United States and It's Fabulous 50

Did you Know?

Massachusetts(MA, Mass., US-MA) Plymouth Rock, where the Pilgrims landed in 1620 is now the size of a coffee table. It was broken and dragged around Plymouth during the Revolutionary War, and then scraped by 19^th-century souvenir hunters.

John Adams was born in Braintree (now Quincy) on October 30, 1735. He was the 2^nd US President, serving from 1797-1801.

John Quincy Adams was born in Braintree (now Quincy) on July 11, 1767. Hew as the 6^th US President, serving from 1825-1829.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born in Brookline on May 29, 1917. He was the 35^th US President, serving from 1961-1963.

George Herbert Walker Bush was born in Milton on June 12, 1924. He was the 41^st US President, serving from 1989-1993.

552 original documents pertaining to the Salem witch trials of 1692 have been preserved and are still stored by the Peabody Essex Museum.

Boston built the first subway system in the United States in 1897.

In Holyoke, William G. Morgan, created a new game called "Mintonette" in 1895.

After a demonstration given at the YMCA in nearby Springfield, the name "Mintonette" was replaced with the now familiar name "Volleyball."

There is a house in Rockport built entirely of newspaper.

The Fig Newton was named after Newton, Massachusetts.

The Basketball Hall of Fame is located in Springfield.

In 1634, Boston Common became the first public park in America.

In 1891, the first basketball game was played in Springfield.

Quincy boasts the first Dunkin Donuts on Hancock Street and the first Howard Johnson's on Newport Ave.

Glaciers formed the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard during the ice age.

The first U.S. Postal zip code is Massachusetts is 01001 at Agawam.

The birth control pill was invented at Clark University in Worcester.

The Mather school was founded in Dorchester in 1639. It is the first public elementary school in America.

John Adams and John Quincy Adams are buried in the crypt at the United First Parish Church in Quincy.

The Boston Tea Party reenactment takes place in Boston Harbor every December 16th.

The first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated in Plymouth in 1621.

The first nuclear-powered surface vessel, USS Long Beach CG (N) 9, was launched at Quincy in 1961.

The USS Constitution 'Old Ironsides', the oldest fully commissioned vessel in the US Navy is permanently berthed at Charlestown Navy Yard. Since 1897 the ship has been overhauled several times in Dry Dock 1.

Acushnet is the hometown of the Titleist golf ball company.

Massachusetts State Flag: Massachusetts’ flag depicts a Native American carrying a bow and arrow on the blue shield (all on a white background). A white start on the shield represents Massachusetts, one of the original 13 states. The state motto (in Latin and written in yellow on a blue ribbon) reads “ENSE PETIT PLACIDAM SUB LIBERTATE QUIETEM,” meaning “By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty.” Above the shield is a arm wielding a sword (demonstrating the state motto).

Massachusetts Origin of Name: Massachusetts was named for an Algonquian Indian word that means “at or about the great hill.”

Massachusetts Motto: “Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem” – By the sword we seek peace only under liberty.

Massachusetts Nickname:   Bay State, Old Colony State

Capital City:   Boston 

State Area:   10,555 square miles

State Population:  6,497,967 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:  February 6, 1788, 6th state

Major Industries:  Textiles, electronics, publishing, education, tourism, fishing

State Environments:  Coast, Plains

State Bird:   Black-Capped Chickadee

State Dog:   Boston Terrier

State Horse:   Morgan Horse

State Tree:   American Elm

State Flower:   Mayflower (also called the ground laurel or trailing arbutus)

State Gem:  Rhodonite

State Song:   All Hail to Massachusetts

Elevation:Highest Point – Mt. Greylock 3,491 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Atlantic Ocean 0 feet above sea level 

Time Zone:  Eastern: GMT (GreenwichMeanTime) GMT  -5/-4

Average Annual Rainfall:   59.74 inches

Did you Know?

Maryland (MD, US-MD) In 1813, Maryland found out that the British were planning an attack on the coast. The people hung lanterns from ship masts and trees. The British cannons aimed for the lights and overshot Maryland’s coastal towns completely.

The United States Naval Academy was founded on October 10, 1845 at Annapolis.

During revolutionary times Rockville was known as Hungerford's Tavern the name of its most familiar landmark. One of the first calls to freedom from British rule was heard at the tavern in 1774.

The Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is considered a masterpiece and one of the finest 19th century buildings in the world. The basilica is the first cathedral in the United States. Baltimore represents the first Roman Catholic diocese.

King Williams School opened in 1696 it was the first school in the United States.

St. Francis Academy, the first dental school in the United States opened at the University of Maryland.

Babe Ruth, the Sultan of Swat, was born in Baltimore and attended Saint Mary's Industrial School.

Tilghman Island is home to the Skipjacks, the only commercial sailing fleet in North America.

America's national anthem was written by Francis Scott Key  a Maryland lawyer. It is believed Key wrote the anthem on September 14, 1814 while watching the bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor.

The 1,200 foot Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is the second longest continuous truss bridge in the nation.

Samuel F.B. Morse reportedly received the first telegraph message in Bladensburg, in 1844, before his famous "What Hath God Wrought" message between Baltimore and Washington. His telegraph wire had been strung along the railroad right of way. Ezra Cornell, founder of Cornell University, lived in Bladensburg and is said to have invented the telegraph pole.

Maryland was first to enact Workmen's compensation laws in 1902.

Friendship International Airport - now Baltimore/Washington International Airport - began operations on June 24. 1950.

The Concord Point Lighthouse in Havre de Grace is the oldest continuously operated lighthouse in the State of Maryland.

The Methodist Church of America was formally organized in 1784 at Perry Hall.

William Goddard inaugurated the first Post Office system in the United States in Baltimore in 1774. Baltimore is A City of Firsts.

Maryland is a prominent producer and processor of seafood and a national leader in the production of blue crabs and soft clams.

Sixteen of the 23 Maryland counties border on tidal water. The combined length of tidal shoreline, including islands, is 4,431 miles.

The Bollman Truss Railroad Bridge in Savage is made of both cast iron and wrought iron. It is the only open railroad bridge of its type anywhere in the world.

Clara Barton National Historic Site commemorates the life of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross. The house in Glen Echo served as her home and headquarters for the American Red Cross and a warehouse for disaster relief supplies.

The Community Bridge mural project in Frederick transformed a plain concrete bridge into the stunning illusion of an old stone bridge. The entire structure was painted by hand by an artist and his assistants, using advanced trompe l'oeil ("deceive the eye") techniques.

Maryland Origin of Name:  Maryland was named to honor the Queen concort Henrietta Maria (1609-1669), the wife of King Charles I of England

Maryland Motto:  “Fatti Maschii, Parole Femine” Manly Deeds, Womanly Words

Maryland Nickname:   Old Line State, Free State

Capital City:   Annapolis

State Area:   12,407 square miles

State Population:  5,633,597 (est. 2008 U.S. Census Bureau) 

Admission to Statehood:  April 28, 1788, 7^th state

Major Industries:  Farming (corn, soybeans, tobacco, poultry and dairy products), Mining (coal), steel products, communications equipment, fishing (crabs and oysters), government services.

State Environments:  Coast, Plains

State Bird:   Baltimore Oriole

State Tree:   White Oak. The Wye Oak (a huge, 460-year-old white oak is the official state tree)

State Flower:   Blacked-eyed Susan

State Boat:  Skipjack

State Song:   Maryland, My Maryland

Elevation: Highest Point – Backbone Mountain in Garrett County. 3,360 feet above sea level 
Lowest Point – Bloody Point Hole, the area is located approximately 1 mile west-southwest of the southern tip of Kent Island in Queen Anne's County.  174 feet below sea level.

Time Zone:  Eastern: GMT (GreenwichMeanTime) GMT – 4

Average Annual Rainfall:   59.74 inches

Maine

   Maine's official flag was adopted in 1909. The flag has a deep blue field with the state coat of arms in the center. The coat of arms pictures a farmer and a seaman (representing agricultural and maritime industries). A shield is between them, upon which is a pine tree, a moose (the state animal of Maine), green grass, a blue sky, and deep blue water. Above this is a yellow star (representing the North Star - Maine was the northernmost state when it entered the Union) and a red ribbon that reads, "DIRIGO," which means "I direct" in Latin.

Did you Know?

Maine (ME, US-ME) Eastport, Maine is the most eastern city in the U.S. West Quoddy Head lighthouse is the most easternly point. It is the first place to raise the flag at sunrise, 4:45 a.m. every morning.

What is now the state of Maine used to be the District of Maine and belonged to Massachusetts.

Maine is the only state in the United States whose name has one syllable.

In 1641 America's first chartered city was York.

Maine has in excess of 60 lighthouses dotting the 5,550 miles of coastline including Portland Head Light commissioned by George Washington.  It has about 2000 islands off the coast.

Approximately 40 millions pounds (nearly 90 percent) of the nation's lobster supply is caught off the coast of Maine.

Maine produces 99% of all the blueberries in the country making it the single largest producer of blueberries in the United States.

90% of the country's toothpick supply is produced in Maine.

  Author Stephen King (1947 - ) is a resident of Bangor.

 Freeport is the home to the L.L. Bean Company, founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean (1872-1967). 

Patrick Dempsey (1966 - ), known as an Actor, Philanthropist is a Lewiston native. He is the founder of The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing.

Moose-vehicle crashes occur every year in every Maine county – in any setting, on any type of road: about 700 crashes annually; 150 of these crashes result in human injury; average of 2 to 3 fatalities a year; 90% of the crashes occur between dusk and dawn; moose crashes represent 14% of Maine’s large animal crashes, but lead to 80 of the resulting fatalities; peak crash season May through July, but can happen anytime of the year.

Maine Origin of Name:  First used to distinguish the mainland from the offshore islands. It has been considered a compliment to Henrietta Maria, queen of Charles I of England. She was said to have owned the province of Mayne in France.

Maine Motto:  “Dirigo” – I direct or I lead.

Maine Nickname:   Pine Tree State

Capital City:   Augusta

State Area:   35,387 square miles

State Population:   1,316,456 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:  March 15, 1820, 23^rd state

Major Industries:  Agriculture (potatoes), shipbuilding, fishing (lobster), footwear, machinery, electronic, tourism

State Environments:  Coast, Mountains

State Bird:   Black-capped Chickadee

State Tree:   Eastern White Pine

State Flower:   White Pine Cone and Tassel 

State Gemstone:  Tourmaline

State Cat:  Maine Coon Cat

State Song:   “State of Maine Song”  (Words and Music)

Elevation: Highest Point – Mount Katahdin, 5,268 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Atlantic Ocean, 0 feet above sea level 

Time Zone:  Eastern: GMT (GreenwichMeanTime) GMT – 4

 Average Annual Rainfall:   59.74 inches

Did you Know?

Louisiana Facts: (LA, US-LA)  Louisiana is the only state with a large population of Cajuns, descendants of French-speaking Canadians who were sent into exile in the 1700’s. The Spanish, who ruled Louisiana at the time, welcomed the Cajuns as frontier settlers.

The world famous "Mardi Gras" is celebrated in New Orleans. Mardi Gras is an ancient custom that originated in southern Europe. It celebrates food and fun just before the 40 days of Lent: a Catholic time of prayer and sacrifice.

The Battle of New Orleans, which made Andrew Jackson a national hero, was fought two weeks after the War of 1812 had ended and more than a month before the news of the war's end had reached Louisiana.

Louisiana has the tallest state capitol building in the United States; the building is 450 feet tall with 34 floors.

Louisiana is the only state in the union that does not have counties. Its political subdivisions are called parishes.

The Superdome in New Orleans is the worlds largest steel-constructed room unobstructed by posts.
Height: 273 feet (82.3 meters), Diameter of Dome: 680 feet (210 meters), Area of Roof: 9.7 acres, Interior Space: 125,000,000 cubic feet, Total floor footage: 269,000 sq. ft. (82,342 sq. meters), Electrical Wiring: 400 miles (640 kilometers)

Breaux Bridge is known as the "Crawfish Capital of the World".

Rayne is known as the "The Frog Capital of the World".

Gueydan is known as the "Duck Capital of America" in recognition of its abundance of waterfowl.

Church Point boasts the designation "The Buggy Capital of the World". A festival celebrates this designation annually on the first weekend in June.

The first American army to have African American officers was the confederate Louisiana Native Guards. The Corps d'Afrique at Port Hudson was sworn into service on September 27, 1862.

In Louisiana, biting someone with your natural teeth is considered a simple assault, but biting someone with your false teeth is considered an aggravated assault.

Jennings is called the "Garden Spot of Louisiana" for it's rich and productive farmland. Jennings sobriquet {nickname} became a "Northern Town on Southern Soil".

Money Magazine has rated Terrebonne Parish, in the heart of Cajun Country the best place to live in Louisiana for 3 years in a row.

Winnsboro, the "Stars and Stripes Capital of Louisiana", is one of the most patriotic cities in America. On Memorial Day, July 4th, Veteran's Day, Labor Day, and other special occasions, approximately 350 American flags fly proudly along highway 15.

Louisiana Origin of Name:  Louisiana was named by the French explorer Sieur de La Salle in 1682 to honor King Louis XIV of France.

Louisiana Motto:  “Union, Justice, and Confidence”

Louisiana Nickname:   Sportsman’s Paradise, Pelican State

Capital City:   Baton Rouge 

State Area:   51,843 square miles

State Population:   4,410,796 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:  April 30, 1812, 18^th state

Major Industries:  Agriculture (rice, cotton, soybeans), salt production, oil and natural gas, fishing (especially shellfish)

State Environments:  Coast, Plains, Rivers

State Bird:   Eastern Brown Pelican

State Tree:   Bald Cypress

State Flower:   Magnolia Blossom

State Wildflower:  Louisanna Iris

State Gemstone:  Agate

State Song:   “Give Me Louisanna” and “You Are My Sunshine”

Elevation: Highest Point – Driskill Mountain, 535 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – New Orleans, 8 feet below sea level 

Time Zone:  GMT-5

Average Annual Rainfall:   59.74 inches

Did you Know?

Kentucky  (KY, Ken., US-KY)  Approximately $6 billion worth gold is kept at the Fort Knox Gold Depository in Kentucky. The building is made of granite, steel, and concrete. The vault door weighs 20 tons. No visitors are permitted in the building.

The Kentucky Derby is the oldest continuously held horse race in the country. It is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville on the first Saturday in May.

Kentucky was a popular hunting ground for the Shawnee and Cherokee Indian nations prior to being settled by white settlers.

Cheeseburgers were first served in 1934 at Kaolin's restaurant in Louisville.

Chevrolet Corvettes are manufactured in Bowling Green.

Mammoth Cave is the world's longest cave and was first promoted in 1816, making it the second oldest tourist attraction in the United States. Niagara Falls, New York is first.

The first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant owned and operated by Colonel Sanders is located in Corbin.

Fleming County is recognized as the Covered Bridge Capital of Kentucky.

Thunder Over Louisville is the opening ceremony for the Kentucky Derby Festival and is the world's largest fireworks display.

The song "Happy Birthday to You" was the creation of two Louisville sisters in 1893.

Teacher Mary S. Wilson held the first observance of Mother's Day in Henderson in 1887. It was made a national holiday in 1916.

Post-It Notes are manufactured exclusively in Cynthiana. The exact number made annually of these popular notes is a trade secret.

The public saw an electric light for the first time in Louisville. Thomas Edison introduced his incandescent light bulb to crowds at the Southern Exposition in 1883.

The world's largest free-swinging bell known as the World Peace Bell is on permanent display in Newport.

Kentucky Origin of Name:  Kentucky is from the Iroquois Indian word “Ken-tah-ten,” which means “land of tomorrow.”

Kentucky Motto:  “United we stand, divided we fall”

Kentucky Nickname:   Bluegrass State

Capital City:   Frankfort

State Area:   40,411 square miles

State Population:   4,269,245 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:  June 1, 1792, 15^th state

Major Industries:  Agriculture (tobacco, corn, peanuts, wheat), mining (anthracite coal), horse-raising, whiskey manufacturing, automobile and truck manufacturing, chemical manufacturing

State Environments:  Mountains

State Bird:   Cardinal

State Tree:   Tulip Tree

State Flower:   Goldenrod

State Gemstone:  Freshwater Pearl

State Horse:  Thoroughbred

State Song:   My Old Kentucky Home, by Stephen Foster

Elevation: Highest Point – Black Mountain 4,145 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Mississippi River 257 feet above sea level 

Time Zone:  Easter half: Eastern UTC -5/DST-4
The Western half of Kentucky: Central UTC-6/DST-5

Average Annual Rainfall:   43.56 inches

Did you Know?

Kansas(KS, Kans., US-KS)  Kansas is famous for its prairies and wheat. In 1997, Kansas wheat farmers produced a record 506 million bushels of wheat. That’s enough to make 35.9 billion loaves of bread, or six for each person on Earth!

At Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine waterbeds for horses are used in surgery.

Dodge City is the windiest city in the United States.

At one time it was against the law to serve ice cream on cherry pie in Kansas.

The first black woman to win an Academy Award was Kansan Hattie McDaniel. She won the award for her role in “Gone with the Wind.”

Kansas inventors include Almon Stowger of El Dorado who invented the dial telephone in 1889; William Purvis and Charles Wilson of Goodland who invented the helicopter in 1909; and Omar Knedlik of Coffeyville who invented the first frozen carbonated drink machine in 1961.

Smith County is the geographical center of the 48 contiguous states.

Hutchinson is nicknamed the Salt City because it was built above some of the richest salt deposits in the world. Salt is still actively mined, processed and shipped from Hutchinson.

The Hugoton Gas Field is the largest natural gas field in the United States. It underlies all or parts of 10 southwestern Kansas counties as well as parts of Oklahoma and Texas. The gas field underlies almost 8,500 square miles, an area nearly 5 times as large as the state of Rhode Island.

Kansas has the largest population of wild grouse in North America. The grouse is commonly called the prairie chicken.

Holy Cross Shrine in Pfeifer, was known as the 2 Cent Church because the building was built using a 2 cent donation on each bushel of wheat sold by members of the church.

The graham cracker was named after the Reverend Sylvester Graham (1794-1851). He was a Presbyterian minister who strongly believed in eating whole wheat flour products.

The First United Methodist Church in Hutchinson was built in 1874 during the time of the grasshopper plagues. The grasshoppers came during the construction of the churches foundation but the pastor continued with the work. As a result, thousands of grasshoppers are mixed into the mortar of the original building’s foundation.

A hailstone weighing more than one and a half pounds once fell on Coffeyville.

The world famous fast-food chain of Pizza Hut restaurants opened its first store in Wichita.

Kansas Origin of Name:  From a Sioux word meaning “people of the south wind”.

Kansas Motto:  Ad astra per aspera (To the stars through difficulties)

Kansas Nickname:   Sunflower State, Jayhawk State

Capital City:   Topeka

State Area:   82,282 square miles

State Population:   2,802,134 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:  January 29, 1861, 34^th state

Major Industries:  Agriculture (wheat and other grains), aircraft manufacturing, automobile manufacturing

State Environments:  Plains, Prairie

State Bird:   Western Meadowlark

State Tree:   Cottonwood

State Flower:   Sunflower

State Animal:  Buffalo

State Song:   “Home on the Range”

Elevation: Highest Point – Mount Sunflower 4,039 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Verdigris River 680 feet above sea level 

Time Zone: Central GMT-6
Some 4 counties in the far west portion of the State (Sherman, Wallace, Greeley and Hamilton) are in the Mountain Time Zone.

Average Annual Rainfall:   28.61 inches

Did you Know?

Iowa (IA, Ind., US-IA)  Dubbed by Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Iowa is home to the most crooked street in the world. Snake Alley in the city of Burlington is a winding hillside street that manages to pack five half-curves and two quarter-curves in a switchback design into just 275 feet.

If you like corn, you’ll love Iowa. About one-fifth of the country’s corn comes from Iowa’s rich farm lands.

Iowa has the highest literacy rate in the United States. More than 99 percent of Iowa’s citizens can read.

Iowa gets more tornadoes than any other state. A tornado is a mighty twisting windstorm. At the center of the storm, the wind can travel as fast as 300 miles per hour.

Strawberry Point is the home of the world’s largest strawberry.

Can’t decide between a chocolate bar and ice cream? Get both! The “Eskimo Pie” – a chocolate-covered ice cream bar was invented in Iowa by Onawa native Chris Nelson.

Elk Horn is the largest Danish settlement in the United States.

Kalona is the largest Amish community west of the Mississippi River.

Fenlon Place Elevator in Dubuque is the world’s steepest and shortest railway.

Wright County has the highest percentage of grade-A topsoil in the nation.

Quaker Oats, in Cedar Rapids, is the largest cereal company in the world.

Cornell College is the only school in the nation to have its entire campus listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Born Marion Robert Morrison (aka John Wayne) in Winterset on May 26, 1907 was the son of a pharmacist and grew up to become one of Hollywood’s most popular movie stars.

The town of Fort Atkinson was the site of the only fort ever built by the U.S. government to protect one Indian tribe from another.

Campers and motor homes are manufactured in Winnebago County. They’re called Winnebago’s.

Iowa is the only state whose east and west borders are 100% formed by water. Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

Iowa is the only state that starts with two vowels.

Iowa Origin of Name:  From the Iowa River which was named after the Ioway, French word for the Bah-kho-je Indian tribe that lived in the area.

Iowa Motto:  Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.

Iowa Nickname:   Hawkeye State

Capital City:   Des Moines

State Area:   56,276 square miles

State Population:   3,002,555 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:  December 28, 1846, 29^th state

Major Industries:  agriculture (corn, soybeans, hogs, pigs), food manufacturing, insurance

State Environments:  Plains, Prairie

State Bird:   Eastern Goldfinch (aka Wild Canary)

State Tree:   Oak

State Flower:   Wild Rose

State Stone:  Geode

State Song:   “Song of Iowa”

Elevation: Highest Point – Hawkeye Point in Osceola County in northwestern Iowa 1,670 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Where the Mississippi River and Des Moines River meet; 480 feet above sea level 

Time Zone: Central UTC-6/DST-5

Average Annual Rainfall:   34.71 inches

Did you Know?

Indiana

Did you Know?

Indiana (IN, Ind., US-IN) There were a lot of firsts in Indiana. The first professional baseball game in 1871 and the first long-distance automobile race, Indianapolis 500, was in 1911, with a car that went 75 mph. The latest winner averages 167 mph.

During WWII the P-47 fighter-plane was manufactured in Evansville at Republic Aviation.

Marcella Gruelle of Indianapolis created the Raggedy Ann doll in 1914.

Santa Claus, Indiana receives over one half million letters and requests at Christmas time.

Historic Parke County has 32 covered bridges and is the Covered Bridge Capital of the world.

More than 100 species of trees are native to Indiana. Before the pioneer's arrive more than 80% of Indiana was covered with forest. Now only 17% of the state is considered forested.

Although Indiana means, "Land of the Indians" there are fewer than 8,000 Native Americans living in the state today.

Many Mennonite and Amish live on the farmland of Northeastern Indiana. One of the United States largest Mennonite congregations is in Bern. According to Amish ordnung (rules) they are forbidden to drive cars, use electricity, or go to public places of entertainment.

Indianapolis grocer Gilbert Van Camp discovered his customers enjoyed an old family recipe for pork and beans in tomato sauce. He opened up a canning company and Van Camp's Pork and Beans became an American staple.

Before public schools families pitched in to build log schoolhouse and each student's family paid a few dollars toward the teacher’s salaries.

Indiana Origin of Name:   Indiana is a word that refers to the local Indians. Meaning “land of Indians”

Indiana Motto:   “The Crossroads of America”

Indiana Nickname:   Hoosier State

Capital City:   Indianapolis

State Area:   36,420 square miles

State Population:   6,376,792 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:  December 11, 1816, 19^th state

Major Industries:  Agriculture (corn, soybeans, wheat), manufacturing, mining (coal, limestone), steel-making

State Environments:  Plains

State Bird:   Cardinal

State Tree:   Tulip Tree

State Flower:   Peony

State Stone:  Limestone

State Song:   “On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away”, by Paul Dresser

Elevation: Highest Point – Hoosier Hill, Wayne County 1,257 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Ohio River and mouth of Wabash River, Posey County 320 feet above sea level 

Time Zone: 80 counties Eastern UTC-5/-4
12 counties in Evansville and Gary Metro Areas Central UTC-6/-5

Average Annual Rainfall: 33.34 inches

Illinois (IL, Ill, US-IL) Illinois claims it is the birthplace of the ice cream sundae. In the 1890s, it was illegal to sell ice cream sodas on Sunday. Drug stores started to sell ice cream with syrup instead, calling them sundaes.

The first Aquarium opened in Chicago, in 1893.

The world’s first Skyscraper was built in Chicago, in 1885.

The first Mormon Temple in Illinois was constructed in Nauvoo.

The Sears Tower in Chicago is the tallest building on the North American continent.

Metropolis the home of Superman really exists in Southern Illinois.

Des Plaines is home to the first McDonald's.

Dixon is the boyhood home of President Ronald Reagan.

The round Silo for farm storage of silage was first constructed on a farm in Spring Grove.

In Mount Pulaski, Illinois, it is illegal for boys (and only boys) to hurl snowballs at trees. Girls are allowed to do that however.

The world's largest cookie and cracker factory, where Nabisco made 16 billion Oreo cookies in 1995, is located in Chicago.

Illinois Origin of Name:  Illinois comes from the word Illini, a confederation of the Cahokia, Kaskaskia, Michigamea, Moingwena, Peoria and Tamaroa Indian tribes. Algonquin for “tribe of superior men”.

Illinois Motto:   State Sovereignty, National Union

Illinois Nickname:   Prairie State

Capital City:   Springfield

State Area:   57,918 square miles

State Population:   12,901,563 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:  December 3, 1818, 21^st state

Major Industries:   Agriculture (corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, barley, rye, sorghum), cattle, manufacturing, mining.

State Environments:  Plains, Prairies

State Bird:   Cardinal

State Tree:   White Oak

State Flower:   Illinois Native (purple) Violet

State Mammal:   White-tailed Deer

State Song:   “Illinois”

Elevation: Highest Point – Charles Mound 1,235 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Mississippi River 279 feet above sea level 

Time Zone: Central UTC-6/-5

Average Annual Rainfall: 33.34 inches

Did you Know?

Idaho (ID, US-ID) Idaho’s Hell’s Canyon is the deepest river gorge in America – even deeper than the Grand Canyon. Carved by the great Snake River, Hell’s Canyon plunges more than 8,000 feet.

Humans may have been present in the Idaho area as long as 14,500 years ago. Excavations at Wilson Butte Cave near Twin Falls in 1959 revealed evidence of human activity, including arrowheads that rank among the oldest dated artifacts in North America.

The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness is the largest wilderness area in the 48 contiguous states – 2.3 million acres of rugged, unspoiled back country.

Five of history’s pioneer trails, including the Oregon Trail and the California Trail, cross Southern Idaho Wagon ruts are still visible all along the rugged terrain.

In the late 1800s, there were several sightings of strange creatures in Bear Lake (on the Idaho/Utah border). The Bear Lake Monster causes residents and visitors to Idaho to question whether they are in Idaho or Scotland.  The serpent-like monsters were up to 90 feet in length, could move faster than running horses, and were witnessed by several different people. To this day, there are still those who refuse to night fish on the lake.

The world's first alpine skiing chairlift was (and still is) located in Sun Valley. Built by Union Pacific Railroad engineers, it was designed after a banana-boat loading device. The 1936 fee: 25 cents per ride.

A person may not be seen in public without a smile on their face in Pocatello, Idaho.

In Idaho, it’s against the law for anyone over the age of 88 to ride a motorcycle.

In Idaho, riding a merry-go-round on Sundays is considered a crime!

Shoshone Falls (212 feet), near Twin Falls, Idaho, drops 52 feet further than Niagara Falls.

Appropriately named the “Gem State,” Idaho produces 72 types of precious and semi-precious stones, some of which can be found nowhere else in the world.

Did you know that Idaho has a seaport? The Port of Lewiston allows the exportation of millions of bushels of grain down the Snake and Columbia Rivers for overseas shipment.

One of the largest diamonds ever found in the United States, nearly 20 carats, was discovered near McCall, Idaho.

Idahois the only state that was possibly named as the result of a hoax (the so-called "Idahoax") although this is disputed. The exact origin of the name remains a mystery

Idaho Origin of Name:   An invented name whose meaning is unknown.

Idaho Motto:  Esto perpetua (Let it be perpetual) May it Endure Forever

Idaho Nickname:  Gem State

Capital City: Boise

State Area:   83,574 square miles

State Population:    1,523,816 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:   July 3, 1890, 43^rd state

Major Industries:  Food processing, lumber and wood product, machinery, chemical products, paper products, silver and other mining, tourism.

Agriculture: Cattle, potatoes, dairy products, wheat, sugar beets, barley.

State Environments:  Mountains, Plains

State Bird:   Mountain Bluebird

State Tree:   Western White Pine

State Flower:    Syringa

State Horse:   Appaloosa

State Gem:   Idaho Star Garnet

State Song:   "Here We Have Idaho"

Elevation: Highest Point – Borah Peak 12,662 feet
Lowest Point – Snake River 710 ft 

Time Zone: North of Salmon River Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Remainder Mountain: UTC-7/-6

Average Annual Rainfall: 11.71 inches

Did you Know?

Hawaii (HI, US-HI) Hawaii is made up of eight main islands: Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and Hawaii. Undersea volcanoes created the islands. Hawaiiis very isolated. It is 2,390 miles from California; 3,850 miles from Japan; 4,900 miles from China; and 5,280 miles from the Philippines.

Hawaii is the only state that grows coffee.

The 44^th U.S. President Barack Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on August 4, 1961.

There are only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet. Vowels: A, E, I, O, U. Consonants: H, K, L, M, N, P, W.

Island of Niihau: A privately owned island, with livestock raising as its principal industry. Legend says Niihau was the original home of the goddess Pele.

Island of Kauai: The fourth largest of the Hawaiian Islands. The Waialua River is one of five navigable rivers in Hawaii. It drains off Waialeale Mountain, which averages 488 inches of rain per year and is considered the wettest spot on earth.

Island of Oahu: Honolulu is the largest city in the world – at least it has the longest borders. Iolani Palace is the only royal palace in the United States. The world’s largest wind generator is on the island of Oahu. The windmill has two blades 400 feet long on the top of a tower twenty stories high.

Island of Maui: The island is home to many famous attractions including Haleakala Crater (is the world’s largest dormant volcano), the old whaling town of Lahaina, the road to Hana, and Kaanapali Beach.

Island of Molokai: Molokai is known as the most Hawaiian Isle. This island contains the world’s highest sea cliffs, Hawaii’s longest waterfall, and the largest white sand beach in the state.

Island of Lanai: Is considered Hawaii’s most secluded. The island was once the home of the world’s largest pineapple plantations.

Island of Kahoolawe: Once used as a target by the U.S. Navy and Air Force the services are cleaning up unexploded shells. No one is allowed to go ashore without permission. The island consists of an uninhabited area of 45 square miles.

The Big Island of Hawaii: Kilauea Iki is the world’s most active and largest volcano. Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world. The island houses the world’s biggest telescope and more scientific observations in one place than anywhere else in the world. The island is the worldwide leader in harvesting macadamia nuts and orchids.

Hawaii Origin of Name:  Uncertain. Hawaii may been named for the traditional home of the Polynesians, Hawaii or Hawaiki, called “Owhyhee”.

Hawaii Motto: “Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono” (The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness)

Hawaii Nickname:  The Aloha State

Capital City: Honolulu

State Area: 10,932 square miles

State Population:  1,288,198 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood: August 21, 1959 50^th state

Major Industries: agriculture, industry (especially insurance), tourism

State Environments: Coast, Mountains

State Bird:  Hawaiian Goose - Nene

State Tree:  Candlenut - Kukui

State Flower: Yellow Hibiscus

State Mammal: Humpback Whale

State Gem: Black Coral

State Song: “Hawaii Ponoi”

Elevation: Highest Point – Mauna Kea 13,796 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Pacific Ocean 0 ft 

Time Zone: Hawaii UTC-10. Hawaii has its own time zone (Hawaiian Standard Time.) There is no daylight savings time. The time runs two hours behind Pacific Standard Time.

Average Annual Rainfall: 23.47 inches

Did you Know?

Georgia (GA, US-GA) Atlanta, Georgiais the birthplace of Coca-Cola. The sweet drink was invented in May 1886 by Dr. John S. Pemberton, but the name was suggested by Pemberton’s bookkeeper, Frank Robinson.

In Gainesville, the Chicken Capital of the World it is illegal to eat chicken with a fork.

Georgia is the nation’s number one producer of the three P’s – peanuts, pecans, and peaches.

Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River.

The annual Masters Golf Tournament is played at the Augusta National in Augusta every first week of April.

Fort Benning, Georgia is the home of the world’s largest Infantry training center.

Georgia Origin of Name:  Georgia was named to honor King George II of England

Georgia Motto: “Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation”

Georgia Nickname:  Empire State of the South, Peach State

Capital City:  Atlanta

State Area: 59,441 square miles

State Population:  9,685,744 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood: January 2, 1788, 4^th state

Major Industries:  textiles, timber (especially pine), agriculture (cotton, corn, peanuts, soybeans, poultry)

State Environments: Coast, Mountains, Plains

State Bird:  Brown Thrasher

State Tree:  Live Oak

State Flower:  Cherokee Rose

State Mammal:  Right Whale

State Gem:  Quartz

State Song: “Georgia on My Mind”

Elevation: Highest Point – Brasstown Bald 4,784 feet
Lowest Point – Atlantic Ocean 0 ft 

Time Zone: Eastern UTC-5/-4

Average Annual Rainfall: 48.61 inches

Did you Know?

Florida (FL, Fla. US-FL) Florida’s Everglades is America’s greatest wildlife habitat. The vegetation acts like a massive filter, cleaning water for the thousands of species that live there. The Everglades may be a swamp, but it prevents flooding by slowing the flow of rainwater.

Cape Canaveral is America’s launch pad for space flights.

Florida is not the southernmost state in the United States. Hawaii is farther south.

Gatorade was named for the University of Florida Gators where the drink was first developed.

Miami installed the first bank automated teller machine especially for rollerblades.

Key Largo is known as the Dive Capital of the World.

Florida Origin of Name:  From the Spanish Pascua Florida, meaning “feast of flowers”

Florida Motto: “In God we Trust”

Florida Nickname:  The Sunshine State

Capital City: Tallahassee

State Area: 65,758 square miles

State Population:  18,328,340 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood: March 3, 1845 27^th state

Major Industries: agriculture (oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes), tourism, electronics

State Environments: Coast

State Bird:  Mockingbird

State Tree:  Palmetto Palm

State Flower: Orange Blossom

State Mammal: Florida Panther

State Gem: Moonstone

State Song: “Suwannee River”

Elevation: Highest Point – Britton Hill in Walton County 345 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Atlantic Ocean 0 ft 

Time Zone: Eastern UTC-5/-4
            Central: UTC-6/DST-5

Average Annual Rainfall: 49.91 inches

Did you Know?

Delaware (DE, US-DE) Every May, the Delaware coast is visited by one of the oldest animals in the world. The horseshoe crab has been around for 250 million years, since before the dinosaurs.

The nation’s first scheduled steam railroad began in New Castle, Delaware in 1831.

The United States battleship Delaware was commissioned in 1910.

Delaware is the only state without any National Park System units such as national parks, seashores, historic sites, battlefields, memorials, and monuments.

The most historic site in Frederica is Barratt’s Chapel, built in 1780, east of town. The chapel is where the Methodist Church of America was organized in 1784.

Thomas Garret, a Quaker merchant, lost his entire fortune in his battle against slavery. He was sued by a Maryland slave owner and fined for aiding a black family in flight. Over his lifetime, Garrett reportedly helped more than 2,000 fugitive slaves move through Delaware, an important stop on the Underground Railroad.

The 87-foot Fenwick Island Lighthouse was painted in 1880 for a total cost of about $5.00.

Delaware Origin of Name:  Delaware was named to honor the early Virginia governor, Lord De La Warr.

Delaware Motto:  “Liberty and Independence”

Delaware Nickname:  First State, Diamond State, Blue Hen State, Small Wonder

Capital City:  Dover

State Area:  2,489 square miles

State Population:  873,092 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:  December 7, 1787 1^st state

Major Industries:  Business, agriculture and tourism

State Environments:  Coast, River

State Bird:  Blue Hen Chicken

State Tree:  American Holly

State Flower:  Peach Blossom

State Gem:  Sillimanite

State Song:  “Our Delaware”

Elevation:  Highest Point – Ebright Road (near Pennsylvania state line) 442 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Atlantic Ocean 0 ft  

Time Zone:  Eastern UTC-5/-4

Average Annual Rainfall:  41.38 inches

Did you Know?

Connecticut (CT, Conn. US-CT) The term “pumpkin head” comes from Connecticut and refers to a law, which requires men to have haircuts that fit a certain shaped cap. Pumpkin shells were sometimes used instead.

Connecticut played a prominent role in the Revolutionary War, serving as the Continental Army's major supplier. Sometimes called the “Arsenal of the Nation,” the state became one of the most industrialized in the nation.

Connecticutalso has a very active bicycling community, with one of the highest rates of bicycling ownership and use in the United States.

Connecticut is well known as the home of  Yale University (701), which maintains a consistent ranking as one of the world's most renowned universities and has one of the most selective undergraduate programs of any university in the United States (a 7.5% acceptance rate in 2009). Yale is one of the largest employers in the state, and its research activity has recently spun off dozens of growing biotechnology companies.

Connecticut Origin of Name: From an Indian word (Quinnehtukqut) meaning “beside the long tidal river”

Connecticut Motto: “Qui transtulit sustinet” (He who transplanted still sustains)

Connecticut Nickname:  Constitution State, The Nutmeg State

Capital City: Hartford

State Area: 5,544 square miles

State Population:  3,501,252 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood: January 9, 1788 5^th state

Major Industries: agriculture, industry (especially insurance), tourism
Connecticut factories produce weapons, sewing machines, jet engines, helicopters, motors, hardware and tools, cutlery, clocks, locks, silverware, and submarines. Hartford has the oldest U.S. newspaper still being published—the Hartford Courant, established 1764—and is the insurance capital of the nation.

State Environments: Coast, Rolling Mountains

State Bird:  American Robin

State Tree:  White Oak

State Flower: Mountain Laurel

State Mammal: Sperm Whale

State Gem: Garnet

State Song: “Yankee Doodle”

Elevation: Highest Point – Mount Frissell 2,380 feet
Lowest Point – Long Island Sound 0 ft  

Time Zone: Eastern UTC-5/-4

Average Annual Rainfall: 44.39 inches

Did you Know?

Colorado (CO, Colo. US-CO) The tallest sand dunes in America are Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes National Monument. The dunes were started over 12,000 years ago and heavy winds continue to move the sand. The dunes are located outside of Alamosa in south central Colorado.

The U.S. obtained eastern Colorado as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the central portion in 1845 with the admission of Texas as a state, and the western part in 1848 as a result of the Mexican War.

Colorado has the highest mean elevation of any state, with more than 1,000 Rocky Mountain peaks over 10,000 feet high and 54 towering above 14, 000 feet. Pikes Peak the most famous of these mountains was discovered by U.S. Army lieutenant Zebulon M. Pike in 1806.

“Grand Mesa”, the world’s largest flat-top plateau is also found in Colorado.

Colorado has more microbreweries per capita than any other state.

The Dwight Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel between Clear Creek and Summit counties is the highest auto tunnel in the world. Bored at an elevation of 11,000 feet under the Continental Divide, it is 8,960 feet long.

Colorado is the home of the highest suspension bridge in the world is over the Royal Gorge near Canon City. The Royal Gorge Bridge spans the Arkansas River at a height of 1,053 feet.

A golf ball flies on average ten percent farther in Colorado than other states because of the altitude. It flies even farther at higher altitudes about 7,000 feet.

The thirteenth step of the state capital building in Denver is one mile above sea level.

Colfax Avenue in Denver is the longest continuous street in America.

Colorado Motto: “Nil sine Numine” (nothing without Providence)

Colorado Nickname:  Centennial State, Colorful Colorado

Capital City: Denver

State Area: 104,100 square miles

State Population:  4,939,456 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood: August 1, 1876, 38^th state

Major Industries: Cattle, wheat, dairy products, corn and hay, tourism (especially skiers), mining (gold, silver), oil, finance and manufacturing.

State Environments: Mountains

State Bird: Lark Bunting

State Tree:  Colorado Blue Spruce

State Flower: Rocky Mountain Columbine

State Mammal: Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep

State Gem: Aquamarine

State Song: “Where the Columbines Grow”

Elevation: Highest Point – Mount Elbert 14,440 feet
Lowest Point – Arkansas River 3,315 ft

Time Zone: Mountain MST= UTC-7, MDT=UTC-6

Average Rainfall: 12 to 18 inches

It's no wonder Colorado is one of the top destinations for summer travel, it has endless sights of beauty.

One of my favorite all-time memories was when my parents had a campsite just on the outskirts of Gunnison, next to the Gunnison River and the Airport. They would stay there all summer long with all their RV buddies from around the states. They had approximately 3 acres and each of their friends had their own specific spot they like to park their RV for the summer - it was like they had their own little community. My family and I would travel to Gunnison every summer and spend a week with them, each day we would take mini-off road trips through all the mountain passes...oh what beauty, mountains, trees, lakes, animals!

Those were some of my fondest memories of Colorado!

Did you Know?

California (CA, Calif. US-CA) One out of every 8 Americans lives in California. California was the first state to produce goods and services worth over a trillion dollars. In fact, if California was a country, it would be the seventh largest economy in the world.

San Francisco Bay is considered the world’s largest landlocked harbor.

It is estimated there are approximately 500,000 detectable seismic tremors in California annually.

California’s Proposition 215 (1996) was the first statewide medical marijuana initiative to pass in the USA.

California Motto: “Eureka” (I have found it)

California Nickname:  The Golden State

Capital City: Sacramento

State Area: 163,707 square miles

State Population: 36,756,666 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood: September 9, 1850, 31^st state

Major Industries: Agriculture, Oil, Mining, Movie Making, Entertainment, Tourism, Manufacturing, Biotechnology, Aerospace-defense

State Environments: Coast, Desert, Mountains

State Bird: California Valley Quail

State Tree:  Redwood – the Redwood is the tallest tree, growing up to 370 feet tall and living for over a thousand years. One redwood in California is 2,220 years old. The roods of this giant conifer are shallow, but spread sideways up to 250 feet from the trunk.

State Flower: California Poppy

State Mammal: Grizzly Bear

State Gem: Benitoite

State Song: “I Love You, California”

Elevation: Highest Point – Mount Whitney 14,495 feet
Lowest Point – Death Valley 282 ft below sea level, the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere

Time Zone: Pacific UTC-8/-7

Average Rainfall: 17.28 inches

Did you Know?

Arkansas (AR, Ark. US-AR) is the only state where diamonds have been found and mined. If you visit the Crater of Diamonds State Park, you can search for diamonds, amethyst, garnet, jasper, agate, and quartz – just like the prospectors.

Arkansasis one of the several U.S. states formed from the territory purchased from Napoleon Bonaparte in the Louisiana Purchase.

Arkansas played a key role in aiding Texas in its war for independence from Mexico; it sent troops and materials to Texas to help fight the war.

Arkansas is home to several global companies including Wal-Mart, J.B. Hunt and Tyson Foods. Sam Walton founded his Wal-Mart stores in Bentonville.

Arkansas has a larger percentage of tobacco smokers than the national average, with 24% of adults smoking!

Arkansas like most other southern states is part of the Bible Belt and is predominantly Protestant.

Kingsland, Arkansaswas the birth place for the legendary singer Johnny Cash.

Arkansas Motto: "Regnat Populus" (The people rule)

Arkansas Nickname: The Natural State

Arkansas is home of Hot Springs National Park, its springs produces more than a million gallons of water a day, with an average temperature of 143°F (62°C), flow from 47 springs.

Capital City: Little Rock

State Area: 53,182 square miles

State Population: 2,855,390 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood: June 15, 1836, 25th state

Major Industries: Food processing, bromine and vanadium

Major Agriculture: Poultry and eggs, soybeans, sorghum, cattle, cotton, rice, hogs, and milk. Its industrial outputs are food processing, electric equipment, fabricated metal products, machinery, paper products, bromine, and vanadium.

State Environments: Prairies, Rivers

State Bird: Mockingbird

State Tree: Pine Tree

State Flower: Apple Blossom

State Mammal: White-tailed Deer

State Gem: Diamond

State Song: “Arkansas” by Wayland Holyfield and “Oh Arkansas by Terry Rose and Gary Klaff

Elevation: Highest Point – Mount Magazine 2,753 feet
Lowest Point – Ouachita River 55 ft

Time Zone: Central UTC-6/DST-5

Average Rainfall: 48.52 inches

Did you Know?

Alaska (AK, US-AK) is the largest state. It is just over twice the size of Texas. Alaska was bought from the Russians in 1867 for two cents an acre! Parts of Alaska were occupied by Japanese troops during World War II.

Approximately half of Alaska's residents reside in Anchorage. Alaska remains the least densely populated state.

Alaska has more coastlines than anyother U.S. states combined. Alaska has over 3 million lakes, marshlands and wetland permafrost.

Alaska Motto: "North to the Future."

Alaska is known as "The Last Frontier", "Land of the Midnight Sun" or "Seward's Icebox".

Capital City: Juneau

State Area: 663,268 square miles

State Population: 686,293 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood: January 3, 1959, 49th state

State Environments: Coast, Mountains

State Bird: Willow Ptarmigan

State Tree: Silka Spruce

State Flower: Forget-Me-Not

State Song: Alaska's Flag 

Elevation: Highest Point - Mount McKinley 20,320 feet
Lowest Point - Pacific Ocean 0 ft

Time Zone: East of 169 degrees 30' Alaska UTC-9, DST-8
West of 169 degree 30' Aleutian UTC-10, DST-9

Did you Know?

Alabama (AL, Ala) introduced the Mardi Gras (French for Fat Tuesday) festival to North America. In 1703, 124 years before the New Orleans festivities began, the tine town of Mobile celebrated Boeuf Gras (French for Fat Beef) at the start of Lent.

Birmingham is the largest city by population, Huntsville is the largest by total land and Mobile is the oldest city.

Alabama is known as the "Heart of Dixie".

Capital City: Montgomery

State Area: 52,423 square miles

State Population: 4.6 million (2006)

Admission to Statehood: December 14, 1819, 22nd state

State Environments: Coast, Plains

State Bird: Yellowhammer

State Tree: Long-leaf Pine

State Flower: Camellia

Elevation: Highest Point - Mount Cheaha 2,405 feet
Lowest Point - Gulf of Mexico 0 ft

Time Zone: Central