The One Minute Geographer: About Connecticut
People of the Nickname State
Connecticut has a lot of nicknames. Its name came from a Native American word ‘quinetucket,’ meaning “beside the long tidal river.” Connecticut’s official nickname is “The Constitution State” because its colonial constitution, “The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut,” adopted in 1639, became a model for the U.S. Constitution.
The Constitution State is also called the ‘Nutmeg State’ because so many Yankee peddlers sold nutmegs. The “Provisions State” refers to Connecticut’s role in supplying food, clothing and arms to the US Continental Army. And how about “The Land of Steady Habits?” We assume the PR firm that came up with that last one was terminated.
We’ll see in later posts that we could also call Connecticut “The Insurance State,” or “The Hedge Fund State” or the “Defense Spending State.”
And, by the way, what do you call a resident of Connecticut? A Connecticuter. But you’re right if you are thinking that nobody really uses that term.
Many Native American tribes were settled in the area when European settlement started. Five of these tribes today are still active and recognized by the state or the federal government. Two of them run the state’s casinos, both located in eastern Connecticut. The Mashantucket Pequot own and operate…
