State Nicknames With a Twist - 4 Quiz

When European settlers began to make their way west into what is now the state of Kentucky, they were pleased to discover fertile land that could be used for both farming and grazing. The famous Kentucky bluegrass, however, did not originate in Kentucky. The species, known as "Poa pratensis" was found all over Europe, and introduced in Kentucky for the purpose of creating grazing pastures, which, of course, has contributed to the growth of the horse industry there.

It is said that when the grass goes to seed, it creates a bluish-purple bud, which, from a distance, appears to be blue. If, however, people keep their grass mowed short, they never get to see the blue buds.

Prior to the adoption of its official nickname in the 1960s, Kentucky was also known as the Tobacco State and the Hemp State.

Any fan of Ohio State University sports teams knows about the Buckeyes. But how did they get that name?

Native Americans called a certain tree and the nut it produced "hetuck", which means buckeye, resembling the shape of the eye of a deer. When Europeans began to move west to Ohio, the land was covered with buckeye trees; because the wood of the tree was softer and easier to form, it was a popular building material for log cabins.

After William Henry Harrison retired from army service, he moved to Ohio where his wife's family lived. He even served as a state representative there for a time. When he ran for President in 1840, the nation's attention turned to his life in Ohio. His opponents claimed that he would be better off sitting in a cabin, so his supporters called him the log cabin candidate. Pictures showed him sitting in a cabin made with buckeye timbers, and decorated with, of course, buckeyes!

So Ohio became the Buckeye State. Students at Ohio State became known as Buckeyes in 1950, and the buckeye tree became the official state tree in 1953. Ohio is also called the Birthplace of Aviation and the Mother of Presidents.

Anyone who has visited Louisiana has seen brown pelicans all over the place. The brown pelican is featured on the state flag, the state seal, and state quarter. Why? There is an abundance of the birds in the state, especially along the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, the first Europeans who came to Louisiana were impressed by the mother brown pelican's parenting skills, and liked using pictures of the mother with her young to represent the state.

They were already calling Louisiana the Pelican State when it joined the United States in 1812. The nickname, however, did not become official until 1966, even though the use of pesticides had severely endangered the birds by then. By 1995 the U.S. government claimed the population of Louisiana's brown pelicans had been restored.

Louisiana is also called the Creole State and the Bayou State.

The state of Arkansas seems to go out of its way to maintain its reputation as the Natural State, protecting its scenic beauty, as well as the flora and fauna found there. In the Ozark Region there are protected caves that are the habitats of rare bats and crayfish. Fish and deer are protected in areas such as the Buffalo Natural River and Hot Springs National Park.

In addition to the wildlife, Arkansas has abundant natural resources, such as petroleum, natural gas, and DIAMONDS! At Crater of Diamonds State Park, for a nominal entry fee visitors can search for diamonds and actually keep what they find! It's the only state in the United States where diamonds are mined.

Last, but not least, animal and crop farming are important in Arkansas, producing chickens, catfish, cotton, and almost half of the rice grown in the United States. Is it surprising that Arkansas is also called the Wonder State and the Land of Opportunity?!

As you may already know, badgers dig holes and then live in them. When European settlers migrated to Wisconsin in the 1830s, they did the same thing. They would dig in the hillsides looking for lead ore, and then live in some of the places they dug out in order to be close to work. Although the name wasn't exactly used in a complementary way at first, people from Wisconsin came to be called Badgers. Badgers were adopted as the official state animal in 1957.

Wisconsin has several other nicknames, including the Copper State, the Dairy State, and the Cheese State.

The land is flat in Nebraska, and naturally kind of dry. With the introduction of irrigation, however, it became the perfect place for growing crops like corn and wheat. Which they do in Nebraska. A lot!

Back in the day, though, before new machinery was introduced, the husks of the corn had to be removed by hand. Nebraskans became known as Cornhuskers. By 1900, sportswriters were using the name for the University of Nebraska's teams. In 1945 it became the official state nickname.

Nebraska is also known as the Tree Planters State and the Beef State.

Colorado became a state in 1876, the same year that the United States was holding its centennial commemoration to honor the signing of the Declaration of Independence! It was the only state to join the Union that year, eleven years after its first bid for statehood had been rejected by President Andrew Johnson.

Colorado is also known for its glorious scenery, and for that reason another state nickname is Colorful Colorado.

The Grand Canyon is at least six million years old, having been formed by erosion caused by the Colorado River. It is approximately 277 miles (446 kilometers) long, 18 miles (29 kilometers) wide (in some places), and is a little over a mile (1,857 meters) deep. It brings about 5 million tourists to the state each year. While it isn't the only natural landmark in Arizona, it is arguably the most impressive.

While Arizonans have used the nickname since the 1940s for their state, it did not become the official nickname until 2011. Before that it was called the Baby State or the Copper State.

Because of its large size, the remoteness of some areas, and the fact that some areas have yet to be explored, Alaska is called the Last Frontier. In fact, only about a third of the state has a local government! State officials are happy to assist new settlers with mining and homesteading claims.

Alaska seems to be a good place for someone to find a new start in life; with all the timber, mineral wealth, and unique wildlife there seems to be a lot of opportunity. Although some areas can only be reached by airplane or boat, it might be the perfect place to start a new business, or go on a great adventure.

Alaska is also called Seward's Folly and Land of the Midnight Sun.

Did you know that Hawaii is the only state in the United States that has a native official language? "Aloha" means hello. Hawaiians, known for their warmth and hospitality, commonly greet visitors this way. The nickname was officially adopted in 1959, the same year Hawaii became the fiftieth state of the U.S.

Hawaii has also been called the Pineapple State and the Youngest State.