Editor's Corner

It’s time for the last (but not least) ten state nicknames in our list from Explore. I hope you’ve learned some new information or maybe come up with a fun vacation plan to visit some of our United States. Wherever you are, I hope you have a safe and happy 4th of July!

South Dakota

• Nicknames: Mount Rushmore State, Coyote State
  In 1992, South Dakota officially adopted the nickname the Mount Rushmore State in honor of its most famous landmark. It also is home to underrated national parks such as Badlands National Park.
  

Tennessee

• Nickname: Volunteer State
  If you’ve ever wondered why the University of Tennessee’s mascot is the Volunteers, it’s tied to the state’s nickname. Tennessee clinched the nickname the Volunteer State during the Mexican-American War when the federal government called for 2,800 people to help fight and more than 30,000 Tennessean soldiers volunteered.

Texas

• Nickname: Lone Star State
  Texas gets its nickname from the single star on its state flag and on the state seal, which were created after Texas won its independence from Mexico and became its own republic in 1836. Texas kept this design even after joining the Union in 1845 and has maintained a reputation for its independent spirit.

Utah

• Nickname: Beehive State
  Utah’s state name is the Beehive State, and that’s not because it produces a lot of honey or has a large bee population. The state’s first Mormon settlers chose this emblem to represent cooperation and hard work and to make a religious reference to the Biblical "land of milk and honey."

Vermont

• Nickname: Green Mountain State
  The Green Mountains don’t just run through Vermont, they indirectly gave the state its name. Vermont comes from the French "vert mont," meaning "green mountain." The British seized the territory from France after the French and Indian War, and Vermont eventually joined the Union as the 14th state in 1790.
  

Virginia

• Nicknames: The Old Dominion
  Virginia was the first of the overseas dominions of the kings and queens of England, joining Ireland, Scotland, and France under English rule. As a colony, Virginia also stayed loyal to King Charles I and his son Charles II during the English Civil War. The University of Virginia references this in its mascot; supporters of either Charles were known as "Cavaliers."

Washington

• Nicknames: Evergreen State
  Seattle realtor C.T. Conover proposed the simple nickname the Evergreen State for Washington’s lush evergreen forests. Though the nickname is widely used, it has never been officially adopted by the state legislature.

West Virginia

• Nickname: Mountain State
  After splitting from Virginia, West Virginia became the 35th state in the Union and adopted the simple nickname the Mountain State. West Virginia is the only state that sits completely within the Appalachian Mountain system, making it one of the best places in the country for outdoor activities like hiking.

Wisconsin

• Nickname: Badger State
  Wisconsin is probably best known for its cheese, but its nickname has nothing to do with the dairy delight. Wisconsin is known as the Badger State, but not because wild badgers are prolific there. In the 1800s, miners dug tunnels into hillsides looking for lead ore and often lived in temporary caves they’d hollowed out, earning them comparisons to burrowing badgers.
  

Wyoming

• Nickname: Equality State
  Wyoming’s nickname surprisingly doesn’t come from its famous parks. Wyoming is known as the Equality State because it’s the first state in the country that allowed women to vote, serve on juries, and hold public office. However, Wyoming is also full of natural beauty and some of the most stunning views in the country.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

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