Can you guess the state?
Each question gives you clues about one of the 50 US states. Six questions, from easy to hard, with explanations.
Did you know?
- Four US states are officially called commonwealths instead of states: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The word is simply part of their official names and does not change how they are governed.
- Colorado and Wyoming are not perfect rectangles. Because early surveyors worked with imperfect tools and the curved Earth, their borders contain small kinks and bends, and Colorado actually has hundreds of sides.
- Alaska's flag was designed in 1926 by 13-year-old Benny Benson, who won a territory-wide contest. His design of the Big Dipper and the North Star became the state flag when Alaska joined the Union in 1959.
Clues that make a state unique
Every one of the 50 states has something that sets it apart — a shape, a crop, a nickname or an unusual record. Learning these details is one of the easiest ways to remember where states are and what they are known for. Clue-based questions like these are also a popular classroom game for practicing US geography.
Shapes and outlines
Some states have outlines that are easy to recognize. Michigan looks like a mitten, Florida like a long peninsula, and Oklahoma like a pan with a handle. States such as Colorado and Wyoming are nearly perfect rectangles because their borders follow lines of latitude and longitude.
Famous crops
Agriculture gives many states their identity. Idaho is known for potatoes, Georgia for peanuts and peaches, Washington for apples, and Iowa for corn. Hawaii is one of the few places in the country where coffee grows commercially.
Nicknames
Official and unofficial nicknames offer strong clues. Rhode Island is the Ocean State, Montana is Big Sky Country, and Arizona is the Grand Canyon State. Many nicknames appear on license plates and welcome signs at state borders.
Records and firsts
States also hold records. Alaska is the largest by area, California has the most people, and Wyoming has the fewest. Delaware is called the First State because it was the first to approve the US Constitution in 1787.
Flags and symbols
State flags range from simple designs to detailed seals. Ohio has the only non-rectangular flag, and Alaska's flag, showing the Big Dipper and the North Star, was designed by a 13-year-old student in 1926.
Practice tips
A good way to learn the states is to group them by region and link each one to a single memorable fact. Over time, those facts connect into a mental map of the whole country.