How Many State Nicknames Do You Know?

By: Jouviane Alexandre
Estimated Completion Time
2 min
How Many State Nicknames Do You Know?
Image: shutterstock

About This Quiz

Sure, you might be able to name all 50 state capitals, but how well do you know the 50 state nicknames? Take this quiz to test your knowledge.

Did you know that all 50 states have a nickname? We're pretty sure that they exist just to give each state something fun to put on their license plates, but the fact that many of these state nicknames existed long before the horseless carriage might just prove us wrong. Assuming that there is another reason for these state word associations, let's explore them further.

State nicknames arose from the pride that residents have for their home state. Nicknames are typically based on a memorable event that took place in the state or a feature that residents or visitors associate with the state. For instance, Ohio is The Buckeye State because of the preponderance of Buckeye Trees in the state. Alaska is the Last Frontier (No, not the Final Frontier, that's "Star Trek") because it was last to be explored and settled. Make sense?

So, if you know which state is the Sunshine State, which one is the Golden State, and which state is the Peach State, then you'll probably do well on this quiz.

Take this quiz to find out just how much you know about state nicknames!

Which state is nicknamed the "Empire State?"
Georgia
North Carolina
Delaware
New York
New York became a state in 1788 and was the 11th to join the Union. The capital is Albany and the state song is "I Love New York."
Which state is nicknamed the "Aloha State?"
Alaska
Colorado
Hawaii
Hawaii joined the United States in 1959. It was the last to become a state. The capital is Honolulu and it has other nicknames, like "Paradise of the Pacific" and "The Islands of Aloha."
Missouri
Which state is nicknamed the "Golden State?"
Missouri
Arkansas
New York
California
California became a state in 1850 and is nicknamed the "Golden State." Its capital city is Sacramento and its state song is "I Love You, California."

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Which state is nicknamed the "Lone Star State?"
Arizona
Mississippi
Alabama
Texas
Texas became a state in 1845 and its capital city is Austin. The state is nicknamed the "Lone Star State" for its state flag. The state song is "Texas, Our Texas."
Which state is nicknamed the "Peach State?"
Indiana
Georgia
Georgia became a state in 1788 and was the 4th state in the Union. The state is also nicknamed Empire State of the South.
Arkansas
Wyoming
Which state is nicknamed the "Bluegrass State?"
Ohio
South Carolina
Kentucky
Kentucky became a state in 1792 and its capital is Frankfort. The state's motto is "United we stand, divided we fall."
Arkansas

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Which state is nicknamed the "Cornhusker State?"
Nebraska
Nebraska became a state in 1867. The state motto is "Equality before the law."
Nevada
New Jersey
North Carolina
Which state is nicknamed the "Sunshine State?"
New Jersey
Massachusetts
Washington
Florida
Florida became a state in 1845 and is nicknamed the Sunshine State. The state motto is "In God We Trust" and the state song is "Old Folks at Home."
Which state is nicknamed the "Great Lake State?"
Kentucky
Washington
Michgan
Michigan became a state in 1837. The state capital is Lansing. Michigan has other nicknames, like "The Wolverine State," "and "The Mitten State."
South Dakota

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Which state is nicknamed the "Silver State?"
Michigan
Nevada
Nevada became a state in 1864 and is nicknamed the "Silver State." It also has unofficial nicknames such as the Sagebrush State and the Battle Born State.
Virginia
Rhode Island
Which state is nicknamed the "Grand Canyon State?"
Pennsylvania
Arizona
Arizona became a state in 1912, one of the last to join the Union as the 48th state. Arizona is also nicknamed the Copper State.
Colorado
South Dakota
Which state is nicknamed the "Ocean State?"
Indiana
Vermont
Tennessee
Rhode Island
Rhode Island became a state in 1790 and was the last of the 13 original colonies. Its capital is Providence and the state's motto is "Hope."

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Which state is nicknamed the "Buckeye State?"
Michigan
Oregon
Ohio
Ohio became a state in 1803 and its capital is Columbus. The state also has nicknames like Birthplace of Aviation and The Heart of It All.
North Dakota
Which state is nicknamed the "Garden State?"
New York
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Jersey became a state in 1787 and is the third state of the United States. Its motto is "Liberty and prosperity."
New Mexico
Which state is nicknamed the "Pelican State?"
Louisiana
Louisiana became a state in 1812 and and its capital is Baton Rouge. The state is nicknamed the "Pelican State" after the pelican seen on the state flag.
Virginia
Iowa
Kansas

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Which state is nicknamed the "Sooner State?"
Arkansas
Missouri
Oklahoma
With a clue like that, it should be clear! Oklahoma became a state in 1907 and was the 46th state.
Oregon
Which state is nicknamed the "Tar Heel State?"
Tennessee
Arkansas
North Carolina
North Carolina became a state in 1789. It's capital is Raleigh and its other nickname is Old North State.
Wyoming
Which state is nicknamed the "Land of Enchantment?"
Oklahoma
New Hampshire
New Mexico
New Mexico became a state in 1912 and was one of the last states at #47. The state motto is "It grows at it goes."
New Jersey

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Which state is nicknamed the "Beaver State?"
Kansas
Oregon
Oregon became a state in 1859 and its capital is Salem. The motto is "She flies with her own wings" and its song is "Oregon, My Oregon."
Alaska
Tennessee
Which state is nicknamed the "North Star State?"
Pennsylvania
Minnesota
Minnesota became a state in 1858 and has quite a few nicknames. In addition to the North Star State, it also is called Land of 10,000 Lakes, the Gopher State, Agate Stage, and State of Hockey.
Georgia
Indiana
Which state is nicknamed the "Badger State?"
Florida
Illinois
Wisconsin
Wisconsin became a state in 1848 and is nicknamed the "Badger State." The state capital is Madison.
Iowa

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Which state is nicknamed the "Keystone State?"
Alabama
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania became a state in 1787, the second official state. Pennsylvania is also nicknamed the Quaker State and it's motto is "Virtue, Liberty, and Independence."
Tennessee
Which state is nicknamed the "Granite State?"
Indiana
New Hampshire
New Hampshire became a state in 1788. The state capital is Concord and its motto is "Live Free or Die."
Alaska
Delaware
Which state is nicknamed the "Palmetto State?"
Connecticut
Iowa
South Carolina
South Carolina became a state in 1788 and was the eighth state to join the Union. The state's motto is "While I Breathe, I Hope."
Washington

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Which state is nicknamed the "Treasure State?"
Mississippi
Montana
Montana became a state in 1889 and its capital is Helena. It is also nicknamed "Big Sky Country" and its motto is "Gold and Silver."
North Dakota
Rhode Island
Which state is nicknamed the "First State?"
Virginia
Delaware
In 1787, Delaware became the first state of the United States. The capital is Dover. Delaware has other nicknames, like "The Small Wonder," "Blue Hen State," and "The Diamond State."
Montana
Arizona
Which state is nicknamed the "Gem State?"
North Carolina
Idaho
Idaho became a state in 1890. The capital is Boise. Its motto is "Let it be perpetual."
Hawaii
Indiana

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Which state is nicknamed the "Old Dominion?"
Virginia
Virginia became a state in 1788 and was the 10th state admitted to the Union. The capital is Richmond and its other nicknames are "Mother of Presidents" and "Mother of States."
Washington
Indiana
Missouri
Which state is nicknamed the "Yellowhammer State?"
Colorado
North Carolina
Georgia
Alabama
Alabama became a state in 1819 and its capital is Montgomery. "Heart of Dixie" and the "Cotton State" are among its other nicknames.
Which state is nicknamed the "Old Line State?"
Michigan
Oklahoma
Maryland
Maryland became a state in 1788, the 7th in the United States. The state capital is Annapolis. Maryland is also known by its other state nickname, "Free State."
Washington

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Which state is nicknamed the "Constitution State?"
Virginia
Connecticut
Connecticut became a state in 1788 and was the fifth to join the Union. The capital is Hartford and the state song is "Yankee Doodle."
Washington
New Hampshire
Which state is nicknamed the "Pine Tree State?"
Minnesota
Maine
Maine became a state in 1820 and its state capital is Augusta. The state also has the nickname of "Vacationland."
Hawaii
Vermont
Which state is nicknamed the "The Prairie State?"
Arkansas
Alaska
Illinois
Illinois became a state in 1818 and was also nicknamed "Land of Lincoln." The state motto is "State sovereignty, national union."
Connecticut

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Which state is nicknamed the "Centennial State?"
Oklahoma
Colorado
Colorado became a state in 1876, the same year as the United States' centennial. The state capital is Denver and its motto is "Nothing without providence."
Michigan
Vermont
Which state is nicknamed the "Mountain State?"
Montana
West Virginia
West Virginia became a state in 1863. The state capital is Charleston and its motto is "Mountaineers are always free."
Vermont
New Hampshire
You Got:
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