South Dakota, a state in the north central continental United States, is known as the Mount Rushmore State. This stems from the presence of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial near the city of Keystone in western South Dakota. This enormous…
The U.S. state North Carolina's nickname, "Tar Heel State," most likely originates from the state's most prosperous industry from 1720 to 1870: the manufacture of tar for naval vessels. North Carolina's abundant pine forests provided a seemingly endless supply of…
Despite its reputation as a drab industrial state on the east coast of the United States, New Jersey has long been known as the Garden State. The moniker is actually more accurate than the state's less flattering reputation, as much…
There are two theories concerning how Massachusetts got its nickname, The Bay State. One theory says The Bay State evolved from the fact that Massachusetts’ founders settled on Cap Cod Bay. The second theory says the state nickname came from…
It is believed that Kansas got its nickname "The Sunflower State" because the wild sunflower, Helianthus annuus, is common there. The state's legislature adopted this flower as the state's official flower symbol in 1903. Legend has it that statesman George…
There is significant evidence that wearing a seatbelt dramatically reduces the risk of fatality in car crashes. Since 1985, all U.S. states have mandated the use of infant seats and car seats for young children. Nearly all U.S. states have…
The most densely populated state in the United States is New Jersey, with about 1,196 people per square mile (about 462 people per square kilometer). New Jersey is one of only three areas in the U.S. that has more than…
High radon areas in the U.S. tend to be in the northern section of the country due to the types of soils found there. States with high concentrations of radon include Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Maine, Minnesota, Illinois, Kansas,…
Utah’s state flower is the sego lily. School children in the state voted for the flower as their choice for the state floral emblem, and it was adopted as Utah’s state flower on 18 March 1911. Native to the western…
Mobile, originally known as Fort Louis de la Mobile, is a thriving city with a population of just under 200,000 people. The third largest city in Alabama, it was the birthplace of American Mardi Gras back in 1703. Long before…