# An Ultimate Alphabetical List of U.S. State and Territory Mottos URL: https://sciencestruck.com/geography/an-alphabetical-list-of-us-state-territory-mottos Category: Geography Published: 2014-08-28T07:08:00 Updated: 2014-08-28T07:08:00 In the U.S., all states have a motto, and each motto has a meaning. ScienceStruck furnishes you with both, the motto and the meaning of the 50 states and 5 inhabited territories of the United States. ### Quick Fact Three states, South Carolina, Kentucky, and North Dakota have two official mottos; whereas the territory of Northern Mariana Islands doesn’t have one at all. A motto is basically a sentence or a phrase that encompasses the ideas and beliefs of an institution or entity. The United States of America comprises 50 states, federal district of Washington D.C., and 14 territories out of which only 6 are inhabited. All the states and territories have their unique flags, seals, and the state mottoes. They also have nicknames which have been coined from their respective local cultures, history, economic and political background, and natural resources. The motto of the United States of America is “In God We Trust”. A lot of these mottos have been derived from the languages of Latin, Greek, Samoan, Spanish, Hawaiian, and English of course. Go through the following list of mottos and their respective meanings. ## List of U.S. State Mottos ### Alabama Motto: “Audemus jura nostra defendere” Meaning: We dare defend our rights ### Alaska Motto: “North to the future” Meaning: - - - ### Arizona Motto: “Ditat Deus” Meaning: God enriches ### Arkansas Motto: “Regnat populus” Meaning: The people rule ### California Motto: “Eureka (εὕρηκα heúrēka)” Meaning: I have found it ### Colorado Motto: “Nil sine numine” Meaning: Nothing without providence ### Connecticut Motto: “Qui transtulit sustinet” Meaning: He who transplanted sustains ### Delaware Motto: “Liberty and Independence” Meaning: - - - ### Florida Motto: “In God We Trust” Meaning: - - - ### Georgia Motto: “Wisdom, Justice, Moderation” Meaning: - - - ### Hawaii Motto: “Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono” Meaning: The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness ### Idaho Motto: “Esto perpetua” Meaning: Let it be perpetual ### Illinois Motto: “State Sovereignty, National Union” Meaning: - - - ### Indiana Motto: “The Crossroads of America” Meaning: - - - ### Iowa Motto: “Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain” Meaning: - - - ### Kansas Motto: “Ad astra per aspera” Meaning: To the stars through difficulties ### Kentucky Motto: “United we stand, divided we fall” “Deo gratiam habeamus” Meaning: Let us be grateful to God ### Louisiana Motto: “Union, justice, confidence” Meaning: - - - ### Maine Motto: “Dirigo” Meaning: I lead ### Maryland Motto: “Fatti maschii, parole femine” Meaning: Manly deeds, womanly words ### Massachusetts Motto: “Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem” Meaning: By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty ### Michigan Motto: “Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice” Meaning: If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you ### Minnesota Motto: “L’étoile du Nord” Meaning: The star of the North ### Mississippi Motto: “Virtute et armis” Meaning: By valor and arms ### Missouri Motto: “Salus populi suprema lex esto” Meaning: Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law ### Montana Motto: “Oro y plata” Meaning: Gold and silver ### Nebraska Motto: “Equality before the law” Meaning: - - - ### Nevada Motto: “All For Our Country” Meaning: - - - ### New Hampshire Motto: “Live Free or Die” Meaning: - - - ### New Jersey Motto: “Liberty and prosperity” Meaning: - - - ### New Mexico Motto: “Crescit eundo” Meaning: It grows as it goes ### New York Motto: “Excelsior” Meaning: Ever upward ### North Carolina Motto: “Esse quam videri” Meaning: To be, rather than to seem ### North Dakota Motto: “Liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable” Serit ut alteri saeclo prosit” Meaning: One sows for the benefit of another age ### Ohio Motto: “With God, all things are possible” Meaning: - - - ### Oklahoma Motto: “Labor omnia vincit” Meaning: Labor conquers all things ### Oregon Motto: “Alis volat propriis” Meaning: She flies with her own wings ### Pennsylvania Motto: “Virtue, liberty, and independence” Meaning: - - - ### Rhode Island Motto: “Hope” Meaning: - - - ### South Carolina Motto: “Dum spiro spero” “Animis opibusque parati” Meaning: While I breathe, I hope Ready in soul and resource ### South Dakota Motto: “Under God the people rule” Meaning: - - - ### Tennessee Motto: “Agriculture and Commerce” Meaning: - - - ### Texas Motto: “Friendship” Meaning: - - - ### Utah Motto: “Industry” Meaning: - - - ### Vermont Motto: “Freedom and Unity” Meaning: - - - ### Virginia Motto: “Sic semper tyrannis” Meaning: Thus always to tyrants ### Washington Motto: “Al-ki” Meaning: By and by ### West Virginia Motto: “Montani semper liberi” Meaning: Mountaineers are always free ### Wisconsin Motto: “Forward” Meaning: - - - ### Wyoming Motto: “Equal Rights” Meaning: - - ## List of U.S. Territory Mottos ### American Samoa Motto: “Samoa, Muamua Le Atua” Meaning: Samoa, let God be first ### District of Columbia Motto: “Justitia Omnibus” Meaning: Justice for All ### Guam Motto: “Where America’s Day Begins” Meaning: - - - ### Puerto Rico Motto: “Joannes Est Nomen Eius” Meaning: John is his name ### Virgin Islands Motto: “United in Pride and Hope” Meaning: - - - State slogans are more related to tourism, but mottos have a history behind them and are very important. So whether you’re a tourist or a resident of a state in the US, knowing these mottos and their meanings is a plus point. Also, if you are someone who has an assignment on the States of the U.S., don’t forget to mention all these mottos in your piece.