Some of the things that make the U.S. unique is the fact that it is made up of 50 individual States, all with their own laws, widely varying climates, landscapes, and cultures.
All these factors culminate into several interesting facts about Connecticut, with one of the more notable ones being that color television was invented in the state!
Each state has its own nickname that is usually derived from an event associated with its historical past, a notable landmark within the State, a cultural icon, or even the weather. Let’s consider Connecticut’s nickname.
Over the years there have been many different versions of Connecticut’s nickname, four to be precise. The two most commonly used, and most well-known nicknames are what we will be focusing on, dissecting their origin, history, and meaning.
So, what is Connecticut’s nickname? It is the Constitution State.
The Constitution State is relatively small in size, situated on the East coast of America, facing the Atlantic ocean and bordering Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island.
Connecticut State Nickname
Connecticut has a rich history of being the home to those that have invented revolutionary devices and food such as the first-ever Hamburger, the Polaroid camera, Color Television, and the first Helicopter! Surprisingly, none of these amazing discoveries played a role in the adoption of the Connecticut state nickname.
The Connecticut state nickname was officially adopted during a General state Assembly in 1959. The nickname is derived from the famous historian, John Fiske and his claim that the Fundamental Orders of 1638/1639 were the first written constitution in history.
How Did Connecticut Get Its Nickname?
The Fundamental Orders were those given by the Connecticut Colony council on January 14, 1639. The Fundamental Orders describe the Governments set up by the Connecticut River towns, setting up the state’s structure and foundation, the Government was attempting to gain access to the open ocean for overseas trading purposes.
The Nutmeg State is the second, most popular Connecticut state nickname, the history and origin surrounding this nickname are a little more straightforward. The adoption of the “Nutmeg State” was derived from the early inhabitants of Connecticut, who rightfully had a reputation for being intelligent and quick-witted; they were able to make and sell wooden nutmegs due to the vast quantity of nutmegs in Connecticut.
Much the same as all other states, Connecticut has a motto originating from its history. Paying respect to its influence on the rest of the U.S. and the mentality of the state residents past and present, “Qui transtulit sustinet”, this Latin phrase translates in English to “He Who Transplanted Continues to Sustain” and this famous motto also appears on the Connecticut state seal.
