43 u.S. states trivia questions and answers
The available questions cover state nicknames, area, island geography, landmarks, cities, shared borders, peninsulas, flags, and the meaning of commonwealth in state names.
Updated
Questions 1–20
Which U.S. state is nicknamed the Sunshine State?
easy
Florida
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida?oldid=1365211958#Climate
What is the largest U.S. state by area?
easy
Alaska
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska?oldid=1365622598
Which state consists of 137 volcanic islands?
easy
Hawaii
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii?oldid=1362956921
In which state is the Grand Canyon?
easy
Arizona
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon?oldid=1365313948
Which state contains the city of New Orleans?
easy
Louisiana
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans?oldid=1365215506#Government
What state is home to Mount Rushmore?
medium
South Dakota
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Rushmore?oldid=1365962836#Tourism
Which four states meet at the Four Corners?
hard
Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Corners?oldid=1358355445#Politics
What separates Michigan into two large peninsulas?
hard
The Straits of Mackinac
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan?oldid=1364551699#Geography
Which state has the only flag with different designs on its front and back?
hard
Oregon
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Oregon?oldid=1364811342
What does the term commonwealth not describe or provide when used by a U.S. state?
medium
Any specific political status or legal relationship
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_(U.S._state)?oldid=1364644778#Definition
Which state occupies the northeastern portion of the Delmarva Peninsula?
medium
Delaware
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaware?oldid=1363286337
Which state was the most recent to join the Union, on August 21, 1959?
medium
Hawaii
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii?oldid=1362956921
Which state's legislature is the only unicameral one in the United States?
hard
The Nebraska Legislature
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebraska_Legislature?oldid=1356932612
What is the smallest U.S. state by area?
easy
Rhode Island
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhode_Island?oldid=1365484667
Which mountain in Alaska is the highest peak in North America?
easy
Denali
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denali?oldid=1365843900
What California basin contains the lowest point in North America?
medium
Badwater Basin
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badwater_Basin?oldid=1365862627
Which two states are excluded from the contiguous United States?
easy
Alaska and Hawaii
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contiguous_United_States?oldid=1363881144
Which state borders only one other U.S. state?
medium
Maine
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine?oldid=1365679444
Which Minnesota lake is the headwater of the Mississippi River?
hard
Lake Itasca
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Itasca?oldid=1363013883
Which Great Lake is located fully within the United States?
medium
Lake Michigan
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Michigan?oldid=1365842153
Questions 21–40
Which state's constitution is among the oldest functioning written constitutions still in continuous effect?
hard
Massachusetts
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Massachusetts?oldid=1360362828
In which state is Acadia National Park?
medium
Maine
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acadia_National_Park?oldid=1365786661
Which state contains Mammoth Cave National Park?
easy
Kentucky
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammoth_Cave_National_Park?oldid=1365737276
On which state's Olympic Peninsula is Olympic National Park?
medium
Washington
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_National_Park?oldid=1365738448
Which person are both Washington state and the national capital named after?
easy
George Washington
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_(state)?oldid=1364216063
Which Great Lake gives Pennsylvania a northwestern shoreline?
medium
Lake Erie
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania?oldid=1365712605
In Louisiana, what are the primary subdivisions named instead of counties?
easy
Parishes
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_parishes_in_Louisiana?oldid=1363650503
How is Alaska divided at county-equivalent level?
hard
19 organized boroughs and 11 census areas
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_boroughs_and_census_areas_in_Alaska?oldid=1353103607
Which four states use commonwealth in their full official names?
hard
Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_(U.S._state)?oldid=1364644778
By what common name is California's state flag known?
easy
The Bear Flag
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_California?oldid=1363976680
What sacred symbol appears on New Mexico's state flag?
medium
A sacred red sun symbol of the Zia tribe
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_New_Mexico?oldid=1360845664
Whose heraldic banner of arms became Maryland's state flag?
hard
Cecil, 2nd Baron Baltimore
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Maryland?oldid=1363418087
Which tree appears on South Carolina's state flag?
easy
A white palmetto tree
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_South_Carolina?oldid=1363231841
Which state's official motto is Live Free or Die?
easy
New Hampshire
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Free_or_Die?oldid=1365755949
Which Canadian province lies directly north of Ohio?
medium
Ontario
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio?oldid=1364548524
Which state is nicknamed the Lone Star State?
easy
Texas
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas?oldid=1365069832
Which Indigenous language is official in Hawaii alongside English?
medium
Hawaiian
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_language?oldid=1365097057
Which city is California's state capital?
easy
Sacramento
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento%2C_California?oldid=1366001702
Which city is the capital of Maryland?
medium
Annapolis
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annapolis%2C_Maryland?oldid=1363797517
Which city is New York state's capital?
medium
Albany
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albany%2C_New_York?oldid=1365509206
Questions 41–43
How is Ohio's state flag shaped differently from an ordinary rectangular flag?
medium
A distinctive triangular swallowtail shape
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Ohio?oldid=1362418689
How did Arkansas's legislature say the final s in the state's name should be pronounced?
hard
The final "s" be silent
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas?oldid=1364444540
Which state borders Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri?
hard
Tennessee
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee?oldid=1365485346
How to play
Say whether one state or several states are required before reading the clue. For the shared-corner question, require all four names; for terminology questions, accept a clear explanation rather than one memorized sentence.
Plan the round and team scores
8 turns × 60 seconds = 8 minutes of play, plus instructions and breaks.
60
These are adjustable house rules. Pause whenever the group needs more time.
Team 1: 0
Team 2: 0