“This Land is Your Land; This Land is My Land” 50 Days of Geography

In the United States of America, from A to Z

Did you know that ….The capital of Alabama is Montgomery. Alabama is nicknamed “Heart of Dixie.”

The U.S. Space and Rocket Center is located in Huntsville.

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Did you know that…The capital of Alaska is Juneau.

Alaska is nicknamed “The Last Frontier.” Alaska has the largest number of lakes in the U.S.---

more than 3 million!

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Did you know that…The capital of Arizona is Phoenix.

Arizona is nicknamed “The Grand Canyon State.”The Grand Canyon is more than 200 miles

long and one mile deep.

Did you know that…The capital of Arkansas is Little Rock.

Arkansas is nicknamed “The Razorback State.” Diamonds are mined at Crater of Diamonds,

North America’s only diamond mine.

Did you know that…The capital of California is Sacramento.

California is nicknamed “The Golden State.” Death Valley has the lowest point in North America and the

highest temperature ever recorded in the U.S.A.

Did you know that…The capital of Colorado is Denver.

Colorado is nicknamed “The Centennial State” because it became a U.S. state in 1876.

Prehistoric cliff dwellings are in Mesa Verde National Park.

Did you know that…The capital of Connecticut is Hartford.

Connecticut is nicknamed “The Constitution State.” The U.S. Coast Guard Academy is located in New London.

Did you know that…The capital of Delaware is Dover.

Delaware is nicknamed “The First State.” This state has the fewest number of counties (3) in the U.S.

Did you know that…The capital of Florida is Tallahassee.

Florida is nicknamed “The Sunshine State.” St. Augustine, founded in 1565, is the oldest continuously

occupied European-settled city in North America.

Did you know that…The capital of Georgia is Atlanta.

Georgia is nicknamed “The Peach State.”CNN and Coca-Cola are both headquartered in Atlanta.

Did you know that…The capital of Hawaii is Honolulu.

Hawaii is nicknamed “The Aloha State.” Mauna Loa, on the island of Hawaii, is the world’s most active

volcano and the largest mountain in cubic miles.

Did you know that…The capital of Idaho is Boise.

Idaho is nicknamed “The Gem State.” The Continental Divide lies along a portion of the Idaho

and Montana border.

Did you know that…The capital of Illinois is Springfield.

Illinois is nicknamed “The Prairie State.” In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed much of the city.

Did you know that…The capital of Indiana is Indianapolis.

Indiana is nicknamed “The Hoosier State.” Indiana’s Lost River flows underground for 22 miles.

Did you know that…The capital of Iowa is Des Moines.

Iowa is nicknamed “The Hawkeye State.” The Iowa Caucuses provide the first presidential election primary.

Did you know that…The capital of Kansas is Topeka.

Kansas is nicknamed “The Sunflower State.” The geographic center of the 48 states is near Lebanon,

Kansas, in Smith County.

Did you know that…The capital of Kentucky is Frankfort.

Kentucky is nicknamed “The Bluegrass State.” The United States Gold Bullion Depository is at Fort Knox.

Did you know that…The capital of Louisiana is Baton Rouge.

Louisiana is nicknamed “The Pelican State.” Louisiana is the only state with parishes instead of counties.

Did you know that…The capital of Maine is Augusta.

Maine is nicknamed “The Pine Tree State.” Eastport is the easternmost city in the United States.

Did you know that…The capital of Maryland is Annapolis.

Maryland is nicknamed “The Old Line State.” Near Hancock, the state is only 1 mile wide, the narrowest point

of any state.

Did you know that…The capital of Massachusetts is Boston.

Massachusetts is nicknamed “The Bay State.” The Boston Common is the oldest public park (1634) in the

United States.

Did you know that…The capital of Michigan is Lansing.

Michigan is nicknamed “The Wolverine State.” Henry Ford established his auto company in Detroit, making the state

the nation’s leading producer of automobiles.

Did you know that…The capital of Minnesota is St. Paul.

Minnesota is nicknamed “The North Star State.” Angle Inlet, on Lake of the Woods, is the northernmost point

of the conterminous 48 states.

Did you know that…The capital of Mississippi is Jackson.

Mississippi is nicknamed “The Magnolia State.” The river port of Vicksburg was the site of a major battle in the

American Civil War.

Did you know that…The capital of Missouri is Jefferson City.

Missouri is nicknamed “The Show Me State.” Both the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails began in Independence;

thus the state is known as the “Gateway to the West.”

Did you know that…The capital of Montana is Helena.

Montana is nicknamed “The Treasure State.” Yellowstone National Park is the largest and oldest in the

United States.

Did you know that…The capital of Nebraska is Lincoln.

Nebraska is nicknamed “The Cornhusker State.” Nebraska has only one house of representatives. In all

other states there are two. It’s a unicameral legislature.

Did you know that…The capital of Nevada is Carson City.

Nevada is nicknamed “The Silver State.” Nevada has the highest marriage rate in the U.S., due to

the many couples who marry in Las Vegas.

Did you know that…The capital of New Hampshire is Concord.

New Hampshire is nicknamed “The Granite State.” Mount Washington holds the record for the highest

recorded winds on Earth.

Did you know that…The capital of New Jersey is Trenton.

New Jersey is nicknamed “The Garden State.” Washington crossed the Delaware River and attacked the

British at Trenton on Christmas Day, 1776.

Did you know that…The capital of New Mexico is Santa Fe.

New Mexico is nicknamed “The Land of Enchantment.” Santa Fe is the oldest capital city in the United States.

Did you know that…The capital of New York State is Albany.

New York is nicknamed “The Empire State.” The headquarters of the United Nations is in

New York City.

Did you know that…The capital of North Carolina is Raleigh.

North Carolina is nicknamed “The Tar Heel State.” The Wright Brothers made the first powered flight on the

beach at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Did you know that…The capital of North Dakota is Bismarck.

North Dakota is nicknamed “The Peace Garden State.” The town of Rugby is the geographic center of North America.

Did you know that…The capital of Ohio is Columbus.

Ohio is nicknamed “The Buckeye State.” Cleveland is home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Did you know that…The capital of Oklahoma is Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma is nicknamed “The Sooner State.” Oklahoma is known for its panhandle which touches four

other states.

Did you know that…The capital of Oregon is Salem.

Oregon is nicknamed “The Beaver State.” Oregon’s Crater Lake is the deepest in the U.S. and Hells

Canyon is the deepest canyon.

Did you know that…The capital of Pennsylvania is Harrisburg.

Pennsylvania is nicknamed “The Keystone State.” The first oil well in the world was drilled near Titusville,

Pa., in 1859.

Did you know that…The capital of Rhode Island is Providence.

Rhode Island’s nickname is “The Ocean State.” The Touro Synagogue, in Newport, is the oldest synagogue

in the nation.

Did you know that…The capital of South Carolina is Columbia.

South Carolina is nicknamed “The Palmetto State.” The American Civil War began with the attack on Fort Sumter

in Charleston Harbor.

Did you know that…The capital of South Dakota is Pierre.

South Dakota is nicknamed “The Coyote State.” Mt. Rushmore has the faces of 4 presidents sculpted into

the side of the mountain: Washington; Jefferson; Theodore Roosevelt; and Lincoln.

Did you know that…The capital of Tennessee is Nashville.

Tennessee is nicknamed “The Volunteer State.” Graceland, in Memphis, was the home of Elvis Presley.

Did you know that…The capital of Texas is Austin.

Texas is nicknamed “The Lone Star State.”Texas has 254 counties, more than any other state.

Did you know that…The capital of Utah is Salt Lake City.

Utah is nicknamed “The Beehive State.” The Great Salt Lake is the largest salt lake in North America.

Did you know that…The capital of Vermont is Montpelier.

Vermont is nicknamed “The Green Mountain State.” Montpelier is the smallest U.S. state capital, measured by

population.

Did you know that…The capital of Virginia is Richmond.

Virginia is nicknamed “The Old Dominion.” Arlington National Cemetery is located in Virginia, across

the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.

Did you know that…The capital of Washington is Olympia.

Washington is nicknamed “The Evergreen State.” The Olympic Peninsula contains a rain forest.

Did you know that…The capital of West Virginia is Charleston.

West Virginia is nicknamed “The Mountain State.” In 1861, West Virginia seceded from Virginia because Virginia

seceded from the Union.

Did you know that…The capital of Wisconsin is Madison.

Wisconsin is nicknamed “The Badger State.” Green Bay is the smallest city with a professional football

team.

Did you know that…The capital of Wyoming is Cheyenne.

Wyoming is nicknamed “The Cowboy State.” In 1869, Wyoming was the first state in the Union to give women

the right to vote.

Source: Rosenberg, Matthew T. & Jennifer E., The Geography Bee Complete Preparation Handbook, Three Rivers Press, New York, N.Y., 2002