Delaware: “Square from Delaware” (slang)
A "square from Delaware" was 1930s-1950s slang for someone who was very conventional (and not "hep"). "Let him be as popular as the gigantic. colossal sporty, hip square…
Delaware: “What did Delaware?”/“Her New Jersey.”
"What did Delaware?" ("What did Della wear?") is an old pun on the state name. "her New Jersey!" is the usual answer. "What did Delaware?" was asked in the…
Delaware: Diamond State (nickname)
Delaware was called the "Diamond State" in 1847. The nickname means that Delaware is small, but very strong a valuable, just like a diamond. The Daily National Intelligencer (Washington,…
Delaware: Muskrat (nickname)
A person from Delaware was called a "Muskrat" in the 19th century, from the abundance of the animal in the state. "Delaware, Muskrats" was cited in an 1845 list of national…
Georgia: Buzzard (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Google BooksApril 1845, Cincinnati Miscellany (Cincinnati, OH), pg. 240, col. 1:Georgia, Buzzards. Chronicling America23 August 1845, Ripley (MS) Advertiser, pg. 1, cols.…
Georgia: Empire State of the South (nickname)
New York has been called the "Empire State" since at least 1830. Georgia has been called the "Empire State of the South" since at least 1840. "If not now, she soon must be…
Hawaii: “Do they allow loud laughing in Hawaii, or just a low ha?”
"Aloha" is a Hawaiian greeting, and it can sound like "a low ha." "Bad Joke! = A Low Ha" was posted on the newsgroup alt.humor.puns on November 23, 1997. "H.L.…
Hawaii: “Why do Cyclops have trouble spelling Hawaii?”/“You need two ‘i’s.’”
A joke about spelling "Hawaii" was posted on Twitter by Jon on October 30, 2017: CYCLOPS: How do u spell Hawaii?WIFE [biting lip] well..u need 2 i'sCYCLOPS [puts pen down] my life is…
Hawaii: Aloha State (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Aloha Aloha (pronounced [əˈlo.hə]) in the Hawaiian language means affection, peace, compassion, and mercy. Since the middle of the 19th century, it also has…
Idaho: Gem State (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: IdahoIdaho is a state in the northwestern region of the United States. Idaho is the 14th largest, the 39th most populous, and the 7th least densely populated of…
Idaho: Idaho (state name etymology)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: IdahoIdaho (/ˈaɪdəhoʊ/) is a state in the northwestern region of the United States. Idaho is the 14th largest, the 39th most populous, and the 7th least…
Idaho: Little Ida (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: IdahoIdaho (/aɪdəhoʊ/) is a state in the northwestern region of the United States. Idaho is the 14th largest, the 39th most populous, and the 7th least…
Idaho: Potato State (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: IdahoIdaho (/aɪdəhoʊ/) is a state in the northwestern region of the United States. Idaho is the 14th largest, the 39th most populous, and the 7th least…
Indiana: “If the kitchen’s in the house and Diana’s in the kitchen, what’s in Diana?”
An Indiana riddle is: "If the kitchen's in the house, and Diana's in the kitchen, then what's in Diana?" The joke has been cited in print since at least 2001. Wikipedia:…
Indiana: Hoosier Hoopla (basketball)
"Hoosier Hoopla” is a name for the annual high school basketball tournament that is held in Indiana in February/March. The term was popularized by the article "I'll Take Hoosier…
Indiana: Hoosier Hysteria (basketball)
"Hoosier Hysteria" is a name for the annual high school basketball tournament that is held in Indiana in February/March. The term "Hoosier hysteria" has been cited in print…
Indiana: Indiana Insanity (basketball)
"Indiana Insanity” is a name for the annual high school basketball tournament that is held in Indiana in February/March. The term "Indiana Insanity" has been cited in print since…
Indiana: Midwest Madness (basketball)
"Midwest Madness” is an infrequently used name for the annual high school basketball tournament that is held in Indiana in February/March. The article "Midwest Madness," by John R.…
Iowa: “As Iowa goes, so goes Iowa”
"As Maine goes, so goes the nation" is an old political saying from the 1800s. In 1972, the Iowa caucus became the first political event of the U.S. presidential election. The winner of…
Iowa: “Iowa picks corn, New Hampshire picks presidents”
New Hampshire likes to brag that its primary is more important that the Iowa caucus to the presidential election cycle. In 1988, Vice President George H. W. Bush lost the Iowa caucus to Kansas…