Quiz: The U.S. States

On July 4, 1776, the Thirteen Colonies of Great Britain declared their independence - and formed what is now the United States of America. The colonies were Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Nevada was one of two states that achieved statehood during the American Civil War. Hence, it is known as the "Battle Born State."

When Virginia decided to break from the Union during the Civil War, the people in the western part of the state opted to remain loyal. So they formed a new government: West Virginia.

Of the 48 contiguous states (Alaska and Hawaii excluded), Florida has the longest coastline, followed by California.

Hawaii's six major islands are Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and Hawaii's Big Island. Honolulu, Hawaii's capital city, is in Oahu.

Whether you're looking for adventure, fun or excitement - or to meet new people and experience different cultures - the 50 states have plenty to offer.

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STATE BIRD: Yellowhammer
STATE TREE: Longleaf Pine
STATE FLOWER: Camellia
CAPITAL: Montgomery
LARGEST CITY: Birmingham (by population); Huntsville (by total land area)
OLDEST CITY: Mobile
NICKNAMES: Yellowhammer State, Heart of Dixie

STATE DOG: Alaskan Malamute
STATE BIRD: Willow Ptarmigan
STATE TREE: Sitka Spruce
STATE FLOWER: Forget-Me-Not
CAPITAL: Juneau
LARGEST CITY: Anchorage
NICKNAMES: Land of the Midnight Sun, The Last Frontier

STATE NECKWEAR: Bola Tie
STATE BIRD: Cactus Wren
STATE TREE: Blue Palo Verde
STATE FLOWER: Saguaro Blossom
CAPITAL: Phoenix
LARGEST CITY: Phoenix
NICKNAMES: The Copper State, The Grand Canyon State

STATE BEVERAGE: Milk
STATE BIRD: Mockingbird
STATE TREE: Pine
STATE FLOWER: Apple Blossom
CAPITAL: Little Rock
LARGEST CITY: Little Rock
NICKNAMES: The Land of Opportunity, The Natural State

STATE MOTTO: Eureka (I have found it)
STATE BIRD: California Quail
STATE TREE: Sequoia (California Redwood)
STATE FLOWER: California Poppy
CAPITAL: Sacramento
LARGEST CITY: Los Angeles
NICKNAMES: The Land of Milk and Honey, The Golden State

STATE MAMMAL: Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep
STATE BIRD: Lark Bunting
STATE TREE: Colorado Blue Spruce
STATE FLOWER: Rocky Mountain Columbine
CAPITAL: Denver
LARGEST CITY: Denver
NICKNAMES: Colorful Colorado, The Centennial State

STATE INSECT: Praying Mantis
STATE BIRD: American Robin
STATE TREE: Charter Oak
STATE FLOWER: Mountain Laurel
CAPITAL: Hartford
LARGEST CITY: Bridgeport
NICKNAMES: The Nutmeg State, The Constitution State

STATE BUG: Lady Bug
STATE BIRD: Blue Hen Chicken
STATE TREE: American Holly
STATE FLOWER: Peach Blossom
CAPITAL: Dover
LARGEST CITY: Wilmington
NICKNAMES: The Blue Hen State, The First State

STATE ANIMAL: Florida Panther
STATE BIRD: Northern Mockingbird
STATE TREE: Sabal Palm
STATE FLOWER: Orange Blossom
CAPITAL: Tallahassee
LARGEST CITY: Jacksonville
NICKNAMES: The Everglade State, The Sunshine State

STATE FRUIT: Peach
STATE BIRD: Brown Thrasher
STATE TREE: Southern Live Oak
STATE FLOWER: Cherokee Rose
CAPITAL: Atlanta
LARGEST CITY: Atlanta
NICKNAMES: Empire State of the South, The Peach State

STATE DANCE: Hula
STATE BIRD: Hawaiian Goose
STATE TREE: Kukui (Candlenut)
STATE FLOWER: Ma'o hau hele (Hibiscus brackenridgei)
CAPITAL: Honolulu
LARGEST CITY: Honolulu
NICKNAMES: Paradise of the Pacific, The Aloha State

STATE VEGETABLE: Potato
STATE BIRD: Mountain Bluebird
STATE TREE: Western White Pine
STATE FLOWER: Syringa
CAPITAL: Boise
LARGEST CITY: Boise
NICKNAMES: Little Ida, The Gem State

STATE SNACK FOOD: Popcorn
STATE BIRD: Northern Cardinal
STATE TREE: White Oak
STATE FLOWER: Violet
CAPITAL: Springfield
LARGEST CITY: Chicago
NICKNAMES: The Prairie State, Land of Lincoln

STATE PIE: Hoosier Pie (Sugar Cream Pie)
STATE BIRD: Cardinal
STATE TREE: Tulip Tree
STATE FLOWER: Peony
CAPITAL: Indianapolis
LARGEST CITY: Indianapolis
NICKNAMES: The Hoosier State, Crossroads of America

STATE ROCK: Geode
STATE BIRD: Eastern Goldfinch
STATE TREE: Oak
STATE FLOWER: Wild Rose
CAPITAL: Des Moines
LARGEST CITY: Des Moines
NICKNAMES: Land of the Rolling Prairie, The Hawkeye State

STATE AMPHIBIAN: Barred Tiger Salamander
STATE BIRD: Western Meadowlark
STATE TREE: Plains Cottonwood
STATE FLOWER: Wild Sunflower
CAPITAL: Topeka
LARGEST CITY: Wichita
NICKNAMES: The Wheat State, The Sunflower State

STATE HORSE: Thoroughbred
STATE BIRD: Cardinal
STATE TREE: Tulip Poplar
STATE FLOWER: Goldenrod
CAPITAL: Frankfort
LARGEST CITY: Louisville
NICKNAMES: The Hemp State, The Bluegrass State

STATE CRUSTACEAN: Crawfish
STATE BIRD: Brown Pelican
STATE TREE: Bald Cypress
STATE FLOWER: Magnolia
CAPITAL: Baton Rouge
LARGEST CITY: New Orleans
NICKNAMES: Sportsman's Paradise, The Pelican State

STATE CAT: Maine Coon
STATE BIRD: Black-Capped Chickadee
STATE TREE: Eastern White Pine
STATE FLOWER: White Pinecone and Tassel
CAPITAL: Augusta
LARGEST CITY: Portland
NICKNAMES: The Lumber State, The Pine Tree State

STATE CRUSTACEAN: Blue Crab
STATE BIRD: Baltimore Oriole
STATE TREE: White Oak
STATE FLOWER: Black-Eyed Susan
CAPITAL: Annapolis
LARGEST CITY: Baltimore
NICKNAMES: The Free State, The Old Line State

STATE DOG: Boston Terrier
STATE BIRD: Chickadee
STATE TREE: American Elm
STATE FLOWER: Mayflower
CAPITAL: Boston
LARGEST CITY: Boston
NICKNAMES: The Bay State, The Pilgrim State

STATE ANIMAL: Wolverine
STATE BIRD: American Robin
STATE TREE: White Pine
STATE FLOWER: Apple Blossom
CAPITAL: Lansing
LARGEST CITY: Detroit
NICKNAMES: The Wolverine State, Winter Water Wonderland

STATE SPORT: Ice Hockey
STATE BIRD: Common Loon
STATE TREE: Red Pine (Norway Pine)
STATE FLOWER: Pink and White Lady's Slipper
CAPITAL: Saint Paul
LARGEST CITY: Minneapolis
NICKNAMES: The North Star State, Land of 10,000 Lakes

STATE TOY: Teddy Bear
STATE BIRD: Mockingbird
STATE TREE: Magnolia
STATE FLOWER: Magnolia
CAPITAL: Jackson
LARGEST CITY: Jackson
NICKNAMES: The Hospitality State, The Magnolia State

STATE HORSE: Missouri Fox Trotter
STATE BIRD: Bluebird
STATE TREE: Flowering Dogwood
STATE FLOWER: White Hawthorn Blossom
CAPITAL: Jefferson City
LARGEST CITY: Kansas City
NICKNAMES: The Lead State, The Show-Me State

STATE ANIMAL: Grizzly Bear
STATE BIRD: Western Meadowlark
STATE TREE: Ponderosa Pine
STATE FLOWER: Bitterroot
CAPITAL: Helena
LARGEST CITY: Billings
NICKNAMES: The Treasure State, Big Sky Country

STATE SOFT DRINK: Kool-Aid
STATE BIRD: Western Meadowlark
STATE TREE: Cottonwood
STATE FLOWER: Goldenrod
CAPITAL: Lincoln
LARGEST CITY: Omaha
NICKNAMES: The Tree Planters State, The Cornhusker State

STATE METAL: Silver
STATE BIRD: Mountain Bluebird
STATE TREES: Single-Leaf Pinyon Pine, Bristlecone Pine
STATE FLOWER: Sagebrush
CAPITAL: Carson City
LARGEST CITY: Las Vegas
NICKNAMES: The Sagebrush State, The Silver State

STATE ROCK: Granite
STATE BIRD: Purple Finch
STATE TREE: White Birch
STATE FLOWER: Purple Lilac
CAPITAL: Concord
LARGEST CITY: Manchester
NICKNAMES: Mother of Rivers, The Granite State

STATE VEGETABLE: Jersey Tomato
STATE BIRD: American Goldfinch
STATE TREE: Red Oak
STATE FLOWER: Common Meadow Violet
CAPITAL: Trenton
LARGEST CITY: Newark
NICKNAMES: Crossroads of the Revolution, The Garden State

STATE VEGETABLES: Pinto Beans, Chile Pepper
STATE BIRD: Roadrunner
STATE TREE: Two-Needle Pinon Pine
STATE FLOWER: Yucca Flower
CAPITAL: Santa Fe
LARGEST CITY: Albuquerque
NICKNAMES: The Spanish State, Land of Enchantment

STATE FRUIT: Apple
STATE BIRD: Eastern Bluebird
STATE TREE: Sugar Maple
STATE FLOWER: Rose
CAPITAL: Albany
LARGEST CITY: New York City
NICKNAMES: The Excelsior State, The Empire State

STATE DOG: Plott Hound
STATE BIRD: Cardinal
STATE TREE: Longleaf Pine
STATE FLOWER: Dogwood
CAPITAL: Raleigh
LARGEST CITY: Charlotte
NICKNAMES: The Old North State, The Tar Heel State

STATE HORSE: Nokota Horse
STATE BIRD: Western Meadowlark
STATE TREE: American Elm
STATE FLOWER: Wild Prairie Rose
CAPITAL: Bismarck
LARGEST CITY: Fargo
NICKNAMES: The Sioux State, The Peace Garden State

STATE GEMSTONE: Flint
STATE BIRD: Cardinal
STATE TREE: Buckeye
STATE FLOWER: Red Carnation
CAPITAL: Columbus
LARGEST CITY: Columbus
NICKNAMES: The Buckeye State, Birthplace of Aviation

STATE MAMMAL: American Bison
STATE BIRD: Scissortail Flycatcher
STATE TREE: Eastern Redbud
STATE FLOWER: Oklahoma Rose
CAPITAL: Oklahoma City
LARGEST CITY: Oklahoma City
NICKNAMES: The Sooner State, Boomer's Paradise

STATE ANIMAL: American Beaver
STATE BIRD: Western Meadowlark
STATE TREE: Douglas-fir
STATE FLOWER: Oregon-grape
CAPITAL: Salem
LARGEST CITY: Portland
NICKNAMES: The Sunset State, The Beaver State

STATE DOG: Great Dane
STATE BIRD: Ruffed Grouse
STATE TREE: Hemlock
STATE FLOWER: Mountain Laurel
CAPITAL: Harrisburg
LARGEST CITY: Philadelphia
NICKNAMES: The Quaker State, The Keystone State

STATE FRUIT: Rhode Island Greening
STATE BIRD: Rhode Island Red Chicken
STATE TREE: Red Maple
STATE FLOWER: Violet
CAPITAL: Providence
LARGEST CITY: Providence
NICKNAMES: Little Rhody, The Ocean State

STATE GEMSTONE: Amethyst
STATE BIRD: Carolina Wren
STATE TREE: Sabal Palmetto
STATE FLOWER: Yellow Jessamine
CAPITAL: Columbia
LARGEST CITY: Columbia
NICKNAMES: The Rice State, The Palmetto State

STATE ANIMAL: Coyote
STATE BIRD: Ring-Necked Pheasant
STATE TREE: Black Hills Spruce
STATE FLOWER: American Pasque Flower
CAPITAL: Pierre
LARGEST CITY: Sioux Falls
NICKNAMES: The Coyote State, The Mount Rushmore State

STATE HORSE: Tennessee Walking Horse
STATE BIRD: Northern Mockingbird
STATE TREE: Tulip Poplar
STATE FLOWER: Iris
CAPITAL: Nashville
LARGEST CITY: Memphis
NICKNAMES: Mother of Southwestern Statesmen, The Volunteer State

STATE MAMMALS: Mexican Free-Tailed Bat (flying), Nine-Banded Armadillo (small), Texas Longhorn (large)
STATE BIRD: Northern Mockingbird
STATE TREE: Pecan
STATE FLOWER: Texas Bluebonnet
CAPITAL: Austin
LARGEST CITY: Houston
NICKNAMES: The Jumbo State, The Lone Star State

STATE INSECT: Honeybee
STATE BIRD: California Gull
STATE TREE: Blue Spruce
STATE FLOWER: Sego Lily
CAPITAL: Salt Lake City
LARGEST CITY: Salt Lake City
NICKNAMES: The Salt Lake State, The Beehive State

STATE HORSE: Morgan Horse
STATE BIRD: Hermit Thrush
STATE TREE: Sugar Maple
STATE FLOWER: Red Clover
CAPITAL: Montpelier
LARGEST CITY: Burlington
NICKNAME: The Green Mountain State

STATE DOG: American Foxhound
STATE BIRD: Cardinal
STATE TREE: American Dogwood
STATE FLOWER: American Dogwood
CAPITAL: Richmond
LARGEST CITY: Virginia Beach
NICKNAMES: Mother of Presidents, Old Dominion

STATE MARINE MAMMAL: Orca
STATE BIRD: Willow Goldfinch
STATE TREE: Western Hemlock
STATE FLOWER: Pacific Rhododendron
CAPITAL: Olympia
LARGEST CITY: Seattle
NICKNAMES: The Green Tree State, The Evergreen State

STATE ANIMAL: Black Bear
STATE BIRD: Cardinal
STATE TREE: Sugar Maple
STATE FLOWER: Rhododendron
CAPITAL: Charleston
LARGEST CITY: Charleston
NICKNAMES: The Panhandle State, The Mountain State

STATE ANIMALS: Dairy Cow (domestic), White-Tailed Deer (wildlife), Badger
STATE BIRD: Robin
STATE TREE: Sugar Maple
STATE FLOWER: Wood Violet
CAPITAL: Madison
LARGEST CITY: Milwaukee
NICKNAMES: America's Dairyland, The Badger State

STATE SPORT: Rodeo
STATE BIRD: Western Meadowlark
STATE TREE: Plains Cottonwood
STATE FLOWER: Indian Paintbrush
CAPITAL: Cheyenne
LARGEST CITY: Cheyenne
NICKNAMES: The Equality State, The Cowboy State

Q. What is Nevada's state capital?
A. Carson City.

Q. Which state was the first to ratify the U.S. Constitution?
A. Delaware. Its nickname "The First State" is featured on the state quarter.

Q. St. Augustine is considered the nation's oldest city. Where is it located?
A. Florida. Spanish explorers founded St. Augustine in 1565, forty-two years before the English colonization of Jamestown, Virginia in 1607.

Q. The Gold Rush of 1848 occurred in which state?
A. California. Known as the California Gold Rush, an estimated 300,000 people - from the U.S. and abroad - migrated to California after the discovery of gold in January of 1848. The gold-seekers were referred to as the "Forty-niners."

Q. Which state is known as "The Green Mountain State?"
A. Vermont. The state name is the English form of "Verd Mont," which is French for "green mountain."

Q. The Brown Pelican is an official symbol of which state?
A. Louisiana. Louisiana's nickname is "The Pelican State," and its state bird is the Brown Pelican.

Q. Which state is the "Crossroads of America?"
A. Indiana. Several major Interstate highways crisscross through Indianapolis, Indiana.

Q. Where is the Liberty Bell located?
A. Pennsylvania. The Liberty Bell is located in the Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Q. Which state is referred to as "The Last Frontier?"
A. Alaska. When Alaska joined the U.S. as the 49th state, it was called "the last frontier" because of its rugged environment and remote location from the other 48 states.

Q. Which state was not an official part of the Confederacy during the Civil War?
A. Kentucky. Though a slave state, Kentucky declared neutrality during the Civil War but supported the Union when the Confederacy invaded it in 1861.

Q. Star Trek's Captain James T. Kirk of the U.S.S. Enterprise is from this state.
A. Iowa. James Tiberius ("Jim") Kirk was born (and raised) in Riverside, Iowa on March 22, 2233. His parents were George and Winona Kirk. He attended the Starfleet Academy from 2250 to 2254.

Q. Mount Rushmore features a mountain carving of four American presidents. Where is it located?
A. South Dakota. The Mount Rushmore National Memorial is near Keystone, South Dakota. The epic sculpture features the likenesses of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

Q. The famous investor Warren Buffett is from this state.
A. Nebraska. Warren Edward Buffett is from Omaha, Nebraska, and has been referred to as the "Oracle of Omaha" or the "Sage of Omaha." With his combined frugality and adherence to the value investing philosophy, he has built an enormous fortune and a legendary status in the investing world. He has ranked within the top three "wealthiest person in the world." On February 15, 2011, he was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.

Q. Both a song and a movie title, fill in the blank: "Sweet Home _____"
A. Alabama. "Sweet Home Alabama" is a 1974 hit song by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. A 2002 romantic comedy shares the same title, starring Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas and Patrick Dempsey.

Q. The prestigious Harvard University is located in this state.
A. Massachusetts. Harvard University is in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, it is the oldest of the eight Ivy League colleges (the other seven: Yale University, 1701; University of Pennsylvania, 1740; Princeton University, 1746; Columbia University, 1754; Brown University, 1764; Dartmouth College, 1769; Cornell University, 1865)

Q. This is the only state nicknamed for a reptile. (Hint: The Alligator State)
A. Florida. Known as "The Sunshine State," Florida has other nicknames including "The Alligator State." American alligators are mostly found in the southeastern part of the United States, with high populations in Florida and Louisiana.

Q. Bella Swan, the heroine in the popular novel/movie "Twilight," moved from Arizona to this state.
A. Washington. Bella Swan moved from Phoenix, Arizona to Forks, Washington to live with her father Charlie.

Q. The nation's official gold reserves are stored in Fort Knox. Where is it located?
A. Kentucky. The U.S. Gold Bullion Depository, commonly called Fort Knox, is a heavily fortified building that is adjacent to the Fort Knox Army post in Kentucky.

Q. Multinationals Microsoft Corporation and Amazon.com are both headquartered in this state.
A. Washington. Microsoft Corporation is headquartered in Redmond, Washington, and Amazon.com is in Seattle.

Q. Which state is called the "Paradise of the Pacific?"
A. Hawaii. Known as "The Aloha State," Hawaii is also called the "Paradise of the Pacific."

YayasHome, Oct 3, 2011 @ 2:19 am
South Dakota is also home to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, every year.

goo2eyes, Jun 19, 2011 @ 10:08 am
I thought the Gold Rush was on 1849 (that's why they call the miners Forty-Niners). Otherwise, they have to call them Forty-Eighters. Please clarify. Also, it would be useful if you can explain why the states are named like Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, etc.
The California Gold Rush began in 1848. The gold-seekers were referred to as "the 49ers" because 1849 was when the majority of them arrived in California. 1849 was also the year President James Polk declared a gold rush. Maryland was named after Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I - the English king who signed the Charter of Maryland that made Maryland a colony. Virginia was named after Queen Elizabeth I of England, also known as the "Virgin Queen." Pennsylvania was named after Admiral Sir William Penn, the father and namesake of the state's founder William Penn. A good reference on how the states got their names is www.50states.com.

pheonix76, May 11, 2011 @ 9:00 pm
Dairying is New York's most important farming activity with over 18,000 cattle and or calves farms.

mbgphoto, May 2, 2011 @ 9:08 am
Did you know that the state of Michigan has the most lighthouses in the US?

ohcaroline, Mar 7, 2011 @ 8:41 am
What state is called the Prairiestate?
Illinois is also nicknamed the Prairie State, after the prairie grasses that once covered the state. The Illinois Prairie Week is observed every year during the third full week of September.