*1
Alabama -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| The name Alabama means
"I make a clearing."

|DATA:| Alabama is nicknamed "Heart of
Dixie." Its motto is "We dare defend our
rights." Alabama is 22nd in population
and 29th in area.
CAPITAL: Montgomery  SONG: "Alabama"
FLOWER:  camellia    TREE: southern pine
FISH:    tarpon      BIRD: yellowhammer

|OTHER DATA:| The Alabama Space and
Rocket Center at Huntsville is home to
Space Camp, where young people can learn
what it's like to be astronauts.
*2
Alaska -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Alaska's name means
"mainland."

|DATA:| Alaska is nicknamed "The Last
Frontier." Its motto is "North to the
future." Alaska is 50th in population,
but first in area, at 591,004 square
miles.
CAPITAL: Juneau    SONG: "Alaska's Flag"
FLOWER:  forget-me-not
TREE: sitka spruce FISH: king salmon
BIRD: willow ptarmigan

|OTHER DATA:| The Trans-Alaska pipeline
carries oil 800 miles through Alaska.
*3
Arizona -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Arizona's name means
"small spring."

|DATA:| Arizona is nicknamed "Grand
Canyon State." Its motto is "God
enriches." Arizona is 29th in population
and 6th in area.
CAPITAL: Phoenix     SONG: "Arizona"
FLOWER:  Saguaro Giant Cactus
TREE: paloverade     BIRD: cactus wren

|OTHER DATA:| Arizona leads the nation
in copper production.
*4
Arkansas -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Arkansas' name means
"downstream people."

|DATA:| Arkansas is nicknamed "Land of
Opportunity." Its motto is "The people
rule." Arkansas is 33rd in population
and 27th in area.
CAPITAL: Little Rock  SONG: "Arkansas"
FLOWER: apple blossom TREE: pine
BIRD: mockingbird

|OTHER DATA:| Arkansas produces more
rice than any other state. It is home to
the only diamond mine in North America.
*5
California -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| The Spanish probably
named this state for a fabled treasure
island.

|DATA:| California is nicknamed "Golden
State." Its motto is "Eureka," the Greek
word gold diggers shouted when they
found gold. California is first in
population and third in area.
CAPITAL: Sacramento
SONG: "I Love You, California"
FLOWER: golden poppy ANIMAL: grizzly
bear  BIRD: California valley quail

|OTHER DATA:| California leads the
country in the production of eggs.
*6
Colorado -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Colorado's name means
"colored red."

|DATA:| Colorado is nicknamed
"Centennial State" because it became a
state in 1876. Its motto is "Nothing
without Providence." Colorado is 28th in
population and 8th in area.
CAPITAL: Denver  BIRD: lark bunting
SONG: "Where the Columbines Grow"
FLOWER: Rocky Mountain columbine
TREE: Colorado blue spruce
ANIMAL: Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep

|OTHER DATA:| Colorado has 35 ski areas.
*7
Connecticut -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Connecticut's name means
"on the long tidal river."

|DATA:| Connecticut is nicknamed
"Constitution State." Its motto is
"He who is translated still sustains."
Connecticut is 25th in population and
48th in area.
CAPITAL: Hartford  BIRD: robin
SONG: "Yankee Doodle" TREE: white oak
FLOWER: mountain laurel
ANIMAL: sperm whale

|OTHER DATA:| Industries include
helicopters and submarines.
*8
Delaware -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Delaware was named for
Lord De La Warr, the first governor of
Virginia.

|DATA:| Delaware is nicknamed "First
State" because it was the first to
ratify the U. S. Constitution. Its motto
is "Liberty and independence." It is
47th in population and 49th in area.
CAPITAL: Dover  SONG: "Our Delaware"
BIRD: blue hen chicken  FLOWER: peach
blossom  TREE: American holly tree

|OTHER DATA:| Important industries
include chemical production and fishing,
especially for crabs.
*9
Florida -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Florida's name means
"flowery," named by Ponce de Leon for
the many flowers he found here.

|DATA:| Florida is nicknamed "Sunshine
State." Its motto is "In God we trust."
Florida is 7th in population and 22nd in
area.
CAPITAL: Tallahassee  BIRD: mockingbird
SONG: "Old Folks at Home"
FLOWER: orange blossom
TREE: Sabal palmetto

|OTHER DATA:| Florida leads the U. S.
in growing sugar cane, oranges, and
grapefruits.
*10
Georgia -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Georgia was named for
King George II of England.

|DATA:| Georgia is nicknamed "Empire
State of the South." Its motto is
"Wisdom, justice, and moderation."
Georgia is 13th in population and 21st
in area.
CAPITAL: Atlanta  BIRD: brown thrasher
SONG: "Georgia on My Mind"
FLOWER: Cherokee rose TREE: live oak

|OTHER DATA:| Georgia produces more
peanuts than any other state.
*11
Hawaii -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Hawaii's name means
"big island."

|DATA:| Hawaii is nicknamed "The Aloha
State." Its motto is "The life of the
land is perpetuated in righteousness."
Hawaii is 39th in population and 47th
in area.
CAPITAL: Honolulu  SONG: "Hawaii Ponoi"
BIRD: nene (Hawaiian goose)
FLOWER: hibiscus   TREE: Kukui

|OTHER DATA:| Important crops include
orchids, pineapples, and macadamia nuts.
*12
Idaho -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Idaho's name means
"Gem of the mountains."

|DATA:| Idaho is nicknamed "Gem State."
Its motto is "It is forever." Idaho
is 41st in population and 13th in area.
CAPITAL: Boise  BIRD: mountain bluebird
SONG: "Here We Have Idaho"
FLOWER: syringa (mock orange)
TREE: Western white pine

|OTHER DATA:| Idaho's biggest crop is
potatoes. Its Sunshine Mine produces
one third of all the silver in the U. S.
*13
Illinois -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Illinois' name means
"tribe of superior men."

|DATA:| Illinois is nicknamed "Land of
Lincoln." Its motto is "State
sovereignty--national union." Illinois
is 5th in population and 24th in area.
CAPITAL: Springfield  BIRD: cardinal
SONG: "Illinois"  FLOWER: native violet
TREE: white oak

|OTHER DATA:| Illinois is a leader in
national soybean production.
*14
Indiana -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Indiana's name means
"land of the Indians."

|DATA:| Indiana is nicknamed "The
Hoosier  State." Its motto is
"Crossroads of America." Indiana is
12th in population and 38th in area.
CAPITAL: Indianapolis   BIRD: cardinal
SONG: "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far
Away"  FLOWER: Peony  TREE: tulip poplar

|OTHER DATA:| Key industries include
metal goods and transportation equipment
production.
*15
Iowa -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Iowa's name means
"the beautiful land."

|DATA:| Iowa is nicknamed "Hawkeye
State." Its motto is "Our liberties we
prize and our rights we will maintain."
Iowa is 27th in population and 25th in
area.
CAPITAL: Des Moines   ROCK: geode
BIRD: eastern goldfinch
FLOWER: wild rose     TREE: oak

|OTHER DATA:| Iowa leads the U. S. in
hog production.
*16
Kansas -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Kansas' name means
"people of the south wind."

|DATA:| Kansas is nicknamed "Sunflower
State." Its motto is "To the stars
through difficulties." It is 32nd in
population and 14th in area.
CAPITAL: Topeka FLOWER: native sunflower
TREE: cottonwood ANIMAL: buffalo (bison)
BIRD: Western meadowlark
SONG: "Home on the Range"

|OTHER DATA:| Kansas, considered the
bread basket of America, produces more
wheat than any other state.
*17
Kentucky -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Kentucky's name means
"land of tomorrow."

|DATA:| Kentucky is nicknamed "The
Bluegrass State." Its motto is "United
we stand, divided we fall." Kentucky is
23rd in population and 37th in area.
CAPITAL: Frankfort FLOWER: goldenrod
BIRD: Kentucky cardinal
SONG: "My Old Kentucky Home"
TREE: Kentucky coffee tree

|OTHER DATA:| Kentucky's bluegrass feeds
the many horses raised here.
*18
Louisiana -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Louisiana was named for
Louis XIV, a king of France.

|DATA:| Louisiana is nicknamed "Pelican
State." Its motto is "Union, justice,
and confidence." Louisiana is 19th in
population and 31st in area.
CAPITAL: Baton Rouge  FLOWER: magnolia
BIRD: brown pelican  TREE: bald cypress
SONG: "Give Me Louisiana" and "You Are
My Sunshine"

|OTHER DATA:| New Orleans is the largest
and busiest port in the U. S., even
though it's not on the coast.
*19
Maine -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Maine probably means
"mainland."

|DATA:| Maine is nicknamed "Pine Tree
State." Its motto is "I direct." It is
38th in population and 39th in area.
CAPITAL: Augusta  BIRD: chickadee
SONG: "State of Maine Song"
FLOWER: white pine cone and tassel
TREE: white pine

|OTHER DATA:| Important products include
paper production and lobster fishing.
*20
Maryland -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Maryland was named for
Queen Henrietta Maria of England.

|DATA:| Maryland is nicknamed "Old Line
State" in honor of Revolutionary War
troops. Its motto is "Manly deeds,
womanly words." Maryland is 18th in
population and 42nd in area.
CAPITAL: Annapolis  TREE: wye oak
BIRD: Baltimore oriole
SONG: "Maryland, My Maryland"
FLOWER: black-eyed Susan

|OTHER DATA:| Chief products include
clay, poultry, and oysters.
*21
Massachusetts -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Massachusetts' name
means "place of the great hill."

|DATA:| The nickname "Bay State" honors
Massachusetts Bay. The motto is "By the
sword we seek peace, but peace only
under liberty." Massachusetts is 11th in
population and 45th in area.
CAPITAL: Boston    BIRD: chickadee
SONG: "All Hail to Massachusetts"
FLOWER: mayflower  TREE: American elm

|OTHER DATA:| Most of the nation's
cranberries are grown here.
*22
Michigan -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Michigan's name means
"large lake."

|DATA:| Michigan's nickname is
"Wolverine State." Its motto is "If you
seek a pleasant peninsula, look about
you." Michigan is 8th in population and
23rd in area.
CAPITAL: Lansing       BIRD: robin
SONG: "Michigan, My Michigan"
FLOWER: apple blossom  TREE: white pine
FISH: trout

|OTHER DATA:| Detroit is known as the
automobile capital of the world.
*23
Minnesota -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Minnesota's name means
"land of the sky-tinted water."

|DATA:| Minnesota's nickname is "North
Star State." Its motto is "The star of
the north." Minnesota is 21st in
population and 12th in area.
CAPITAL: St. Paul  BIRD: common loon
SONG: "Hail, Minnesota"
FLOWER: pink and white lady's slipper
TREE: Norway pine

|OTHER DATA:| Minnesota is known for
iron ore mining, lumber, and the Mayo
Clinic, a cancer research hospital.
*24
Mississippi -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| This state's name means
"great water."

|DATA:| Mississippi is nicknamed
"Magnolia State." Its motto is "By valor
and arms." Mississippi is 31st in
population and 32nd in area.
CAPITAL: Jackson  BIRD: mockingbird
SONG: "Go, Mississippi" FLOWER: magnolia
TREE: magnolia

|OTHER DATA:| Important products are
transportation equipment, catfish and
shrimp, electrical machinery and
equipment, and lumber.
*25
Missouri -- Present Facts

|DID YOU KNOW:| Missouri's name means
"town of the large canoes."

|DATA:| Missouri has two nicknames,
"Mother of the West" and "Show Me
State." The motto is "The welfare of the
people shall be the supreme law."
Missouri is 15th in population and 19th
in area.
CAPITAL: Jefferson City  BIRD: bluebird
SONG: "Missouri Waltz" FLOWER: hawthorn
TREE: flowering dogwood

|OTHER DATA:| Missouri is a center for
the aerospace industry.