Name That State!

By: Stella Alexander
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Name That State!
Image: shutterstock

About This Quiz

Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego?! Today we're following Carmen around the entire 50 states. From Rhode Island to Alaska, can you name the state when given a clue?

The United States is made up of 50 states, but it wasn't always that way! When the Star Spangled Banner was written in 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics "broad stripes and bright stars." These lyrics were meant to reference the American flag that was a symbol of all the states within America. At the time, the flag oddly had 15 stripes and 15 stars. While the stars are left to represent each state, the normal 13 stripes are for the original thirteen colonies. This was the only flag to ever have 15 stripes and it soon reverted back to 13.

Do you know which states made up the thirteen colonies? Could you name the small state that is nicknamed "The First State?" If we asked you to name the state with the largest American city, could you? Where would you find Yellowstone or Mount Rushmore? If you can answer these questions, you're ready for this quiz!

The United States is the third-largest country with the third-largest population in the world. Can you name these states if given just one clue?

Let's find out!

Known as the Sooner State, this south central state's capital is named after it.
Georgia
Oklahoma
In November 1907, Oklahoma was the 46th state to join the Union. Its name comes from a Native American Choctaw word. Oklahoma's capital and largest city is Oklahoma City. The state has a population of just under 4 million people.
Texas
Pennsylvania

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This state is the home of the INDY 500.
Nebraska
New Mexico
Oregon
Indiana
The Indy 500 is an annual automobile race held in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indianapolis is the capital city of Indiana. Indiana joined the Union as the 19th state in December 1816. It is a mid-western state that has a population of more than 6.5 million people.

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Charleston is the capital of this state.
Missouri
Illinois
Maryland
West Virginia
West Virginia was the 35th state admitted to the Union (June 1863). Its capital is Charleston and it has a population of more than 1.8 million people.

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This "Garden State" is known for Atlantic City.
New Jersey
New Jersey was one of the original thirteen colonies and was the third state to ratify the Constitution. Found in the northeast, this state has a population of more than 9 million people. Its capital is Trenton.
Delaware
Hawaii
Minnesota

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Although it's called the "Badger State," this mid-western state is also known as America's Dairyland.
South Carolina
Arkansas
Wisconsin
Wisconsin joined the Union as the 30th state in May 1848. Its capital is Madison and the state also borders two Great Lakes: Michigan and Superior. Wisconsin has a population of more than 5.7 million people.
Kentucky

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This "Buckeye State" is the home of the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton.
Louisiana
Ohio
Ohio was the 17th state to join the Union (June 1796). This midwestern state's capital is Columbus. Ohio also has the large cities of Cincinnati and Cleveland. It has a population of more than 11.6 million people.
North Carolina
Virginia

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You'd have to travel here to visit the Country Music Capital of the world.
Kansas
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Tennessee was the 16th state to join the Union (June 1796). Its capital is Nashville which is known as the Country Music Capital of the World. Tennessee has a population of more than 6.7 million people.
Florida

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If you want a taste of Poland Spring water, you'd have to travel to this state.
Maine
Maine as the 23rd state admitted to the Union. (March 1820). Its capital is Augusta and the state has a population of 1.3 million people. Maine is also known for being the headquarters and source of Poland Spring water.
Arizona
Vermont
Connecticut

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You'd find the annual Derby in this state.
North Dakota
Tennessee
Kentucky
Kentucky was the 15th state to join the Union (June 1792). It is known as the Bluegrass State and its capital is Frankfort. The state is also known for the popular Kentucky Derby, a horse racing event.
Montana

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This Lone-Star state might help you remember The Alamo.
Texas
Texas was the 28th state to join the Union (December 1845.) One of the largest U.S. states, Texas has a population of more than 28 million people. Its capital is Austin, but it has other large cities such as Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.
New Hampshire
Utah
New Jersey

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You'd find the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery in this state.
Indiana
Virginia
Virginia was one of the original thirteen colonies. It was the 10th state to ratify the Constitution. Virginia is a southern state, and its capital is Richmond. It has a population of more than 8.4 million people.
New York
Mississippi

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This state is the home of Yellowstone National Park.
West Virginia
Wyoming
Wyoming was the 44th state to join the Union. (July 1890). It is known as the Equality State and its capital is Cheyenne. It has the smallest population of any state, just over half a million residents.
Colorado
Ohio

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You'd find Disney World in this southern state.
Oklahoma
South Dakota
Florida
Florida was the 27th state to join the Union (March 1845). Found in the southeast, Florida's capital is Tallahasse, but it has other major cities such as Miami, Jacksonville, and Tampa. The state has a population of more than 20 million people.
Alaska

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This state is the "Heart of Dixie."
Alabama
Alabama was the 22nd state added to the Union (December 1918). Alabama is also known as the Heart of Dixie, but it's official state nickname is the Yellowhammer State. Alabama's capital is Montgomery and the state has a population of more than 4.8 million people.
Wyoming
Iowa
Nevada

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This Granite State lives by the motto "Live Free or Die."
Washington
Massachusetts
Alabama
New Hampshire
New Hampshire was one of the original thirteen colonies. It was the 9th state to ratify the Constitution. Found in the Northeast, New Hampshire's capital is Concord and the state has a population of 1.3 million people.

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You'd go to this state to visit the Twin Cities.
California
Minnesota
Minnesota was the 32nd state to join the Union (May 1858). Its capital is Saint Paul and the state has a population of more than 5.5 million people. Minnesota is also known for the Twin Cities: Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
Idaho
Michigan

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You might visit Rocky Mountain National Park in this western state.
Colorado
Colorado was the 38th state admitted to the Union (August 1876). Its capital is Denver. Colorado has a population of more than 5.5 million people.
North Carolina
Montana
Idaho

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To visit the Sears Tower, you'd have to take a trip to this state.
Delaware
Arkansas
Georgia
Illinois
Illinois was the 21st state admitted to the Union (December 1818). Its capital is Springfield, but the state is more commonly recognized for the city of Chicago. Illinois has a population of more than 12.8 million people.

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Salt Lake City is the capital of this state.
Alabama
New York
Utah
Utah was the 45th state to join the Union (January 1896). Nicknamed The Beehive State, Utah's capital is Salt Lake City. The state has a population of more than 3.1 million people.
West Virginia

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You'd be chanting "Viva Las Vegas" in this state!
Iowa
South Dakota
Florida
Nevada
Nevada was the 36th state to join the Union (October 1864). It is a western state whose capital is Carson City. Nevada is well-known for its largest city, Las Vegas. The state has a population of just under 3 million people.

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This state is the home of former president Bill Clinton.
Arkansas
Arkansas was the 25th state admitted to the Union (June 1836). It is known as The Natural State and its capital is Little Rock. The state has a population of 2.9 million people.
Ohio
Missouri
Connecticut

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This state is home to Yale University.
Pennsylvania
Arizona
Connecticut
One of the original 13 colonies, Connecticut was the fifth state to ratify the Constitution. Connecticut is known as The Constitution State and its capital is Hartford. The state has a population of more than 3.5 million people.
Hawaii

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You'd find the U.S. Naval Academy in this state.
Vermont
Nevada
Maryland
Maryland was one of the original thirteen colonies and was the 7th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Maryland is a mid-Atlantic state and its capital is Annapolis, where you'll find the Naval Academy. The state has a population of more than 6 million people.
Maine

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In this state, you'd find the largest city in America, The Big Apple.
Massachusetts
Mississippi
Texas
New York
New York is one of the original thirteen colonies. It was the 11th state to ratify the Constitution. Its capital is Albany. New York has a population of more than 19 million people, 8 million who live in the country's largest city, New York City.

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You might travel to this state to visit Martha's Vineyard or attend a Patriots or Red Sox game.
Kentucky
Massachusetts
Massachusetts was one of the original thirteen colonies, having ratified the Constitution as the sixth state. Massachusetts is a northeastern state whose capital is Boston. the state has a population of over 6.8 million.
Tennessee
California

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This is the largest U.S. state.
Alaska
One of the last states to join the U.S., Alaska is the 49th state and joined in January 1959. It is also the largest U.S. state and shares its only land border with Canada. Alaska's capital is Juneau.
South Carolina
Louisiana
New Jersey

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Vroom vroom! You'd find Motor City in this state.
Wyoming
Michigan
Michigan was the 26th state to be admitted to the Union (January 1837). Its capital is Lansing, but the state is more known for its largest city, Detroit, which is nicknamed Motor City.
Wisconsin
Colorado

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You could snack on peaches in this Peach State.
Georgia
Georgia was one of the original thirteen colonies and was the fourth state to ratify the Constitution. Georgia is nicknamed The Peach State and its capital is Atlanta. The state has a population of more than 10.3 million people.
Nebraska
Rhode Island
Virginia

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The capital of this state is Topeka, but you probably know it for Wichita.
Oklahoma
Kansas
Kansas was the 34th state added to the union ( January 1861). It is a midwestern state nicknamed The Sunflower State. Its capital is Topeka and it has a population of just under 3 million people.
Washington
Alaska

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Des Moines is the capital of this midwestern state.
Iowa
Iowa was the 29th state admitted to the Union (December 1846.) Its nickname is The Hawkeye State and Des Moines is its capital and largest city. The state has a population of just over 3.1 million people.
New Hampshire
Utah
Minnesota

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A trip to this state would give you the chance to visit Disneyland and the Golden Gate Bridge.
California
California was the 31st state admitted to the Union (September 1850). Its capital is Sacramento, but the state is most commonly known for the city of Los Angeles. California has the highest state population with just under 40 million people.
Illinois
Indiana
New Mexico

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This Big Sky Country State's capital is Helena.
Montana
Montana was admitted to the Union in November 1889 as the 41st state. It is the fourth-largest state but has a population of only 1 million people. Its capital is Helena.
Oregon
North Dakota
Kansas

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This small state is the First State.
Kentucky
Montana
Delaware
Delaware is the very first state of the United States. It was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787. Delaware is a northeastern state whose capital is Dover. It has a population of just under 1 million residents.
Maine

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You'd have to travel to this northeastern state for the home of Ben and Jerry's.
Louisiana
Nevada
Tennessee
Vermont
Vermont is the 14th state of the United States and was admitted to the Union in March 1791. Vermont is in the northeastern part of the country and its capital is Montpelier.

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Freedom might ring here at the Liberty Bell.
Arkansas
Maryland
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is one of the original thirteen colonies and was the second state to ratify the Constitution. Pennsylvania is a northeastern state and its capital is Harrisburg. The state is well known for the city of Philadelphia, but it also has other major cities such as Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. The state has a population of more than 12.8 million.
Oregon

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