It’s interesting to read what states have to say about themselves. And we can do exactly that when we drive down America’s highways. Many states put a line on their license plates bragging about their uniqueness. Some of these taglines are true, some are sort of true and some are downright misleading. I’ve done a bit of fact checking, and here are the results.
My state of Wisconsin proclaims “America’s Dairyland” on our plates. Yes, we do have cows everywhere in Wisconsin, but California takes the prize for being the biggest dairy producer with more cows and more milk production. Wisconsin comes in second followed by Idaho, whose plates say “Famous Potatoes”.
Minnesota, Wisconsin’s neighbor, boasts of “10,000 Lakes”. In fact, they have 11,842. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources claims that we have 15,074 lakes. However, I’m going with Minnesota having more lakes than we have. There is no standard definition of the word “lake”. In Minnesota, a lake is defined as more than 10 acres. In Wisconsin a lake is defined as “anything we want to call a lake”. Some “lakes” near our house would hardly even qualify as duck ponds. If Minnesota’s 10 acre rule were followed here, we would have 5,898 lakes. Brag on, Minnesota.
Florida proudly announces that they are the “Sunshine State”. Not even close, Florida. Here are the scientific facts on which states get the most sunshine:
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Nevada
- Texas
- California
- Colorado
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Utah
- Florida
Florida is, however, the state with the most hurricanes in recorded weather history. I doubt that “Hurricane Heaven” will show up on Florida plates any time soon.
Connecticut’s plates announce that they are the “Constitution State”. One would assume that they are referring to the Constitution of the United States of America. But no, the “Constitution” on the plates is a 1639 state document called “The Fundamental Orders” an “agreement under which the unchartered colony of Connecticut organized its government”. Extremely misleading, Connecticut.
My favorite license plate both for design and slogan is New Mexico’s. They claim to be the “Land of Enchantment”. Enchantment is, of course, a subjective thing. Since every one of the scores of times that I have been in New Mexico I have been enchanted, those plates speak truth to me.
And a final word to Missouri. I really don’t want you to “Show Me”.
Mary–How ’bout this on our license plates? WI; the Cranberry State ?????
cheers, evie
Nice work Mary. I knew that California was “the Dairy State” but I certainly did not know that Florida ranked 10th as the Sunshine state.
I always learn something from your articles. Thanks. Jim
Illinois – ‘Land of Lincoln’, rightly so.
North Carolina – ‘First in Flight’, thanks Wilbur & Orville.
Washington – ‘The Evergreen State’, sure enough.
But not sure about New Jersey. ‘The Garden State’. Dow, Monsanto and the many other petrochemical facilities would surely seem to mitigate such a brag, me thinkee!
Very informative and entertaining. I agree with you on New Mexico. I used to be fond of the old wyoming plate with the cowboy image.