Editor's Corner

Hello, all!

Last year I did a series of Editor’s Corner articles about state names and where they came from. Here’s the first one: State Names. I’m not sure what I was looking at recently, but I found another page about state nicknames, that they described as “funky.” Well, I disagree that these are funky, but I might have a high funk factor.

These are not all of the nicknames. Some have been put aside because they were, well, offensive. I’m going to do ten states at a time, and just concentrate on the nicknames and their stories. I’ve trimmed a bit here and there, but I’m including the website link.

From Explore:

Alabama

• Nicknames: The Heart of Dixie, Yellowhammer State, The Cotton State

Alabama doesn’t have an official nickname, but it got the nickname "the Yellowhammer State" during the Civil War. A company of Alabama soldiers wore uniforms trimmed with yellow, which earned them comparisons with the yellowhammer bird, which has bright yellow feathers underneath its wings and tail. Also known as a flicker woodpecker, the yellowhammer is the state bird of Alabama.

Alaska

• Nicknames: The Last Frontier, Land of the Midnight Sun
  Alaska’s official nickname is the Last Frontier. It is the least densely populated of the U.S. states and draws adventurous visitors eager to explore its wild, breathtaking landscapes.

Arizona

• Nickname: Grand Canyon State
  One of America’s world-famous landmarks is the Grand Canyon, located in northern Arizona. The state has embraced its iconic natural wonder and adopted the Grand Canyon State as its official nickname.

Arkansas

• Nickname: The Natural State
  Arkansas officially adopted the nickname the Natural State in 1995 to celebrate the state’s stunning natural scenery. Prior to that, Arkansas had two different official nicknames: the Wonder State from 1923 to 1947 and the Land of Opportunity from 1947 to 1995. [KC – My natural state is not exactly something you’d take a photo of for stunning scenery!]

California

• Nickname: Golden State
  One of the first nicknames for California was the Eldorado State, inspired by the legendary city of gold. Once gold was discovered there, California became synonymous with gold mining. The state is also known for its beautiful flowers, including the golden yellow poppies that bloom there each spring.
  

Colorado

• Nickname: Centennial State
  A fun fact that history buffs might know is that Colorado is nicknamed the Centennial State because it joined the Union in 1876, 100 years after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

Connecticut

• Nickname: Constitution State
  Connecticut’s official nickname is the Constitution State, even though Delaware was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1787. Instead, the state claims to have the first written constitution in U.S. history with the state’s founding document, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, written in 1639. It is also sometimes called the Nutmeg State.

Delaware

• Nicknames: First State, Diamond State, Small Wonder
  Delaware doesn’t let Connecticut hog the history spotlight, as its nickname references the fact that it was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

Florida

• Nickname: Sunshine State
  The Sunshine State was adopted as Florida’s official nickname in 1970. The state has a toasty tropical and subtropical climate and an average 230 days of sunshine a year, making it a popular beach destination

Georgia

• Nicknames: Peach State, Empire State of the South
  Georgia’s most popular nickname is the Peach State, in reference to its official state fruit and the importance of the produce to the state’s agricultural economy.
  

So, there you have the first ten! I hope you learned something new!

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/