How every state got its nickname

• Each of the 50 states has a famous nickname.
• Some are straightforward, like Delaware’s nickname, the “First State.”
• Others require a bit more of an explanation, such as how Wisconsin became the “Badger State.”

Ever wonder why Oregon State University’s mascot is a beaver, why there’s an NBA team called the New Orleans Pelicans, or what a Tar Heel is?

Turns out a lot of the pop-culture references we’ve come to know and love — especially in sports — are actually connected to state nicknames, which draw on everything from historical facts to natural flora and fauna.

• Each of the 50 states has a famous nickname.
• Some are straightforward, like Delaware’s nickname, the “First State.”
• Others require a bit more of an explanation, such as how Wisconsin became the “Badger State.”

Ever wonder why Oregon State University’s mascot is a beaver, why there’s an NBA team called the New Orleans Pelicans, or what a Tar Heel is?

Turns out a lot of the pop-culture references we’ve come to know and love — especially in sports — are actually connected to state nicknames, which draw on everything from historical facts to natural flora and fauna.