List of States in America, Names Origins and Meaning

 #1    Alabama   AL  (Yellowhammer State)   admitted: Dec. 14, 1819  governor: Kay Ivey (R) residents: Alabamans

capital: Montgomery   largest city: Birmingham, gross domestic product: $300.152 billion gdp/capita: $58,756

bird: Yellowhammer flower: Camellia
tree: Longleaf pine fish: Largemouth bass

population: 5,108,468 Area: 52,419 sq.mi. @ 97 pop/sq.mi.  land: 50,744 sq.mi. @ 101 pop/sq.mi. water: 1,675 sq.mi. @ 3,050 pop/sq.mi. – 3.2%  water

elevation: High: 2,413 ft. at Cheaha Mountain;  Low: 0 ft. at Gulf of Mexico – diff: 2,413 ft.

Name Origin: Choctaw, “plant-cutters”. Two Choctaw words: “alba” meaning vegetation, herbs or plants; and “amo” meaning gatherer or picker.

 #2    Alaska   AK  (Last Frontier)   admitted: Jan. 03, 1959  governor: Mike Dunleavy (R) residents: Alaskans

capital: Juneau   largest city: Anchorage, gross domestic product: $67.337 billion gdp/capita: $91,814

bird: Willow ptarmigan flower: Forget-me-not
tree: Sitka spruce fish: King salmon

population: 733,406 Area: 663,267 sq.mi. @ 1 pop/sq.mi.  land: 571,951 sq.mi. @ 1 pop/sq.mi. water: 91,316 sq.mi. @ 8 pop/sq.mi. – 13.8%  water

elevation: High: 20,320 ft. at Mount McKinley;  Low: 0 ft. at Pacific Ocean – diff: 20,320 ft.

Name Origin: Aleut, “mainland”. From the Aleut word “Alyeska,” meaning “great land” or “that which the sea breaks against.”

 #3    Arizona   AZ  (Grand Canyon State)   admitted: Feb. 14, 1912  governor: Katie Hobbs (D) residents: Arizonans

capital: Phoenix   largest city: Phoenix, gross domestic product: $508.344 billion gdp/capita: $68,405

bird: Cactus wren flower: Saguaro cactus blossom
tree: Blue palo verde fish: Arizona trout

population: 7,431,344 Area: 113,998 sq.mi. @ 65 pop/sq.mi.  land: 113,634 sq.mi. @ 65 pop/sq.mi. water: 364 sq.mi. @ 20,416 pop/sq.mi. – 0.3%  water

elevation: High: 12,637 ft. at Humphreys Peak;  Low: 70 ft. at Colorado River – diff: 12,567 ft.

Name Origin: Aztec, or Pima, “silver-bearing,” or “small spring”. Origin of the name is uncertain.

 #4    Arkansas   AR  (Natural State)   admitted: June 15, 1836  governor: Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) residents: Arkansans

capital: Little Rock   largest city: Little_Rock, gross domestic product: $176.240 billion gdp/capita: $57,450

bird: Mockingbird flower: Apple blossom
tree: Pine fish: none

population: 3,067,732 Area: 53,179 sq.mi. @ 58 pop/sq.mi.  land: 52,068 sq.mi. @ 59 pop/sq.mi. water: 1,111 sq.mi. @ 2,761 pop/sq.mi. – 2.1%  water

elevation: High: 2,653 ft. at Magazine Mountain;  Low: 55 ft. at Ouachita River – diff: 2,598 ft.

Name Origin: Quapaw, Soiux “south wind”. Borrowed from an Illinois rendering of the tribal name kanze see Kansas, below, how the Miami and Illinois refer to the Quapaw.

 #5    California   CA  (Golden State)   admitted: Sep. 09, 1850  governor: Gavin Newsom (D) residents: Californians

capital: Sacramento   largest city: Los_Angeles, gross domestic product: $3,862.171 billion gdp/capita: $99,118

bird: California quail flower: California poppy
tree: Coast Redwood, Giant Sequoia fish: Golden trout

population: 38,965,193 Area: 163,696 sq.mi. @ 238 pop/sq.mi.  land: 155,960 sq.mi. @ 250 pop/sq.mi. water: 7,736 sq.mi. @ 5,037 pop/sq.mi. – 4.7%  water

elevation: High: 14,505 ft. at Mount Whitney;  Low: -282 ft. at Badwater Basin – diff: 14,787 ft.

Name Origin: Spanish, where Queen Califia ruled. From “Califia” queen of a mythical Spanish island in a Spanish romance Las Sergas de Esplandian by Garcia Ordoñez de Montalvo, 1510.

 #6    Colorado   CO  (Centennial State)   admitted: Aug. 01, 1876  governor: Jared Polis (D) residents: Coloradans

capital: Denver   largest city: Denver, gross domestic product: $520.389 billion gdp/capita: $88,538

bird: Lark bunting flower: Rocky mountain columbine
tree: Colorado blue spruce fish: Greenback cutthroat trout

population: 5,877,610 Area: 104,094 sq.mi. @ 56 pop/sq.mi.  land: 103,718 sq.mi. @ 57 pop/sq.mi. water: 376 sq.mi. @ 15,632 pop/sq.mi. – 0.4%  water

elevation: High: 14,440 ft. at Mount Elbert;  Low: 3,317 ft. at Arikaree River – diff: 11,123 ft.

Name Origin: Spanish, “red color”. Originally referring to the Colorado River.

 #7    Connecticut   CT  (Constitution State)   admitted: Jan. 09, 1788  governor: Ned Lamont (D) residents: Nutmeggers or Connecticuters

capital: Hartford   largest city: Bridgeport, gross domestic product: $340.181 billion gdp/capita: $94,046

bird: American robin flower: Mountain laurel
tree: White oak fish: American shad

population: 3,617,176 Area: 5,543 sq.mi. @ 653 pop/sq.mi.  land: 4,845 sq.mi. @ 747 pop/sq.mi. water: 698 sq.mi. @ 5,182 pop/sq.mi. – 12.6%  water

elevation: High: 2,380 ft. at Mount Frissell;  Low: 0 ft. at Long Island Sound – diff: 2,380 ft.

Name Origin: Mohican / Algonquin, “at the long tidal river”. From the Indian name for the Connecticut River.

 #8    Delaware   DE  (First State)   admitted: Dec. 07, 1787  governor: John C. Carney, Jr. (D) residents: Delawareans

capital: Dover   largest city: Wilmington, gross domestic product: $93.595 billion gdp/capita: $90,702

bird: Blue hen chicken flower: Peach blossom
tree: American holly fish: Weakfish

population: 1,031,890 Area: 2,489 sq.mi. @ 415 pop/sq.mi.  land: 1,953 sq.mi. @ 528 pop/sq.mi. water: 536 sq.mi. @ 1,925 pop/sq.mi. – 21.5%  water

elevation: High: 451 ft. at Ebright Azimuth;  Low: 0 ft. at Atlantic Ocean – diff: 451 ft.

Name Origin: French via English, “of the war”. After the Delaware River, which was named for Lord de la Warr.

 #9    Florida   FL  (Sunshine State)   admitted: Mar. 03, 1845  governor: Ron DeSantis (R) residents: Floridians

capital: Tallahassee   largest city: Jacksonville, gross domestic product: $1,579.503 billion gdp/capita: $69,856

bird: Northern mockingbird flower: Orange blossom
tree: Sabal palm fish: Florida largemouth bass

population: 22,610,726 Area: 65,755 sq.mi. @ 344 pop/sq.mi.  land: 53,927 sq.mi. @ 419 pop/sq.mi. water: 11,828 sq.mi. @ 1,912 pop/sq.mi. – 18.0%  water

elevation: High: 345 ft. at Britton Hill;  Low: 0 ft. at Atlantic Ocean – diff: 345 ft.

Name Origin: Spanish, “flowers”. Explorer Ponce de Leon named the land after “Pascua de Florida” “Feast of Flowers” on Palm Sunday of 1513.

 #10    Georgia   GA  (Peach State)   admitted: Jan. 02, 1788  governor: Brian Kemp (R) residents: Georgians

capital: Atlanta   largest city: Atlanta, gross domestic product: $805.397 billion gdp/capita: $73,024

bird: Brown thrasher flower: Cherokee rose
tree: Southern live oak fish: Largemouth bass

population: 11,029,227 Area: 59,425 sq.mi. @ 186 pop/sq.mi.  land: 57,906 sq.mi. @ 190 pop/sq.mi. water: 1,519 sq.mi. @ 7,261 pop/sq.mi. – 2.6%  water

elevation: High: 4,784 ft. at Brasstown Bald;  Low: 0 ft. at Atlantic Ocean – diff: 4,784 ft.

Name Origin: Latin, “George”. The feminine Latin form of “George,” named after King George II of England.

 #11    Hawaii   HI  (Aloha State)   admitted: Aug. 21, 1959  governor: Josh Green (D) residents: Hawaiians (natives) Islanders (non-natives)

capital: Honolulu   largest city: Honolulu, gross domestic product: $108.023 billion gdp/capita: $75,270

bird: Nēnē or Hawaiian Goo flower: Hawaiian hibiscus
tree: Candlenut tree fish: Reef triggerfish

population: 1,435,138 Area: 10,931 sq.mi. @ 131 pop/sq.mi.  land: 6,423 sq.mi. @ 223 pop/sq.mi. water: 4,508 sq.mi. @ 318 pop/sq.mi. – 41.2%  water

elevation: High: 13,803 ft. at Mauna Kea;  Low: 0 ft. at Pacific Ocean – diff: 13,803 ft.

Name Origin: Hawaiian, “small or new homeland”. May have been named for the traditional home of the Polynesians, called “Owhyhee.”

 #12    Idaho   ID  (Gem State)   admitted: July 03, 1890  governor: Brad Little (R) residents: Idahoans

capital: Boise   largest city: Boise, gross domestic product: $118.791 billion gdp/capita: $60,462

bird: Mountain bluebird flower: Syringa, mock orange
tree: Western white pine fish: Cutthroat trout

population: 1,964,726 Area: 83,570 sq.mi. @ 24 pop/sq.mi.  land: 82,747 sq.mi. @ 24 pop/sq.mi. water: 823 sq.mi. @ 2,387 pop/sq.mi. – 1.0%  water

elevation: High: 12,668 ft. at Borah Peak;  Low: 710 ft. at Snake River – diff: 11,958 ft.

Name Origin: English, invented word. Mining lobbyist George M. Willing invented the name saying it was a Shoshone Indian word that meant “Gem of the Mountains.”

 #13    Illinois   IL  (Prairie State)   admitted: Dec. 03, 1818  governor: J. B. Pritzker (D) residents: Illinoisan or Illinoians

capital: Springfield   largest city: Chicago, gross domestic product: $1,082.968 billion gdp/capita: $86,294

bird: Northern cardinal flower: Violet
tree: White oak fish: Bluegill

population: 12,549,689 Area: 57,914 sq.mi. @ 217 pop/sq.mi.  land: 55,583 sq.mi. @ 226 pop/sq.mi. water: 2,331 sq.mi. @ 5,384 pop/sq.mi. – 4.0%  water

elevation: High: 1,235 ft. at Charles Mound;  Low: 279 ft. at Mississippi River – diff: 956 ft.

Name Origin: Algonquian, “warriors” or “superior men”. By French explorer Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle in 1679 after the Indians he found living along the banks. “Illini” was a confed. of Indian tribes.

 #14    Indiana   IN  (Hoosier State)   admitted: Dec. 11, 1816  governor: Eric Holcomb (R) residents: Hoosiers or Indianians or Indianans

capital: Indianapolis   largest city: Indianapolis, gross domestic product: $497.036 billion gdp/capita: $72,431

bird: Northern cardinal flower: Peony
tree: Tulip-tree fish: none

population: 6,862,199 Area: 36,418 sq.mi. @ 188 pop/sq.mi.  land: 35,867 sq.mi. @ 191 pop/sq.mi. water: 551 sq.mi. @ 12,454 pop/sq.mi. – 1.5%  water

elevation: High: 1,257 ft. at Hoosier Hill;  Low: 320 ft. at Ohio River – diff: 937 ft.

Name Origin: English, “Land of the Indians.”. The natives were called Indians because of Columbus’ error thinking he had reached the Asian India.

 #15    Iowa   IA  (Hawkeye State)   admitted: Dec. 28, 1846  governor: Kim Reynolds (R) residents: Iowans or Hawkeyes

capital: Des Moines   largest city: Des_Moines, gross domestic product: $248.923 billion gdp/capita: $77,619

bird: Eastern goldfinch flower: Wild Prairie Rose
tree: Bur oak fish: Channel catfish

population: 3,207,004 Area: 56,272 sq.mi. @ 57 pop/sq.mi.  land: 55,870 sq.mi. @ 57 pop/sq.mi. water: 402 sq.mi. @ 7,978 pop/sq.mi. – 0.7%  water

elevation: High: 1,670 ft. at Hawkeye Point;  Low: 480 ft. at Mississippi River – diff: 1,190 ft.

Name Origin: Dakota, “sleepy ones”. From the natives tribal name “Ayuxwa” which was spelled by the French as “Ayoua” and by the English as “Ioway.”

 #16    Kansas   KS  (Sunflower State)   admitted: Jan. 29, 1861  governor: Laura Kelly (D) residents: Kansans or Jayhawkers

capital: Topeka   largest city: Wichita, gross domestic product: $226.012 billion gdp/capita: $76,861

bird: Western Meadowlark flower: Sunflower
tree: Eastern cottonwood fish: none

population: 2,940,546 Area: 82,277 sq.mi. @ 36 pop/sq.mi.  land: 81,815 sq.mi. @ 36 pop/sq.mi. water: 462 sq.mi. @ 6,365 pop/sq.mi. – 0.6%  water

elevation: High: 4,039 ft. at Mount Sunflower;  Low: 679 ft. at Verdigris River – diff: 3,360 ft.

Name Origin: Kaw, “south wind”. From the Kansas River which was named by the French after the Kanze natives who lived there.

 #17    Kentucky   KY  (Bluegrass State)   admitted: June 01, 1792  governor: Andy Beshear (D) residents: Kentuckians

capital: Frankfort   largest city: Louisville, gross domestic product: $277.747 billion gdp/capita: $61,365

bird: Northern cardinal flower: Goldenrod
tree: Tulip-tree fish: Kentucky spotted bass

population: 4,526,154 Area: 40,409 sq.mi. @ 112 pop/sq.mi.  land: 39,728 sq.mi. @ 114 pop/sq.mi. water: 681 sq.mi. @ 6,646 pop/sq.mi. – 1.7%  water

elevation: High: 4,145 ft. at Black Mountain;  Low: 257 ft. at Mississippi River – diff: 3,888 ft.

Name Origin: Iroquoian, “prairie” or “field”. From the Iroquois Indian name referring to the landscape. Possibly a Wyandot or Iroquois name meaning “land of tomorrow.”

 #18    Louisiana   LA  (Pelican State)   admitted: Apr. 30, 1812  governor: Jeffrey Martin Landry (R) residents: Louisianians or Louisianans

capital: Baton Rouge   largest city: New_Orleans, gross domestic product: $309.601 billion gdp/capita: $67,691

bird: Brown pelican flower: Magnolia
tree: Bald cypress fish: White crappie

population: 4,573,749 Area: 51,840 sq.mi. @ 88 pop/sq.mi.  land: 43,562 sq.mi. @ 105 pop/sq.mi. water: 8,278 sq.mi. @ 553 pop/sq.mi. – 16.0%  water

elevation: High: 535 ft. at Driskill Mountain;  Low: -8 ft. at New Orleans – diff: 543 ft.

Name Origin: French, in honor of King “Louis”. French explorer Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle, first European to sail the Miss. River delta, named the area La Louisianne after Louis XIV of France.

 #19    Maine   ME  (Pine Tree State)   admitted: Mar. 15, 1820  governor: Janet Mills (D) residents: Mainers or Main Staters

capital: Augusta   largest city: Portland, gross domestic product: $91.081 billion gdp/capita: $65,257

bird: Black-capped chickadee flower: White pine cone and tassel
tree: Eastern white pine fish: Landlocked Atlantic salmon

population: 1,395,722 Area: 35,385 sq.mi. @ 39 pop/sq.mi.  land: 30,862 sq.mi. @ 45 pop/sq.mi. water: 4,523 sq.mi. @ 309 pop/sq.mi. – 12.8%  water

elevation: High: 5,368 ft. at Mount Katahdin;  Low: 0 ft. at Atlantic Ocean – diff: 5,368 ft.

Name Origin: English or French, “the main land”. May refer to the mainland, as opposed to the coastal islands, or may be named after the French province of Maine.

 #20    Maryland   MD  (Old Line State)   admitted: Apr. 28, 1788  governor: Wes Moore (D) residents: Marylanders

capital: Annapolis   largest city: Baltimore, gross domestic product: $512.280 billion gdp/capita: $82,890

bird: Baltimore oriole flower: Black-eyed susan
tree: White oak fish: Rockfish

population: 6,180,253 Area: 12,407 sq.mi. @ 498 pop/sq.mi.  land: 9,774 sq.mi. @ 632 pop/sq.mi. water: 2,633 sq.mi. @ 2,347 pop/sq.mi. – 21.2%  water

elevation: High: 3,360 ft. at Hoye-Crest;  Low: 0 ft. at Atlantic Ocean – diff: 3,360 ft.

Name Origin: English, in honor of Queen “Mary”. After Queen Henrietta Maria of England, wife of King Charles I.

 #21    Massachusetts   MA  (Bay State)   admitted: Feb. 06, 1788  governor: Maura Healey (D) residents: Bay Staters or Massachusettsans

capital: Boston   largest city: Boston, gross domestic product: $733.860 billion gdp/capita: $104,816

bird: Black-capped chickadee flower: Mayflower
tree: American elm fish: Cod

population: 7,001,399 Area: 10,555 sq.mi. @ 663 pop/sq.mi.  land: 7,840 sq.mi. @ 893 pop/sq.mi. water: 2,715 sq.mi. @ 2,579 pop/sq.mi. – 25.7%  water

elevation: High: 3,492 ft. at Mount Greylock;  Low: 0 ft. at Atlantic Ocean – diff: 3,492 ft.

Name Origin: Algonquian, “great hill place” or “by the little mount. Named after the natives that lived in the region.

 #22    Michigan   MI  (Great Lakes State)   admitted: Jan. 26, 1837  governor: Gretchen Whitmer (D) residents: Michiganians or Michiganders

capital: Lansing   largest city: Detroit, gross domestic product: $658.992 billion gdp/capita: $65,655

bird: American robin flower: Apple blossom
tree: Eastern white pine fish: Brook trout

population: 10,037,261 Area: 96,716 sq.mi. @ 104 pop/sq.mi.  land: 56,804 sq.mi. @ 177 pop/sq.mi. water: 39,912 sq.mi. @ 251 pop/sq.mi. – 41.3%  water

elevation: High: 1,979 ft. at Mount Arvon;  Low: 571 ft. at Lake Erie – diff: 1,408 ft.

Name Origin: Ottawa or Chippewa, “large body of water”. Also possibly from the Chippewa Indian word “majigan” which means “clearing of land.”

 #23    Minnesota   MN  (North Star State)   admitted: May 11, 1858  governor: Tim Walz (D) residents: Minnesotans

capital: St. Paul   largest city: Minneapolis, gross domestic product: $471.820 billion gdp/capita: $87,798

bird: Common loon flower: Pink and white lady's slipper
tree: Red Pine fish: Walleye

population: 5,373,915 Area: 86,939 sq.mi. @ 62 pop/sq.mi.  land: 79,610 sq.mi. @ 68 pop/sq.mi. water: 7,329 sq.mi. @ 733 pop/sq.mi. – 8.4%  water

elevation: High: 2,301 ft. at Eagle Mountain;  Low: 601 ft. at Lake Superior – diff: 1,700 ft.

Name Origin: Dakota, “cloudy water”. From the Minnesota River named by the Dakota Sioux.

 #24    Mississippi   MS  (Magnolia State)   admitted: Dec. 10, 1817  governor: Tate Reeves (R) residents: Mississippians

capital: Jackson   largest city: Jackson, gross domestic product: $146.401 billion gdp/capita: $49,802

bird: Northern mockingbird flower: Magnolia
tree: Southern magnolia fish: Largemouth bass

population: 2,939,690 Area: 48,430 sq.mi. @ 61 pop/sq.mi.  land: 46,907 sq.mi. @ 63 pop/sq.mi. water: 1,523 sq.mi. @ 1,930 pop/sq.mi. – 3.1%  water

elevation: High: 807 ft. at Woodall Mountain;  Low: 0 ft. at Gulf of Mexico – diff: 807 ft.

Name Origin: Ojibwe, “great river”. The Indian name for the river that was used on Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle’s map.

 #25    Missouri   MO  (Show Me State)   admitted: Aug. 10, 1821  governor: Mike Parson (R) residents: Missourians

capital: Jefferson City   largest city: Kansas_City, gross domestic product: $422.306 billion gdp/capita: $68,156

bird: Eastern bluebird flower: Hawthorn
tree: Flowering dogwood fish: Channel catfish

population: 6,196,156 Area: 69,704 sq.mi. @ 89 pop/sq.mi.  land: 68,886 sq.mi. @ 90 pop/sq.mi. water: 818 sq.mi. @ 7,575 pop/sq.mi. – 1.2%  water

elevation: High: 1,772 ft. at Taum Sauk Mountain;  Low: 230 ft. at Saint Francis River – diff: 1,542 ft.

Name Origin: Algonquian, “dugout canoe”. From the Missouri River, after the Missouri tribe known for their dugout canoes.

 #26    Montana   MT  (Treasure State)   admitted: Nov. 08, 1889  governor: Greg Gianforte (R) residents: Montanan

capital: Helena   largest city: Billings, gross domestic product: $70.560 billion gdp/capita: $62,287

bird: Western meadowlark flower: Hawthorn
tree: Ponderosa pine fish: Cutthroat trout

population: 1,132,812 Area: 147,042 sq.mi. @ 8 pop/sq.mi.  land: 145,552 sq.mi. @ 8 pop/sq.mi. water: 1,490 sq.mi. @ 760 pop/sq.mi. – 1.0%  water

elevation: High: 12,807 ft. at Granite Peak;  Low: 1,800 ft. at Kootenai River – diff: 11,007 ft.

Name Origin: Spanish, “mountainous”. A derivation of the Latin word “montaanus.”

 #27    Nebraska   NE  (Cornhusker State)   admitted: Mar. 01, 1867  governor: Jim Pillen (R) residents: Nebraskans; sometimes Cornhuskers

capital: Lincoln   largest city: Omaha, gross domestic product: $178.421 billion gdp/capita: $90,185

bird: Western meadowlark flower: Goldenrod
tree: Eastern cottonwood fish: Channel catfish

population: 1,978,379 Area: 77,354 sq.mi. @ 26 pop/sq.mi.  land: 76,873 sq.mi. @ 26 pop/sq.mi. water: 481 sq.mi. @ 4,113 pop/sq.mi. – 0.6%  water

elevation: High: 5,424 ft. at Panorama Point;  Low: 849 ft. at Missouri River – diff: 4,575 ft.

Name Origin: Soiux, “flat waters”. Referring to the Platte River, which means “flat river” in French.

 #28    Nevada   NV  (Silver State)   admitted: Oct. 31, 1864  governor: Joe Lombardo (R) residents: Nevadans

capital: Carson City   largest city: Las_Vegas, gross domestic product: $239.398 billion gdp/capita: $74,948

bird: Mountain bluebird flower: Sagebrush
tree: Single-leaf Pinyon, Bristlecon fish: Lahontan cutthroat trout

population: 3,194,176 Area: 110,561 sq.mi. @ 29 pop/sq.mi.  land: 109,826 sq.mi. @ 29 pop/sq.mi. water: 735 sq.mi. @ 4,346 pop/sq.mi. – 0.7%  water

elevation: High: 13,147 ft. at Boundary Peak;  Low: 479 ft. at Colorado River – diff: 12,668 ft.

Name Origin: Spanish, “snow covered”. After the Sierra Nevada, or “snowy range.”

 #29    New Hampshire   NH  (Granite State)   admitted: June 21, 1788  governor: Chris Sununu (R) residents: New Hampshirites; Granite Staters

capital: Concord   largest city: Manchester, gross domestic product: $111.102 billion gdp/capita: $79,242

bird: Purple finch flower: Purple lilac
tree: American white birch fish: Brook trout

population: 1,402,054 Area: 9,350 sq.mi. @ 150 pop/sq.mi.  land: 8,968 sq.mi. @ 156 pop/sq.mi. water: 382 sq.mi. @ 3,670 pop/sq.mi. – 4.1%  water

elevation: High: 6,288 ft. at Mount Washington;  Low: 0 ft. at Atlantic Ocean – diff: 6,288 ft.

Name Origin: English, New + name of an English county. Named for county of Hampshire, England, by Captain John Mason.

 #30    New Jersey   NJ  (Garden State)   admitted: Dec. 18, 1787  governor: Phil Murphy (D) residents: New Jerseyites; New Jerseyans

capital: Trenton   largest city: Newark, gross domestic product: $799.305 billion gdp/capita: $86,032

bird: Eastern goldfinch flower: Violet
tree: Northern red oak fish: Brook trout

population: 9,290,841 Area: 8,721 sq.mi. @ 1,065 pop/sq.mi.  land: 7,417 sq.mi. @ 1,253 pop/sq.mi. water: 1,304 sq.mi. @ 7,125 pop/sq.mi. – 15.0%  water

elevation: High: 1,803 ft. at High Point;  Low: 0 ft. at Atlantic Ocean – diff: 1,803 ft.

Name Origin: English, New + name of an island. Name after the island of Jersey in the English Channel by Sir John Berkley and Sir George Carteret.

 #31    New Mexico   NM  (Land of Enchantment)   admitted: Jan. 06, 1912  governor: Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) residents: New Mexicans

capital: Santa Fe   largest city: Albuquerque, gross domestic product: $130.202 billion gdp/capita: $61,580

bird: Roadrunner flower: Yucca flower
tree: Piñon Pine fish: Rio Grande cutthroat trout

population: 2,114,371 Area: 121,589 sq.mi. @ 17 pop/sq.mi.  land: 121,355 sq.mi. @ 17 pop/sq.mi. water: 234 sq.mi. @ 9,036 pop/sq.mi. – 0.2%  water

elevation: High: 13,167 ft. at Wheeler Peak;  Low: 2,842 ft. at Red Bluff Reservoir – diff: 10,325 ft.

Name Origin: Aztec via Spanish, refers to the land north of the upper Rio Grande. Anglicized version of “Nuevo Mexico,” from Aztec meaning “place of the god Mexitli.”

 #32    New York   NY  (Empire State)   admitted: July 26, 1788  governor: Kathy Hochul (D) residents: New Yorkers

capital: Albany   largest city: New_York_City, gross domestic product: $2,053.180 billion gdp/capita: $104,908

bird: Eastern bluebird flower: Rose
tree: Sugar maple fish: Brook trout

population: 19,571,216 Area: 54,556 sq.mi. @ 359 pop/sq.mi.  land: 47,214 sq.mi. @ 415 pop/sq.mi. water: 7,342 sq.mi. @ 2,666 pop/sq.mi. – 13.5%  water

elevation: High: 5,334 ft. at Mount Marcy;  Low: 0 ft. at Atlantic Ocean – diff: 5,334 ft.

Name Origin: English, New + name of an English duke. After York, England, to honor the then Duke of York later King James II of England.

 #33    North Carolina   NC  (Old North State)   admitted: Nov. 21, 1789  governor: Roy Cooper (D) residents: North Carolinians

capital: Raleigh   largest city: Charlotte, gross domestic product: $7,669.219 billion gdp/capita: $707,787

bird: Northern cardinal flower: Flowering dogwood
tree: Pine fish: Channel Bass

population: 10,835,491 Area: 53,819 sq.mi. @ 201 pop/sq.mi.  land: 48,711 sq.mi. @ 222 pop/sq.mi. water: 5,108 sq.mi. @ 2,121 pop/sq.mi. – 9.5%  water

elevation: High: 6,684 ft. at Mount Mitchell;  Low: 0 ft. at Atlantic Ocean – diff: 6,684 ft.

Name Origin: Latin, North + “Charles”. From the name Carolus, in honor of King Charles I of England.

 #34    North Dakota   ND  (Peace Garden State)   admitted: Nov. 02, 1889  governor: Doug Burgum (R) residents: North Dakotans

capital: Bismarck   largest city: Fargo, gross domestic product: $74.113 billion gdp/capita: $94,541

bird: Western meadowlark flower: Wild prairie rose
tree: American elm fish: Northern pike

population: 783,926 Area: 70,700 sq.mi. @ 11 pop/sq.mi.  land: 68,976 sq.mi. @ 11 pop/sq.mi. water: 1,724 sq.mi. @ 455 pop/sq.mi. – 2.4%  water

elevation: High: 3,506 ft. at White Butte;  Low: 750 ft. at Red River – diff: 2,756 ft.

Name Origin: Sioux, North + “ally”. After the Dakota tribe.

 #35    Ohio   OH  (Buckeye State)   admitted: Mar. 01, 1803  governor: Mike DeWine (R) residents: Ohioans; or Buckeyes

capital: Columbus   largest city: Columbus, gross domestic product: $872.748 billion gdp/capita: $74,050

bird: Northern cardinal flower: Scarlet carnation
tree: Ohio buckeye fish: Walleye

population: 11,785,935 Area: 44,825 sq.mi. @ 263 pop/sq.mi.  land: 40,948 sq.mi. @ 288 pop/sq.mi. water: 3,877 sq.mi. @ 3,040 pop/sq.mi. – 8.6%  water

elevation: High: 1,550 ft. at Campbell Hill;  Low: 455 ft. at Ohio River – diff: 1,095 ft.

Name Origin: Iroquois, “large creek”. After the name of both the Ohio River and Allegheny River. Often incorrectly given as “beautiful river”

 #36    Oklahoma   OK  (Sooner State)   admitted: Nov. 16, 1907  governor: Kevin Stitt (R) residents: Oklahomans

capital: Oklahoma City   largest city: Oklahoma_City, gross domestic product: $254.134 billion gdp/capita: $62,690

bird: Scissor-tailed flycatcher flower: Oklahoma rose
tree: Eastern redbud fish: White bass

population: 4,053,824 Area: 69,898 sq.mi. @ 58 pop/sq.mi.  land: 68,667 sq.mi. @ 59 pop/sq.mi. water: 1,231 sq.mi. @ 3,293 pop/sq.mi. – 1.8%  water

elevation: High: 4,973 ft. at Black Mesa;  Low: 289 ft. at Little River – diff: 4,684 ft.

Name Origin: Choctaw, “red people”. Invented by native American missionary Allen Wright from two Choctaw words, “ukla” meaning people and “huma” meaning red.

 #37    Oregon   OR  (Beaver State)   admitted: Feb. 14, 1859  governor: Tina Kotek (D) residents: Oregonians

capital: Salem   largest city: Portland, gross domestic product: $316.461 billion gdp/capita: $74,754

bird: Western meadowlark flower: Oregon grape
tree: Douglas fir fish: Chinook salmon

population: 4,233,358 Area: 98,381 sq.mi. @ 43 pop/sq.mi.  land: 95,997 sq.mi. @ 44 pop/sq.mi. water: 2,384 sq.mi. @ 1,776 pop/sq.mi. – 2.4%  water

elevation: High: 11,249 ft. at Mount Hood;  Low: 0 ft. at Pacific Ocean – diff: 11,249 ft.

Name Origin: Uncertain, “beautiful”. First named by Major Robert Rogers in a petition to King George III.

 #38    Pennsylvania   PA  (Keystone State)   admitted: Dec. 12, 1787  governor: Josh Shapiro (D) residents: Pennsylvanians

capital: Harrisburg   largest city: Philadelphia, gross domestic product: $965.067 billion gdp/capita: $74,455

bird: Ruffed grouse flower: Mountain laurel
tree: Eastern hemlock fish: Brook trout

population: 12,961,683 Area: 46,055 sq.mi. @ 281 pop/sq.mi.  land: 44,816 sq.mi. @ 289 pop/sq.mi. water: 1,239 sq.mi. @ 10,461 pop/sq.mi. – 2.7%  water

elevation: High: 3,213 ft. at Mount Davis;  Low: 0 ft. at Delaware River – diff: 3,213 ft.

Name Origin: Latin, “Penn’s woods”. After Admiral William Penn.

 #39    Rhode Island   RI  (Ocean State)   admitted: May 29, 1790  governor: Daniel McKee (D) residents: Rhode Islanders

capital: Providence   largest city: Providence, gross domestic product: $77.322 billion gdp/capita: $70,569

bird: Rhode Island red chicken flower: Violet
tree: Red maple fish: Striped bass

population: 1,095,691 Area: 1,545 sq.mi. @ 709 pop/sq.mi.  land: 1,045 sq.mi. @ 1,049 pop/sq.mi. water: 500 sq.mi. @ 2,191 pop/sq.mi. – 32.4%  water

elevation: High: 812 ft. at Jerimoth Hill;  Low: 0 ft. at Atlantic Ocean – diff: 812 ft.

Name Origin: Dutch, “red island”. Named “Roodt Eylandt” by Dutch explorer Adrian Block, it was anglicized when the region came under British rule.

 #40    South Carolina   SC  (Palmetto State)   admitted: May 23, 1788  governor: Henry McMaster (R) residents: South Carolinians

capital: Columbia   largest city: Columbia, gross domestic product: $322.259 billion gdp/capita: $59,971

bird: Carolina wren flower: Yellow jessamine
tree: Sabal palm fish: Striped bass

population: 5,373,556 Area: 32,020 sq.mi. @ 168 pop/sq.mi.  land: 30,109 sq.mi. @ 178 pop/sq.mi. water: 1,911 sq.mi. @ 2,812 pop/sq.mi. – 6.0%  water

elevation: High: 3,560 ft. at Sassafras Mountain;  Low: 0 ft. at Atlantic Ocean – diff: 3,560 ft.

Name Origin: Latin, South + “Charles”. from the name Carolus, in honor of King Charles I of England.

 #41    South Dakota   SD  (Mount Rushmore State)   admitted: Nov. 02, 1889  governor: Kristi Noem (R) residents: South Dakotans

capital: Pierre   largest city: Sioux_Falls, gross domestic product: $72.421 billion gdp/capita: $78,777

bird: Common pheasant flower: Pasque flower
tree: Black Hills spruce fish: Walleye

population: 919,318 Area: 77,116 sq.mi. @ 12 pop/sq.mi.  land: 75,884 sq.mi. @ 12 pop/sq.mi. water: 1,232 sq.mi. @ 746 pop/sq.mi. – 1.6%  water

elevation: High: 7,244 ft. at Harney Peak;  Low: 966 ft. at Big Stone Lake – diff: 6,278 ft.

Name Origin: Sioux, South + “ally”. After the Dakota tribe.

 #42    Tennessee   TN  (Volunteer State)   admitted: June 01, 1796  governor: Bill Lee (R) residents: Tennesseans

capital: Nashville   largest city: Memphis, gross domestic product: $523.240 billion gdp/capita: $73,422

bird: Northern mockingbird flower: Iris
tree: Tulip-tree fish: Largemouth bass

population: 7,126,489 Area: 42,143 sq.mi. @ 169 pop/sq.mi.  land: 41,217 sq.mi. @ 173 pop/sq.mi. water: 926 sq.mi. @ 7,696 pop/sq.mi. – 2.2%  water

elevation: High: 6,643 ft. at Clingmans Dome;  Low: 178 ft. at Mississippi River – diff: 6,465 ft.

Name Origin: Cherokee, possibly “river with a big bend”. After the river and from a Cherokee village in the region that was called “Tanasie.”

 #43    Texas   TX  (Lone Star State)   admitted: Dec. 29, 1845  governor: Greg Abbott (R) residents: Texans

capital: Austin   largest city: Houston, gross domestic product: $2,563.508 billion gdp/capita: $84,040

bird: Northern mockingbird flower: Texas bluebonnet
tree: Pecan fish: Guadalupe bass

population: 30,503,301 Area: 268,581 sq.mi. @ 114 pop/sq.mi.  land: 261,797 sq.mi. @ 117 pop/sq.mi. water: 6,784 sq.mi. @ 4,496 pop/sq.mi. – 2.5%  water

elevation: High: 8,751 ft. at Guadalupe Peak;  Low: 0 ft. at Gulf of Mexico – diff: 8,751 ft.

Name Origin: Caddo, “friend”. “Tejas” referred to the Caddo tribes. The Spanish made it texas.

 #44    Utah   UT  (Beehive State)   admitted: Jan. 04, 1896  governor: Spencer Cox (R) residents: Utahns or Utahans

capital: Salt Lake City   largest city: Salt_Lake_City, gross domestic product: $272.586 billion gdp/capita: $79,756

bird: California gull flower: Sego lily
tree: Blue spruce fish: Bonneville cutthroat trout

population: 3,417,734 Area: 84,899 sq.mi. @ 40 pop/sq.mi.  land: 82,144 sq.mi. @ 42 pop/sq.mi. water: 2,755 sq.mi. @ 1,241 pop/sq.mi. – 3.2%  water

elevation: High: 13,528 ft. at Kings Peak;  Low: 2,000 ft. at Beaver Dam Wash – diff: 11,528 ft.

Name Origin: Western Apache, “high”. Europeans took the Apache word “Yuttahih” their name for the Navajo tribes living higher in the mountains to refer to the Utes.

 #45    Vermont   VT  (Green Mountain State)   admitted: Mar. 04, 1791  governor: Phil Scott (R) residents: Vermonters

capital: Montpelier   largest city: Burlington, gross domestic product: $43.130 billion gdp/capita: $66,614

bird: Hermit thrush flower: Red clover
tree: Sugar maple fish: Brook trout, walleye

population: 647,464 Area: 9,614 sq.mi. @ 67 pop/sq.mi.  land: 9,249 sq.mi. @ 70 pop/sq.mi. water: 365 sq.mi. @ 1,774 pop/sq.mi. – 3.8%  water

elevation: High: 4,395 ft. at Mount Mansfield;  Low: 95 ft. at Lake Champlain – diff: 4,300 ft.

Name Origin: French, “green mountain”. The English form of the name “Verd Mont" given by French explorer Samuel de Champlain.

 #46    Virginia   VA  (Old Dominion State)   admitted: June 25, 1788  governor: Glenn Youngkin (D) residents: Virginians

capital: Richmond   largest city: Virginia_Beach, gross domestic product: $707.085 billion gdp/capita: $81,128

bird: Northern cardinal flower: American dogwood
tree: Flowering dogwood fish: Brook trout

population: 8,715,698 Area: 42,774 sq.mi. @ 204 pop/sq.mi.  land: 39,594 sq.mi. @ 220 pop/sq.mi. water: 3,180 sq.mi. @ 2,741 pop/sq.mi. – 7.4%  water

elevation: High: 5,729 ft. at Mount Rogers;  Low: 0 ft. at Atlantic Ocean – diff: 5,729 ft.

Name Origin: Latin, “country of the Virgin”. After Elizabeth I of England, who was known as the “Virgin Queen” because she never married.

 #47    Washington   WA  (Evergreen State)   admitted: Nov. 11, 1889  governor: Jay Inslee (D) residents: Washingtonians

capital: Olympia   largest city: Seattle, gross domestic product: $801.515 billion gdp/capita: $102,589

bird: Willow goldfinch flower: Coast rhododendron
tree: Western hemlock fish: Steelhead trout

population: 7,812,880 Area: 71,300 sq.mi. @ 110 pop/sq.mi.  land: 66,544 sq.mi. @ 117 pop/sq.mi. water: 4,756 sq.mi. @ 1,643 pop/sq.mi. – 6.7%  water

elevation: High: 14,410 ft. at Mount Rainier;  Low: 0 ft. at Pacific Ocean – diff: 14,410 ft.

Name Origin: English, English surname. After the first U.S. president, George Washington.

 #48    West Virginia   WV  (Mountain State)   admitted: June 20, 1863  governor: Jim Justice (R) residents: West Virginians

capital: Charleston   largest city: Charleston, gross domestic product: $99.511 billion gdp/capita: $56,219

bird: Northern cardinal flower: Rhododendron
tree: Sugar maple fish: Brook trout

population: 1,770,071 Area: 24,230 sq.mi. @ 73 pop/sq.mi.  land: 24,078 sq.mi. @ 74 pop/sq.mi. water: 152 sq.mi. @ 11,645 pop/sq.mi. – 0.6%  water

elevation: High: 4,863 ft. at Spruce Knob;  Low: 0 ft. at Potomac River – diff: 4,863 ft.

Name Origin: Latin, state west of Virginia. In 1863, when the western counties of Virginia were about to be admitted to the Union, delegates chose the state name over Kanawha, Allegheny, and Augusta.

 #49    Wisconsin   WI  (Badger State)   admitted: May 29, 1848  governor: Tony Evers (D) residents: Wisconsinites

capital: Madison   largest city: Milwaukee, gross domestic product: $413.967 billion gdp/capita: $70,034

bird: American robin flower: Wood violet
tree: Sugar maple fish: Muskellunge

population: 5,910,955 Area: 65,498 sq.mi. @ 90 pop/sq.mi.  land: 54,310 sq.mi. @ 109 pop/sq.mi. water: 11,188 sq.mi. @ 528 pop/sq.mi. – 17.1%  water

elevation: High: 1,951 ft. at Timms Hill;  Low: 579 ft. at Lake Michigan – diff: 1,372 ft.

Name Origin: Chippewa, possibly “grassy place”. After the Wisconsin River. Origin is uncertain.

 #50    Wyoming   WY  (Equality State)   admitted: July 10, 1890  governor: Mark Gordon (R) residents: Wyomingites

capital: Cheyenne   largest city: Cheyenne, gross domestic product: $50.172 billion gdp/capita: $85,903

bird: Western meadowlark flower: Indian paintbrush
tree: Plains cottonwood fish: Cutthroat trout

population: 584,057 Area: 97,814 sq.mi. @ 6 pop/sq.mi.  land: 97,101 sq.mi. @ 6 pop/sq.mi. water: 713 sq.mi. @ 819 pop/sq.mi. – 0.7%  water

elevation: High: 13,809 ft. at Gannett Peak;  Low: 3,099 ft. at Belle Fourche River – diff: 10,710 ft.

Name Origin: Algonquian, “wiche weamiing” or “on the great plain”. After a tribal village in Pennsylvania wiped out in 1778 by a combined force of British soldiers, Tories sympathizers and Iroquois Indians.

 #51    District of Columbia   DC  (Capital)   admitted: Nov. 17, 1800  governor: Muriel Bowser (D) residents: Washingtonians

capital: Washington   largest city: Washington, gross domestic product: $174.796 billion gdp/capita: $257,442

bird: Wood Thrush flower: American Beauty Rose
tree: Scarlet Oak fish: none

population: 678,972 Area: 68 sq.mi. @ 9,985 pop/sq.mi.  land: 61 sq.mi. @ 11,131 pop/sq.mi. water: 7 sq.mi. @ 96,996 pop/sq.mi. – 10.1%  water

elevation: High: 409 ft. at Fort Reno Park;  Low: 0 ft. at Potomac River – diff: 409 ft.

Name Origin: English, "Washington" named after the first president. "District of Columbia" named after Christopher Columbus.