Alabama is named after the Indian word which means "Here we rest."

Alaska comes from the Eskimo word "Alakshak" or "Alayeska" and means "The main land."

Arizona is the result of the Indian word "Arizonac," meaning "small springs" or "few springs."

Arkansas is sort of a mixture of the Indian "Kansas," which means "smoky water," and the French prefix "are," meaning "how" or "bend."

California comes from the Spanish words "Caliente Fornalla," or "hot furnace."

Colorado, also from the Spanish "colored," from the red color of the Colorado River.

Connecticut, in Indian, means "long river."

Delaware was named after Lord De la Warr.

Florida originated from the Spanish "Pascua de Flores," which means "Feast of Flowers," because it was discovered on Easter Day.

Georgia was called after King George II of England.

Hawaii is a native name peculiar to the natives there, although Captain Cook called it part of the "Sandwich Islands" after Lord Sandwich.

Idaho is Indian, meaning "Gem of the Mountains."

Illinois is another mixture of Indian and French, the Indian word "illini" and the French suffix "ois" meaning "tribe of men."

Indiana and Iowa are both plain Indian, the former standing for "Indians' land," and the latter, "beautiful land."

Kansas and Kentucky are Indian, too, Kansas meaning "smoky water" and Kentucky "at the head of the river," or "the dark and bloody ground."

Louisiana is named after Louis XIV of France.

Maine and Maryland each come from abroad. Maine being called after the Province of the same name in France, and Maryland after Queen Henrietta Maria of England, consort of Charles I; while Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi and Missouri are all from the native Indian language, meaning, in the order in which they are given, "place of great hills," "fish weir," "sky-tinted water," "great father of waters" and "muddy."

Montana traces back to the Latin word "mountains," meaning "mountainous."

Nebraska is another Indian name, and means "water valley."

Nevada is Spanish, meaning "snow covered."

New Hampshire and New Jersey are both from across the water, the former after Hampshire County in England, and New Jersey after the Island of Jersey at the time when Sir George Carteret was its Governor.

New York and both North and South Carolina were also named after monarchs abroad, New York after the Duke of York in England, and the Carolinas after Charles IX of France.

North and South Dakota bring us back to the Indian language again, meaning "allies."

Ohio and Oklahoma are both Indian, too, Ohio meaning "beautiful river," and the latter , "Home of the red men."

Oregon is from the Spanish word "oregano," which stands for the wild marjoram, a plant abundant on the coast.

Pennsylvania traces back to the Latin, meaning "Penn's woody land."

Philippine Islands come from the Spanish words "Islas Fillipines," after King Phillip.

Porto Rico is also Spanish, from "Puerto Rico," meaning "rich port."

Rhode Island is called after the Island of Rhodes.

Tennessee, Texas and Utah are all Indian, Tennessee meaning "river with the great bend," Texas coming from several different forms of very old Indian language, meaning "friends," and Utah after the tribe by that name, also called the "Utes."

Vermont is from the French, meaning "green mountains."

Virginia is called after Elizabeth, the "Virgin Queen" of England.

Washington get its name from a good, straight American source--George Washington.

West Virginia is so called because it was formerly the western part of Virginia.

Wisconsin and Wyoming are both Indian, the former meaning "gathering of the waters," and the latter, "great plains."

Why Are They Called "Newspapers?"

Although something like an official newspaper or government gazette existed in ancient Rome, and Venice in the middle of the sixteenth century also had official news sheets, the first regular newspaper was published at Frankfort in 1615. Seven years later the first regular newspaper appeared in England.

It was customary to print the points of the compass at the top of the early single-sheet papers, to indicate that occurrences from all four parts of the world were recorded. Before very long, the publisher of one of the most progressive papers rearranged the letters symbolic of the points of the compass, into a straight line, and printed the word NEWS, and in a very short time practically every newspaper publisher decided to adopt the idea.

It is interesting to find that American colonies were not far behind England in establishing newspapers, and equally interesting to know that the most remarkable development of the newspaper has been in the United States, where, in proportion to population, its growth and circulation has been much greater than in any other country. Practically a half of all the newspapers published in the world are published in the United States and Canada.

Every trade, organization, profession and science now has its representative journal and the cheapness and excellence of photographic illustrations, have all been necessary elements of the great sheets and enormous circulation's of the present day, and the twentieth century newspaper is one of the greatest achievements in the whole field of human enterprise.

The above information is re-published by Eastman Publishing from the Universal Book of Knowledge and Wonders, which was originally published in 1917. We offer the full version of the original book (594 pages and 780 photos and drawings) on CD. Read More....

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