{
  "reviewed": "2026-09-29",
  "area_source": "https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/2010/geo/state-area.html",
  "area_vintage": 2010,
  "notes": "Nicknames are not mottos. Geographic phrases below are editorial descriptions, not official slogans. Census land area is distinct from total area; the vintage is printed wherever used. Coordinates describe the map reference, not an official state centroid.",
  "states": {
    "arizona": {
      "caption": "The Grand Canyon State",
      "land_sqmi": 113594,
      "sources": [
        "https://azlibrary.gov/state-nickname/7093"
      ]
    },
    "maine": {
      "caption": "The Pine Tree State",
      "land_sqmi": 30843,
      "sources": [
        "https://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/projects/fall_foliage/kids/meforestfacts.html"
      ]
    },
    "washington": {
      "caption": "The Evergreen State",
      "land_sqmi": 66456,
      "sources": [
        "https://leg.wa.gov/learn-and-participate/educational-resources/state-symbols/nickname/"
      ]
    },
    "colorado": {
      "caption": "The Centennial State",
      "land_sqmi": 103642,
      "sources": [
        "https://content.leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/23-visitors_guide_to_the_capitol_web.pdf"
      ]
    },
    "california": {
      "caption": "The Golden State",
      "land_sqmi": 155779,
      "sources": [
        "https://capitolmuseum.ca.gov/experiences/exhibits/state-symbols/"
      ]
    },
    "michigan": {
      "caption": "The Great Lakes State",
      "land_sqmi": 56539,
      "sources": [
        "https://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/09-47-4-f.pdf"
      ]
    },
    "louisiana": {
      "caption": "The Pelican State",
      "land_sqmi": 43204,
      "sources": [
        "https://www.sos.la.gov/HistoricalResources/PublishedDocuments/LouisianaFactsBooklet.pdf"
      ]
    },
    "new_mexico": {
      "caption": "Land of Enchantment",
      "land_sqmi": 121298,
      "sources": [
        "https://www.sos.nm.gov/about-new-mexico/state-nickname/"
      ]
    },
    "virginia": {
      "caption": "The Old Dominion",
      "land_sqmi": 39490,
      "sources": [
        "https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Portal/Resources/FirstStep.pdf"
      ]
    },
    "florida": {
      "caption": "The Sunshine State",
      "land_sqmi": 53625,
      "sources": [
        "https://www.floridacapitol.myflorida.com/the_capitol/state_facts"
      ]
    }
  },
  "cities": {
    "des_moines_ia": {
      "caption": "At the rivers' confluence",
      "region": "Iowa",
      "sources": [
        "https://councildocs.dsm.city/communications/2022/22-480.pdf"
      ]
    },
    "new_york_city_ny": {
      "caption": "Manhattan & the East River",
      "region": "New York",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.nyc.gov/site/dep/water/citywide-east-river-open-water.page",
        "https://www.nyc.gov/assets/planning/pages/waterfront-access-map/index.html"
      ]
    },
    "chicago_il": {
      "caption": "On the shores of Lake Michigan",
      "region": "Illinois",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.choosechicago.com/articles/bucket-list/summer-guide-to-chicago/"
      ]
    },
    "charleston_sc": {
      "caption": "The Charleston Peninsula",
      "region": "South Carolina",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.charleston-sc.gov/PeninsulaPlan"
      ]
    },
    "seattle_wa": {
      "caption": "On Puget Sound",
      "region": "Washington",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.seattle.gov/documents/departments/spu/documents/policies/sbe/sbecomplete.pdf"
      ]
    },
    "juneau_ak": {
      "caption": "Alaska's capital",
      "region": "Alaska",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.traveljuneau.com/discover-juneau/about-our-town/"
      ]
    },
    "scottsdale_az": {
      "caption": "In the Sonoran Desert",
      "region": "Arizona",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/about"
      ]
    },
    "denver_co": {
      "caption": "The Mile High City",
      "region": "Colorado",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.denver.org/about-denver/denver-resources/denver-glance/"
      ]
    },
    "sedona_az": {
      "caption": "Red Rock Country",
      "region": "Arizona",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.recreation.gov/gateways/13817"
      ]
    }
  },
  "coordinate_semantics": "State map reference: projected local outline bounding-box center transformed to WGS84. City map reference: reviewed catalog focal point. Neither is a claim of surveyed centroid. Source window is the nominal urban-core extract, not municipal area."
}