Emblematic

So over the last week, I've had to do research that involved reading state codes. In the process, I've run across a bunch of statutes designating state symbols and emblems for each state. As this is SIGNIFICANTLY more interesting than what I was researching, I looked into it a little more once I got home. Here are some of the random factoids I came across, one for each state.

Alabama, for some inexplicable reason, did NOT choose "Sweet Home Alabama" as its state song. Absolute travesty.
Alaska has a state flower. I wasn't aware plant life could grow up there.
Arizona has a state firearm, more proof that they need gun control laws there.
Arkansas wrote a three paragraph statute explaining how to say the word "Arkansas."
California has both an official gold rush ghost town and an official silver rush ghost town.
Colorado, despite not being particularly Southern, made square dancing the official folk dance.
Connecticut has both a state troubadour and a state composer
Delaware describes its state soil as "a coarse, loamy, mixed, semiactive, mesic, Typic Hapludult"
Florida has an official state tortoise, which strikes me as bizzarely specific.
Georgia has an official state prepared food: grits.
Hawaii's official fish is the "humuhumunukunukuapua‘a"; I would have gone with "rectangular triggerfish."
Idaho's state raptor, unfortunately, is a bird, not a dinosaur.
Illinois has its own state prairie grass.
Indiana, after MUCH consideration, chose limestone as its state stone.
Iowa's state seal includes a picture of "the citizen soldier, with a plow in his rear." Ow.
Kansas provides only 10 reasons why a government employee can deviate from the official state language: English.
Kentucky has designated an official state Tug-of-War championship.
Louisiana only recognizes the flag of South Vietnam, not the current Vietnamese flag.
Maine's state soft drink is "Moxie, a registered trademarked soft drink invented by Maine-born Dr. Augustin Thompson of Union that symbolizes spirit and courage."
Maryland's state sport is jousting. Badass.
Massachussetts is a particularly musical state: it has an official state song, folk song, patriotic song, glee club song, and polka.
Michigan has its own symbol for clean water; apparently Michigan clean isn't like any other clean.
Minnesotans love them some blueberry muffins, to the point where its the official state muffin.
Mississippi has a cuddly streak: the Teddy Bear is their official state toy.
Missouri likes the crayfish, but already had a state animal; they compromised and made it the state invertebrate.
Montanans were obviously having trouble sleeping, as they've designated an official state lullaby.
Nebraska made it a misdeameanor to "insult" the state banner.
Nevada must have rocks on the brain: they have a state rock, a state precious gemstone, and a state semi-precious gemstone.
New Hampshire is proud of its chinooks, the official state dog.
New Jersey's state colors are Jersey Blue and Buff; truly a situation to be proud of.
New Mexico made the hot air balloon its official aircraft.
New York designated the bluebird as its state bird; apparently the pigeon would be a little too on the nose.
North Carolina chose the venus flytrap as its official carniverous plant; Little Shop of Horrors is apparently not the state musical.
North Dakota's highest honor is the "Teddy Roosevelt Rough Rider Award." Bully!
Ohio has a state reptile, amphibian, and frog. Now, I haven't taken biology in a while, but I think a frog falls into one of those two categories.
Oklahoma lists the watermelon as its state vegetable. Um...about that...
Oregon has named the Portland Trail Blazers of 1990-91 as the official team of the state. So much for having hope for another championship...
Pennsylvania has both an official electric locomotive and two official steam locomotives.
Rhode Island is the only state with an official state yacht.
South Carolina's official dance is called the shag. That just SOUNDS naughty.
South Dakota isn't worried about carbs; they have an official state bread.
Tennessee has an official commercial fish, which is brought to you by Channel Catfish.
Texas stipulates a fine of up to $300 and up to 3 months in prison for "thrashing" the state tree.
Utah has a state cooking pot.
Vermont designated a state flavor; unsurprisingly, it's maple.
Virginia came up with one interesting way to have fun: an official Covered Bridge Festival.
Washington lists the Olympic marmot as its only endemic mammal. Nice marmot.
West Virginia chose something particularly pleasant as its state reptile: the timber rattlesnake.
Wisconsin believes that dairy cows are a "domestic animal." Not my first choice for a pet, but what do I know?
Wyoming's state Code includes the state code: Cowboy Ethics.

In summation, legislators have WAY too much time on their hands.

May all your hits be crits,
B