Take a look at these quick facts for the 50 United States of America!
By uncovering each state from A to Z, kids will learn important facts about all 50 of the United States of America!
Facts like the state capitals, state nicknames, when they entered the union, and a few state symbols will be included.
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Why Learn About the 50 States
You may be wondering why you should teach children about the states?
Well, education as a whole can improve a child’s life, community, and even change an entire nation.
Teaching young learners about all 50 states can, in fact, make all the difference.
By introducing young minds to the facts about each state, they will become familiar with the subject of history.
This, in turn, can help to shape children both as individuals and as contributing members of society.
In short, educating kids about the 50 states can be a building block to molding the responsible citizens of tomorrow.
So, let’s get started shaping the minds of our future with facts about the 50 states!
Facts About the 50 States of the United States
Alabama
State Name: Alabama
State Nickname: Yellowhammer State
State Capital: Montgomery, Alabama
Became a State On: December 14, 1819
State Number: 22nd
State Animal: Black Bear
State Bird: Northern Flicker
State Flower: Camellia
Alaska
State Name: Alaska
State Nickname: Last Frontier State
State Capital: Juneau, Alaska
Became a State On: January 3, 1959
State Number: 49th
State Animal: Moose
State Bird: Willow Ptarmigan
State Flower: Alpine Forget-Me-Not
Arizona
State Name: Arizona
State Nickname: Grand Canyon State
State Capital: Phoenix, Arizona
Became a State On: February 14, 1912
State Number: 48th
State Animal: Ringtail
State Bird: Cactus Wren
State Flower: Saguaro Cactus Blossom
Arkansas
State Name: Arkansas
State Nickname: Natural State
State Capital: Little Rock, Arkansas
Became a State On: June 15, 1836
State Number: 25th
State Animal: White-Tailed Deer
State Bird: Mockingbird
State Flower: Apple Blossom
California
State Name: California
State Nickname: Golden State
State Capital: Sacramento, California
Became a State On: September 9, 1850
State Number: 31st
State Animal: Grizzly Bear
State Bird: California Quail
State Flower: California Poppy
Colorado
State Name: Colorado
State Nickname: Centennial State
State Capital: Denver, Colorado
Became a State On: August 1, 1876
State Number: 38th
State Animal: Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep
State Bird: Lark Bunting
State Flower: Rocky Mountain Columbine
Connecticut
State Name: Connecticut
State Nickname: Constitution State
State Capital: Hartford, Connecticut
Became a State On: January 9, 1788
State Number: 5th
State Animal: Sperm Whale
State Bird: American Robin
State Flower: Mountain Laurel
Delaware
State Name: Delaware
State Nickname: First State
State Capital: Dover, Delaware
Became a State On: December 7, 1787
State Number: 1st
State Animal: Grey Fox
State Bird: Blue Hen Chicken
State Flower: Peach Blossom
Florida
State Name: Florida
State Nickname: Sunshine State
State Capital: Tallahassee, Florida
Became a State On: March 3, 1845
State Number: 27th
State Animal: Florida Panther
State Bird: Mockingbird
State Flower: Orange Blossom
Georgia
State Name: Georgia
State Nickname: Peach State
State Capital: Atlanta, Georgia
Became a State On: January 2, 1788
State Number: 4th
State Animal: White-Tailed Deer
State Bird: Brown Thrasher
State Flower: Cherokee Rose
Hawaii
State Name: Hawaii
State Nickname: Aloha State
State Capital: Honolulu, Hawaii
Became a State On: August 21, 1959
State Number: 50th
State Animal: Monk Seal
State Bird: Nene
State Flower: Pua Aloalo
Idaho
State Name: Idaho
State Nickname: Gem State
State Capital: Boise, Idaho
Became a State On: July 3, 1890
State Number: 43rd
State Animal: Appaloosa Horses
State Bird: Mountain Bluebird
State Flower: Syringa
Illinois
State Name: Illinois
State Nickname: Prairie State
State Capital: Springfield, Illinois
Became a State On: December 3, 1818
State Number: 21st
State Animal: White-Tailed Deer
State Bird: Northern Cardinal
State Flower: Violet
Indiana
State Name: Indiana
State Nickname: Hoosier State
State Capital: Indianapolis, Indiana
Became a State On: December 11, 1816
State Number: 19th
State Animal: N/A
State Bird: Northern Cardinal
State Flower: Peony
Iowa
State Name: Iowa
State Nickname: Hawkeye State
State Capital: Des Moines, Iowa
Became a State On: December 28, 1846
State Number: 29th
State Animal: N/A
State Bird: American Goldfinch
State Flower: Prairie Rose
Kansas
State Name: Kansas
State Nickname: Sunflower State
State Capital: Topeka, Kansas
Became a State On: January 29, 1861
State Number: 34th
State Animal: American Buffalo
State Bird: Western Meadowlark
State Flower: Wild Native Sunflower
Kentucky
State Name: Kentucky
State Nickname: Bluegrass State
State Capital: Frankfort, Kentucky
Became a State On: June 1, 1792
State Number: 15th
State Animal: Gray Squirrel
State Bird: Northern Cardinal
State Flower: Goldenrod
Kentucky Fun Facts
Louisiana
State Name: Louisiana
State Nickname: Pelican State
State Capital: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Became a State On: April 30, 1812
State Number: 18th
State Animal: Black Bear
State Bird: Brown Pelican
State Flower: Magnolia
Maine
State Name: Maine
State Nickname: Pine Tree State
State Capital: Augusta, Maine
Became a State On: March 15, 1820
State Number: 23rd
State Animal: Moose
State Bird: Black-Capped Chickadee
State Flower: White Pine Cone
Maryland
State Name: Maryland
State Nickname: Old Line State
State Capital: Annapolis, Maryland
Became a State On: April 28, 1788
State Number: 7th
State Animal: Thoroughbred Horse
State Bird: Baltimore Oriole
State Flower: Black-Eyed Susan
Maryland Fun Facts
Massachusetts
State Name: Massachusetts
State Nickname: Bay State
State Capital: Boston, Massachusetts
Became a State On: February 6, 1788
State Number: 6th
State Animal: Right Whale
State Bird: Black-Capped Chickadee
State Flower: Mayflower
Michigan
State Name: Michigan
State Nickname: Great Lakes State
State Capital: Lansing, Michigan
Became a State On: January 26, 1837
State Number: 26th
State Animal: White-Tailed Deer
State Bird: Robin Redbreast
State Flower: Apple Blossom
Minnesota
State Name: Minnesota
State Nickname: North Star State
State Capital: St Paul, Minnesota
Became a State On: May 11, 1858
State Number: 32nd
State Animal: White-Tailed Deer
State Bird: Common Loon
State Flower: Pink and White Lady Slipper
Mississippi
State Name: Mississippi
State Nickname: Magnolia State
State Capital: Jackson, Mississippi
Became a State On: December 14, 1819
State Number: 22nd
State Animal: White-Tailed Deer
State Bird: Mockingbird
State Flower: Magnolia
Missouri
State Name: Missouri
State Nickname: Show-Me State
State Capital: Jefferson City, Missouri
Became a State On: August 10, 1821
State Number: 24th
State Animal: Missouri Mule
State Bird: Eastern Bluebird
State Flower: White Hawthorn Blossom
Fun Facts About Missouri
Montana
State Name: Montana
State Nickname: Treasure State
State Capital: Helena, Montana
Became a State On: November 8, 1889
State Number: 41st
State Animal: Grizzly Bear
State Bird: Western Meadowlark
State Flower: Bitterroot
Nebraska
State Name: Nebraska
State Nickname: Cornhusker State
State Capital: Lincoln, Nebraska
Became a State On: March 1, 1867
State Number: 37th
State Animal: White-Tailed Deer
State Bird: Western Meadowlark
State Flower: Goldenrod
Nevada
State Name: Nevada
State Nickname: Silver State
State Capital: Carson City, Nevada
Became a State On: October 31, 1864
State Number: 36th
State Animal: Desert Bighorn Sheep
State Bird: Mountain Bluebird
State Flower: Sagebrush
New Hampshire
State Name: New Hampshire
State Nickname: Granite State
State Capital: Concord, New Hampshire
Became a State On: June 21, 1788
State Number: 9th
State Animal: White-Tailed Deer
State Bird: Purple Finch
State Flower: Purple Lilac
New Jersey
State Name: New Jersey
State Nickname: Garden State
State Capital: Trenton, New Jersey
Became a State On: December 18, 1787
State Number: 3rd
State Animal: Horse
State Bird: Eastern Goldfinch
State Flower: Violet
New Mexico
State Name: New Mexico
State Nickname: Land of Enchantment State
State Capital: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Became a State On: January 6, 1912
State Number: 47th
State Animal: Black Bear
State Bird: Greater Roadrunner
State Flower: Yucca Flower
New York
State Name: New York
State Nickname: Empire State
State Capital: Albany, New York
Became a State On: July 26, 1788
State Number: 11th
State Animal: Beaver
State Bird: Eastern Bluebird
State Flower: Rose
New York Fun Facts
North Carolina
State Name: North Carolina
State Nickname: Tar Heel State
State Capital: Raleigh, North Carolina
Became a State On: November 21, 1789
State Number: 12th
State Animal: Gray Squirrel
State Bird: Northern Cardinal
State Flower: Dogwood
North Dakota
State Name: North Dakota
State Nickname: Peace Garden State
State Capital: Bismarck, North Dakota
Became a State On: November 2, 1889
State Number: 39th
State Animal: N/A
State Bird: Western Meadowlark
State Flower: Wild Prairie Rose
North Dakota Fun Facts
Ohio
State Name: Ohio
State Nickname: Buckeye State
State Capital: Columbus, Ohio
Became a State On: March 1, 1803
State Number: 17th
State Animal: White-Tailed Deer
State Bird: Northern Cardinal
State Flower: Carnation
Oklahoma
State Name: Oklahoma
State Nickname: Sooner State
State Capital: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Became a State On: November 16, 1907
State Number: 46th
State Animal: Buffalo
State Bird: Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher
State Flower: Oklahoma Rose
Oregon
State Name: Oregon
State Nickname: Beaver State
State Capital: Salem, Oregon
Became a State On: February 14, 1859
State Number: 33rd
State Animal: Beaver
State Bird: Western Meadowlark
State Flower: Oregon Grape
Oregon Fun Facts
Pennsylvania
State Name: Pennsylvania
State Nickname: Keystone State
State Capital: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Became a State On: December 14, 1819
State Number: 22nd
State Animal: White-Tailed Deer
State Bird: Ruffed Grouse
State Flower: Mountain Laurel
Rhode Island
State Name: Rhode Island
State Nickname: Ocean State
State Capital: Providence, Rhode Island
Became a State On: May 29, 1790
State Number: 13th
State Animal: Harbor Seal
State Bird: Rhode Island Red
State Flower: Violet
South Carolina
State Name: South Carolina
State Nickname: Palmetto State
State Capital: Columbia, South Carolina
Became a State On: May 23, 1788
State Number: 8th
State Animal: White-Tailed Deer
State Bird: Carolina Wren
State Flower: Yellow Jessamine
South Dakota
State Name: South Dakota
State Nickname: Mount Rushmore State
State Capital: Pierre, South Dakota
Became a State On: November 2, 1889
State Number: 40th
State Animal: Coyote
State Bird: Ring-Necked Pheasant
State Flower: American Pasque
South Dakota Fun Facts
Tennessee
State Name: Tennessee
State Nickname: Volunteer State
State Capital: Nashville, Tennessee
Became a State On: June 1, 1796
State Number: 13th
State Animal: Raccoon
State Bird: Mockingbird
State Flower: Iris
Texas
State Name: Texas
State Nickname: Lone Star State
State Capital: Austin, Texas
Became a State On: December 29, 1845
State Number: 28th
State Animal: Texas Longhorn
State Bird: Mockingbird
State Flower: Blue Bonnet
Utah
State Name: Utah
State Nickname: Beehive State
State Capital: Salt Lake City, Utah
Became a State On: January 4, 1896
State Number: 45th
State Animal: Rocky Mountain Elk
State Bird: California Gull
State Flower: Sego Lily
Utah Fun Facts
Vermont
State Name: Vermont
State Nickname: Green Mountain State
State Capital: Montpelier, Vermont
Became a State On: March 4, 1791
State Number: 14th
State Animal: Morgan Horse
State Bird: Hermit Thrush
State Flower: Red Clover
Vermont Fun Facts
Virginia
State Name: Virginia
State Nickname: Old Dominion State
State Capital: Richmond, Virginia
Became a State On: June 25, 1788
State Number: 10th
State Animal: American Foxhound
State Bird: Northern Cardinal
State Flower: American Dogwood
Washington
State Name: Washington
State Nickname: Evergreen State
State Capital: Olympia, Washington
Became a State On: November 11, 1889
State Number: 42nd
State Animal: Orca
State Bird: Willow Goldfinch
State Flower: Coast Rhododendron
West Virginia
State Name: West Virginia
State Nickname: Mountain State
State Capital: Charleston, West Virginia
Became a State On: June 20, 1863
State Number: 35th
State Animal: Black Bear
State Bird: Northern Cardinal
State Flower: Rhododendron
Wisconsin
State Name: Wisconsin
State Nickname: Badger State
State Capital: Madison, Alabama
Became a State On: May 29, 1848
State Number: 30th
State Animal: Badger
State Bird: American Robin
State Flower: Wood Violet
Wisconsin Fun Facts
Wyoming
State Name: Wyoming
State Nickname: Equality State
State Capital: Cheyenne, Wyoming
Became a State On: July 10, 1890
State Number: 44th
State Animal: American Bison
State Bird: Western Meadowlark
State Flower: Indian Paintbrush
Learning About the 50 States
Facts about the 50 states, including capitals, nicknames, and more is just the start of history education for young children.
From Alabama to Wyoming, these facts will help to educate, inspire, and build knowledge in the minds of our youth!
Laura
Friday 18th of August 2023
This was awesome! Thanks so much. You’ve made my life so much easier, collecting info for us all to learn for our upcoming road trip!
Just an FYI- the fun facts links for Oregon and Utah aren’t connected. I found them by searching, though :)