List of U.S. state grasses
Table
Table:
State
State grass
Scientific name
Image
Year
adopted

California

Purple needlegrass
Nassella pulchra

2004[1]

Colorado

Blue grama
Bouteloua gracilis

1987

Illinois

Big bluestem
(state prairie grass)
Andropogon gerardii

1989

Iowa

None
None

Kansas

Little bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
(Andropogon scoparius)

2010

Minnesota

Wild rice
(state grain)
Zizania aquatica

Missouri

Big bluestem
Andropogon gerardii

2007[2]

Montana

Bluebunch wheatgrass
Agropyron spicatum

Nebraska

Little bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
(Andropogon scoparius)

Nevada

Indian ricegrass
Oryzopsis hymenoides

New Mexico

Blue grama
Bouteloua gracilis

North Dakota

Western wheatgrass
Pascopyrum smithii
(Agropyron smithii)

Oklahoma

Indian grass
Sorghastrum nutans

South Carolina

Indian grass
Sorghastrum nutans

2001

South Dakota

Western wheatgrass
Agropyron smithii

Texas

Sideoats grama
Bouteloua curtipendula

1971

Utah

Indian ricegrass
Oryzopsis hymenoides

1990[3]

Washington

Bluebunch wheatgrass
Agropyron spicatum

[4]

Wyoming

Western wheatgrass
Agropyron smithii

Leveraging the given table as well as the supplementary paragraphs provided at the end.

Respond to the question below: What is the capital of the state that has big bluestem as the state grass ? Output only the correct answer as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Do not introduce information beyond the provided sources.

Binomial nomenclature ( two-term naming system ) , also called binominal nomenclature ( two-name naming system ) or binary nomenclature , is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts , both of which use Latin grammatical forms , although they can be based on words from other languages . Such a name is called a binomial name ( which may be shortened to just binomial ) , a binomen , binominal name or a scientific name ; more informally it is also called a Latin name . The first part of the name - the generic name - identifies the genus to which the species belongs , while the second part - the specific name or specific epithet - identifies the species within the genus . For example , humans belong to the genus Homo and within this genus to the species Homo sapiens . Tyrannosaurus rex is probably the most widely known binomial . The formal introduction of this system of naming species is credited to Carl Linnaeus , effectively beginning with his work Species Plantarum in 1753 . But Gaspard Bauhin , in as early as 1622 , had introduced in his book Pinax theatri botanici ( English , Illustrated exposition of plants ) many names of genera that were later adopted by Linnaeus . The application of binomial nomenclature is now governed by various internationally agreed codes of rules , of which the two most important are the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature ( ICZN ) for animals and the International Code of Nomenclature for algae , fungi , and plants ( ICNafp ) . Although the general principles underlying binomial nomenclature are common to these two codes , there are some differences , both in the terminology they use and in their precise rules . In modern usage , the first letter of the first part of the name , the genus , is always capitalized in writing , while that of the second part is not , even when derived from a proper noun such as the name of a person or place . Similarly , both parts are italicized when a binomial name occurs in normal text ( or underlined in handwriting ) . Thus the binomial name of the annual phlox ( named after botanist Thomas Drummond ) is now written as Phlox drummondii .
California is a state in the Pacific Region of the United States . With 39.5 million residents across a total area of about 163,696 square miles ( 423,970 km2 ) , California is the most populous U.S. state and the third-largest by area . The state capital is Sacramento . The Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation 's second- and fifth-most populous urban regions , with 18.7 million and 9.7 million residents respectively . Los Angeles is California 's most populous city , and the country 's second-most populous , after New York City . California also has the nation 's most populous county , Los Angeles County , and its largest county by area , San Bernardino County . The City and County of San Francisco is both the country 's second most densely populated major city after New York City and the fifth most densely populated county , behind only four of the five New York City boroughs . California 's economy , with a gross state product of $ 3.0 trillion , is the largest sub-national economy in the world . If it were a country , California would be the fifth-largest economy in the world ( larger than the United Kingdom , France , or India ) , and the 36th-most populous as of 2017 [ update ] . The Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation 's second- and third-largest urban economies ( $ 1.3 trillion and $ 1.0 trillion respectively as of 2018 [ update ] ) , after the New York metropolitan area . The San Francisco Bay Area PSA had the nation 's highest gross domestic product per capita in 2018 ( $ 106,757 ) among large primary statistical areas , and is home to three of the world 's ten largest companies by market capitalization and three of the world 's ten richest people . California culture is considered a global trendsetter in popular culture , communication , information , innovation , environmentalism , economics , politics , and entertainment .
Nassella pulchra , basionym Stipa pulchra , is a species of grass known by the common names purple needlegrass and purple tussockgrass . It is native to the U.S. state of California , where it occurs throughout the coastal hills , valleys , and mountain ranges , as well as the Sacramento Valley and parts of the Sierra Nevada foothills , and Baja California . It grows in many types of local habitat , including grassland , chaparral , and oak woodland . It grows well on clay and serpentine soils .
Colorado ( /ˌkɒləˈrædoʊ , -ˈrɑːdoʊ/ ( listen ) , other variants ) is a state of the Western United States encompassing most of the southern Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains . It is the 8th most extensive and 21st most populous U.S. state . The estimated population of Colorado is 5,770,545 as of 2019 , an increase of 14.7% since the 2010 United States Census . The state was named for the Colorado River , which early Spanish explorers named the Río Colorado ( Red River ) for the ruddy silt the river carried from the mountains . The Territory of Colorado was organized on February 28 , 1861 , and on August 1 , 1876 , U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant signed Proclamation 230 admitting Colorado to the Union as the 38th state . Colorado is nicknamed the Centennial State because it became a state one century after the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence . Colorado is bordered by Wyoming to the north , Nebraska to the northeast , Kansas to the east , Oklahoma to the southeast , New Mexico to the south , Utah to the west , and touches Arizona to the southwest at the Four Corners . Colorado is noted for its vivid landscape of mountains , forests , high plains , mesas , canyons , plateaus , rivers and desert lands . Colorado is part of the western and southwestern United States and is one of the Mountain States . Denver is the capital and most populous city of Colorado . Residents of the state are known as Coloradans , although the antiquated term Coloradoan is occasionally used .
Bouteloua gracilis , the blue grama , is a long-lived , warm-season ( C4 ) perennial grass , native to North America . It is most commonly found from Alberta , Canada , east to Manitoba and south across the Rocky Mountains , Great Plains , and U.S. Midwest states , onto the northern Mexican Plateau in Mexico . Blue grama accounts for most of the net primary productivity in the shortgrass prairie of the central and southern Great Plains . It is a green or greyish , low-growing , drought-tolerant grass with limited maintenance .
Illinois ( /ˌɪləˈnɔɪ/ ( listen ) IL-ə-NOY ) is a state in the Midwestern and Great Lakes Regions of the United States . It has the fifth largest gross domestic product ( GDP ) , the sixth largest population , and the 25th largest land area of all U.S. states . Illinois has been noted as a microcosm of the entire United States . With Chicago in northeastern Illinois , small industrial cities and immense agricultural productivity in the north and center of the state , and natural resources such as coal , timber , and petroleum in the south , Illinois has a diverse economic base , and is a major transportation hub . Chicagoland , Chicago 's metropolitan area , encompasses over 65% of the state 's population . The Port of Chicago connects the state to international ports via two main routes : from the Great Lakes , via the Saint Lawrence Seaway , to the Atlantic Ocean and from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River , via the Illinois Waterway to the Illinois River . The Mississippi River , the Ohio River , and the Wabash River form parts of the boundaries of Illinois . For decades , Chicago 's O'Hare International Airport has been ranked as one of the world 's busiest airports . Illinois has long had a reputation as a bellwether both in social and cultural terms and , through the 1980s , in politics . The capital of Illinois is Springfield , which is located in the central part of the state . Although today Illinois 's largest population center is in its northeast , the state 's European population grew first in the west as the French settled lands near the Mississippi River , when the region was known as Illinois Country and was part of New France . Following the American Revolutionary War , American settlers began arriving from Kentucky in the 1780s via the Ohio River , and the population grew from south to north .
Andropogon gerardi , known commonly as big bluestem , turkeyfoot , tall bluestem , and bluejoint , is a tall grass native to much of the Great Plains and grassland regions of central and eastern North America .
Iowa ( /ˈaɪəwə/ ( listen ) ) is a state in the Midwestern United States , bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west . It is bordered by six states : Wisconsin to the northeast , Illinois to the east and southeast , Missouri to the south , Nebraska to the west , South Dakota to the northwest , and Minnesota to the north . In colonial times , Iowa was a part of French Louisiana and Spanish Louisiana ; its state flag is patterned after the flag of France . After the Louisiana Purchase , people laid the foundation for an agriculture-based economy in the heart of the Corn Belt . In the latter half of the 20th century , Iowa 's agricultural economy made the transition to a diversified economy of advanced manufacturing , processing , financial services , information technology , biotechnology , and green energy production . Iowa is the 26th most extensive in land area and the 30th most populous of the 50 U.S. states . The state 's capital , most populous city , and largest metropolitan area fully located within the state is Des Moines . A portion of the larger Omaha , Nebraska , metropolitan area extends into three counties of southwest Iowa . Iowa has been listed as one of the safest states to live in .
Kansas /ˈkænzəs/ ( listen ) is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States . Its capital is Topeka and its largest city is Wichita , with its most populated county and largest employment center being Johnson County . Kansas is bordered by Nebraska on the north ; Missouri on the east ; Oklahoma on the south ; and Colorado on the west . Kansas is named after the Kansas River , which in turn was named after the Kansa Native Americans who lived along its banks . The tribe 's name ( natively kką : ze ) is often said to mean people of the ( south ) wind although this was probably not the term 's original meaning . For thousands of years , what is now Kansas was home to numerous and diverse Native American tribes . Tribes in the eastern part of the state generally lived in villages along the river valleys . Tribes in the western part of the state were semi-nomadic and hunted large herds of bison . Kansas was first settled by Americans in 1827 with the establishment of Fort Leavenworth . The pace of settlement accelerated in the 1850s , in the midst of political wars over the slavery debate . When it was officially opened to settlement by the U.S. government in 1854 with the Kansas-Nebraska Act , abolitionist Free-Staters from New England and pro-slavery settlers from neighboring Missouri rushed to the territory to determine whether Kansas would become a free state or a slave state . Thus , the area was a hotbed of violence and chaos in its early days as these forces collided , and was known as Bleeding Kansas .
Schizachyrium scoparium , commonly known as little bluestem or beard grass , is a North American prairie grass native to most of the United States , except California , Nevada , and Oregon , and a small area north of the Canada-US border . It is most common in the Midwestern prairies . Little bluestem is a perennial bunchgrass and is prominent in tallgrass prairie , along with big bluestem ( Andropogon gerardi ) , indiangrass ( Sorghastrum nutans ) and switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum ) . It is a warm-season species , meaning it employs the C4 photosynthetic pathway . [ clarification needed ]
Minnesota ( /ˌmɪnɪˈsoʊtə/ ( listen ) ) is a state in the Upper Midwest , Great Lakes , and northern regions of the United States . Minnesota was admitted as the 32nd U.S. state on May 11 , 1858 , created from the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory . The state has many lakes , and is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes . Its official motto is L'Étoile du Nord ( French : Star of the North ) . Minnesota is the 12th largest in area and the 22nd most populous of the U.S. states ; nearly 55% of its residents live in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area ( known as the Twin Cities ) . This area has the largest concentration of transportation , business , industry , education , and government in the state . Urban centers in Greater Minnesota include Duluth , Mankato , Moorhead , Rochester and St . Cloud . The geography of the state consists of western prairies now given over to intensive agriculture ; deciduous forests in the southeast , now partially cleared , farmed , and settled ; and the less populated North Woods , used for mining , forestry , and recreation . Thousands of years before Europeans arrived , Minnesota was inhabited by various indigenous peoples , some of whom remain in the state today . French explorers , missionaries , and fur traders began exploring the region in the 17th century , encountering the Dakota and Ojibwe/Anishinaabe tribes . Much of what is now Minnesota was part of the vast French holding of Louisiana , which was purchased by the United States in 1803 .
Wild rice ( Ojibwe : manoomin ; also called Canada rice , Indian rice , and water oats ) are four species of grasses forming the genus Zizania , and the grain that can be harvested from them . The grain was historically gathered and eaten in North America and China . While now a delicacy in North America , the grain is eaten less in China , :165 where the plant 's stem is used as a vegetable . Wild rice is not directly related to Asian rice ( Oryza sativa ) , whose wild progenitors are O. rufipogon and O. nivara , although they are close cousins , sharing the tribe Oryzeae . Wild-rice grains have a chewy outer sheath with a tender inner grain that has a slightly vegetal taste . The plants grow in shallow water in small lakes and slow-flowing streams ; often , only the flowering head of wild rice rises above the water . The grain is eaten by dabbling ducks and other aquatic wildlife .
Missouri is a state in the Midwestern United States . With over six million residents , it is the 18th-most populous state of the Union . The largest urban areas are St. Louis , Kansas City , Springfield and Columbia ; the capital is Jefferson City . The state is the 21st-most extensive in area . Missouri is bordered by eight states ( tied for the most with Tennessee ) : Iowa to the north , Illinois , Kentucky and Tennessee ( via the Mississippi River ) to the east , Arkansas to the south and Oklahoma , Kansas and Nebraska to the west . In the south are the Ozarks , a forested highland , providing timber , minerals and recreation . The Missouri River , after which the state is named , flows through the center of the state into the Mississippi River , which makes up Missouri 's eastern border . Humans have inhabited the land now known as Missouri for at least 12,000 years . The Mississippian culture built cities and mounds , before declining in the 14th century . When European explorers arrived in the 17th century , they encountered the Osage and Missouria nations . The French established Louisiana , a part of New France , founding Ste . Genevieve in 1735 and St. Louis in 1764 .
Montana ( /mɒnˈtænə/ ( listen ) ) is a state in the Northwestern United States . Montana has several nicknames , although none are official , including Big Sky Country and The Treasure State , and slogans that include Land of the Shining Mountains and more recently The Last Best Place . Montana is the fourth-largest in area , the 8th least populous , and the third-least densely populated of the 50 U.S. states . The western half of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges . Smaller island ranges are found throughout the state . In all , 77 named ranges are part of the Rocky Mountains . The eastern half of Montana is characterized by western prairie terrain and badlands . Montana is bordered by Idaho to the west , Wyoming to the south , North Dakota and South Dakota to the east , and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia , Alberta , and Saskatchewan to the north . The economy is primarily based on agriculture , including ranching and cereal grain farming . Other significant economic resources include oil , gas , coal , hard rock mining , and lumber . The health care , service , and government sectors also are significant to the state 's economy . The state 's fastest-growing sector is tourism .
Pseudoroegneria spicata is a species of grass known by the common name bluebunch wheatgrass . This native western North American perennial bunchgrass is known by the scientific synonyms Elymus spicatus and Agropyron spicatum . The grass can be found in the United States , Canada , and Mexico from Alaska and Yukon south as far as Sonora and Nuevo León .
Nebraska /nəˈbræskə/ ( listen ) is a state that lies in both the Great Plains and the Midwestern United States . It is bordered by South Dakota to the north ; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast , both across the Missouri River ; Kansas to the south ; Colorado to the southwest ; and Wyoming to the west . It is the only triply landlocked U.S. state . Nebraska 's area is just over 77,220 square miles ( 200,000 km2 ) with a population of almost 1.9 million people . Its state capital is Lincoln , and its largest city is Omaha , which is on the Missouri River . Indigenous peoples , including Omaha , Missouria , Ponca , Pawnee , Otoe , and various branches of the Lakota ( Sioux ) tribes , lived in the region for thousands of years before European exploration . The state is crossed by many historic trails , including that of the Lewis and Clark Expedition . Nebraska was admitted as the 37th state of the United States in 1867 . It is the only state in the United States whose legislature is unicameral and officially nonpartisan . Nebraska is composed of two major land regions : the Dissected Till Plains and the Great Plains . The Dissected Till Plains region consist of gently rolling hills and contains the state 's largest cities , Omaha and Lincoln . The Great Plains region , occupying most of western Nebraska , is characterized by treeless prairie , suitable for cattle-grazing .
Nevada ( /nɪˈvædə/ or /nɪˈvɑːdə/ ) is a state in the Western United States . It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest , Idaho to the northeast , California to the west , Arizona to the southeast , and Utah to the east . Nevada is the 7th most extensive , the 32nd most populous , and the 9th least densely populated of the U.S. states . Nearly three-quarters of Nevada 's people live in Clark County , which contains the Las Vegas-Paradise metropolitan area , including three of the state 's four largest incorporated cities . Nevada 's capital is Carson City . Nevada is officially known as the Silver State because of the importance of silver to its history and economy . It is also known as the Battle Born State because it achieved statehood during the Civil War ( the words Battle Born also appear on the state flag ) ; as the Sagebrush State , for the native plant of the same name ; and as the Sage-hen State . Nevada is largely desert and semi-arid , much of it within the Great Basin . Areas south of the Great Basin are within the Mojave Desert , while Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada lie on the western edge . About 86% of the state 's land is managed by various jurisdictions of the U.S. federal government , both civilian and military . Before European contact , American Indians of the Paiute , Shoshone , and Washoe tribes inhabited the land that is now Nevada . The first Europeans to explore the region were Spanish .
Oryzopsis hymenoides ( Synonym : Stipa hymenoides , common names : Indian ricegrass and sand rice grass ) is a perennial cool-season [ citation needed ] bunchgrass with very narrow , rolled leaf blades . It is native to western North America east of the Cascades from British Columbia and Alberta south to southern California , northeastern Mexico , and Texas . In the wild , it typically grows 4 to 24 in ( 10 to 61 cm ) tall and 8 to 12 in ( 20 to 30 cm ) wide . O. hymenoides grows in a variety of habitats from desert scrub to ponderosa pine forests . It can live in soils from sand to clay , but it does particularly well in sand , where it is the dominant grass growing with sagebrush , and may occur almost unmixed with other plants . It helps stabilize shifting sand . :151
New Mexico ( Spanish : Nuevo México Spanish pronunciation : [ ˈnweβo ˈmexiko ] ( listen ) , Navajo : Yootó Hahoodzo pronounced [ jòːtxó xɑ̀xʷòːtsò ] ) is a state in the Southwestern region of the United States of America ; its capital and cultural center is Santa Fe , which was founded in 1610 as capital of Nuevo México ( itself established as a province of New Spain in 1598 ) , while its largest city is Albuquerque with its accompanying metropolitan area . It is one of the Mountain States and shares the Four Corners region with Utah , Colorado , and Arizona . New Mexico is also bordered by the state of Texas to the east-southeast , Oklahoma to the northeast , and the Mexican states of Chihuahua to the south and Sonora to the southwest . With an estimated population of 2,096,829 as of the July 1 , 2019 U.S. Census Bureau estimate , New Mexico is the 36th largest state by population . With a total area of 121,592 sq mi ( 314,920 km2 ) , it is the fifth-largest and sixth-least densely populated of the 50 states . Due to their geographic locations , northern and eastern New Mexico exhibit a colder , alpine climate , while western and southern New Mexico exhibit a warmer , arid climate . The economy of New Mexico is dependent on oil drilling , mineral extraction , dryland farming , cattle ranching , lumber milling , and retail trade . As of 2018 , its total gross domestic product ( GDP ) was $ 101 billion with a GDP per capita of $ 45,465 . New Mexico 's status as a tax haven yields low to moderate personal income taxes on residents and military personnel , and gives tax credits and exemptions to favorable industries . Because of this , its film industry has grown and contributed $ 1.23 billion to its overall economy . Due to its large area and economic climate , New Mexico has a large U.S. military presence marked notably with the White Sands Missile Range . Various U.S. national security agencies base their research and testing arms in New Mexico such as the Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories .
North Dakota ( /- dəˈkoʊtə/ ( listen ) ) is a U.S. state in the midwestern and northern regions of the United States . It is the nineteenth largest in area , the fourth smallest by population , and the fourth most sparsely populated of the 50 states . North Dakota was admitted to the Union on November 2 , 1889 , along with its neighboring state , South Dakota . Its capital is Bismarck , and its largest city is Fargo . In the 21st century , North Dakota 's natural resources have played a major role in its economic performance , particularly with the oil extraction from the Bakken formation , which lies beneath the northwestern part of the state . Such development has led to population growth and reduced unemployment , resulting in North Dakota having the second lowest unemployment rate in the nation , behind only Hawaii . North Dakota contains the tallest man-made structure in the Western Hemisphere , the KVLY-TV mast .
Pascopyrum is a monotypic genus of grass containing the sole species Pascopyrum smithii , which is known by the common name western wheatgrass , though the common nickname is red-joint wheatgrass , from the red coloration of the nodes . This is a sod-forming rhizomatous perennial grass which is native and common throughout most of North America . It grows in grassland and prairie in the Great Plains , where it is sometimes the dominant grass species . It is the state grass of North Dakota , South Dakota , and Wyoming . It is a valuable forage for animals such as bison and black-tailed prairie dogs , and it is good for grazing livestock . It is used for revegetation of disturbed and overgrazed habitat , and many cultivars have been developed to suit various conditions , including low-maintenance lawns . Wheatgrass generally tolerates mowing to four inches , but does not tolerate shade . Healthy stands may crowd out other species , making it more suitable for monoculture plantings .
Oklahoma ( /ˌoʊkləˈhoʊmə/ ( listen ) ; Cherokee : ᎣᎦᎳᎰᎹ , ogalahoma ; Choctaw : Oklahumma ) is a state in the South Central region of the United States , bordered by the state of Texas on the south and west , Kansas on the north , Missouri on the northeast , Arkansas on the east , New Mexico on the west , and Colorado on the northwest . It is the 20th-most extensive and the 28th-most populous of the 50 United States . Its residents are known as Oklahomans ( or colloquially , Okies ) , and its capital and largest city is Oklahoma City . The state 's name is derived from the Choctaw words okla and humma , meaning red people . It is also known informally by its nickname , The Sooner State , in reference to the non-Native settlers who staked their claims on land before the official opening date of lands in the western Oklahoma Territory or before the Indian Appropriations Act of 1889 , which increased European-American settlement in the eastern Indian Territory . Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory were merged into the State of Oklahoma when it became the 46th state to enter the union on November 16 , 1907 . With ancient mountain ranges , prairie , mesas , and eastern forests , most of Oklahoma lies in the Great Plains , Cross Timbers , and the U.S . Interior Highlands , all regions prone to severe weather . Oklahoma is on a confluence of three major American cultural regions and historically served as a route for cattle drives , a destination for Southern settlers , and a government-sanctioned territory for Native Americans . More than 25 Native American languages are spoken in Oklahoma . A major producer of natural gas , oil , and agricultural products , Oklahoma relies on an economic base of aviation , energy , telecommunications , and biotechnology . Both Oklahoma City and Tulsa serve as Oklahoma 's primary economic anchors , with nearly two-thirds of Oklahomans living within their metropolitan statistical areas .
Sorghastrum nutans , commonly known as either Indiangrass or yellow Indiangrass , is a North American prairie grass found in the central and eastern United States and Canada , especially in the Great Plains and tallgrass prairies .
South Carolina ( /ˌkærəˈlaɪnə/ ( listen ) ) is a state in the Southeastern United States and the easternmost of the Deep South . It is bordered to the north by North Carolina , to the southeast by the Atlantic Ocean , and to the southwest by Georgia across the Savannah River . South Carolina became the eighth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on May 23 , 1788 . It also became the first state to vote in favor of secession from the Union on December 20 , 1860 . After the American Civil War , it was readmitted into the United States on June 25 , 1868 . South Carolina is the 40th most extensive and 23rd most populous U.S. state . Its GDP as of 2013 was $ 183.6 billion , with an annual growth rate of 3.13% . South Carolina is composed of 46 counties . The capital is Columbia with a population of 133,451 in 2018 ; while its largest city is Charleston with a 2018 population of 136,208 . The Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin metropolitan area is the largest in the state , with a 2018 population estimate of 906,626 . South Carolina is named in honor of King Charles I of England , who first formed the English colony , with Carolus being Latin for Charles .
South Dakota ( /- dəˈkoʊtə/ ( listen ) ) is a U.S. state in the Midwestern region of the United States . It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux Native American tribes , who compose a large portion of the population and historically dominated the territory . South Dakota is the seventeenth largest by area , but the fifth smallest by population and the 5th least densely populated of the 50 United States . As the southern part of the former Dakota Territory , South Dakota became a state on November 2 , 1889 , simultaneously with North Dakota . Pierre is the state capital and Sioux Falls , with a population of about 187,200 , is South Dakota 's largest city . South Dakota is bordered by the states of North Dakota ( to the north ) , Minnesota ( to the east ) , Iowa ( to the southeast ) , Nebraska ( to the south ) , Wyoming ( to the west ) , and Montana ( to the northwest ) . The state is bisected by the Missouri River , dividing South Dakota into two geographically and socially distinct halves , known to residents as East River and West River . Eastern South Dakota is home to most of the state 's population , and the area 's fertile soil is used to grow a variety of crops . West of the Missouri River , ranching is the predominant agricultural activity , and the economy is more dependent on tourism and defense spending . Most of the Native American reservations are in West River . The Black Hills , a group of low pine-covered mountains sacred to the Sioux , are in the southwest part of the state . Mount Rushmore , a major tourist destination , is there .
Texas ( /ˈtɛksəs/ , locally /ˈtɛksɪz/ ; Spanish : Texas or Tejas , pronounced [ ˈtexas ] ( listen ) ) is the second largest state in the United States by area ( after Alaska ) and population ( after California ) . Located in the South Central region , Texas shares borders with the states of Louisiana to the east , Arkansas to the northeast , Oklahoma to the north , New Mexico to the west , and the Mexican states of Chihuahua , Coahuila , Nuevo León , and Tamaulipas to the southwest , and has a coastline with the Gulf of Mexico to the southeast . Houston is the most populous city in Texas and the fourth largest in the U.S. , while San Antonio is the second-most populous in the state and seventh largest in the U.S. Dallas-Fort Worth and Greater Houston are the fourth and fifth largest metropolitan statistical areas in the country , respectively . Other major cities include Austin , the second-most populous state capital in the U.S. , and El Paso . Texas is nicknamed the Lone Star State for its former status as an independent republic , and as a reminder of the state 's struggle for independence from Mexico . The Lone Star can be found on the Texas state flag and on the Texas state seal . The origin of Texas 's name is from the word taysha , which means friends in the Caddo language . Due to its size and geologic features such as the Balcones Fault , Texas contains diverse landscapes common to both the U.S. Southern and Southwestern regions . Although Texas is popularly associated with the U.S. southwestern deserts , less than 10% of Texas 's land area is desert . Most of the population centers are in areas of former prairies , grasslands , forests , and the coastline . Traveling from east to west , one can observe terrain that ranges from coastal swamps and piney woods , to rolling plains and rugged hills , and finally the desert and mountains of the Big Bend . The term six flags over Texas [ note 1 ] refers to several nations that have ruled over the territory .
Bouteloua curtipendula , commonly known as sideoats grama , is a perennial , short prairie grass that is native throughout the temperate and tropical Western Hemisphere , from Canada south to Argentina . The species epithet comes from Latin curtus shortened and pendulus hanging .
Utah ( /ˈjuːtɑː/ YOO-tah , /ˈjuːtɔː/ ( listen ) YOO-taw ) is a state in the western United States . It became the 45th state admitted to the U.S. on January 4 , 1896 . Utah is the 13th-largest by area , 30th-most-populous , and 11th-least-densely populated of the 50 United States . Utah has a population of more than 3 million according to the Census estimate for July 1 , 2018 . Urban development is mostly concentrated in two areas : the Wasatch Front in the north-central part of the state , which contains approximately 2.5 million people ; and Washington County in Southern Utah , with over 160,000 residents . Utah is bordered by Colorado to the east , Wyoming to the northeast , Idaho to the north , Arizona to the south , and Nevada to the west . It also touches a corner of New Mexico in the southeast . Approximately 62% of Utahns are reported to be members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ( LDS Church ) , making Utah the only state with a majority population belonging to a single church . This greatly influences Utahn culture , politics , and daily life . The church 's world headquarters is located in Salt Lake City . The state is a center of transportation , education , information technology and research , government services , and mining and a major tourist destination for outdoor recreation . In 2013 , the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Utah had the second-fastest-growing population of any state .
Washington ( /ˈwɒʃɪŋtən/ ( listen ) ) , officially the State of Washington , is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States . Named for George Washington , the first U.S. president , the state was made out of the western part of the Washington Territory , which was ceded by the British Empire in 1846 , in accordance with the Oregon Treaty in the settlement of the Oregon boundary dispute . The state , which is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean , Oregon to the south , Idaho to the east , and the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north , was admitted to the Union as the 42nd state in 1889 . Olympia is the state capital ; the state 's largest city is Seattle . Washington is often referred to as Washington State to distinguish it from the nation 's capital , Washington , D.C. Washington is the 18th largest state , with an area of 71,362 square miles ( 184,827 km2 ) , and the 13th most populous state , with more than 7.4 million people . Approximately 60 percent of Washington 's residents live in the Seattle metropolitan area , the center of transportation , business , and industry along Puget Sound , an inlet of the Pacific Ocean consisting of numerous islands , deep fjords , and bays carved out by glaciers . The remainder of the state consists of deep temperate rainforests in the west ; mountain ranges in the west , central , northeast , and far southeast ; and a semi-arid basin region in the east , central , and south , given over to intensive agriculture . Washington is the second most populous state on the West Coast and in the Western United States , after California . Mount Rainier , an active stratovolcano , is the state 's highest elevation , at almost 14,411 feet ( 4,392 meters ) , and is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous U.S. Washington is a leading lumber producer . Its rugged surface is rich in stands of Douglas fir , hemlock , ponderosa pine , white pine , spruce , larch , and cedar . The state is the US 's largest producer of apples , hops , pears , red raspberries , spearmint oil , and sweet cherries , and ranks high in the production of apricots , asparagus , dry edible peas , grapes , lentils , peppermint oil , and potatoes . Livestock and livestock products make important contributions to total farm revenue , and the commercial fishing of salmon , halibut , and bottomfish makes a significant contribution to the state 's economy .
Wyoming ( /waɪˈoʊmɪŋ/ ( listen ) ) is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States . The state is the 10th largest by area , the least populous , and the second most sparsely populated state in the country . Wyoming is bordered on the north by Montana , on the east by South Dakota and Nebraska , on the south by Colorado , on the southwest by Utah , and on the west by Idaho and Montana . The state population was estimated at 577,737 in 2018 , which is less than 31 of the most populous U.S. cities including Denver in neighboring Colorado . Cheyenne is the state capital and the most populous city , with an estimated population of 63,624 in 2017 . The western two-thirds of the state is covered mostly by the mountain ranges and rangelands of the Rocky Mountains , while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie called the High Plains . Almost half of the land in Wyoming is owned by the U.S. government , leading Wyoming to rank sixth by area and fifth by proportion of a state 's land owned by the federal government . Federal lands include two national parks - Grand Teton and Yellowstone - two national recreation areas , two national monuments , several national forests , historic sites , fish hatcheries , and wildlife refuges . Original inhabitants of the region include the Crow , Arapaho , Lakota , and Shoshone . Southwestern Wyoming was claimed by the Spanish Empire and then Mexican territory until it was ceded to the United States in 1848 at the end of the Mexican-American War . The region acquired the name Wyoming when a bill was introduced to the U.S. Congress in 1865 to provide a temporary government for the territory of Wyoming . The name was used earlier for the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania , and is derived from the Munsee word xwé : wamənk , meaning at the big river flat .