Test Your Knowledge On The Fifty States By Taking This U.S. Geography Quiz!
Written by Daniel Rackley
Last updated · 18 min play time
There are so many amazing sights and locations in this amazing country of cars you would have to make it a lifetime career to even come close to seeing them all. From major cities to small towns, America has it all. Take this quiz and see what you know about American geography!
Quiz written by
Daniel RackleyU.S. Geography Quiz Questions
62 Questions · 374 Plays · No comments
Question 1
What state is the Indianapolis 500 held in every year?
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AIndiana
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BHawaii
-
CIdaho
-
DTexas
Indiana
The Indianapolis 500 is an auto race that is normally held annually on Memorial Day weekend in the state of Indiana.
Question 2
In which state is the Grand Canyon?
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AArizona
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BTexas
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CKansas
-
DHawaii
Arizona
Grand Canyon National Park was established in Arizona on February 26, 1919, and the canyon boasts a size of over 1,900 square miles.
Question 3
What state is known as "The First State"?
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ADelaware
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BColorado
-
CPennsylvania
-
DGeorgia
Delaware
Delaware is considered to the be "First State" due to the fact that it was the first of the United States to ratify The Constitution in 1787.
Question 4
In which state is the city of Minneapolis?
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AMinnesota
-
BMissouri
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CMississippi
-
DMassachusetts
Minnesota
Minneapolis is the "Twin City" with the capital of Minnesota, St. Paul. The city lies on both banks of the Mississippi River, and is one of the largest cities in the midwest.
Question 5
Which capital city is one of three cities in the lower 48 states to also serve as capital of another country, serving as a nation's capital from 1839 - 1845?
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ASalem, OR
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BRichmond, VA
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CSanta Fe, NM
-
DAustin, TX
Austin, TX
Austin was the capital of the Republic of Texas before Texas joined the United States.
Question 6
This state is so famous for potatoes that they're even featured on the license plate.
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AOhio
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BPennsylvania
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CNebraska
-
DIdaho
Idaho
Idaho's famous potatoes make the state a lot of money, so it doesn't hurt to advertise.
Question 7
Which state directly borders Oregon to the south?
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ANevada
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BHawaii
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CNorth Carolina
-
DFlorida
Nevada
Oregon is surrounded by several other states, with California and Nevada to the south, Idaho to it's east, and Washington to its north.
Question 8
This national capital is one of the least prominent of any world capital population-wise. Just 0.2% of all people in the country live in the capital and residents there have no voting delegate in the country's Congress despite the fact that meetings are held there.
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ANew Delhi
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BCanberra
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CWashington, D.C.
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DBrasilia
Washington, D.C.
If you got Washington, D.C. correct, you're in rare company. Polls indicate the vast majority of Americans are unaware of D.C.'s lack of representation.
Question 9
What large body of water borders the United States on the east coast?
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AAtlantic Ocean
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BEast Ocean
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CArctic Ocean
-
DPacific Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean borders the east coast of the United States. Over the centuries, many explorers, settlers, and immigrants crossed the Atlantic by boat to seek freedom and prosperity in America.
Question 10
What state's shape looks like this?
-
AMinnesota
-
BWisconsin
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CLouisiana
-
DKansas
Minnesota
Famous Minnesotans include Laura Ingalls Wilder, Charles Lindbergh, Judy Garland, Bob Dylan, Charles Schulz, and, of course, Prince.
Question 11
What is the name of the body of water that borders the US west coast?
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AWest Ocean
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BAtlantic Ocean
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CPacific Ocean
-
DIndian Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean borders the United Statesโ west coast. The coastline stretches north to Alaska and south to California.
Question 12
Which river was the Hoover Dam built across?
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AMississippi River
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BAu Sable River
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CMissouri River
-
DColorado River
Colorado River
The massive concrete dam was built on the Colorado River.
Question 13
What 2,320-mile-long river starts in Lake Itasca in Minnesota and ends in the Gulf of Mexico on the coast of Louisiana?
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AColumbia River
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BMissouri River
-
CRock River
-
DMississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is one of the longest rivers in the United States and is an important geographical landmark. It passes through or along 10 states and was a vital trade and transportation route throughout US history.
Question 14
What state is actually the furthest west?
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AAlaska
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BTexas
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CCalifornia
-
DNebraska
Alaska
The Aleutian Islands of Alaska stretch so far west that at one point the distance between Russia and the United States is only about 2.5 miles.
Question 15
Which southern state's shape looks like this?
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AMississippi
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BAlabama
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CGeorgia
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DLouisiana
Georgia
Georgia was the first state to lower the legal voting age from 21 to 18. It made the change in 1945.
Question 16
What state has license plates which bear the slogan "First in Flight"?
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AMichigan
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BNorth Carolina
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CAlaska
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DGeorgia
North Carolina
If you see a North Carolina license plate while driving, chances are you will see the "First in Flight" slogan on the plate. This is due to North Carolina being the state in which the Wright Brothers famous flight took place in 1903.
Question 17
Another old capital here. This capital city is home to the oldest capital building still in use, is the smallest capital city by area, and is home to the U.S. Naval Academy and is within 30 miles of our nation's capital.
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AAnnapolis, MD
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BProvidence, RI
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CTrenton, NJ
-
DDover, DE
Annapolis, MD
Annapolis, MD is less than 7 square miles in area.
Question 18
This capital city had to share the spotlight with New Haven as co-capital of its state between 1701 - 1875.
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AHartford, CT
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BProvidence, RI
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CDover, DE
-
DRaleigh, NC
Hartford, CT
Hartford took over the spotlight as sole capital of Connecticut in 1875.
Question 19
This state capital was the 6th ever in its state after the capital was repeatedly moved. Previous capitals included Monterey and San Jose.
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ACarson City, NV
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BSacramento, CA
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CSanta Fe, NM
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DDenver, CO
Sacramento, CA
Sacramento finally became capital of California in 1854.
Question 20
Which state has this shape?
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AOhio
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BTennessee
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CVirginia
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DKentucky
Kentucky
More than half of the soldiers who perished in the War of 1812 were from Kentucky, despite the fact that precisely zero of the war's battles were fought there.
Question 21
What state has the most coastline?
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AAlaska
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BGeorgia
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CTexas
-
DColorado
Alaska
With some form of coastline on just about every side of its border, the 49th state of Alaska clocks in as the winner with approximately 33,904 miles of coastline.
Question 22
Which of these is the name of a mountain range in the eastern United States?
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ACascade Mountains
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BAppalachian Mountains
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CSierra Nevada Mountains
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DRocky Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains are an important geological feature in the eastern United States. Mount Mitchell is the highest peak in this range with an elevation of 6,684 feet.
Question 23
What state capital is the largest by population?
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ADover, Delaware
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BHelena, Montana
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CPhoenix, Arizona
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DAugusta, Maine
Phoenix, Arizona
With a population of approximately 1.5 million residents, the city of Phoenix, Arizona weighs in as the most populated state capital in the United States of America.
Question 24
This tornado-prone capital is a newbie compared to the others on this list, having been named the capital of its state in 1910, more recently than any other capital city. (Hint: This city is located in the Southwest)
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ALincoln, NE
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BOklahoma City, OK
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CBismarck, ND
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DPierre, SD
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City edges out Juneau, AK, which has been a capital city since 1906.
Question 25
Which state was the first to secede from the Union?
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ASouth Carolina
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BVirginia
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CFlorida
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DTennessee
South Carolina
South Carolina was the first to secede on December 20, 1860, and was joined by 10 more in the following months.
Question 26
What US territory is located in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Miami, Florida?
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ACuba
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BPuerto Rico
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CDominican Republic
-
DGuam
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a US territory, meaning that it is partially self-governing but still under the authority of the US government. As citizens of a US territory, Puerto Ricans are free to travel between the island and the continental United States. However, the territory does not have any voting members in Congress.
Question 27
What state has the smallest state capital by population in the United States?
-
AVermont
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BHawaii
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CMichigan
-
DTexas
Vermont
With a population of only 7,800 people according to the 2019 Census, Montpelier, Vermont holds the title for being the state capital with the lowest population.
Question 28
Which state in the Pacific Northwest is shaped like this?
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AOregon
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BWyoming
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CUtah
-
DColorado
Oregon
Oregon is home to the deepest lake in the United States, Crater Lake, which is roughly 2,000 feet deep. It formed when a volcano buckled almost 8,000 years ago.
Question 29
What state was admitted into the Union as the 23rd state?
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AMaine
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BVirginia
-
CAlaska
-
DHawaii
Maine
The setting of many of Stephen King's famous novels, Maine was admitted as the 23rd state on March 15, 1820.
Question 30
Break out the sunblock! This is the hottest state capital, with a breezy average temperature of 77 F and an all-time record low of only 52!
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ATallahassee, FL
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BPhoenix, AZ
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CAustin, TX
-
DHonolulu, HI
Honolulu, HI
Honolulu is also the southernmost state capital, which greatly influences its temperature.
Question 31
Which state was the 50th and most recent to have joined the United States?
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AAlaska
-
BOregon
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CHawaii
-
DNevada
Hawaii
Hawaii received its official statehood on August 21, 1959, and is the only US state made of all islands. Since it is located on Oceania, it is also the only state not in North America.
Question 32
Which state has this interesting shape?
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ANew Mexico
-
BUtah
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CIdaho
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DMississippi
Idaho
Idaho's State Capitol Building in Boise is kept warm in winter by hot springs 3,000 feet beneath it. Needless to say, it's the only United States capitol building heated by geothermal energy.
Question 33
This heartland capital city has a rather boring name which sits #1 on the list of most common U.S. place names.
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AMadison, WI
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BSpringfield, IL
-
CSalem, OR
-
DColumbia, SC
Springfield, IL
There are a whopping 35 Springfields across the U.S.
Question 34
This state capital down the mountain from Lake Tahoe is well known to coin collectors as the site of a U.S. Mint location that produced silver and gold coins intermittently from 1870 to 1893. It also has the honor of being the very smallest Metropolitan Statistical Area in the entire U.S., with a population barely exceeding 50,000.
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ASalt Lake City, UT
-
BSalem, OR
-
CCarson City, NV
-
DBoise, ID
Carson City, NV
Carson City's Mint was built to take advantage of the city's proximity to the silver and gold boom out West.
Question 35
Which large state looks like this?
-
AKansas
-
BSouth Dakota
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CWyoming
-
DNebraska
South Dakota
While Belle Fourche, South Dakota, claims to be the geographic center of North America and even marked the spot with a giant statue of a compass, the real geographic center is 20 miles north and designated with a fence post.
Question 36
What state is Mackinac Island part of?
-
AWisconsin
-
BCalifornia
-
CAlabama
-
DMichigan
Michigan
An island in Lake Huron, Mackinac Island is a tourist destination in Michigan with a size of 3.8 square miles. Normally a summer tourist destination, the island has approximately 500 year-round residents.
Question 37
Which state famously had six different national flags fly over its capital?
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AAlaska
-
BTexas
-
CCalifornia
-
DNevada
Texas
Texas has been under the control of six different countries throughout history, which is why you'll find the coats of arms of Mexico, Spain, France, the United States of America, the Confederate States of America and the Republic of Texas at the capitol building in Austin. The six flags are also the inspiration for the chain of amusement parks, which started in Arlington.
Question 38
What western state, which shares a border with the western side of Kansas, has the highest mean elevation of any state at 6,800 feet, with its lowest point still being 3,317 feet above sea level.
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AWyoming
-
BColorado
-
CArkansas
-
DNebraska
Colorado
Colorado has the highest mean elevation and highest lowest point of any US state. It is nicknamed "The Centennial State" because is was admitted into the Union in 1876, 100 years after the writing of the Declaration of Independence.
Question 39
What state boasts the most NFL teams?
-
ANew Jersey
-
BNew York
-
CFlorida
-
DCalifornia
California
As of 2019, California has the most NFL teams with four - Los Angeles Chargers and Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders. However, once the Raiders finally move to Las Vegas in 2020, Florida will tie for the top spot with three.
Question 40
Which state's shape looks like this?
-
AMinnesota
-
BPennsylvania
-
CMichigan
-
DWisconsin
Michigan
When Michigan was still a territory, it almost went to war with Ohio over the Toledo terminus of the Maumee River. Ultimately, Congress stepped in and forced Michigan to let Ohio have Toledo if Michigan wanted to become a state. (Spoiler alert: It did.)
Question 41
In which state would you find Stanford University?
-
AMassachusetts
-
BCalifornia
-
COregon
-
DNew York
California
Stanford University is widely regarded as one of the finest colleges in the United States, and it counts Tiger Woods, Sally Ride and many other luminaries among its distinguished alumni. The campus is located in Palo Alto, California, which is just a stone's throw away from Silicon Valley.
Question 42
Which state has the motto "Live Free or Die"?
-
ANew Hampshire
-
BArizona
-
CUtah
-
DCalifornia
New Hampshire
New Hampshire adopted "Live Free or Die" as its state motto in 1945, but the phrase is much older. The sentiment was popular during the French Revolution as well as during other revolutions throughout the world.
Question 43
What state is shaped like this?
-
ANew York
-
BVirginia
-
CNorth Carolina
-
DPennsylvania
New York
After the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1788, New York City became the first temporary capital of the United States. Congress would later meet in Philadelphia before settling in Washington, D.C., after the completion of the U.S. Capitol Building.
Question 44
What U.S. state has the city of Springfield as its capital?
-
AMissouri
-
BMichigan
-
CHawaii
-
DIllinois
Illinois
Of the several dozen states that have a Springfield somewhere within their borders, the state of Illinois is the only one that has designated their Springfield as the state capital.
Question 45
What state is home to Honeymoon Island State Park?
-
AMassachussetts
-
BCalifornia
-
CIowa
-
DFlorida
Florida
Honeymoon Island State Park is a Florida state park located on Honeymoon Island. The park was created in December of 1981.
Question 46
Which capital city holds the record for closest proximity to another US capital - it lies only 30 miles from some neighborhoods of Boston, MA.
-
AProvidence, RI
-
BAlbany, NY
-
CAugusta, ME
-
DHarrisburg, PA
Providence, RI
Boston, MA and Providence, RI are only about 30 miles apart as the crow flies.
Question 47
What state shares the southernmost border with Mexico?
-
ATexas
-
BMichigan
-
CNevada
-
DNew Mexico
Texas
With a border crossing station in the city of Brownsville, the state of Texas has the southernmost border between the United States and Mexico.
Question 48
This city is only the 22nd-largest city in its state, the lowest such ranking of any capital. It also has more rainy days on average than any other city in the lower 48 states.
-
AOlympia, WA
-
BLansing, MI
-
CSalem, OR
-
DAugusta, ME
Olympia, WA
Olympia, WA averages 163 rainy days every year.
Question 49
What state was the site of the Pilgrims' landing in 1620, and will celebrate that quadricentennial in 2020?
-
AMassachusetts
-
BVirginia
-
CConnecticut
-
DDelaware
Massachusetts
Massachusetts was first populated at Plymouth colony in 1620. Today the state is known as "The Bay State" and is home to some of the most historic sites in the United States, many of which are in Boston.
Question 50
Which state has this unique shape?
-
AWest Virginia
-
BArkansas
-
CKentucky
-
DVirginia
West Virginia
Cecil Underwood is West Virginia's oldest and youngest governor. He was first elected in 1956 at the age of 34, but he couldn't run again due to term limit laws. Forty years later, at the age of 74, voters gave him a second term.
Question 51
What is the capital of the state of Pennsylvania?
-
APittsburgh
-
BHarrisburg
-
CPhiladelphia
-
DCentralia
Harrisburg
With an estimated 49,000 residents, the city of Harrisburg serves as the capital city of the state of Pennsylvania.
Question 52
Which rugged state is shaped like this?
-
AWyoming
-
BNebraska
-
CSouth Dakota
-
DMontana
Montana
Montana has the largest grizzly bear population in the contiguous United States, with over 500 in Northwestern Montana, and another 600 at Yellowstone.
Question 53
What state is smallest in population at less than 600,000, but has the second-highest mean elevation at a whopping 6,700 feet?
-
AWyoming
-
BIdaho
-
CTexas
-
DSouth Dakota
Wyoming
Wyoming is the least populous US state, with only 586,000 people at the time of the 2010 Census. Roughly half of the state's land is owned by the US government including for the use of the Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.
Question 54
This state capitol building is located in the city of Bismarck. What state is it in?
-
ANebraska
-
BSouth Dakota
-
CHawaii
-
DNorth Dakota
North Dakota
The second most populated city in the state of North Dakota, the capital city of Bismarck is home to around 73,000 residents.
Question 55
Which state is home to a part of the cultural region of Appalachia?
-
ANew York
-
BIndiana
-
CFlorida
-
DLouisiana
New York
Appalachia includes New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. It basically refers to the area around the Appalachian Mountains.
Question 56
This state is billed as a "Sportsman's Paradise" and also features a pelican - which, not coincidentally, is also the mascot for their lone NBA franchise.
-
AMaryland
-
BLouisiana
-
CDelaware
-
DSouth Carolina
Louisiana
Louisiana's state bird is the pelican, which helps explain its random-seeming inclusion.
Question 57
What state is directly above Oklahoma?
-
ASouth Dakota
-
BKansas
-
CNebraska
-
DNew Mexico
Kansas
The state of Kansas has often been known as the "Jayhawk State" and is the immediate neighbor to the north of Oklahoma.
Question 58
This Southern state capital has an identity crisis, being just 6 miles from another state yet a 640 mile drive from places within its own state's borders.
-
AAthens, GA
-
BBaton Rouge, LA
-
CLittle Rock, AR
-
DTallahassee, FL
Tallahassee, FL
Tallahassee is only 6 miles as the crow flies from southern Georgia.
Question 59
This capital city holds the distinction of being the longest-chartered city in the United States, receiving city status in 1686. It also was the original eastern terminus of the Erie Canal.
-
AHartford, CT
-
BHarrisburg, PA
-
CConcord, NH
-
DAlbany, NY
Albany, NY
Albany, NY was founded even earlier in 1614.
Question 60
Which Midwestern state looks like this?
-
AIndiana
-
BWisconsin
-
CIowa
-
DMissouri
Indiana
The town of Santa Claus, Indiana, is home to an array of Christmas-themed attractions, including the Holiday World theme park. For more than a century, the town's post office has received letters from children to Santa; each is answered by a team of volunteers called Santa's Elves.
Question 61
What state is known as the "Centennial State"?
-
AIdaho
-
BWyoming
-
CColorado
-
DCalifornia
Colorado
The 38th state of Colorado got its nickname of the "Centennial State" due to its being granted statehood in 1876.
Question 62
This state's plate features palmetto trees and a crescent moon.
-
ASouth Carolina
-
BGeorgia
-
CNorth Carolina
-
DFlorida
South Carolina
The sabal palmetto is the state tree of South Carolina.
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