1. Illinois
   Tennessee
2. New Mexico
   Oklahoma

The largest city in Illinois is Chicago, but that isn't the capital. The capital city of the state is actually Springfield. Have you ever seen the dragon that lives in Illinois? It is called the Kaskaskia dragon, and it really breathes fire!

1. Arizona
   Alabama
2. Maryland
   Delaware

Arizona was one of the last states to be admitted to the union in the early 1900s. The state even has its own fish, the Arizona Trout, which is exclusively found there.

1. Washington
   South Dakota
2. Hawaii
   Oregon

Eight main islands make up this state, but do you know how they were formed? Underwater volcanoes erupted long ago that formed the island state that we know today. There are still a few volcanoes that are active in the state.

1. Alaska
   Michigan
2. Texas
   Maine

Texas is home to some of the largest cities in the entire country. The state itself is even one of the largest! The city of Waco has brought the world everything from what was once the world's longest suspension bridge in the nation to Dr Pepper.

1. Minnesota
   North Carolina
2. Colorado
   California

California's state animal is the bear, which became official in the mid-1900s. The state was once involved in a conflict known as the Bear Flag Revolt. That's not all, as it was also home to mountain man Grizzly Adams and his grizzly, Benjamin Franklin!

1. Arkansas
   Iowa
2. Rhode Island
   Florida

Florida is home to the oldest European settlement on the continent. If you ever visit St. Augustine, you'll find yourself looking at some historic sites that date back to the 1500s.

1. Minnesota
   Washington
2. Florida
   Kentucky

Minnesota is often referred to as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" because of the many water sources in the state. If you're looking for the enormous Mall of America, you'll find it in Bloomington, Minnesota.

1. West Virginia
   Alaska
2. Vermont
   Maine

Vermont's largest export is marble, which is sold across the country. Do you remember the movie "Pollyanna"? The happy little girl from the novel and movie lived in Vermont, along with her aunt!

1. Montana
   New Hampshire
2. Wyoming
   Tennessee

If you're a Tennessean, you're definitely from Tennessee! The state is all about country music, with the Grand Ole Opry and Bristol, where country music was born.

1. Louisiana
   Massachusetts
2. Illinois
   Idaho

Did you know that Louisiana is named after King Louis XIV, who was a king in France? French settlers occupied the area in the late 1600s, which led to the French culture that you can still find in the state today.

1. Tennessee
   Illinois
2. Maryland
   North Carolina

North Carolina is known for its beautiful landscapes and nature. It's also known as being the place where the famous pirate, Blackbeard, met his demise in the early 1700s.

1. Pennsylvania
   Minnesota
2. Connecticut
   Massachusetts

Massachusetts has come a long way since the first settlers from England arrived in the 1600s. The state advanced quickly, with the first subway system being implemented in the late 1800s. Of course, it was much different than the subway stations we know today!

1. Oregon
   Texas
2. Georgia
   Maine

Maine is one of the smallest states in the country, but it's a big producer. If you've used a toothpick recently, it is very likely that it was made in Maine!

1. Michigan
   Ohio
2. Kansas
   Hawaii

Michigan is known for its booming automobile manufacturing industry. But did you know that there is a floating post office in the state? It uses the postal code 48222.

1. Texas
   Alabama
2. Delaware
   Virginia

Virginia is home to the Pentagon, and it is also the birthplace of many presidents. To add to the state's history, it got its name from Elizabeth I, who was commonly known as the "Virgin Queen."

1. Oregon
   Vermont
2. Colorado
   Florida

Oregon is among the largest states in the nation. It also has a very unique terrain, and it is home to one of the deepest lakes in the country, Crater Lake. However, it wasn't created by a real crater, but rather a volcanic collapse known as a caldera!

1. Nevada
   California
2. Kentucky
   Arizona

Nevada is known for it's vibrant entertainment hub, Las Vegas. But did you know that there is gold in Nevada? Gold mining is one of the largest industries in the state, even though Alaska may be more commonly associated with the practice.

1. Pennsylvania
   Connecticut
2. Nevada
   Delaware

One of the smallest states in the country is Delaware, which is commonly called the "Diamond State." Bob Marley even lived in the state at one point in his life.

1. Idaho
   Alaska
2. Tennessee
   Pennsylvania

Idaho is known as the "Gem State." Did you know that you can see four different states from Idaho? Just head up to Heaven's Gate Lookout, a high point in the state.

1. Indiana
   Montana
2. Georgia
   Utah

The state has some fun city names, like Hurricane, Eagle Mountain and Salt Lake City. The name for people who live there are called Utahn, and that's the correct spelling, although Utahan is also acceptable!

1. Hawaii
   Massachusetts
2. Colorado
   Nevada

Colorado, the "Centennial State," is known for its beauty and mountainous landscape. Did you know that the state turned down the chance to host the Olympics in 1976?

1. North Dakota
   Missouri
2. Kentucky
   Mississippi

The soil in Kentucky is very rich, perfect for a species of grass that looks blue when it goes to seed - which gives the state its nickname, the "Bluegrass State." Did you know that Abraham Lincoln was born in Hodgenville, Kentucky in 1809?

1. Washington
   Louisiana
2. North Carolina
   Oregon

Washington is the birthplace of Starbucks, which is now a large, international franchise. Many board games were also invented in the state, including the popular "Pictionary." Could you draw the state from memory?

1. Rhode Island
   Montana
2. South Carolina
   New Jersey

Montana, the 41st state to join the country, is home to many things. One of those is the largest elk herd in the country, as well as many other types of wildlife, some of which are shared with Canada.

1. Wyoming
   Mississippi
2. New Jersey
   Arizona

New Jersey is home to many things, such as the largest water tower in the world, as well as the longest boardwalk. Although it has some of the biggest structures, it's one of the smallest states in the country.

1. Georgia
   Oklahoma
2. New Mexico
   New York

New York is home to the Big Apple, a major travel destination and entertainment hub. Speaking of entertainment, the state was also the site of the iconic Woodstock Festival that took place in 1969.

1. New Hampshire
   North Carolina
2. South Carolina
   Ohio

New Hampshire is bordered by Canada to the north. New Hampshire was the first of the thirteen colonies to declare independence from England.

1. Utah
   Wyoming
2. Oklahoma
   New Hampshire

In World War II, most conflict took place overseas. But on one occasion, a bombing took place in mainland America and its target was Boise City, Oklahoma. The bombing of the city was accidental, conducted by a group in training who mistook it for their intended target in Dalhart, Texas.

1. Connecticut
   Maine
2. Rhode Island
   Kentucky

Rhode Island is the smallest state in the country. There's a huge bug that lives in the state! It's found at the New England Pest Control, but don't forget to look up, because it's on the roof.

1. North Dakota
   Idaho
2. Washington
   Alabama

Although Alabama's capital city is Montgomery, it is not actually the largest in the state! The city of Birmingham beats out the capital in terms of population, with over one million people in the metropolitan area.

1. Utah
   California
2. Pennsylvania
   New Jersey

Pennsylvania is a state of many firsts. You could take a seat at the world's first baseball stadium and read the first daily newspaper ever issued! Just watch out for a foul ball.

1. Wyoming
   Iowa
2. Ohio
   Wisconsin

Wyoming is a state in the western United States, in the mountain region.

1. Georgia
   New Hampshire
2. New Jersey
   Texas

Georgia, one of the original thirteen colonies, also has a city named Rome. Don't get it confused with the Italian city of the same name!

1. New Mexico
   Missouri
2. Massachusetts
   Ohio

Ohio is home to some influential people, including Neil Armstrong and Jesse Owens. If you're from Ohio, the name used for you would be "Ohioan."

1. Maryland
   New York
2. Arizona
   Arkansas

Maryland has a lot of history, as it was one of the original thirteen colonies. In the mid-1800s, the Naval Academy was created in the state and is still around today. This is one incredibly historic state!

1. New York
   Mississippi
2. Wisconsin
   Missouri

Wisconsin was home to the famous magician Harry Houdini, who lived in Appleton, Wisconsin, as a kid. Although he said that he was born in the state, he was actually from Budapest.

1. New York
   Alaska
2. Iowa
   Arkansas

Arkansas is filled with all kinds of nature and home to many parks. Many musicians, including the legendary Johnny Cash, were born in the state.

1. West Virginia
   Nebraska
2. Kansas
   Wyoming

The state gets its name, the "Equality State" for many reasons. It was very progressive in the realms of women's rights, giving them the right to vote in the mid-1800s. Did you know that there are only two escalators in the state?

1. New Mexico
   Arkansas
2. Iowa
   Oklahoma

If you love art, it's likely that you've seen the painting "American Gothic." But did you know that the house in the painting was inspired by one that Grant Wood encountered while in Iowa?

1. Wisconsin
   Indiana
2. Connecticut
   Nebraska

Connecticut is often called the "Nutmeg State." If you've eaten PEZ, you might be interested to know that the tasty candy is made in Connecticut. The state even has its own museum dedicated to the brand.