Alabama

Capital: Montgomery
Admitted to Union: 12-14-1819
Motto: We dare defend our rights.
Flower: Camellia
Nickname: Heart of Dixie
First Settlers: French, 1701

Alaska

Capital: Juneau
Admitted to Union: 1-3-1959
Motto: North to the future.
Flower: Forget me not
Nickname: The Last Frontier
First Settlers: Russian, 1799

Arizona

Capital: Phoenix
Admitted to Union: 2-14-1912
Motto: God Enriches.
Flower: Saguaro flower
Nickname: Grand Canyon State
First Settlers: Spaniards, 1690

Arkansas

Capital: Little Rock
Admitted to Union: 6-15-1836
Motto: The people rule.
Flower: Apple blossom
Nickname: Land of Opportunity
First Settlers: French, 1686

California

Capital: Sacramento
Admitted to Union: 9-9-1850
Motto: I have found it.
Flower: Golden poppy
Nickname: Golden State
First Settlers: Spaniards, 1769

Colorado

Capital: Denver
Admitted to Union: 8-1-1876
Motto: Nothing without Providence.
Flower: Rocky Mountain Columbine
Nickname: Centennial State
First Settlers: U. S. immigrants, 1848

Connecticut

Capital: Hartford
Admitted to Union: 1-9-1788
Motto: He who transplanted still sustains.
Flower: Mountain Laurel
Nickname: Nutmeg State
First Settlers: Plymouth colonists, 1634

Delaware

Capital: Dover
Admitted to Union: 12-7-1787
Motto: Liberty and independence.
Flower: Peach blossom
Nickname: First State
First Settlers: Dutch & Swedes, 1630's

Florida

Capital: Tallahassee
Admitted to Union: 3-3-1845
Motto: In God we trust.
Flower: Orange blossom
Nickname: Sunshine State
First Settlers: French, 1564

Georgia

Capital: Atlanta
Admitted to Union: 1-2-1788
Motto: Wisdom, justice and moderation.
Flower: Cherokee rose
Nickname: Peach State
First Settlers: English colonists, 1733

Hawaii

Capital: Honolulu
Admitted to Union: 8-21-1959
Motto: The life of the land is
perpetuated in righteousness.
Flower: Yellow hibiscus
Nickname: Aloha State
First Settlers: Polynesians, c. 300 AD

Idaho

Capital: Boise
Admitted to Union: 7-3-1890
Motto: It is perpetual.
Flower: Syringa
Nickname: Gem State
First Settlers: Fur traders, 1809

Illinois

Capital: Springfield
Admitted to Union: 12-3-1818
Motto: State sovereignty, national union.
Flower: Native violet
Nickname: Prairie State
First Settlers: French, 1670's

Indiana

Capital: Indianapolis
Admitted to Union: 12-11-1816
Motto: The crossroads of America.
Flower: Peony
Nickname: Hoosier State
First Settlers: French, 1731

Iowa

Capital: Des Moines
Admitted to Union: 12-28-1846
Motto: Our liberties we prize and
our rights we will maintain.
Flower: Wild rose
Nickname: Hawkeye State
First Settlers: French, 1673

Kansas

Capital: Topeka
Admitted to Union: 1-29-1861
Motto: To the stars through difficulties.
Flower: Native sunflower
Nickname: Sunflower State
First Settlers: French Explorers, c. 1670

Kentucky

Capital: Frankfort
Admitted to Union: 6-1-1792
Motto: United we stand, divided we fall.
Flower: Goldenrod
Nickname: Bluegrass State
First Settlers: American pioneers, 1774

Louisiana

Capital: Baton Rouge
Admitted to Union: 4-30-1812
Motto: Union, justice, and confidence.
Flower: Magnolia
Nickname: Pelican State
First Settlers: French, 1682

Maine

Capital: Augusta
Admitted to Union: 3-15-1820
Motto: I direct.
Flower: Pine cone
Nickname: Pine Tree State
First Settlers: French, 1604

Maryland

Capital: Annapolis
Admitted to Union: 4-28-1788
Motto: Manly deeds, womanly words.
Flower: Black-eyed Susan
Nickname: Free State
First Settlers: English, 1631

Massachusetts

Capital: Boston
Admitted to Union: 2-6-1788
Motto: By the sword we seek peace but
peace only under liberty.
Flower: Mayflower
Nickname: Bay State
First Settlers: English Pilgrims, 1620

Michigan

Capital: Lansing
Admitted to Union: 1-26-1837
Motto: If you seek a pleasant peninsula,
look around you.
Flower: Apple blossom
Nickname: Wolverine State
First Settlers: French fur traders, 1641

Minnesota

Capital: St. Paul
Admitted to Union: 5-11-1858
Motto: The star of the north.
Flower: Lady's slipper
Nickname: Gopher State
First Settlers: French Canadians, 1600's 

Mississippi

Capital: Jackson
Admitted to Union: 12-10-1817
Motto: By valor and arms.
Flower: Magnolia
Nickname: Magnolia State
First Settlers: French, 1682 

Missouri

Capital: Jefferson City
Admitted to Union: 8-10-1821 
Motto: The welfare of the people shall
be supreme law.
Flower: Hawthorn 
Nickname: Show Me State 
First Settlers: French miners, 1735 

Montana

Capital: Helena
Admitted to Union: 11-8-1889
Motto: Gold and Silver.
Flower: Bitterroot
Nickname: Treasure State
First Settlers: Americans, early 1800's 

Nebraska

Capital: Lincoln
Admitted to Union: 3-1-1867
Motto: Equality before the law.
Flower: Goldenrod
Nickname: Cornhusker State
First Settlers: Americans, 1823 

Nevada

Capital: Carson City
Admitted to Union: 10-31-1864
Motto: All for our country.
Flower: Sagebrush
Nickname: Sagebrush State
First Settlers: Mormons, 1849 

New Hampshire

Capital: Concord
Admitted to Union: 6-21-1788
Motto: Live free or die.
Flower: Purple lilac
Nickname: Granite State
First Settlers: English Colonists, 1623 

New Jersey

Capital: Trenton
Admitted to Union: 12-18-1787
Motto: Liberty and prosperity.
Flower: Purple violet
Nickname: Garden State
First Settlers: Dutch, 1600's 

New Mexico

Capital: Santa Fe
Admitted to Union: 1-6-1912
Motto: It grows as it goes.
Flower: Yucca
Nickname: Land of Enchantment
First Settlers: Spaniards, 1610 

New York

Capital: Albany
Admitted to Union: 7-26-1788
Motto: Ever upward.
Flower: Rose
Nickname: Empire State
First Settlers: Dutch, 1614 

North Carolina

Capital: Raleigh
Admitted to Union: 11-21-1789
Motto: To be rather than to seem.
Flower: Dogwood
Nickname: Tar Heel State
First Settlers: English, 1585 

North Dakota

Capital: Bismarck
Admitted to Union: 11-2-1889
Motto: Liberty and union, now and
forever, one and inseparable.
Flower: Prairie rose
Nickname: Peace Garden State
First Settlers: French traders, 1738 

Ohio

Capital: Columbus
Admitted to Union: 3-1-1803
Motto: With God, all things are possible.
Flower: Scarlet carnation
Nickname: Buckeye State
First Settlers: Colonial traders, 1685 

Oklahoma

Capital: Oklahoma City
Admitted to Union: 11-16-1907
Motto: Labor conquers all things.
Flower: Mistletoe
Nickname: Sooner State
First Settlers: Homesteaders, 1889 

Oregon

Capital: Salem
Admitted to Union: 2-14-1859
Motto: The union.
Flower: Oregon grape
Nickname: Beaver State
First Settlers: Americans, 1834 

Pennsylvania

Capital: Harrisburg
Admitted to Union: 12-12-1787
Motto: Virtue, liberty and independence.
Flower: Mountain laurel
Nickname: Keystone State
First Settlers: Swedes, 1643 

Rhode Island

Capital: Providence
Admitted to Union: 5-29-1790
Motto: Hope
Flower: Violet
Nickname: Ocean State
First Settlers: Mass. Bay Exiles, 1636 

South Carolina

Capital: Columbia
Admitted to Union: 5-23-1788
Motto: While I breathe, I hope
Flower: Jassamine
Nickname: Palmetto State
First Settlers: English colonists, 1670 

South Dakota

Capital: Pierre
Admitted to Union: 11-2-1889
Motto: Under God the people rule.
Flower: Pasque flower
Nickname: Coyote State
First Settlers: Americans, 1817 

Tennessee

Capital: Nashville
Admitted to Union: 6-1-1796
Motto: Agriculture and commerce.
Flower: Iris
Nickname: Volunteer State
First Settlers: Virginians, 1769 

Texas

Capital: Austin
Admitted to Union: 12-29-1845
Motto: Friendship.
Flower: Bluebonnet 
Nickname: Lone Star State
First Settlers: Spaniards, 1682 

Utah

Capital: Salt Lake City
Admitted to Union: 1-4-1896
Motto: Industry.
Flower: Sego lily
Nickname: Beehive State
First Settlers: Mormons, 1847 

Vermont

Capital: Montpelier
Admitted to Union: 3-4-1791
Motto: Freedom and unity.
Flower: Red clover
Nickname: Green Mountain State
First Settlers: Americans, 1724 

Virginia

Capital: Richmond
Admitted to Union: 6-25-1788
Motto: Thus always to tyrants.
Flower: Dogwood
Nickname: Old Dominion
First Settlers: English, 1607 

Washington

Capital: Olympia
Admitted to Union: 11-11-1889
Motto: By and by.
Flower: Rhododendron
Nickname: Evergreen State
First Settlers: Canadian traders, 1810 

West Virginia

Capital: Charleston
Admitted to Union: 6-20-1863
Motto: Mountaineers are always free.
Flower: Big rhododendron
Nickname: Mountain State
First Settlers: Virginians 

Wisconsin

Capital: Madison
Admitted to Union: 5-29-1843
Motto: Forward.
Flower: Wood violet
Nickname: Badger State
First Settlers: French traders, mid 1660's 

Wyoming

Capital: Cheyenne
Admitted to Union: 7-10-1890
Motto: Equal rights.
Flower: Indian paintbrush
Nickname: Equality State
First Settlers: Traders, early 1800's