New Jersey: “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…
New Jersey: Armpit of the Nation (nickname)
A city of a state that's not very pleasant might be called the "armpit of the nation" or the "armpit of America." Armpits smell. "The midwest is the armpit of the…
New Jersey: Blue State (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: 1st New Jersey RegimentThe 1st New Jersey Regiment was the first organized militia regiment in New Jersey, formed in 1673 in Piscataway "to repel foreign…
New Jersey: Clam-catcher (nickname)
The New Jersey shore is a haven for many clam-catchers, and it became a nickname for people from the state. "Clam-catchers of Cape May" was cited in an 1835 book. "New Jersey,…
New Jersey: Medicine Chest of the World (nickname)
New Jersey has been the location of many pharmaceutical companies. A popular state nickname has been "Nation's/World's Medicine Chest," or "Medicine Chest of the…
New Mexico: Vermin State (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. 22 March 1866, Louisville (KY) Daily Journal, "Nicknames," pg. 1, col. 4:New Mexico, Vermin State. 7 April 1866, The Daily Cleveland Herald (Cleveland, OH),…
North Carolina: Old North State (nickname)
"Old North State" is one of the oldest nicknames for the state of North Carolina. "The old north State" was cited in print in April 1824 in the Raleigh Register, and…
North Carolina: Rip Van Winkle State (nickname)
Rip Van Winkle is the famous sleeper in a popular story of that name by author Washington Irving (1783-1859) that appeared in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. (1819). In 1833, William…
North Carolina: Turpentine State (nickname)
North Carolina is now known as the "Tar Heel State," but in the early 19th century it was known as the "Tar and Turpentine State" (or just "Turpentine State"). The…
North Dakota: Flickertail State (nickname)
North Dakota is frequently called the "Flickertail State," after Richardson's ground squirrel (or "flickertail"). There was a formal "Flickertail State"…
Ohio: “Where’s Engagement, Ohio?”/“Somewhere between Dayton and Marion.”
An Ohio riddle is about city names is: Q: Where’s Engagement, Ohio?A: Somewhere between Dayton and Marion. (dating and marrying) The joke was posted on the newsgroup alt.fan.dave_barry on…
Oklahoma: Diet Texas (nickname)
The state of Oklahoma has been infrequently dubbed "Diet Texas" (the state of Texas on a diet). McSweeney's published on July 27, 2006: "Oklahoma isn’t the Midwest. Oklahoma…
Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania is Philadelphia and Pittsburgh at the ends, Alabama in between”
American political strategist James Carville ran Democratic campaigns in Pennsylvania in the 1980s. He described the state as mostly rural -- with Philadelphia on one end and Pittsburgh on the…
Pennsylvania: “Where do pencils come from?”/“Pencil-vania.”
Do pencils come from Pennsylvania? "Most of the ordinary slate pencils come from Pencil-vania" was printed in the Pittsfield (MA) Sun on December 27, 1876. "Pencils come from…
Pennsylvania: “Where do pencils come from?”/“Pennsylvania.”
Do pencils come from Pennsylvania? "Most of the ordinary slate pencils come from Pencil-vania" was printed in the Pittsfield (MA) Sun on December 27, 1876. "Pencils come from…
Pennsylvania: Keystone State (nickname)
Pennsylvania has been called the "Keystone State" for several reasons. A keystone is a wedge-shaped stone that holds an arch in place. Pennsylvania was located in the center of the 13…
Rhode Island: Gun Flint (nickname)
A person from Rhode Island was nicknamed a "Gun Flint" in the 19th century. "Rhode Island, Gun Flints" was cited in a state nickname list in 1845, but the term was only…
Rhode Island: Little Rhody (nickname)
Rhode Island is the smallest state (in physical area) in the United States. The nickname "Little Rhody" (also ""Little Rhodie," "L'il Rhody" and "Little…
South Carolina: “South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum”
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: James L. PetigruJames Louis Petigru (May 10, 1789 – March 9, 1863) was an American lawyer, politician, and jurist in South Carolina. He is best known for his…
South Carolina: Palmetto State (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P.Sabal palmetto Wikipedia: Seal of South CarolinaThe Great Seal of the State of South Carolina was adopted in 1776. The seal is made up of two elliptical areas, linked by…