STATE NOMENCLATURE, ETC. ORIGINAL STATES. The following are the thirteen original states, with the dates on which they respectively ratified the constitution of 1787: Connecticut. Takes its name from its principal river, an Indian word meaning "long river." Ratified the constitution of the United States January 9, 1788. Delaware. Takes its name from the river and bay, named after Lord De la Warr, one of the early governors of Virginia, and an ancestor of Lord Sackville, late British minister at Washington. Ratified the constitution of the United States December 7, 1787. Georgia. Named as a colony in honor of George II. Originally it was included in the Carolinian charter of 1603, but was surrendered to the crown in 1729. Ratified the constitution of the United States January 2, 1788. Maryland. First called "Crescentia," but in the charter for the colony it was styled Terra Mariæ, "Mary's Land," in honor of Henrietta Maria, queen of Charles I. Ratified the constitution of the United States April 28, 1788. Massachusetts. 66 It Named after a tribe of Indians of the great Algonquin stock. signifies about the great hills." Ratified the constitution of the United States February 6, 1788. New Hampshire. For Hampshire county in England. It was included in the Massachusetts separate charter, granted September 18, 1679. Ratified the constitution of the United States June 21, 1788. New Jersey. In 1620 was claimed by the Dutch as a part of New Netherlands (now New York). Afterwards it was named New Jersey by Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret. The name was chosen in honor of the latter, who had been governor of the island of Jersey and held it for King Charles in his contest with parliament. Ratified the constitution of the United States December 18, 1787. New York. Was first called New Netherlands by the government of Holland on account of discoveries in 1609 by Henry Hudson, who was in the employ of the Dutch East India Company. Subsequently it was named New York after the Duke of York, who received a valuable charter of land in 1664 from his brother, Charles II of England. Ratified the constitution of the United States July 26, 1788. North Carolina. Named after King Charles ( Carolus) II. Ratified the constitution of the United States November 21, 1789. Pennsylvania. Named by William Penn, and means "the woody country of Penn." Ratified the constitution of the United States December 12, 1787. Rhode Island. Included in the charter of Massachusetts. Charter granted to Rhode Island and Providence plantations July 8, 1693. tion of the United States May 29, 1790. South Carolina. Included in the Carolina charters. Separate charter granted in 1729. Ratified the constitution of United States May 23, 1788. (See NORTH CAROLINA.) Virginia. Named in honor of Elizabeth, the "virgin queen." Ratified the constitution of the United States June 26, 1788. NEW STATES. The states admitted into the union as "new states," in addition to the original thirteen, are as follows: Alabama. From its principal river; supposed to mean "here we rest," which words are the motto of the state. The name was first given to the river by the French in form of Alibamon, from the name of a Muskogee tribe that lived upon the banks. Admitted as a state December 14, 1819. Arkansas. The name is of Indian origin, but has no known meaning. In 1881, the legislature declared the pronunciation to be "Ar-kan-saw." Admitted as a state June 15; 1836. California. First mentioned in the writings of Bernard Diaz del Costello, an officer under Cortes in the conquest of Mexico. Possibly derived from the Spanish word califa, caliph. Admitted as a state September 9, 1850. Colorado. From the Spanish word signifying "red," or "colored," probably suggested by the color of the soil. Admitted as a state August 1, 1876. Florida. This name was given to a larger territory than the present state by Ponce de Leon, in 1572, from the Spanish name of Easter Sunday, Pascua Florida, "flower pasture," the day upon which it was discovered. Admitted to the union March 3, 1845. Illinois. Takes its name from its principal river. According to Albert Gallatin, the term is derived from the Indian word leho, lini or illini, meaning "real" or "superior men," the termination being French. Admitted as a state December 3, 1818. Indiana. Called from the word Indian. Admitted as a state December 11, 1816. Iowa. Named for its principal river. The meaning of the Indian word is variously stated to be "the beautiful land," "the sleepy ones," "this is the place." Admitted as a state December 28, 1846. Kansas. The name of a tribe of Indians of the Dakota family, an offshoot of the Osages. The word is defined as "smoky water;" also as "good potato." Admitted as a state January 29, 1861. Kentucky. Comes from the Indian term Kan-tuck-kee, meaning, "the dark and bloody ground." Another authority says the state is named after a phrase signifying "at the head of a river." Admitted as a state June 1, 1792. Louisiana. Named after Louis XIV, of France, in 1644, by its discoverer, La Salle. Admitted as a state April 30, 1812. Maine. Supposed to have been named by the early French settlers after the ancient province of Maine, in France. Admitted as a state March 15, 1820. Michigan. Appears to have received its name from the Chippewa words mitch, great, sawgyegan, lake. The title was once applied to the two lakes, Admitted to the union January 26, 1837. Michigan and Huron. Minnesota. From an Indian term meaning "cloudy weather." Admitted as a state May 11, 1857. Mississippi. Called after the river bearing the same name. The title comes from the Indian words miche sepe, translated by some as "great river," and by others as "great father of waters." Admitted as a state October 10, 1817. Missouri. Named after the river, and meaning in Indian "muddy water." Admitted to the union August 10, 1821. Montana. Land of mountains. Admitted as a state November 8, 1889. Nebraska. Name is of Indian origin, and is supposed to mean "shallow water." Admitted as a state March 1, 1867. Nevada. Name is of Spanish origin, and means as a state October 31, 1864. North Dakota, 66 snow covered." Admitted Named for the tribe of Dakota Indians. Admitted as a state November 2, 1889. Ohio. Named from the river. The word in Indian means "beautiful river." Admitted as a state November 29, 1802. Oregon. Signifies "river in the west." According to others it is from the Spanish word oregano, or wild marjoram, which grows abundantly on the Pacific coast. Admitted as a state February 14, 1859. South Dakota. Named for the tribe of Dakota Indians. Admitted as a state November 2, 1889. Tennessee. Is derived from Tannassee, the Indian name of the Little Tennessee river, meaning "river of the big bend." Admitted as a state June 1, 1796. Texas. Has been said to be of Spanish origin, but the authorities say it was the generic title of numerous tribes of Indians who inhabited the region when De la Salle landed at Matagorda bay in 1687. Admitted as a state December 29, 1845. Vermont. In French, means "green mountains." Admitted as a state March 4, 1791. Washington. Named "for the father of his country." Admitted as a state November 11, 1889. West Virginia. Separated from Virginia May 13, 1862. Admitted to the union June 19, 1863. Wisconsin. Signifies, in the Indian language, "wild, rushing river." The state took its name from the river. Admitted as a state May 29, 1848. REMARKS. RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION BY THE THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES, THEIR POPULATION AND AREA. Seceded January 19, 1861. Readmitted to representation by the act of July 15, 1870. Seceded December 20, 1860. Readmitted to representation |