U.S. States Study Guide

Geography 935 clues | 69 recurring answers

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46 Must-Know

4 Should-Know

19 Worth Knowing

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Alaska 41 California 25 Michigan 25 Louisiana 24 Florida 23 Hawaii 22 Rhode Island 22 Colorado 21 New Mexico 21 New York 20 Maryland 20 Wyoming 20 Texas 20 Maine 19 Kansas 17 Utah 16 Delaware 16 Alabama 16 Wisconsin 16 Montana 15 Minnesota 15 Oklahoma 14 New Jersey 14 Virginia 14 Vermont 13 Oregon 13 New Hampshire 13 Pennsylvania 12 North Carolina 12 Massachusetts 12 Ohio 12 Kentucky 12 Nevada 11 Indiana 11 Georgia 11 Washington 11 Iowa 10 Idaho 10 Arkansas 10 Arizona 9 Tennessee 8 South Dakota 8 South Carolina 8 Missouri 8 Connecticut 8 West Virginia 8

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42 answers | 415 clues

Must-Know (21)

Alaska 41x 7.9% stumper $355 avg J:24 DJ:14 FJ:3

J $100 1996 Its state sport is dog mushing

J $600 2016 The westernmost

DJ $1,000 1997 It has only 9 places with 5,000 or more people, including Kenai, Ketchikan & Sitka

California 25x 8.3% stumper $446 avg J:9 DJ:15 FJ:1

J $100 1995 During the gold rush, the forty-niners sought their fortunes in what is now this state

J $500 1989 State named by Spanish conquistadors for an imaginary island in the novel "Las sergas de Esplandian"

J $1,000 2014 According to statute, the outer circle of its state seal is a color called golden poppy

Michigan 25x 9.1% stumper $814 avg J:7 DJ:15 FJ:3

J $100 2000 On its 1996 auto centennial license plate, this state claimed to be the "World's Motor Capital"

J $500 1988 Among this state's tourist attractions are a tulip festival in Holland & the Soo Locks

J $1,000 2012 The Grand, at whose rapids a city sprang up, is this state's longest river

Louisiana 24x 4.5% stumper $395 avg J:15 DJ:7 FJ:2

J $100 1996 About 30% of this state's population lives in metropolitan New Orleans

DJ $600 1991 Founded by the French c. 1714, Natchitoches is the oldest permanent settlement in this state

DJ $1,000 1991 It's the only state that modeled its court system on civil law, not English common law

Hawaii 22x 23.8% stumper $562 avg J:13 DJ:8 FJ:1

J $100 2001 The 8 stripes on its flag represent the 8 main islands

J $500 1999 This state lies at about the same latitude as Hong Kong

J $1,000 2009 Though endangered, the nene is its state bird

Colorado 21x 5.0% stumper $410 avg J:11 DJ:9 FJ:1

J $100 1998 [flag]

J $600 2013 One of the official state songs of this western state was a top 10 hit for John Denver

FJ 2005 Rejected earlier in its bid for statehood, it finally entered the Union in 1876

Maryland 20x 11.1% stumper $656 avg J:10 DJ:8 FJ:2

J $100 1993 Its state house in Annapolis, begun in 1772, is the oldest still in use in the U.S.

J $500 1997 Its flag bears the quartered arms of the Calvert & Crossland families

DJ $1,000 1995 Its state flower is the black-eyed Susan

Wyoming 20x 33.3% stumper $678 avg J:10 DJ:8 FJ:2

J $100 1985 Population 51,016, Casper is this state's largest city

J $600 DD 1992 1 of the 2 states bordered by both Idaho and South Dakota

J $1,000 2011 A white silhouette of a bison bearing the state seal appears on a blue field on its state flag

Kansas 17x 17.6% stumper $631 avg J:6 DJ:11

J $100 1992 A sunflower crest is above the seal on its flag

J $500 1994 This state, which leads the U.S. in wheat production, has been called the "Breadbasket of America"

DJ $1,000 1989 The geographic center of the lower 48 is just outside the town of Lebanon in this state

Delaware 16x 46.7% stumper $707 avg J:7 DJ:8 FJ:1

J $200 2013 (Sarah of the Clue Crew presents the clue.) I'm at the site of the Golden Fleece Tavern, where, on December 7, 1787, delegates voted unanimously to ratify the U.S. Constitution, earning this state its official nickname, "The First State"

J $500 1996 This state's border with Pennsylvania is the arc of a perfect circle centered in New Castle

DJ $1,000 1989 Michael Castle, governor of this state, quips it has "3 counties at low tide and 2 counties at high"

Wisconsin 16x 12.5% stumper $544 avg J:9 DJ:7

J $100 1989 Green Bay, in this state, is the smallest city to hold an NFL franchise

DJ $800 1992 Of the more than 8,500 lakes in this state, Winnebago is the largest

DJ $1,000 1989 Noted for its progressivism, this Midwest state passed the 1st Unemployment Compensation Act in 1932

Oregon 13x 7.7% stumper $608 avg J:5 DJ:8

J $200 2023 It's the only state flag to have different designs on each side, with the Pacific Ocean on the front & a beaver on the back

J $500 2001 It's the only state with a different design on the reverse of its flag: a yellow beaver

DJ $1,000 1992 In 1811 John Jacob Astor set up a Pacific Fur Co. Trading post for in what is now Astoria in this state

North Carolina 12x 27.3% stumper $564 avg J:6 DJ:5 FJ:1

J $200 2022 Your initial reaction would be correct; it's the state whose flag is seen here

J $500 1985 In June, this state is the site of the Nat'l Hollerin' Contest in Spivey's Corners, near Fayetteville

DJ $1,000 1990 Grandfather Mountain, the tallest peak in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is in this state

Massachusetts 12x 9.1% stumper $509 avg J:6 DJ:5 FJ:1

J $100 2001 Its state dog is the Boston Terrier

DJ $600 1989 The only 2' gauge railroad in the U.S. takes tourists on a trip thru this state's cranberry bogs

DJ $1,000 1989 The power drill was 1st used in the U.S. to dig the Hoosac Tunnel through the Berkshires in this state

Kentucky 12x 10.0% stumper $550 avg J:4 DJ:6 FJ:2

J $100 1993 This state ranks No. 1 in the breeding of thoroughbred horses

J $600 2017 This state no longer features the spires of Churchill Downs on its license plates, but still has a horse logo

DJ $1,600 2004 Of the 4 states officially known as commonwealths, it lies the farthest west

Georgia 11x $544 avg J:4 DJ:5 FJ:2

DJ $200 1991 Milledgeville was capital of this state from 1807 to 1868, when it was replaced by Atlanta

DJ $800 1993 This state has a Lake Sidney Lanier about 25 miles north of Stone Mountain

J $1,000 2009 Appalled by the conditions of debtors in prison in England, James Oglethorpe started this as a debtor's colony

Washington 11x 27.3% stumper $509 avg J:8 DJ:3

J $200 2008 It's the only state flag with a picture of a president on it; the same portrait is on the state's seal

J $600 2004 The westernmost town in the lower 48 states is La Push in this state

J $1,000 2017 It's the only state flag that has a green background

Arkansas 10x 30.0% stumper $770 avg J:3 DJ:7

J $400 1984 Western neighbor of Tenn. & Miss.; it has only diamond field in N. America

J $500 1992 Founded in 1817, Fort Smith in this state was one of the first military posts in the Missouri Territory

DJ $2,000 2016 This state's flag was designed by Miss Willie Hocker of the D.A.R.'s Pine Bluff chapter

Missouri 8x $812 avg J:6 DJ:2

J $100 1997 This "Show-Me State" has also been called the "Gateway to the West"

J $500 1991 The Oregon Trail began in this state

DJ $4,000 DD 1990 In 1967 this state chose galena as its state mineral & mozarkite as its state rock

Connecticut 8x $571 avg J:5 DJ:2 FJ:1

J $100 1989 This state's geographic center is located within the limits of Hartford County, near its capital

J $500 1994 In 1958 construction was completed on a 129-mile turnpike that crosses this state from N.Y. to R.I.

J $1,000 2004 Including Fairfield & litchfield, this state has only 8 counties

West Virginia 8x 14.3% stumper $500 avg J:5 DJ:2 FJ:1

J $400 1994 When it became a state in 1863, Wheeling was its capital

J $500 1995 This Appalachian state's motto is "Mountaineers are always free"

FJ 1993 It's the newest state east of the Mississippi River

Should-Know (4)

Illinois 7x 14.3% stumper $643 avg J:6 DJ:1

J $200 1988 Located in this state, Rock Island is the site of the government's largest military arsenal

J $500 1992 This state's flag was designed by members of the D.A.R. in the city of Rockford

J $1,000 2013 It's the fifth-most populous state overall & the most populous in the Midwest

Nebraska 6x 16.7% stumper $567 avg J:2 DJ:4

DJ $200 1993 One of this state's most popular events is the annual state fair in Lincoln

J $500 1991 This Midwestern state has the only unicameral legislature in the U.S.

J $500 1984 Midwest state whose native sons include Marlon Brando, Nick Nolte & Henry Fonda

Mississippi 6x 33.3% stumper $500 avg J:4 DJ:2

J $200 1995 Biloxi is this state's chief shrimp-packing port

J $700 DD 1988 1 of 2 Gulf states containing the area of black clay soils known as the "Black Belt"

J $400 1991 In 1969 Charles Evers was elected the first Black mayor of a racially mixed city in this state

the palmetto 5x $1,320 avg J:3 DJ:2

DJ $600 1989 South Carolina's flag has a blue field with this state tree in the center

DJ $4,000 DD 2008 If you know South Carolina's state nickname, you can identify this state tree in the center of its flag

J $800 2002 South Carolina's original state flag of 1776 didn't feature this tree; it was added in 1861

Worth Knowing (17)

milk 3 divided we fall 3 Alaska & Hawaii 3 bison 3 an eagle 3 Portsmouth 2 North Dakota 2 an anchor 2 a diamond 2 a Chesapeake Bay retriever 2 "My Old Kentucky Home" 2 the sugar maple 2 the pelican 2 the Confederate flag 2 Tennessee and Texas 2 state fish 2 J & Q (& B) 2

Europe

12 answers | 170 clues

Must-Know (11)

Rhode Island 22x 14.3% stumper $429 avg J:11 DJ:10 FJ:1

J $100 1988 Ironically, this little state's official name is the longest of any U.S. state

J $600 2010 This state's seal includes its longer, official name: "The State of" this & "Providence Plantations"

DJ $1,000 1998 We "hope" you know that the flag seen here belongs to this New England state

New Mexico 21x 10.5% stumper $689 avg J:11 DJ:8 FJ:2

J $100 1988 The Old Spanish Trail began in what is now this "New" state & ended in California

J $500 DD 1996 Among this state's few natural lakes are the Bottomless Lakes near Roswell

J $1,200 DD 2002 This state's flag features the sun symbol of the Zia Pueblo Indians in crimson on a field of gold

Maine 19x 10.5% stumper $647 avg J:11 DJ:8

J $100 1995 This state produces about 20 million pounds of lobster annually

J $500 1989 Acadia National Park, the oldest one east of the Mississippi, is in this state

J $1,000 DD 2009 It's the only U.S. state with a 1-syllable name

Utah 16x 6.7% stumper $553 avg J:10 DJ:5 FJ:1

J $100 1999 Mormons make up about 70% of this state's population

J $500 1988 State in which RR tracks from the east & west joined to form the 1st Transcontinental Railroad

J $900 DD 1993 Its southeast corner touches Arizona, Colorado & New Mexico

Alabama 16x 18.8% stumper $888 avg J:8 DJ:8

J $100 1989 Spanish explorers are believed to have visited Mobile Bay in this state back in 1519

DJ $600 2001 A map of this state appears on its seal along with the names of its neighbors Florida, Georgia, Mississippi & Tenn.

J $1,000 2016 The first alphabetically

Montana 15x 7.1% stumper $657 avg J:5 DJ:9 FJ:1

DJ $200 1988 The capital of this state is named after Helena, Minnesota

DJ $600 1997 Located on the Continental Divide, Glacier National Park is in this state

DJ $1,000 1994 Flathead Lake in this "Treasure State" is one of the largest natural lakes west of the Mississippi

Virginia 14x 8.3% stumper $675 avg J:5 DJ:7 FJ:2

J $200 1989 Kentucky was declared a Commonwealth, just like this state that formerly owned it

DJ $800 1984 1 of 4 states that's officially a commonwealth

J $1,000 DD 2008 A defeated tyrant's fallen crown lies near him on the flag of this Southern state

Vermont 13x 25.0% stumper $783 avg J:5 DJ:7 FJ:1

J $200 1988 The name of this state comes from the French for "green mountain"

J $500 1985 Before joining Union in 1791, this New England state was an independent republic for 14 years

DJ $1,000 1993 In 1791, after 14 years as an independent republic, it became the 14th state

New Hampshire 13x 9.1% stumper $718 avg J:4 DJ:7 FJ:2

DJ $200 1987 The only U.S. state which borders Maine

J $500 2000 Of the states bordering an ocean, this New England state has the shortest coastline, 13 miles

DJ $1,000 1991 The Old Man of the Mountain in this state's White Mountains is on its emblem

Nevada 11x 20.0% stumper $500 avg J:5 DJ:5 FJ:1

J $100 1992 42% of this state's general fund tax revenues comes from gambling

DJ $600 1994 It's "The Sagebrush State"

FJ 1993 The U.S. gov't owns 85% of this state's land, the largest portion for any of the lower 48 states

South Carolina 8x 25.0% stumper $662 avg J:3 DJ:5

DJ $400 1995 Beaches on this state's Atlantic coast include windy Hill, Seabrook Island & Hilton Head Island

J $500 1998 [flag]

DJ $1,000 1991 Col. William Moultrie designed the flag of this state that has a fort named for him

Worth Knowing (1)

the Baltimore oriole 2

Asia

10 answers | 116 clues

Must-Know (9)

Florida 23x 9.5% stumper $381 avg J:11 DJ:10 FJ:2

J $100 1997 The official seal, showing a Seminole woman, appears on this state's flag

DJ $500 DD 1985 State with this tune as its official state song"Way down upon the Swanee River / Far, far away..."

DJ $1,200 DD 1992 Its coastline is longer than any other state's except Alaska

Oklahoma 14x 18.2% stumper $518 avg J:6 DJ:5 FJ:3

DJ $200 1998 Anti-smoking groups beware: this state's flag has a peace pipe on it

J $500 1999 The 5-pointed star on this state's seal displays symbols of the Five Civilized Tribes

DJ $1,000 1984 Originally set aside for the Indians for as long as grass shall grow & rivers flow

New Jersey 14x 25.0% stumper $717 avg J:5 DJ:7 FJ:2

J $100 1984 Where we crown Miss America

J $500 2001 This state was home to the world's first drive-in movie theater & the first boardwalk

J $900 DD 1992 In 1664 the Duke of York gave this state the name Nova Caesarea

Pennsylvania 12x 25.0% stumper $708 avg J:4 DJ:8

J $100 1991 Extending to the N.Y. border, Allegheny National Forest is the only National Forest in this state

DJ $600 1991 This state is now third after Indiana & Ohio in production of iron & steel

J $1,000 2021 The second state to join the Union, it borders the first & third, Delaware & New Jersey

Ohio 12x 25.0% stumper $750 avg J:3 DJ:9

J $200 1987 Though the Pro Football Hall of Fame is in this state, the state beverage is tomato juice, not beer

DJ $600 1987 Its 3 largest cities all begin with the letter "C"

DJ $1,000 1993 In 1803 it became the first state carved out of the Northwest Territory

Indiana 11x 27.3% stumper $464 avg J:9 DJ:2

DJ $200 1988 Perhaps this state's romance with cars began in 1894 when one was driven on Pumpkinvine Pike in Kokomo

J $500 DD 1997 This state's lowest point, 320 feet, lies at the junction of the Wabash & the Ohio Rivers

J $1,000 DD 2005 Of states with Lake Michigan shoreline, it has the least, 41 miles

Iowa 10x 20.0% stumper $490 avg J:8 DJ:2

J $100 1993 The USA's largest popcorn processing plant is in Sioux City in this state

J $500 1994 The Mississippi River forms its eastern border; the Missouri & Big Sioux rivers, its western border

J $1,000 2017 The highest temperature ever recorded in this state was a blistering 118 degrees at Keokuk on July 20, 1934

Idaho 10x 20.0% stumper $530 avg J:3 DJ:7

DJ $200 1991 This state's silver production is no small potatoes: in fact, it leads the nation

J $500 1997 This state has 2 national monuments: the Hagerman Fossil Beds & Craters of the Moon

DJ $1,000 1988 Over 70 varieties of gems & semi-precious stones can be found in this, the "Gem State"

South Dakota 8x 25.0% stumper $538 avg J:2 DJ:6

J $100 1994 "The Rushmore State" is a nickname used to refer to this state

DJ $600 1998 The coyote is the official animal of this state & Black Hills gold is its official jewelry

DJ $1,000 1991 Florida's flag says "In God We Trust"; this state's flag says it's "The Sunshine State"

Worth Knowing (1)

a torch 2

North America

3 answers | 55 clues

Must-Know (3)

New York 20x 10.5% stumper $363 avg J:12 DJ:7 FJ:1

J $100 1994 This "Empire State" is the only one that touches the Atlantic Ocean & the Great Lakes

J $500 1999 Its highest point is 5,344-foot Mount Marcy in the Adirondacks

FJ 1988 More of this state's governors have gone on to be president than any other

Texas 20x 5.0% stumper $490 avg J:13 DJ:7

J $200 2002 This state's first official "Lone Star" flag was a naval flag it adopted in 1836 while still a republic

J $500 1995 Its state flower is the bluebonnet

DJ $1,600 DD 1985 State in which this song takes place"Oh beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly / Play the Dead March as they carry me along"

Minnesota 15x 14.3% stumper $450 avg J:10 DJ:4 FJ:1

J $200 1999 This state has more ethnic Norwegians than any other state, most of them in the Twin Cities area

J $500 1991 About 60% of the iron ore in the U.S. comes from this state's Mesabi range

DJ $1,000 DD 1988 Before 1959, a piece of this central state was the northernmost point in the U.S.

Middle East

1 answers | 9 clues

Must-Know (1)

Arizona 9x $633 avg J:4 DJ:5

DJ $200 1993 The world's most powerful solar telescope is near Tucson in this state

J $500 1993 This state has a 4,150'-wide, 570'-deep meteor crater

DJ $2,000 2012 Its 3 most recent governors: Jane Hull, Janet Napolitano, Jan Brewer

Africa

1 answers | 8 clues

Must-Know (1)

Tennessee 8x 12.5% stumper $688 avg J:5 DJ:3

DJ $400 2008 The capital of this state is named for General Francis Nash

J $500 1990 To visit A. Haley's roots go to Africa; to see his museum & home go to this "Volunteer" state

J $900 DD 1990 Country music's Alabama is from that state, while the Oak Ridge Boys began as a group in this state

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