List of U.S. state name etymologies

Map showing the source languages of state names

This is a list of the origins of the names of U.S. states.

The fifty U.S. states have taken their names from a wide variety of languages. The names of 24 states derive from indigenous languages of the Americas and one from Hawaiian: eight come from Algonquian languages, seven from Siouan languages (one of those by way of Illinois, an Algonquian language), three from Iroquoian languages, one from a Uto-Aztecan language, and five from other Native American languages.

Twenty-two other state names derive from European languages: seven come from Latin (mostly from Latinate forms of English personal names), five come from Spanish (and one more from an Indigenous language by way of Spanish), four come from English, and four come from French (one of those by way of English). The etymologies of six states are disputed or unclear: Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Oregon, and Rhode Island (in the table below, those states have one row for each potential source language or meaning).

Of the fifty states, eleven are named in honor of an individual. Of those eleven, seven are named in honor of kings and queens: the two Carolinas, the two Virginias, Maryland, Louisiana and Georgia. Only one is named after a president of the United States.

Contents

State names

State name Date of First Original language Year of First Original language Language of origin Word of origin Meaning and Notes
Alabama April 19 1742 Choctaw albah amo "Thicket-clearers"[1] or "plant-cutters", from albah, "(medicinal) plants", and amo, "to clear". The modern Choctaw name for the tribe is Albaamu.[2]
Alaska December 2 1897 Aleut via Russian alaxsxaq via Аляска "Mainland" (literally "the object towards which the action of the sea is directed").[3]
Arizona February 1 1883 Basque aritz onak "Good oaks".[4][5]
O'odham via Spanish ali ṣona-g "Having a little spring".[6]
Arkansas July 20 1796 Kansa, via Illinois and French akaansa Borrowed from an French spelling of an Illinois rendering of the tribal name kką:ze (see Kansas, below), which the Miami and Illinois used to refer to the Quapaw.[6][7][8][9]
California May 22 1850 Spanish, Unknown Probably named for the fictional Island of California ruled by Queen Califia in the 16th century novel Las sergas de Esplandián by García Ordóñez de Montalvo.[10]
See also: Origin of the name California
Colorado November 8 1858 Spanish "Red" or "reddish",[11] originally referring to the Colorado River.[12]
Connecticut April 15 1675 Eastern Algonquian quinnitukqut From some Eastern Algonquian language of southern New England (perhaps Mahican), meaning "at the long tidal river", after the Connecticut River.[13][14] The name reflects Proto-Eastern-Algonquian *kwən-, "long"; *-əhtəkw, "tidal river"; and *-ənk, the locative suffix[15] (c.f. Ojibwe ginootigweyaad, "be a long river").[16]
Delaware January 31 1680 French via English de la Warr After the Delaware River, which was named for Lord de la Warr (originally probably Norman French de la werre, "of the war").[17] Lord de la Warr was the first Governor-General of Jamestown.[18]
Florida December 28 1819 Spanish (pascua) florida "Flowery (Easter)"[19] (to distinguish it from Christmastide which was also called Pascua), in honor of its discovery by the Spanish during the Easter season.[20]
Georgia October 3 1674 Latin The feminine Latin form of "George", named after King George II of Great Britain.[21][22]
Hawaii December 29 1879 Hawaiian Hawaiʻi From Hawaiki, legendary homeland of the Polynesians.[23] Hawaiki is believed to mean "place of the gods."[24]
Named for Hawaiʻiloa, legendary discoverer of the Hawaiian islands.[25]
Idaho June 6 1864 English I-dah-hoe Probably made up by George M. "Doc" Willing as a practical joke; originally claimed to have been derived from a word in a Native American language that meant "Gem of the Mountains."[26] The name was initially proposed for the state of Colorado until its origins were discovered. Years later it fell into common usage, and was proposed for the state it now names.[27]
Plains Apache ídaahę́ Possibly from the Plains Apache word for "enemy" (ídaahę́), which was used to refer to the Comanches.[28]
Illinois March 24 1793 Algonquian via French ilenweewa The state is named for the French adaptation of an Algonquian language (perhaps Miami) word apparently meaning "s/he speaks normally" (c.f. Miami ilenweewa,[29] Old Ottawa <ilinoüek>,[30] Proto-Algonquian *elen-, "ordinary" and -we·, "to speak"),[31] referring to the Illiniwek (Illinois).[30]
Indiana December 2 1794 Latin "Land of the Indians".[32]
Iowa August 31 1818 Dakota via French ayúxba/ayuxwe via Aiouez By way of French Aiouez, and named after the Iowa tribe. The name seems to have no further known etymology,[33][34] though some give it the meaning "sleepy ones".[35]
Kansas May 12 1832 Kansa via French kką:ze via Cansez[36] Named after the Kansas River,[37][38] which in turn was named after the Kaw or Kansas tribe.[7] The name seems to be connected to the idea of "wind".[39]
Kentucky April 28 1728 Iroquoian Originally referring to the Kentucky River. While some sources say the etymology is uncertain,[40][41] most agree on a meaning of "(on) the meadow" or "(on) the prairie"[42][43] (c.f. Mohawk kenhtà:ke, Seneca gëdá’geh (phonemic /kẽtaʔkeh/), "at the field").[44]
Louisiana July 18 1787 French via Latin Louisiane After King Louis XIV of France.[45]
Maine October 13 1729 English A common historical etymology is that the state's name refers to the mainland, as opposed to the coastal islands.[46]
French After the French province of Maine.[47]
English A more recent proposal is that the state was named after the English village of Broadmayne which was the family estate of Sir Ferdinand Gorges, the colony's founder.[48][49]
Maryland January 18 1691 English After Queen Henrietta Maria of England, wife of King Charles I.[50]
Massachusetts June 4 1665 Algonquian Plural of "Massachusett" meaning "Near the great little-mountain", or "at the great hill", usually identified as Great Blue Hill on the border of Milton and Canton, Massachusetts[51] (c.f. the Narragansett name Massachusêuck[51]; Ojibwe misajiwens, "little big hill").[16]
Michigan October 28 1811 Ottawa mishigami "Large water" or "large lake".[16][52]
Minnesota April 21 1821 Dakota mnisota "Cloudy water", referring to the Minnesota River.[14][53]
Mississippi March 9 1800 Ojibwe via French misi-ziibi "Great river", after the Mississippi River.[16][54]
Missouri September 7 1805 Illinois mihsoori "Dugout canoe". The Missouri tribe was noteworthy among the Illinois for their dugout canoes, and so was referred to as the wimihsoorita, "one who has a wood boat [dugout canoe]".[55]
Montana November 1 1860 Spanish montaña "Mountain".[56]
Nebraska June 22 1847 Chiwere ñįbraske "flattened water", after the Platte River, which used to be known as the Nebraska River, because how flat the plains are, when the river would flood, it would blanket the region.[57]
Nevada February 9 1845 Spanish "Snow-covered",[58] after the Sierra Nevada ("snow-covered mountains").
New Hampshire August 27 1692 English After the county of Hampshire in England.[59]
New Jersey April 2 1669 English After Jersey[60] (the largest of the British Channel Islands), birthplace of one of the colony's two co-founders, Sir George de Carteret.[60] The name "Jersey" most likely comes from a Norse name meaning "Geirr's Island".[61]
New Mexico November 1 1859 Nahuatl via Spanish Mēxihco via Nuevo México A calque of Spanish Nuevo México.[62] The name Mexico comes from Nahuatl Mēxihco (pronounced [meːˈʃiʔko])[63][64], whose meaning is unknown, though many possibilities have been proposed (such as that the name comes from the name of the God Mextli,[65] or that it means "navel of the moon").[66]
New York October 15 1680 English After York, England, to honor the then Duke of York (later King James II of England).[67] The name "York" is derived from its Latin name Eboracum (via Old English Eoforwic), apparently borrowed from Brythonic Celtic *eborakon, which probably meant "Yew-Tree Estate." [68] See also York#Toponomy for more information.
North Carolina June 30 1686 Latin Carolus via Carolana After King Charles I of England.[69]
North Dakota November 2 1867 Sioux dakhóta "Ally" or "friend",[57] after the Dakota tribe.[70]
Ohio April 19 1785 Seneca via French ohi:yo’ [71] "Large creek",[42] originally the name of both the Ohio River and Allegheny River.[72] Often incorrectly given as "beautiful river",[73] due to a French mistranslation.[29]
Oklahoma September 5 1842 Choctaw okla + homa Devised as a rough translation of "Indian Territory"; in Choctaw, okla means "people", "tribe", or "nation", and homa- means "red", thus: "Red people".[14][74]
Oregon
See also:
Oregon (toponym)		 July 20 1860 Connecticut Pidgin Algonquian wauregan "Beautiful".[75][76] First named by Major Robert Rogers in a petition to King George III.[77]
French Ouaricon-sint A mistranscription of Ouisconsin, the name for the Wisconsin River.[78]
Chinook Jargon via Cree ulâkân From the Cree pronunciation of the Chinook Jargon word.[79] A species of smelt, Thaleichthys pacificus, with great significance to inhabitants of the Northwest Coast and an enormous oil content.[80][81] Chinook Jargon probably got the fish's name from Clatsop u-tlalxwə(n), "brook trout".[82]
Pennsylvania March 8 1650 Welsh and Latin Pennsilvania "Penn's woods", after Admiral William Penn.[83] The name "Penn" literally means "head" in Welsh.[84]
Rhode Island February 3 1680 Dutch roodt eylandt "Red island", referring to Aquidneck Island.[85]
Greek ῾Ρόδος For a resemblance to the island of Rhodes in the Aegean Sea.[85]
South Carolina November 12 1687 Latin Carolus via Carolana After King Charles I of England.[86]
South Dakota November 2 1867 Sioux dakhóta "Ally" or "friend". See North Dakota, above.
Tennessee May 24 1747 Cherokee tanasi (ᏔᎾᏏ) Tanasi (in Cherokee: ᏔᎾᏏ) was the name of a Cherokee village;[87] the meaning is unknown.[88]
Texas June 30 1827 Caddo via Spanish táyshaʔ "Friend",[89] used by the Caddo to refer the larger Caddo nation (in opposition to enemy tribes). The name was borrowed into Spanish as texa, plural texas, and used to refer to the Caddo Nation.[90]
Utah December 20 1877 Western Apache via Spanish yúdah From the Spanish designation for the Ute people, yuta, in turn perhaps a borrowing from Western Apache yúdah meaning "High"[91] (not, as is commonly stated,[92] "people of the mountains"[93] and not[94] from the Ute's own self-designation [nutʃi̥] (plural [nuːtʃiu]), as suggested by J. P. Harrington.[95][96])
Vermont September 27 1721 French vert + mont "Green mountain"; vert in French means "green", and mont means "mountain".[97]
Virginia March 21 1652 Latin "Country of the Virgin", after Elizabeth I of England, who was known as the "Virgin Queen" because she never married.[98]
Washington February 22 1872 English After George Washington.[99]
West Virginia September 1 1831 Latin The western, transmontane, counties of Virginia; separated from Virginia during Civil War; see Virginia, above.
Wisconsin February 5 1822 Miami via French Wishkonsing [100] Originally spelled Mescousing by the French, and later corrupted to Ouisconsin.[101] Likely it derives from a Miami word Meskonsing meaning "it lies red" [101][102] (c.f. Ojibwe miskosin, "it lies red").[16] It may also come from the Ojibwe term miskwasiniing, "red-stone place".[16]
Wyoming August 14 1877 Munsee Delaware xwé:wamənk "At the big river flat"; the name was transplanted westward from the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania.[103]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Alabama: The State Name". Alabama Department of Archives and History. http://www.archives.state.al.us/statenam.html. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  2. ↑ Bright (2004:29)
  3. ↑ Ransom, J. Ellis. 1940. Derivation of the Word ‘Alaska’. American Anthropologist n.s., 42: pp. 550-551
  4. ↑ Thompson, Clay (2007-02-25). "A sorry state of affairs when views change". Arizona Republic. http://www.azcentral.com/news/columns/articles/0225clay0225.html. Retrieved 2007-03-03. 
  5. ↑ Jim Turner. "How Arizona did NOT Get its Name". Arizona Historical Society. http://test.ahs.state.az.us/story/mar/az_name.htm. Retrieved 2007-03-03. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Bright (2004:47)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Rankin, Robert. 2005. "Quapaw". In Native Languages of the Southeastern United States, eds. Heather K. Hardy and Janine Scancarelli. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, pg. 492
  8. ↑ "Arkansas". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwsyG4Bp. Retrieved 2007-02-26. 
  9. ↑ To appear. "Arkansas" in the Oxford English Dictionary
  10. ↑ ""California"". Mavens' Word of the Day. 2000-04-26. http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20000426. Retrieved 2006-11-28. 
  11. ↑ "Colorado". Wordreference.com. http://www.wordreference.com/es/en/translation.asp?spen=Colorado. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  12. ↑ "Colorado". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwstp8Kd. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  13. ↑ Harper, Douglas. "Connecticut". Online Etymology Dictionary. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Connecticut. Retrieved 2006-11-28. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Campbell, Lyle. 1997. American Indian Languages: The Historical Linguistics of Native America. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pg. 11
  15. ↑ Afable, Patricia O. and Madison S. Beeler (1996). "Place Names", in "Languages", ed. Ives Goddard. Vol. 17 of Handbook of North American Indians, ed. William C. Sturtevant. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, pg. 193
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 "Freelang Ojibwe Dictionary". Freelang.net. http://www.freelang.net/dictionary/ojibwe.html. 
  17. ↑ Harper, Douglas. "Delaware". Online Etymology Dictionary. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Delaware. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  18. ↑ Guyton, Kathy (2009) U.S. State Names: The Stories of How Our States Were Named (Nederland, Colorado: Mountain Storm Press) p. 90.
  19. ↑ "Florida". Wordreference.com. http://www.wordreference.com/es/en/translation.asp?spen=florida. Retrieved 2007-02-23. 
  20. ↑ "Florida". The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. Columbia University Press. 2004. http://www.reference.com/browse/columbia/FloriUS. Retrieved 2007-02-23. 
  21. ↑ Harper, Douglas. "Georgia". Online Etymology Dictionary. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Georgia. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  22. ↑ "Georgia". Behindthename.com. http://www.behindthename.com/php/view.php?name=georgia. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  23. ↑ Crowley, Terry. 1992. An Introduction to Historical Linguistics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pg. 289
  24. ↑ http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Hawaii
  25. ↑ "Origins of Hawaii's Names". http://www.hawaiischoolreports.com/symbols/origins.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  26. ↑ Merle W. Wells. "Origins of the Name "Idaho"" (PDF). Digital Atlas of Idaho. http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas/geog/explore/essay.pdf. Retrieved 2006-11-28. 
  27. ↑ Guyton, Kathy (2009) U.S. State Names: The Stories of How Our States Were Named (Nederland, Colorado: Mountain Storm Press) pp. 127-136.
  28. ↑ Bright (2004:177)
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Comments by Michael McCafferty on "Readers' Feedback (page 4)"". The KryssTal. http://www.krysstal.com/display_feedback.php?ftype=Borrow&fblock=4. Retrieved 2007-02-23. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Bright (2004:181)
  31. ↑ "Illinois". Dictionary.com. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Illinois. Retrieved 2007-02-23. 
  32. ↑ "Indiana". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwswqTYh. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  33. ↑ 2001. "Plains", ed. Raymond J. DeMallie. Vol. 13 of "Handbook of North American Indians", ed. William C. Sturtevant. Washington D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, pg. 445
  34. ↑ "Iowa". American Heritage Dictionary. http://www.yourdictionary.com/ahd/i/i0225000.html. Retrieved 2007-02-26. 
  35. ↑ Bright (2004:185)
  36. ↑ http://www.kshs.org/publicat/khq/1950/50_2_langsdorf.htm
  37. ↑ "Kansas history page". http://www.netstate.com/states/intro/ks_intro.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-28. 
  38. ↑ The Encyclopedia of Kansas (1994) ISBN 0-403-09921-8
  39. ↑ Connelley, William E. 1918. Indians. A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans, ch. 10, vol. 1
  40. ↑ Harper, Douglas. "Kentucky". Online Etymology Dictionary. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Kentucky. Retrieved 2007-02-25. 
  41. ↑ "Kentucky". Oxford English Dictionary. http://0-dictionary.oed.com.clicnet4.clic.edu/cgi/entry/50126019. Retrieved 2007-02-25. 
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 Mithun, Marianne. 1999. Languages of Native North America. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pg. 312
  43. ↑ "Kentucky". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-11-01. http://www.webcitation.org/query?id=1257038912376197. Retrieved 2007-02-25. 
  44. ↑ Bright (2004:213)
  45. ↑ "Louisiana". Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Online 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwsvikTd. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  46. ↑ "Origin of Maine’s Name". Maine State Library. http://www.maine.gov/msl/services/reference/meorigin.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-28. 
  47. ↑ "Maine". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-11-01. http://www.webcitation.org/query?id=1257037522154963. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  48. ↑ Guyton, Kathy (2009) U.S. State Names: The Stories of How Our States Were Named (Nederland, Colorado: Mountain Storm Press) pp. 127-136.
  49. ↑ "Who Really Named Maine?". rootsweb. http://anc.rootsweb.com/learn/library/article.aspx?article=5368. Retrieved 2010-05-07. 
  50. ↑ "Maryland". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwsyw5Gi. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 Salwen, Bert, 1978. Indians of Southern New England and Long Island: Early Period. In "Northeast", ed. Bruce G. Trigger. Vol. 15 of "Handbook of North American Indians", ed. William C. Sturtevant, pp. 160-176. Washington D.C.: Smithsonian Institution. Quoted in: Campbell, Lyle. 1997. American Indian Languages: The Historical Linguistics of Native America. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pg. 401
  52. ↑ "Michigan in Brief: Information About the State of Michigan" (PDF). Michigan.gov. http://www.michigan.gov/documents/hal_lm_MiB_156795_7.pdf. Retrieved 2006-11-28. 
  53. ↑ Harper, Douglas. "Minnesota". Online Etymology Dictionary. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Minnesota. Retrieved 2007-02-25. 
  54. ↑ "Mississippi". American Heritage Dictionary. Yourdictionary.com. http://www.yourdictionary.com/ahd/m/m0343500.html. Retrieved 2007-03-06. 
  55. ↑ McCafferty, Michael. 2004. Correction: Etymology of Missouri. American Speech, 79.1:32
  56. ↑ "Montaña". Wordreference.com. http://www.wordreference.com/es/en/translation.asp?spen=monta%F1a&v=js. Retrieved 2007-01-24. 
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 Koontz, John. "Etymology". Siouan Languages. http://spot.colorado.edu/~koontz/faq/etymology.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-28. 
  58. ↑ "Nevada". Wordreference.com. http://www.wordreference.com/es/en/translation.asp?spen=nevada. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  59. ↑ "New Hampshire". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwt3Q709. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  60. ↑ 60.0 60.1 "New Jersey". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwsuNvS8. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  61. ↑ Harper, Douglas. "jersey". Online Etymology Dictionary. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=jersey. Retrieved 2006-10-07. 
  62. ↑ "New Mexico". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwt0xwoJ. Retrieved 2007-02-25. 
  63. ↑ Campbell, Lyle. 1997. American Indian Languages: The Historical Linguistics of Native America. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pg. 378
  64. ↑ "Nahuatl Pronunciation Lesson 1". Nahuatl Tlahtolkalli. 2005-07-07. http://nahuatl.info/lesson1.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-25. 
  65. ↑ Guyton, Kathy (2009) U.S. State Names: The Stories of How Our States Were Named (Nederland, Colorado: Mountain Storm Press) p. 312.
  66. ↑ "The Aztecs". Solarnavigator.net. http://www.solarnavigator.net/history/aztecs.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-25. 
  67. ↑ "New York". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwsseh2L. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  68. ↑ Harper, Douglas. "York". Online Etymology Dictionary. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=York. Retrieved 2010-07-02. 
  69. ↑ "North Carolina". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwsxgJWu. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  70. ↑ "North Dakota". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwt2hc0L. Retrieved 2007-02-25. 
  71. ↑ Harper, Douglas. "Ohio". Online Etymology Dictionary. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Ohio. Retrieved 2010-02-15. 
  72. ↑ "Native Ohio". American Indian Studies. Ohio State University. http://americanindianstudies.osu.edu/ohio.cfm. Retrieved 2007-02-25. 
  73. ↑ Dow, Dustin (2007-01-22). "On the Banks of the Ohi:yo". NCAA Hoops Blog. http://frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/ncaa/2007/01/on-banks-of-ohiyo.asp. Retrieved 2007-02-25. 
  74. ↑ Bruce, Benjamin (2003). "Halito Okla Homma! (Chahta Anumpa - Choctaw Language)". Hello Oklahoma!. http://hello-oklahoma.benjaminbruce.us/choctaw.htm. Retrieved 2007-01-24. 
  75. ↑ "Oregon". Oxford English Dictionary. http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/00333593. Retrieved 2007-01-22. 
  76. ↑ Goddard, Ives, and Thomas Love, 2004. Oregon the Beautiful, Oregon Historical Quarterly, vol. 105, no. 2.
  77. ↑ "The History of Naming Oregon". Salem Oregon Community Guide. http://www.oregonlink.com/namingoforegon.html. Retrieved 2007-01-22. 
  78. ↑ Hasting, Mark (2006-02-23). "Oregon Name Controversy". Oregon Facts: Interesting Names and Places in Oregon. http://www.webtrail.com/applegate/oregon.shtml#oregon. 
  79. ↑ "Indian Trade Routes Lead to Overlooked Origin of 'Oregon'". University of Oregon. 2001-07-10. http://duckhenge.uoregon.edu/hparchive/display.php?q=oregon.html. 
  80. ↑ Ford, Charlsey (January/February 2005). "The Ooligan". Does God Exist?. Vol. 32, no. 1. http://www.doesgodexist.org/JanFeb05/TheOoligan.html. 
  81. ↑ "Eulachon". Oxford English Dictionary. http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50078713?. 
  82. ↑ Bright (2004:172)
  83. ↑ "Pennsylvania". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwstEoJs. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  84. ↑ http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Pennsylvania
  85. ↑ 85.0 85.1 "Rhode Island". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwt1Wnpd. Retrieved 2007-02-25. 
  86. ↑ "South Carolina". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwszf2rt. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  87. ↑ "Tennessee". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwswIkTT. Retrieved 2007-02-25. 
  88. ↑ Mooney, James. 1900(1995). Myths of the Cherokee, pg. 534
  89. ↑ Harper, Douglas. "Texas". Online Etymology Dictionary. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Texas. Retrieved 2007-02-25. 
  90. ↑ Bright (2004:491)
  91. ↑ 1986. "Great Basin", ed. Warren L. d'Azevedo. Vol. 11 of Handbook of North American Indians. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution. Cited in: Bright (2004:534)
  92. ↑ "Quick Facts about Utah's History and Land". Utah state website. http://www.utah.gov/about/quickfacts.html. Retrieved 2007-02-26. 
  93. ↑ "Original Tribal Names of Native North American People". Native-Languages.org. http://www.native-languages.org/original.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-26. 
  94. ↑ 1986. Warren L. d'Azevedo, ed., "Great Basin". Vol. 11 of William C. Sturtevant, ed., Handbook of North American Indians. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution. pp. 364-5
  95. ↑ Harrington, John P. 1911. The Origin of the Names Ute and Paiute. American Anthropologist, n.s., 13: pp. 173-174
  96. ↑ Opler, Marvin K. 1943. The Origins of Comanche and Ute. American Anthropologist, n.s., 45: pp. 155-158
  97. ↑ "Vermont". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwt29zA2. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  98. ↑ "Virginia". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/query?id=1257039528474603. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  99. ↑ "Washington". Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwt0PgRo. Retrieved 2007-02-24. 
  100. ↑ http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Wisconsin
  101. ↑ 101.0 101.1 "Wisconsin's Name: Where it Came from and What it Means". Wisconsin Historical Society. http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/topics/wisconsin-name/. Retrieved 2007-02-25. 
  102. ↑ McCafferty, Michael. 2003. On Wisconsin: The Derivation and Referent of an Old Puzzle in American Placenames. Onoma 38: 39-56
  103. ↑ Bright (2004:576)

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Law and crime
Alcohol laws · Consent · Incarceration rate · Same-sex marriage laws (status)  · Smoking bans · State Laws
Misc.
Abbreviations · Capitals · Capitol buildings · Counties · Date of statehood · FIPS code · Incarceration rate · Insignia · Name etymologies · Never territories · Tallest buildings · Time zone