New York is called the Empire State not because of the Empire State Building, the state had its nickname long before 1931, when that famous skyscraper was built.
No one knows for sure how New York got the nickname, but some historians think the name can be traced to George Washington, who once said the state might become the seat of a new empire.
In the first few decades of the nation’s history, Virginia was the most populous state.
But by 1810 New York had taken over. It remained number one for more than 150 years, until California passed it in population in the 1960s.
By the 1990s, Texas also had more people than New York.
Related Posts
-
How Did New York Get Its Name and Why Was New York City Once Called New Amsterdam?
Henry Hudson, an Englishman, was hired by the Dutch to find a shortcut to the Pacific Ocean back in the early 1600s. When he sailed up the river now named after him, he…
-
Why is New York City Called the “The Big Apple” and Where Did the Nickname Come From?
One of the more popular stories as to how New York got its nickname is as follows. During the 1940s, Robert Emmerich, who played piano in the Tommy Dorsey Band, wrote an obscure…
-
Why Is Connecticut Called the Constitution State and Where Did the Nickname Come From?
In 1639, the colony of Connecticut established its Fundamental Orders, which set up a government based on the will of the people. Some historians say that this document was the first ever written…
-
Why Is New Jersey Called the Garden State and Where Did the Nickname Come From?
In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, New Jersey farmers played a large role in providing food to the people of nearby New York City, which may be the reason for the state's…
-
Why Is Nevada Called the Silver State and Where Did the Nickname Come From?
Nevada is called the Silver State because huge amounts of silver were mined in the 1800s in Nevada. The Comstock Lode, near Virginia City in the west-central part of the state, was the…
-
Why Is Montana Called the Treasure State and How Did Montana Get Its Nickname?
Montana is called the Treasure State because early settlers found a wealth of gold and silver in its mountains. Montana is the fourth-largest state in land area, after Alaska, Texas, and California. The…
