The United States of America is a vast country with 50 states, each with its own unique name. The origin of these state names varies from state to state, with some being named after prominent people, while others are named after geographical features or Native American tribes. In this article, we will delve into the fascinating history behind the origin of state names in the USA.
Alabama
The state of Alabama is named after the Alabama River, which in turn was named after the Native American tribe that inhabited the region. The name "Alabama" is believed to have originated from the Choctaw language and means "thicket-clearers" or "vegetation-gatherers."
Alaska
The state of Alaska gets its name from the Aleut word "Alyeska," which means "great land" or "mainland." The region was originally known as Russian America when it was under Russian control, but it was later sold to the United States in 1867.
Arizona
The state of Arizona is named after the Spanish word "arizonac," which means "small spring." The name was originally used to describe an area near the Mexican border that was rich in silver deposits. The state was officially named Arizona in 1912 when it became the 48th state to join the Union.
Arkansas
The state of Arkansas is named after the Native American tribe that lived in the region known as the Quapaw. The name "Arkansas" is derived from the French interpretation of the Quapaw word "Akansa," which means "land of downriver people."
California
The state of California is named after a mythical island paradise that was described in a popular Spanish novel. The name "California" is believed to have originated from the fictional Queen Calafia, who ruled over a land of gold and precious stones.
Colorado
The state of Colorado is named after the Colorado River, which flows through the region. The river was named by Spanish explorers who noted the reddish-brown color of the water caused by the sediment in the riverbed.
Connecticut
The state of Connecticut is named after the Connecticut River, which flows through the region. The name "Connecticut" is derived from the Native American word "quinnehtukqut," which means "beside the long tidal river."
Delaware
The state of Delaware is named after Lord De La Warr, who was the governor of the Virginia Colony in the early 1600s. The region was originally part of the Virginia Colony but was later granted separate status and named after Lord De La Warr.
Florida
The state of Florida is named after the Spanish word "florido," which means "full of flowers." The name was originally given to the region by Spanish explorers who were struck by the abundance of colorful flowers they encountered.
Georgia
The state of Georgia is named after King George II of England, who granted a charter to establish the colony in 1732. The name "Georgia" was chosen to honor the king and to reflect the English influence on the region.
Hawaii
The state of Hawaii is named after the largest island in the archipelago, which was known as the "Hawaiian Islands." The name "Hawaii" is believed to have originated from the Proto-Polynesian word "hawaiki," which means "place of the gods."
Idaho
The state of Idaho is named after the Native American tribe known as the "Idahoans" or "Ee-dah-how." The name "Idaho" is believed to have been made up by a mining lobbyist who claimed it was a Shoshone word meaning "gem of the mountains."
Illinois
The state of Illinois is named after the Illiniwek tribe, who were the dominant Native American group in the region before European settlement. The name "Illinois" is believed to mean "tribe of superior men" in the Algonquian language.
Indiana
The state of Indiana is named after the Native American tribe known as the "Indians" or "Hoosiers." The name "Indiana" is believed to mean "land of the Indians" or "land of the hoosiers," although the origin of the term "hoosier" is unclear.
Iowa
The state of Iowa is named after the Native American tribe known as the "Ioway" or "Baxoje." The name "Iowa" is believed to mean "sleepy ones" or "drowsy ones" in the Sioux language.
Kansas
The state of Kansas is named after the Kansa tribe, who were the dominant Native American group in the region before European settlement. The name "Kansas" is believed to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south wind" in the Sioux language.
Kentucky
The state of Kentucky is named after the Kentucky River, which flows through the region. The name "Kentucky" is derived from the Native American word "ken-tah-ten," which means "land of tomorrow."
Louisiana
The state of Louisiana is named after King Louis XIV of France, who claimed the region for France in the late 1600s. The region was later sold to the United States in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase.
Maine
The state of Maine is named after the province of Maine in France. The name "Maine" is believed to have originated from the ancient Gaulish word "magos," which means "great" or "powerful."
Maryland
The state of Maryland is named after Queen Henrietta Maria, who was the wife of King Charles I of England. The region was originally granted to George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore, as a refuge for Catholics in the New World.
Massachusetts
The state of Massachusetts is named after the Native American tribe known as the "Massachusett." The name "Massachusetts" is believed to mean "at or about the great hill" in the Massachusett language.
Michigan
The state of Michigan is named after Lake Michigan, which was named by French explorers. The name "Michigan" is believed to mean "large water" or "great lake" in the Ojibwe language.
Minnesota
The state of Minnesota is named after the Dakota word "Mnisota," which means "cloudy water" or "sky-tinted water." The name refers to the Minnesota River, which flows through the region.
Mississippi
The state of Mississippi is named after the Mississippi River, which flows through the region. The name "Mississippi" is derived from the Ojibwe word "misi-ziibi," which means "great river" or "gathering-in of all the waters."
Missouri
The state of Missouri is named after the Missouri River, which flows through the region. The name "Missouri" is believed to mean "town of the large canoes" or "people with wooden canoes" in the Siouan language.
Montana
The state of Montana is named after the Spanish word "montaña," which means "mountain." The region is known for its rugged mountain ranges, including the Rocky Mountains.
Nebraska
The state of Nebraska is named after the Native American tribe known as the "Niobrara" or "Nebraskier." The name "Nebraska" is believed to mean "flat water" or "broad water" in the Otoe language.
Nevada
The state of Nevada is named after the Spanish word "nevada," which means "snowy." The name refers to the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountain range that runs through the region.
New Hampshire
The state of New Hampshire is named after the English county of Hampshire. The name "Hampshire" is believed to mean "home of the tribe of Hamtun" or "settlement by the sea" in the Old English language.
New Jersey
The state of New Jersey is named after the English Channel Island of Jersey. The region was originally part of the Dutch colony of New Netherlands but was later taken over by the English and named after their home island.
New Mexico
The state of New Mexico is named after the country of Mexico. The region was originally part of the Spanish colony of New Spain but became a separate territory of the United States in 1850.
New York
