Maryland was made the seventh U.S. state in 1788.
Maryland was named after Queen Henrietta Maria of England. She was married to King Charles I, who granted permission for Maryland to become a colony. Legend has it that Maryland’s nicknamed the Old Line State in honor of 400 Revolutionary War soldiers who faced off against 10,000 British soldiers in a battle in 1776. These soldiers, which were called the “Maryland Line,” held off the British just long enough to allow the rest of the American army—lead by George Washington—to escape. Black bears, bobcats, and Appalachian cottontails are a few of the mammals that live in Maryland. Ospreys, gyrfalcons (the biggest type of falcon), and Baltimore orioles are some local birds. The state’s amphibians include Allegheny Mountain dusky salamanders and barking tree frogs. And reptiles such as bog turtles, Coastal Plain milk snakes, and eastern fence lizards live here. Bald cypress, loblolly pine, juniper, walnut, and white oak (the state tree) are among Maryland’s native trees. The state’s wildflowers include Maryland golden-aster, Maryland meadow beauty, and ladies’ tresses—an orchid that resembles a spiraling lock of hair. Ashleigh
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In 1861, Kansas became the 34th state.
Kansas’ name comes from the a word that means "People of the South Wind." It originated from the Kansa Native American tribe."Today some Kansans call themselves Jayhawkers. Probably before you were born, the Civil War had not started... and the term actually referred to Kansan bands of robbers. But once the war started on April 12, 1861, many Jayhawkers or robbers enlisted to fight in support of the Union in the North and the abolition of slavery. Kansas' nickname, which is the Sunflower State, comes from the big, wide, and large fields of sunflowers that bloom here. These poplar flowers are grown for seeds and oil. Kansas is right next to Nebraska in the north, Missouri in the east, Oklahoma in the south, and Colorado in the west. The state is known for a lot of plains, but it isn’t all flatland . Nine-banded armadillos, black-tailed jackrabbits, and plains pocket gophers run through the state along with buffalo (the state animal). Reptiles sliver and crawl around Kansas, some of them are prairie king snakes, western worm snakes, prairie lizards, and Great Plains skinks. Birds cover a good lot of the state, a few are of them are: black vultures, golden eagles, yellow-billed cuckoos, western meadowlarks, (state bird) and prairie chickens. In the northeast part of the state, cedar, maple, oak, and walnut trees grow. Cottonwood, the state tree, crops up throughout the state. But Kansas is covered in a lot of grass: the west grows buffalo grass; the Southeastern Plains have blue-stem grass, switch grass, and Indian grass; and the Great Plains grow bluegrass. Common wildflowers include sunflowers, verbena, purple cornflower, prairie phlox, and prickly poppy. Ashleigh Elk, badgers, and eastern spotted skunks are some of Arkansas’ mammals. The state’s birds include red-tailed hawks, ivory-billed woodpeckers, and indigo buntings. Amphibians such as cricket frogs and Ouachita dusky salamanders can be found in Arkansas. Western pygmy rattlesnakes and eastern collared lizards are among the reptiles that skitter through the state.
Common trees include hickory, plum, hawthorn, and pine. The maple-leaf oak tree exists only in Arkansas. Wildflowers are plentiful and include American beautyberry, wild bergamot, and orange coneflower. Arkansas became the 25th U.S. state on June 16 1836. Arkansas’ name came from the Quapaw Indians, whom the French called the “Arkansaw.” Arkansas is nicknamed the Natural State because of its beautiful lakes, rivers, mountains, and wildlife. Arkansas is bordered by Missouri in the north, Tennessee and Mississippi in the east, Louisiana in the south, and Texas and Oklahoma in the west. Its eastern border is almost completely formed by the Mississippi River. Ashleigh In 1890 Wyoming became the 44th state. Shoshone National Forest was set aside in northwest Wyoming in 1891 as part of the Yellowstone Timberland Reserve. It is the country’s first national forest.
Some people aren’t sure where Wyoming’s name came from. The name might come from a Delaware Indian word meaning “mountains and valleys alternating,” or “large plains.” It might also come from the Munsee language, meaning “at the big river flat,” or the Algonquin language meaning, “a large prairie place.” It’s nicknamed the Equality State because it was the first state to grant women the right to vote and to have women serve on juries and hold public office. Wyoming is bordered by Montana in the north; Montana, Idaho, and Utah in the west; Utah and Colorado in the south; and Nebraska and South Dakota in the east. Buffalo, pronghorn, black bears, grizzlies, and bighorn sheep are among Wyoming’s many mammals. Red-tailed hawks, prairie falcons, pinyon jays, and mountain bluebirds are a few of the birds that soar overhead. Reptiles like western painted turtles, rubber boas, Great Basin skinks, and Great Plains ear less lizards. Amphibians include Columbia spotted frogs, Wyoming toads, and western tiger salamanders. Grasses, semidesert shrubs, and desert shrubs cover almost all of the state. Sagebrush and Rocky Mountain juniper are examples of these plants. In forested areas, you can find ponderosa pines, lodgepole pines, and Douglas firs. Yarrow, sticky purple geranium, pinkfairies, and Indian paintbrush (the state flower) are a few of the wildflowers that grow throughout Wyoming. Ashleigh Some people disagree on how Oregon got its name. Some think it could’ve come from the French word ouragan meaning “hurricane,” a term used by French explorers to describing a windy area of the state. Others believe it may have been derived from the Chinook word oolighan, a type of fish Native Americans ate. Oregon was nicknamed the Beaver State because early settlers used to trap these animals for their fur.
Once hunted for its fur, the beaver—Oregon’s state animal—is common here. Other local mammals include Roosevelt elk, gray wolves, and wolverines. Burrowing owls, snowy plovers, sage grouse, and osprey are some of Oregon’s avian residents. Reptiles such as western pond turtles and Oregon alligator lizards creep through the state. Meanwhile spotted frogs, Pacific giant salamanders, and coastal tailed frogs are a few of the area’s amphibians. Oregon’s most common type of tree is the Douglas fir (the state tree). Oregon is also known for hemlock, red alder, bigleaf maple, and ponderosa pine. Wildflowers such as creeping Oregon grape, (state flower) sticky purple geranium, and white mule’s ears grow in Oregon.Oregon provides the most softwood lumber in the United States. Sun stone (the official state gem), opal, agate, and jade are also mined here. It is the only state to have an official state nut, the hazelnut. Oregon became the 33rd state on February 14, 1859. Ashleigh The state name comes from a Native American tribe, one of the Alabama groups from that area. “Dixie” is a nickname for the southern states, especially the Confederate states, which left the Union during the Civil War. Alabama is called the Heart of Dixie because Montgomery, Alabama, was the first Confederate capital.
This southern state is bordered by Tennessee in the north, Georgia in the east, Florida and Mobile Bay in the south, and Mississippiin the west. Two of North America’s rarest species—the Perdido Key beach mouse and the Alabama beach mouse—hide out in Alabama. Coyotes, armadillos, deer, feral pigs, and American alligators also roam the land. Birds such as kites, bald eagles, and hawks dot the skies, and the Gulf Coast water-dog and the 20-inch eastern hell-bender—the biggest salamander species by weight in North America—are underfoot. Bamboo and mistletoe grow in the state as well as other parts of the country, but the carnivorous Alabama canebrake pitcher plant, the Alabama gladecress, and the Cahaba prairie-clover can only be found here. The state’s hundred-plus types of trees include pines, red cedars, magnolias, and live oaks, which are often draped with long, gray Spanish moss. About 70 percent of Alabama is covered in forests, so it’s no wonder the state is known for its timber. Alabama’s vast forests would cover Rhode Island, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut! Alabama is also rich in limestone, coal, and iron ore, which are the three raw materials needed to make steel. In fact Alabama is home to three of the nation’s top pipe-making companies. Alabama, which joined the union as the 22nd state in 1819. Ashleigh Rhode Island is nicknamed the Ocean State because it has more than 400 miles of coastline. Everyone in the state lives within a half-hour drive to the sea! During colonial times many of Rhode Island’s mammals were hunted almost to extinction in the state. But some of those animals have made a comeback. Black bears, beavers, and fishers (a type of weasel) have all returned to the land.
Other common mammals are minks, raccoons, and river otters. The tiny state is alsobig on birds, especially along the coastline. Green herons, blue-winged warblers, common eiders, loons, and harlequin ducks are among Rhode Island’s many avian residents. Reptiles such as the northern redbelly and eastern smooth green snake live here. And the region is home to amphibians like blue-spotted salamanders and northern leopard frogs. The smallest state in the United States, Rhode Island is only about 48 miles long and 37 miles wide. It’s bordered by Massachusettsin the north and east, the Atlantic Ocean in the south, and Connecticut in the west. Ashleigh The name Minnesota comes from the Dakota tribe’s word for the Minnesota River, mnisota, meaning “cloudy, muddy water” or “sky-tinted water.” Minnesota’s nickname (the north star state) comes from its French state motto, adopted in 1861: l’étoile du nord meaning, “the star of the north.
Bobcats, muskrats, raccoons, and white-tailed deer are a few of Minnesota’s mammals. Gyrfalcons, great horned owls, and snipes are among the birds that fly through the state. Minnesota’s amphibians are western chorus frogs, eastern red-backed salamanders, and northern map turtles. The state is also home to reptiles like prairie skinks, garter snakes, and venomous timber rattlesnakes. Minnesota’s has 52 native tree species, some are, American elm, mountain maple, white spruce, and red pine (the state tree). Sunflowers, white meadow-sweet, and sweet pea are a few of the state’s wildflowers. Minnesota’s Mall of America is the biggest mall in the United States. It has a lot more than 500 stores, a seven-acre amusement park, and full-size roller coasters inside! Ashleigh The name California comes from a 16th-century Spanish novel that describes a mythical paradise called California. The gold rush probably helped earn California the nickname the Golden State, as did its golden poppies, the state flower. Keep an eye out for black bears, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, wild pigs, deer, and elk. And search the skies for a sight of bald eagles, California condors, and California quails, the state bird.
Swimming off the coast are green sea turtles, leather-back sea turtles, California sea lions, sea otters, and blue whales.About 6,500 types of plants thrive in California. You can see Joshua trees, which grow only in the Mojave Desert; perfumed magnolia trees; thorny coral trees; purple-flowered jacarandas; and lots of cacti. There’s a good chance that piece of fruit you’re eating was grown in California. The state is the top U.S. producer of lemons, apricots, avocados, dates, figs, grapes, kiwi, nectarines, peaches, raspberries, strawberries, and many others. And it’s not just fruit—California leads the nation in production of almonds, pistachios, and walnuts. It even grows over 90 percent of the broccoli that’s produced in the United States. The state also produces timber, cement, natural gas, and petroleum. California’s Death Valley is North America’s hottest desert, with an average daily high in the month of June of 115.5°F. Tank up before you drive there. Gas stations can be 50 miles apart! More movies have been filmed in California than any other state. In 1955, Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California. Since then about 750 million people have visited the park. California was made the 31st state on September 9, 1850. Ashleigh Washington became the 42nd state in the United States on November 11, 1889. The state of Washington is the only state to be named after a United States president. Washington state produces more apples than any other state in the union. Before it became a state, the territory was called Columbia (named after the Columbia River). When it was granted statehood, the name was changed to Washington, supposedly so people wouldn't confuse it with The District of Columbia.
The highest point in Washington is Mount Rainier. It was named after Peter Rainier, a British soldier who fought against the Americans in the Revolutionary War. The state capital of Washington is Olympia, and the largest city is Seattle. Starbucks, the biggest coffee chain in the world was founded in Seattle Washington. Washington is home to many Internet companies, including Amazon.com, Classmates.com and Whitepages.com. Property tax was the first tax levied in the state of Washington and its collection accounts for about 30 percent of Washington's total state and local revenue. Popular games Pictionary, Pickle-ball, and Cranium were all invented in Washington. Washington state flag is the only U.S. state flag with a field of green as well as the only state flag with the image of an American president. Ashleigh Experts don’t agree on how Iowa got its name. Some say that the name comes from the Ioway tribe. There’s also disagreement over the source of Iowa’s nickname, the Hawkeye State. Some say the name honors a Native American chief, Black Hawk. Others claim it was inspired by a character named Hawkeye in James Fenimore Cooper’s book, The Last of the Mohicans. On December 28 1846, Iowa became the 29th state.
Red foxes, thirteen-lined ground squirrels, least weasels, and white-tailed deer are among Iowa’s common mammals. Cerulean warblers, grasshopper sparrows, and scarlet tanagers are a few of the state’s birds. Iowa’s reptiles are Great Plains skinks, western hognose snakes, and yellow mud turtles. Amphibians like blue-spotted salamanders, central newts, Great Plains toads, and mudpuppies (a type of salamander) slither and hop through Iowa. Sugar maple, sycamore, red cedar, and oak (the state tree) are a few of the most common trees that grow in Iowa. Indian blanket flower, squirrel corn, morning glory, wild rose,(state flower) and Dalmatian toadflax are the state’s wildflowers. Iowa's biggest city is Des Moines. Ashleigh Ohio is home to 24 astronauts. Ohio has made a house completely out of trash, and it turned out to be amazing. The idea was to show how much can be made out of recycled material and the couple nailed it. The house has now been opened up for tours.
Ohio gave America its first chewing gum in 1869, hot dog in 1900 and Life Savers candy in 1912. There is a serpent-type monster living in Lake Erie named “Bessie.” Encounters with Bessie dates back to 1817 and has been sighted a lot over the last century and The New York Times even ran a story on it in 1931. Currently, there’s no evidence to support its existence. Fishing for Whales on Sunday is illegal. Women are not allowed to wear patent leather shoes in public, and it is illegal for more than five women to live in a house. Lastly, even after breaking the laws as mentioned above, you can’t be arrested on Sunday or on the Fourth of July. The state flag of Ohio is unique because it is the only state flag that is not rectangle in shape. The Capital city of Ohio is Columbus. The area of the State covers 116,096 square kilometers or 44,825 square miles. Ashleigh People first came to Texas a very long time ago. The first signs of humans appear 16,700 years ago. Thousands of years later, Akokisa, Karankawa, Mogollon, and Caddo, who are native American tribes, lived on the land.
”Texas is nicknamed the Lone Star State because in 1836, when the Republic of Texas declared itself an independent nation, it flew a flag with a single star on it. In Texas you might find black bears, armadillos, coyotes, cougars, tiger salamanders, leopard frogs, and endangered cats called jaguarundis. Texas has more types of birds than any other state. Everything from screech owls to hummingbirds live there. There are many different types of trees including pinyon pines, Texas mesquite, and cottonwood. There is also a large variety of cacti. Texas is known for its cattle. About 12 million head of cattle live there, more than any other state in the country. Ashleigh In 1733 Georgia was established as the 13th colony, and in 1788 it became the fourth U.S. state.
Black bears, bobcats, and deer are well know in Georgia. Off the coast you might spot a couple of manatees, right whales, and humpback whales. Georgia is also the home to a lot of birds like bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and woodpeckers. Some trees you’re likely to see live oak trees, magnolias, cottonwoods, sugar maples, and gum trees. With roughly half of the state covered in pine trees and more forestland than any other state. Georgia is known for it peanuts. In fact, Georgia grows the most peanuts in the United States. Georgia name comes from King George II, who approved the colony’s charter in 1732. In the mid-1700s, (a long time ago) Indians grew peach trees in Georgia, and today the state produces about 2.6 million bushels a year, making it the third biggest grower of peaches in the United States, behind California and South Carolina. Ashleigh Besides badgers, (state animal) many mammals roam around the woods of Wisconsin like black bears, moose, white-tailed deer, muskrats, porcupines, and flying squirrels. Birds fly free through the state like Downy woodpeckers, eastern bluebirds, purple finches, red-winged blackbirds, and robins (the state bird).
Wisconsin’s reptiles include milk snakes, snapping turtles, and common five-lined skinks. There aren't many amphibians, though, there is the Eastern red-backed salamanders, American bullfrogs, and mink frogs. The sugar maple is not only loved for its sap, which is used to make maple syrup, but for its leaves that turn bright red, orange, and yellow during fall, and that it's the state tree. Red cedar, hemlock, ash, and black oak are other common native trees. Wisconsin is famous for its cheese. In fact... it so famous that it has a cheese museum! On the second Saturday in June which is June 12, the National Historic Cheesemaking Center creates a 90-pound wheel of Swiss. Even though badgers live throughout Wisconsin, the animal isn’t the reason for the nickname the Badger State. “Badger” was the nickname for the big pack or group of miners who dug into Wisconsin’s hills to find lead then slept in their caves—just the way badgers burrow to create dens. Ashleigh Black bears, bobcats, red foxes, minks, and river otters are common Kentucky mammals. You might see a peregrine falcon, bald eagle, mountain bluebird, Kentucky warbler or northern cardinal (the state bird).
The ground and trees for reptiles like the six-lined racerunner, broadhead skink, or Eastern corn snake. Amphibians such as the Kentucky spring salamander or the Jefferson salamander hang out near water. The tulip poplar (the state tree) is native to the eastern United States, as is the Kentucky coffee tree. Other native trees include red maple, sassafras, northern red oak, and bald cypress. Native wildflowers such as wild columbine, purple coneflower, dwarf iris, and the endangered Kentucky lady’s slipper, a type of orchid. The Kentucky Derby, is a horse race that is held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of one and a quarter miles at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds and fillies 121 pounds.\ Ashleigh More chili peppers are harvested in New Mexico than all other states combined. Around 75% of the roads in New Mexico aren’t paved. It’s not necessary, because the roads aren’t traveled very often. A third of New Mexicans speak Spanish while at home. New Mexico is part of the Wild West if you were wondering.
New Mexico is a geologist's paradise! There are many extinct volcanoes located throughout the state. The highest point in New Mexico is Wheeler Peak with a 13,000 foot drop to sea level. At over 8,000 feet, one of the Volcanoes is so tall that five states can be seen from the top: New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. There are no active volcanoes within the state at present. Around 1,000 reports of UFOs are made each year in New Mexico. New Mexico's state animal is a black bear. The state flower is a yucca, and the state bird is a roadrunner. Ashleigh Two famous cities in Pennsylvania are Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. The third largest city in the state after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, is Allentown. The name Pennsylvania is a combination of William Penn's last name and a Latin word, sylvania. Together they loosely translate into “Penn’s woods”. The name was created by William Penn to honor his father.
The State Flower is the Mountain Laurel. It is usually in full bloom in mid-June. Pennsylvania is often known for these foods : Birch beer, Root beer, Amish potato salad, Apple butter, and Baked Apple, which is a cored and peeled apple, covered in a pie-crust, dusted with sugar or cinnamon, and baked. The only president from Pennsylvania was James Buchanan.. Pennsylvania is one of the top states for coal mining. The world's first computer was used and made in Philadelphia in 1946. Ashleigh Ninety percent of the country’s toothpick supply is produced in Maine. Maine is the third biggest producer of pure maple syrup in the country. Maine is the single largest producer of blueberries in the country.
The White Mountains are in the northwest of the state. Moose which happens to be the state animal, black bears, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and Canada lynx can be found in Maine. Bald eagles, ospreys, great gray owls, and roseate terns are a few of the state’s many birds. Maine’s reptiles include northern redbelly snakes, smooth green snakes, and eastern garter snakes. Amphibians just like painted turtles, eastern red-backed salamanders, and bullfrogs live there. Maine is filled with black oaks, sugar maples, black walnuts, and American elms, in addition to its white pine trees. Ashleigh Arizona is 48th State. Arizona's nickname is The Grand Canyon State because that is where it is located. Of the 55 people who have accidentally fallen to their death from the rim of the Canyon, 39 of them were male. There is more than 1 billion years’ worth of rock exposed at the Grand Canyon. There aren’t any dinosaur fossils at the Grand Canyon because the rocks are way older than the dinosaurs. The only fossils you’ll find are things like corals, and sponges. For a few hundred bucks a night you can sleep 22 stories underground in a hotel room of sorts in the Grand Canyon Caverns in Peach Springs. Not for claustrophobic people. In 1956, two planes detoured over the Grand Canyon’s airspace for a better view and ended up colliding directly over the canyon.
Arizona has 13 kinds of rattlesnake, more than any other state. Roughly 150 people are bitten by rattlesnakes every year in Arizona. The most common rattlesnake in the Grand Canyon has an unusual pink hue, that blends in with the rocks. Phoenix is the most populous city in Arizona. Many American presidents have stayed at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and the Spa in Phoenix. In fact, all of the American presidents after Herbert Hoover stayed there except president Obama The last volcanic eruption in Arizona took place sometime around A.D. 1064, and created Sunset Crater near Flagstaff. The films “Casablanca,” “Indiana Jones and the Temple Of Doom,” “Tank Girl,” “Planet of the Apes,” “Natural Born Killers,” “Wayne’s World,” “Raising Arizona,” “Star Wars: A New Hope” and “Return of the Jedi” were filmed all or in part on Arizona soil. In 1973, the bolo tie was designated as Arizona’s official state neckwear. The world’s tallest doll stands in Arizona at 39 feet tall. Arizona is the only state besides Hawaii that does not observe Daylight Savings time. Ashleigh |
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