THE ORIGIN OF AMERICAN STATE NAMES 



113 



Photograph by Eugene S. Jones 



OEE OWLSHEAD : ROCKLAND, MAINE 



Maine, the Pine Tree State, is one of the three Commonwealths of the Union whose name is 



supposed to be of French origin. 



literally, "Feast of the Flowers"), hav- 

 ing reference to the flowers with which 

 the churches in Spain are decorated on 

 that day. In view of the day on which 

 the discovery was made, this is probably 

 the correct explanation of the origin. 



The second theory is that Ponce de 

 Leon simply used the word "Florida,'' 

 meaning "flowery," from the aspect of 

 the country. 



The other Spanish-named States lie in 

 the Far West. Anv one who has seen the 



snow-clad peaks of Nevada can well ap- 

 preciate the descriptive word, "Snowy." 



While not explored or colonized by 

 Spaniards, Montana bears a Spanish 

 (some say, Latin) name. This large 

 State's giant ranges and cordilleras make 

 its name, which means "Mountainous," 

 singularly appropriate. 



Colorado was probably named from 

 the river, although onlv its tributaries 



flow through the State. 

 Spanish for "red" in 



The word is 

 the sense of 



