Nevada Travel Information
Nevada is perhaps most famous for Las Vegas and the slogan “What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas.” Other renowned facts about Nevada are the easy marriages and divorces, legalized gambling and even legalized brothels in some counties.
Nevada is located in the western portion of the United States and includes the Mojave Desert. Oddly enough the Government owns over 86% of the land through various civilian and military jurisdictions.
Nearly 85% of Nevada’s 2.5 million residents live in either Las Vegas or Reno, but the state capital is actually Carson City. The state received its nickname, “the Silver State” owing to the enormous amount of silver deposits located throughout the state.
It became a part of the Union in 1864. Nevada’s state flag bears the phrase “Battle Born” to signify the fact that the state joined the United States on the side of the Union during the Civil War.
Map of Nevada:
Nebraska Travel Information
Once considered a desert, Nebraska is a leading ranching and farming state. Named after the Otoe word Ni Brasge (flat water), Nebraska was home to many groups of Native Americans including Sioux, Iowas, Otoes, Omahas, Pawnees, Missourias, and Poncas. The state is part of the Great Plains in the Midwest portion of the United States.
Nebraska was admitted to the Union as the 37th state in 1867 and renamed its capital city Lincoln after President Lincoln who had recently been assassinated. Known for the sod houses the original homesteaders built because there were no trees, Nebraska is landlocked times three. Simply put neither Nebraska, its neighbors or their neighbors border a sea or ocean.
Nebraska is home to Kool-aid and CliffNotes. The national holiday Arbor Day began in Nebraska. An interesting attraction is the world’s largest porch swing which holds 18 adults and is located in Nebraska.
Finally, Memorial Stadium, a football stadium in Lincoln becomes the third largest city in Nebraska each Sunday during football season.
Map of Nebraska:
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Montana Travel Information
“Big Sky Country,” Montana is located in the western portion of the United States. Known for its 77 beautiful Rocky Mountain Ranges, it is named after the Spanish word for mountain: Montania.
Montana is interesting because while it is the fourth largest state, it is the 44th state ranked by population, meaning its population density is the third lowest in the country.
Also known as “Land of the Shinning Mountain” Montana’s economy is based primary on oil, coal, lumber, ranching, tourism and wheat farming. Montana contains 3 entrances to Yellowstone National Park and is famous for its Glacier National park as well as the site of the Battle of Little Bighorn.
While several Native American tribes originally lived in the area, it was eventually settled by the French and sold to America as part of the Louisiana Purchase. Montana was admitted as the 41rst state to the Union in 1889.
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Missouri Travel Information
Missouri is located in the Midwest portion of the United States. It is bordered by nine different states: Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Originally part of the Louisiana Purchase, Missouri became a state in 1821. It was the 24th state admitted to the Union.
Today Missouri is viewed as a political weathervane and one of its most interesting characteristics is its apparent ability to predict the outcome of presidential elections.
Since 1904, every election with the exception of the 2008 and 1956 campaigns has been called by the voter response in Missouri. This is because statistically speaking Missouri as a state mirrors the entire country in politics, demographics and economic matters.
Missouri is named after the Missouri River. The river is named after the Siouan Indian word oemessourita or “those who have dug out canoes.” Many famous people hale from Missouri including Josephine Backer, Sheryl Crow and Vincent Price.
Map of Missouri:
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Mississippi Travel Information
Mississippi, the bane of every school child learning to spell, is located deep in the south of the United States. Its largest city and capital is Jackson and it is named for the Mississippi River that flows through the state. The river itself gets its name from the Native American Ojibwa Tribe. Their word for Great River was misi-zibi.
With the beautiful magnolia tree as the state symbol, one of Mississippi biggest industries is the catfish farm industry. Originally settled by the French, the territory was alternately ruled by the Spanish, the French and the British. Mississippi became a territory of the Union after the American Revolution and was officially declared a State in 1817.
Mississippi was the 17th State to join the Union. Because their original economy relied so heavily on cotton, Mississippi was a pro-slave state and was the second state to leave the Union and join the Confederate States. After the Civil War, Mississippi was readmitted to the union but suffered greatly from the effect of Reconstruction.
Map of Mississippi:
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Minnesota Travel Information
With a population of just over five million, Minnesota is ranked number twenty one in the list of populations of the United States. Over 60% of its population lives in and around Minneapolis and St. Paul, meaning most of the rest of the state is rural and agrarian in nature.
Known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” Minnesota is actually named after the Dakota, a Native American Tribe, word meaning “water” Minnesota has an extremely large tourist industry with people come from the world over to experience the many lakes, deep forests and beautiful parks.
The population of Minnesota is mostly of Germanic or Nordic decent, though recent years have seen an influx of other cultures. Minnesota was admitted to the union in 1858 as the 32nd state. It is known for its political involvement and extremely high voter turnout.
The famous radio variety show A Prairie Home Companion was set in Minnesota, though it is probably most famous for the movie Fargo.
Map of Minnesota:
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Michigan Travel Information
Michigan is considered to be located in the Midwestern portion of the United States and is comprised of two peninsulas, the Upper Peninsula and the Lower Peninsula. Famous for the Great Lakes, four of them, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior and Lake Erie all border some part of Michigan.
Detroit, one of the states major cities is famous for the auto industry as well as being home to ‘Motown,’ the center of musical activity from the era of the Jackson Five. Originally settle by the French, Michigan now has a large polish and Dutch population. There are over 6000 fresh water lakes throughout the state.
Michigan also shares a border with Canada and there are several customs entry points located in the state. Recently Michigan has been particularly hard hit by the rough economic climate of the country, with the auto industry suffering the most. The Great Lake State is a fun place to visit, especially if you enjoy water sports.
Map of Michigan:
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Massachusetts Travel Information
Massachusetts is rich in history. Home to Plymouth, Massachusetts, the second English colony and Boston, a hot bed during the years preceding the Civil War, Massachusetts has lead the way in abolishment of slavery, temperance and legalizing same sex marriages. Two of the greatest political families of the United States call Massachusetts home: The Adams Family and the Kennedy’s.
Massachusetts is a very rural state with much of the urban areas located far to the east. Known as the “Cradle of Liberty” Massachusetts has successfully changed its economy from its original agrarian basis to industry and more recently service. It is a leader in health care, financial services, higher education and technology.
Massachusetts gets its name from an indigenous people, the Massachusetts whose name roughly translates to “near the great hill.’ Home to the famous Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre, Massachusetts took a leading role in the American Revolution that is still noted today.
Map of Massachusetts:
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Maryland Travel Information
Maryland is situated in the Mid Atlantic portion of the United States. It was originally one of the Chesapeake Colonies where, with the help of slave labor, tobacco was the cash crop that ruled the day. Known as the “Old Line State” or the “Free State” Maryland was uniquely situated on the border of the north and south which lead to diversification of its population as well as many battles during the Civil War.
Maryland was the seventh state to sign and ratify the Constitution of the United States. Today Maryland is home to one of the biggest life science hubs in the country and has well over 300 biotechnology companies that call Maryland home.
Its close proximity to Washington DC means that at least some of the communities of Maryland are bedroom communities for politicians and other figureheads. Maryland is knows as the fifth most green state in the country, according to Forbes.com.
Maryland Map:
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Maine Travel Information
Maine is the state that is furthest east of all of the states in the Union. It is part of New England. Maine has a vast and varied topography and is famous for its jagged coastline although it also contains mountains and heavily forested areas. Originally inhabited by the Algonquians, both the French and the English colonized the area.
During the 1600’s many colonies were established, but most were wiped out by aggressive native forces and the difficult terrain. Maine was originally part of Massachusetts and it did not become a state until 1820 when it was admitted to the union as the 23rd state by the Missouri Compromise.
Today Maine is most famous for it seafood, mostly crab and lobster. Maine has many famous citizens include Dan Fogelburg, John Ford and Liv Tyler. It is interesting to note that many of the novels by famed horror author Stephen King are set in Maine.
Map of Maine:
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