U.S. State Nicknames Quiz

Try to guess the official nicknames of the U.S. states, according to Wikipedia.

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Last updated: March 24, 2021

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First submitted	September 3, 2012
Times taken	38,000
Average score	36.0%
Rating	4.39

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State	Nickname
Alabama	The Heart of Dixie
Alaska	Last Frontier
Arizona	Grand Canyon State
Arkansas	Natural State
California	Golden State
Colorado	Centennial State
Connecticut	Constitution State
Delaware	First State
Florida	Sunshine State
Georgia	Peach State
Hawaii	Aloha State
Idaho	Gem State
Illinois	Prairie State
Indiana	Hoosier State
Iowa	Hawkeye State
Kansas	Sunflower State
Kentucky	Bluegrass State
Louisiana	Pelican State
Maine	Pine Tree State / Vacationland
Maryland	Old Line State
Massachusetts	Bay State
Michigan	Great Lakes State / Wolverine State
Minnesota	North Star State
Mississippi	Magnolia State
Missouri	Show-Me State

State	Nickname
Montana	Treasure State
Nebraska	Cornhusker State
Nevada	Silver State
New Hampshire	Granite State
New Jersey	Garden State
New Mexico	Land of Enchantment
New York	Empire State
North Carolina	Tar Heel State
North Dakota	Peace Garden State
Ohio	Buckeye State
Oklahoma	Sooner State
Oregon	Beaver State
Pennsylvania	Keystone State
Rhode Island	Ocean State
South Carolina	Palmetto State
South Dakota	Mount Rushmore State
Tennessee	Volunteer State
Texas	Lone Star State
Utah	Beehive State
Vermont	Green Mountain State
Virginia	Old Dominion
Washington	Evergreen State
West Virginia	Mountain State
Wisconsin	Badger State
Wyoming	Equality State

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81 Comments

Level 93

Mar 28, 2015

"Land of Enchantment" is not accepted for some reason.

Level 93

Mar 29, 2015

Try ‘enchantmaent’.

Level ∞

Mar 29, 2015

Fixed!

Level 67

Jun 4, 2015

I think "Cowboy State" and "Equality State" are both officially recognized as Wyoming's nicknames. I know Alabama is called the "Yellow Hammer" state. Is that not official?

Level 92

Jun 4, 2015

It's also the Cotton and Lizard state, but sadly (especially for the latter) it doesn't have an official nickname. Wisconsin's nickname is also unofficial, so it shouldn't be included in the quiz.

Level 72

Jun 25, 2018

I always thought WI was "America's Dairyland" and I lived next door in MN for a couple of years - learn something nearly every time on Jetpunk.

Level 36

Jun 4, 2015

when you drive through Wyoming, visit Jackson, they really hammer home that they were so quick to give women the vote. Equality is something very important to them now to balance the fact that they are known as Dick Cheney's home.

Level 83

Oct 26, 2016

And why would you say that niels? Doesn't sound like you've ever been there.

Level 81

Jun 4, 2015

American and only got 16 of these including a few I got by guessing and by accident. I missed "Mount Rushmore State" even though I typed in "Rushmore"... feel a bit robbed on that one... but also embarrassed to missed the Golden State and Empire State, the former of which I even lived in for a while. Definitely should have known Bluegrass, Hoosier, and Sooner, as well. And I had heard "Land of Enchantment" but that seems more like a license plate slogan than official nickname... similar to "Virginia is for Lover's," or North Carolina's "First in Flight" or Indiana's "If You're Here You Are Probably Driving Somewhere Else."

Level ∞

Jun 4, 2015

Simply Rushmore will work now.

Level 67

Oct 26, 2016

On the subject of license plate slogans, a folklorist friend of mine tells me that when Indiana held a public competition for a new one, someone submitted "Indiana: Bring Something To Do." Should have won.

Level 71

Feb 23, 2021

Yeah, and New Hampshire's plates always said "Live Free or Die," and the competition to redo the Wisconsin one produced "Eat Cheese or Die", but for some reason they didn't go with that.

Level 89

Mar 24, 2021

Eat cheese and die would be better.

Level 59

Jun 4, 2015

Only 21% know Michigan is the Great Lakes State? That's sad. You guys should visit our lakes soon - they're unsalted and shark-free! :)

Level 28

Jun 6, 2015

Going up to Mackinac Island in 2 weeks!

Level 83

Oct 26, 2016

There's a difference between knowing that Michigan is surrounded by awesome lakes and knowing that "Great Lakes" is the state motto.

Level 85

Oct 29, 2016

I totally forgot that one, despite my mother being from there, and a number of trips myself. Tried "wolverine" several times, alas.

+11

Level 62

Jun 30, 2017

I tried the "Urban Decay," "Don't get shot in Detroit," "Automobile," "Car," and "Don't drink the water in Flint" state. Really surprised none of them worked for Michigan.

Level 85

Jun 29, 2018

How negative and closed-minded of you. Thanks for sharing.

Level 36

Mar 17, 2019

Because 1 city defines an entire state? Your world must be small.

Level 89

Mar 24, 2021

Cleveland has a catchy slogan.

https://youtu.be/oZzgAjjuqZM

Level 75

Apr 21, 2021

lol that's one of the 8 that I got by randomly guessing stuff to do with the USA. Pleased to be among the elite :) (although it's up to 37% now)

Level 74

Jun 4, 2015

Maine is the Pine Tree State, not the Pine State.

Level 70

Jun 4, 2015

Can't believe I missed my own state!

Level 57

Jun 6, 2015

If I had just gone with my gut and guessed more college mascot names I would've done much better!!

Level 42

Jun 8, 2015

I live in North Carolina and have never heard of that nickname... no wonder it's the least guessed.

Level 56

Jun 21, 2015

I'm pretty sure that the official nickname of North Carolina is the Tar Heel State.

Level 74

Jun 1, 2016

Even Wikipedia says NC's primary nickname is Tar Heel state. Everyone knows it's the Tar Heel state. Why is it not accepted? You can't establish rules for the quiz and then not follow those rules.

Level ∞

Jun 3, 2016

Wikipedia changed, so I changed the quiz!

Level 79

Jun 7, 2016

Maryland is also known as the Free State. Never heard the Old Line State before...

Level 85

Oct 29, 2016

According to maryland.gov, both are acceptable nicknames. (No prizes for guessing which one I prefer!)

Level 64

May 3, 2020

Old Line State is on the Maryland state quarter, so there's that.

Level 75

Oct 14, 2016

You should accept Empire State of the South for Georgia.

Level 36

Mar 17, 2019

Seeing how that's not the official name, why should it be accepted?

Level 66

Oct 26, 2016

Remembered "Garden State" as I clicked give up...

Level 37

Oct 26, 2016

only 17% know Colorado's? shame!

Level 62

Oct 26, 2016

I thought Wisconsin had officially adopted "Badger State"?

Level 76

Oct 26, 2016

or,...Dairy State

Level 87

Mar 24, 2021

Actually it's "America's Dairyland".

Level 65

Oct 26, 2016

It certainly helps to know the mascots of their state colleges: Buckeyes, Hoosiers, Sooners, Beavers, etc.

Level 85

Mar 25, 2021

Pro teams' nicknames & state quarters helped as well.

Level 60

Oct 15, 2023

There's a beaver on the back of the Oregon state flag, but your point remains valid.

Level 28

Oct 26, 2016

Jesus this was so hard

Level 28

Oct 26, 2016

Wisconsin is the badger state. might want to fix that. The cheeseheads wont be happy if you dont

Level 41

Oct 26, 2016

My whole childhood growing up in New Orleans I never heard "Pelican State". Our license plates said "The Sportsman's Paradise".

Level 85

Mar 24, 2021

I always thought that was the case. Did they change it at some point?

Level 48

Oct 27, 2016

As soon as the quiz ended I recognized 6 of the 20 I missed. Some of those I would forget even if I retook the quiz right away.

Level 68

Sep 21, 2018

College mascots will only get you so far, but license plates help out quite a bit.

Level 64

May 3, 2020

I knew *of* Illinois as the Prairie State, but I thought they had adopted Land of Lincoln as an official nickname. Guess not.

Level 73

Oct 22, 2020

Idk if these are official, but Wisconsin's nickname is the badger state, and Alabama's is the yellowhammer state (or the cotton state, according to google)

Level 85

Mar 24, 2021

Why do I keep thinking of Maine as "The Lobster State"?

Level 90

Mar 25, 2021

No "Big Sky" for Montana?

Level 85

Mar 25, 2021

Right? I thought that one was a slam dunk. Confidently typed it in, and then...D'oh!

Level 92

Mar 25, 2021

That is always listed as an alternative...should be included.

Level 90

Mar 25, 2021

State nicknames are confusing, but this quiz needs cleaning. Using https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._state_and_territory_nicknames as a source and using the official names:

1. Yellowhammer shouldn't be accepted for Alabama

2. Minnesota should be Land of 10,000 Lakes

3. Wisconsin shouldn't have any nickname

4. New Jersey should also include Cornerstone State

5. Maryland should also include Free State

6. Pine State should be Pine Tree State for Maine

and there's probably more that I missed

Level ∞

Mar 25, 2021

The Wikipedia article is kind of a mess. I'm happy with the way our list is now.

Level 66

Mar 29, 2021

Land of 10,000 Lakes is a must accept. It's the primary nickname. Gopher State and North Star State can be accepted, too, no problem with that. But "Star of the North" is technically the Motto, and "North Star State" is not near as common as "Land of 10,000 Lakes" as a nickname, and this is a nickname quiz.

Level 67

Apr 19, 2021

The *official* state nickname is the North Star State. I live in Illinois, which is definitely most famous as "the Land of Lincoln," but our official nickname is the Prairie State, so that's the answer...however lame that name may be. There are several instances here (Montana and Wisconsin for sure) where the colloquial nickname is more common than the official one.

Level 69

Apr 19, 2021

Yeah, I've lived in Illinois for over 20 years and always thought our state nick-name was "Land of Lincoln" until taking this quiz just now. I never once heard anyone refer to us as the Prairie State. (I should have tried it as a guess for someone else.)

Likewise Land of 10,000 Lakes.

A new way to win 20 bucks at the bar!

Level 79

Aug 17, 2023

If there's good reason to include both Great Lakes and Wolverine for Michigan, I see no reason not to include Land of 10,000 Lakes for Minnesota (the Wikipedia article now has it in bold, meaning it's "official"). Especially given the messiness of sources. Seems like state quarters and license plates should generally be accepted because whatever it means to be "official" isn't clear to me. So no reason not to include Land of Lincoln for Illinois either.

Level 85

Mar 26, 2021

This is the first I've heard of New Jersey being referred to as the Cornerstone State, and I've lived in NJ for more than 50 years. But that gives me an idea...(goes to Wikipedia and adds "Armpit of the Nation" entry for New Jersey)

Level 85

Mar 26, 2021

Armpit of the Nation should also be accepted for New Jersey.

Level 67

Apr 19, 2021

I grew up in the shadows of New York City and I just love the bizarre pride people have in New Jersey. I met a guy once who had the state's outline tattooed into his armpit as a strange tribute to "the armpit of America." Weird. And kudos to you for making it through an entire comment about New Jersey without mentioning Springsteen.

Level 58

Apr 19, 2021

Man, I laughed way too hard.

Level 74

Mar 25, 2021

Maine is the Pine Tree State, not the Pine State.

Level ∞

Mar 25, 2021

Fixed, thank you.

Level 32

Apr 19, 2021

i thought alaska was the final frontier smh

Level 78

Nov 12, 2023

No, space is the final frontier.

Level 83

Apr 19, 2021

Request to add "Big Sky Country" for Montana. It is the first listed in Wikipedia, and the first many of us learn about.

Level 24

Apr 19, 2021

5:26 left Fun Quiz

Level 65

Apr 19, 2021

Those of us who watch college football (and basketball) have a huge advantage on this one.

Level 66

Apr 19, 2021

If you follow college sports, a decent chunk of these should be self-explanatory.

Hoosiers

Hawkeyes

Cornhuskers

Wolverines

Buckeyes

Sooners

Tar Heels

Beavers

etc...

Level 56

Apr 19, 2021

I thought that Montana was the 'Blue Sky State' because it says so on their license plates...

Level 79

Aug 17, 2023

Big Sky?

Level 26

Apr 20, 2021

I only knew Peace Garden state since it sounded a lot like Garden State, or my former bordering state, New Jersey

Level 65

Jun 14, 2021

Flickertail State to ND?

Level 69

Oct 13, 2023

Alaska may be the Last Frontier, but Space is the Final Frontier

Level 20

Oct 15, 2023

except dixie for The Heart of Dixie

Level 82

Oct 18, 2023

Say please

Level 67

Nov 29, 2023

I took "Prairie State" as a wild guess and was wondering where it would be accepted. Would have never expected Illinois. But it certainly explains, why "Land of Lincoln" was not accepted...

Level 57

Aug 11, 2024

I've lived in Minnesota, and I never heard of it being referred to as the "North Star State". It was always "Land of 10,000 Lakes".

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