Geography 101

The History channel is running a series on the states. Each episode features about 4 states, highlighting points of interest in each one. Nick and I had a lazy morning today and since Nick woke up before I did, he got to play couch commando. We caught a couple episodes of this show.

If anyone else is like me, Geography was not exactly the most interesting subject in school. Watching this show actually taught me some things, which I thought I would summarize and post just in case anyone else is wondering what is so significant about Delaware....

(which is a great place to start)

Delaware: was the first to ratify, which is fancy for saying was the first state in the country, and is home to the most corporations of any state.

New York: First settled by the Dutch (yay Dutch people) and originally named New Amsterdam.

Oregon: Ann Curry (who is apparently from there) clarified it best when she explained it's not pronounced "OreGone", the state didn't pack up and go anywhere. OR is also home to some great hippies, artists, and progressive/ interesting laws... You can always tell an Oregonian, they don't know how to pump their own gas ;)

New Mexico: Has the most PhD residents than any other state. Also future home of the first Spaceport courtesy of Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic

Louisiana: Largely settled by the French and named for King Louis (which I pointed out to Nick, is important since no one knows where the origin of the word Oregon comes from)

Iowa: Home of the painter who helped identify Americana style art, most famously the farming couple standing next to each other (his sister and dentist... not actually a couple "American Gothic"... not to be confused with modern day gothic ;)