Massachusetts-New Jersey
We have traveled a lot throughout the US and have actually been to 41 of the 50 States. Thus I decided to share some information about each state as well as the state road sign. If we didn’t get to a state sign yet (or forgot to get one while we were there), I have posted another picture of a state sign and will replace it once we have pictures. In the meantime, please enjoy the information on the states from Massachusetts-New Jersey. FYI, these are in alphabetical order.
State of Massachusetts
On a white field is a blue shield emblazoned with the image of a Native American, Massachuset. He holds a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other. The arrow is pointing downward representing peace. The white star represents Massachusetts as one of the original thirteen states. Around the shield is a blue ribbon with the motto: “By the Sword We Seek Peace, but Peace Only Under Liberty”. Above the shield is a arm and sword, representing the first part of the motto. Flag adopted 1915, amended 1971
Massachusetts was the 6th state to join the union.
It was settled in 1628 and entered the union on Feb. 6, 1788.
The state capitol is in Boston.
Their nickname is: The Bay State
Their motto is: Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem- Latin translation; “By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty”
Origin of state’s name: Based on the Algonquin Indian word massachussett meaning “near the great little mountain”
State of Michigan
The design on Michigan’s deep blue field has three mottoes:
On a red ribbon – “One Nation Made Up of Many States”
On a blue shield – “I Will Defend”
On a white ribbon – “If You Seek a Pleasant Peninsula, Look Around”
On the blue shield the sun rises over a lake and peninsula, a man with a raised hand and holding a gun represents peace and the ability to defend his rights. The elk and moose are symbols of Michigan, while the eagle represents the United States. Flag adopted 1911
Michigan was the 26th state to join the union.
It was settled in 1668 and entered the union on Jan. 26, 1837.
The state capitol is in Lansing.
Their nickname is: Wolverine State / Great Lakes State
Their motto is: Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam, circumspice – Translation – “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.”
Origin of state’s name: Based on the Ojibwa Indian word misshikama meaning “great water,” referring to the Great Lakes
State of Minnesota
The Minnesota state flag is royal blue, with a gold fringe. In the center of the flag is the state seal. Around the state seal is a wreath of the state flower, the lady slipper. Three dates are woven into the wreath: 1858, the year Minnesota became a state; 1819, the year Fort Snelling was established; and 1893, the year the official flag was adopted. Nineteen stars ring the wreath. The largest star represents Minnesota.
Minnesota was the 32nd state to join the union.
It was settled in 1805 and entered the union on May 11, 1858.
The state capitol is in Saint Paul.
Their nickname is: The North Star State / The Land of 10,000 Lakes
Their motto is: The star of the north
Origin of state’s name: Based on the Dakota Sioux Indian word for “sky-tinted water,” referring to the Minnesota River
or the state’s many lakes
State of Mississippi
The committee to design a State Flag was appointed by legislative action on February 7, 1894, and provided that the flag reported by the committee should become the official flag. The committee recommended for the flag “one with width two-thirds of its length; with the union square, in width two-thirds of the width of the flag; the ground of the union to be red and a broad blue saltier thereon, bordered with white and emblazoned with thirteen (13) mullets or five-pointed stars, corresponding with the number of the original States of the Union; the field to be divided into three bars of equal width, the upper one blue, the center one white, and the lower one extending the whole length of the flag.
Mississippi was the 20th state to join the union.
It was settled in 1699 and entered the union on Dec. 10, 1817.
The state capitol is in Jackson.
Their nickname is: The Magnolia State
Their motto is: Virtute et Armis – “By Valor and Arms.”
Origin of state’s name: Based on the Ojibwa Indian word messipi meaning “big river”
State of Missouri
Centered on red, white, and blue fields is the Missouri state seal. It is encircled by a blue band with twenty-four stars representing the number of states in 1821. The stars in the inner circle have the same meaning. Two huge grizzly bears support the circular shield in the center which has three parts: the right section representing the United States, the left section containing a moon representing a new state and a grizzly bear standing for courage, and the motto “United We Stand, Divided we Fall”
Missouri was the 24th state to join the union.
It was settled in 1735 and entered the union on Aug. 10, 1821.
The state capitol is in Jefferson City.
Their nickname is: The Show-Me State
Their motto is: The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law
Origin of state’s name: Named after Missouri Indian tribe whose name means “town of the large canoes”
State of Montana
Under the word “Montana”, on a blue field, is the state seal. The seal shows some of Montana’s beautiful scenery and tells what people were doing in pioneer times. The pick, shovel, and plow represent mining and farming. In the background, the sun rises over mountains, forests, and the Great Falls of the Missouri River. A ribbon contains the state motto “Gold and Silver”. Flag adopted 1905 amended 1981.
Montana was the 41st state to join the union.
It was settled in 1847 and entered the union on Nov. 8, 1889.
The state capitol is in Helena.
Their nickname is: The Treasure State
Their motto is: Oro y Plata” which is Spanish for “Gold and Silver
Origin of state’s name: Based on the Spanish word montaña meaning “mountain”
State of Nebraska
A banner for the State of Nebraska shall consist of a reproduction of the great seal of the state, charged on the center in gold and silver on a field of national blue.
Nebraska was the 37th state to join the union.
It was settled in 1823 and entered the union on Mar. 1, 1867.
The state capitol is in Lincoln.
Their nickname is: The Cornhusker State
Their motto is: Equality before the law
Origin of state’s name: Name based on an Oto Indian word that means “flat water,” referring to the Platte River
State of Nevada
Nevada was the 36th state to join the union.
It was settled in 1849 and entered the union on Oct. 31, 1864.
The state capitol is in Carson City.
Their nickname is: The Silver State
Their motto is: All for our country
Origin of state’s name: Spanish for “snowcapped”
State of New Hampshire
The state flag shall be of the following color and design: The body or field shall be blue and shall bear upon its center in suitable proportion and colors a representation of the state seal. The seal shall be surrounded by a wreath of laurel leaves with nine stars interspersed.
New Hampshire was the 9th state to join the union.
It was settled in 1623 and entered the union on June 21, 1788.
The state capitol is in Concord.
Their nickname is: The Granite State
Their motto is: Live Free or Die
Origin of state’s name: Named by Captain John Mason after Hampshire, England.
State of New Jersey
The State flag of New Jersey is buff-colored. The state coat of arms is emblazoned in the center. The shield has three plows with a horse’s head above it. Two women represent the goddesses of Liberty and Agriculture. A ribbon at the bottom includes the year of independence in 1776 and reads: Liberty and Prosperity. The New Jersey state flag was formally adopted in 1896.
New Jersey was the 3rd state to join the union.
It was settled in 1660 and entered the union on Dec. 18, 1787.
The state capitol is in Trenton.
Their nickname is: The Garden State
Their motto is: Liberty and Prosperity
Origin of state’s name: Named after the Isle of Jersey in the English Channel.
Massachusetts-New Jersey are US states 21-30 in alphabetical order. I hope you have enjoyed learning a little about each of these states. If you have enjoyed these, make sure to check out my list for these US States:
Alabama – Georgia
Hawaii – Maryland
New Mexico – South Carolina
South Dakota – Wyoming
Please feel free to leave any comments, questions, suggestions, etc below. I would love to hear what you think.
LIKE WHAT YOU ARE READING?
I would love to send you my free travel itinerary cheat sheets and emails when I post new articles! I usually post 2 times a week. Sign up now, receive your free travel sheets, and don’t miss an article. Thanks, Samantha
This post was created using WordPress. Create your own site for FREE!