Capital - HonoluluLargest City - HonoluluArea - 10,932 square miles [Hawaii is the 43rd Population - 1,211,537 (as of 2000) [Hawaii is the 42nd most populous state in the USA]Major Industries - tourism, agriculture (bananas, pineapples, macadamia nuts, taro)

Origin of the Name Hawaii - Hawaii may been named for the traditional home of the Polynesians, Hawaii or Hawaiki, called "Owhyhee".State Nickname - Aloha State

• Pearl Harbor Hawaii is where the Japanese Sneak attacked the USA, bringing this country into WWII

Alaska

Alaska was the 49th state in the USA; it became a state on January 3, 1959. State Abbreviation - AKState Capital - JuneauLargest City - AnchorageArea - 656,425 square miles [Alaska is the biggest state in the USA]Population - 626,932 (as of 2000) [Alaska is the 48th most populous state in the USA]Major Industry - oil (petroleum)

Bordering US States - noneBordering Country - CanadaBordering Body of Water - Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Beaufort Sea, Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska

Origin of the Name Alaska - The word Alaska is from the Aleut Indian word "alaxsxaq" or "agunalaksh" that mean the mainland or shore.State Nickname - The Last Frontier