List of U.S. state and territory mottos (Redirected from List of U.S. state mottos)

Eureka, the motto of California on its state seal
Nil sine numine, the motto of Colorado on its state seal
Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono, the motto of Hawaii on its state quarter
Crossroads of America, the motto of Indiana on its state quarter
Ad astra per aspera, the motto of Kansas on its state seal
Live Free or Die, the motto of New Hampshire on its state quarter
Labor omnia vincit, the motto of Oklahoma
South Carolina has two state mottos
Freedom and Unity, the motto of Vermont on its state quarter
Salus populi suprema lex esto, the motto of Missouri on its state seal

Most of the United States' 50 states have a state motto, as do the District of Columbia and 3 of its territories. A motto is a phrase intended to formally describe the general motivation or intention of an organization. State mottos can sometimes be found on state seals or state flags. Some states have officially designated a state motto by an act of the state legislature, whereas other states have the motto only as an element of their seals. The motto of the United States itself is In God We Trust, proclaimed by Congress and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on July 30, 1956. The motto "E pluribus unum" (Latin for 'out of many, one') was approved for use on the Great Seal of the United States in 1782, but was never adopted as the national motto through legislative action.

South Carolina has two official mottos, both which are in Latin. Kentucky, North Dakota, and Vermont also have two mottos, one in Latin and the other in English. All other states and territories have only one motto, except for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, which do not have any mottos. English and Latin are the most-used languages for state mottos, each used by 25 states and territories. Seven states and territories use another language, of which each language is only used once. Eight states and two territories have their mottos on their state quarter; thirty-eight states and four territories have their mottos on their state seals.

The dates given are, where possible, the earliest date that the motto was used in an official sense. Some state mottos are not official but are on the official state seal; in these cases the adoption date of the seal is given. The earliest use of a current motto is that of Puerto Rico, Joannes est nomen ejus, granted to the island by the Spanish in 1511.

State, federal district and territory mottos

Jurisdiction Motto English translation Language Date Ref.
Alabama Audemus jura nostra defendere We dare defend our rights Latin 1923
Alaska North to the Future English 1967
American Samoa Samoa, Muamua Le Atua Samoa, let Atua be first Samoan 1973
Arizona Ditat Deus God enriches Latin 1863
Arkansas Regnat populus The people rule Latin 1907
California Eureka (Εὕρηκα) I have found it Greek 1849
Colorado Nil sine numine Nothing without providence Latin November 6, 1861
Connecticut Qui transtulit sustinet He who transplanted still sustains Latin October 9, 1662
Delaware Liberty and Independence English 1847
District of Columbia Justitia Omnibus Justice for all Latin August 3, 1871
Florida In God We Trust English 1868
Georgia Wisdom, Justice, Moderation English 1798
Guam
Hawaii Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness Hawaiian July 31, 1843
Idaho Esto perpetua Let it be perpetual Latin 1890
Illinois State sovereignty, national union English 1819
Indiana The Crossroads of America English 1937
Iowa Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain English 1847
Kansas Ad astra per aspera To the stars through difficulties Latin 1861
Kentucky United we stand, divided we fall English 1942
Deo gratiam habeamus Let us be grateful to God Latin 2002
Louisiana Union, justice, confidence English 1902
Maine Dirigo I lead Latin 1820
Maryland Fatti maschi, parole femine Strong deeds, gentle words Italian 1874
Massachusetts Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty Latin 1775
Michigan Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you Latin June 2, 1835
Minnesota L'étoile du Nord The star of the North French 1861
Mississippi Virtute et armis By valor and arms Latin February 7, 1894
Missouri Salus populi suprema lex esto Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law Latin January 11, 1822
Montana Oro y plata Gold and silver Spanish February 9, 1865
Nebraska Equality before the law English 1867
Nevada All For Our Country English February 24, 1866
New Hampshire Live Free or Die English 1945
New Jersey Liberty and prosperity English March 26, 1928
New Mexico Crescit eundo It grows as it goes Latin 1887
New York Excelsior Ever upward Latin 1778
North Carolina Esse quam videri To be, rather than to seem Latin 1893
North Dakota Liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable English January 3, 1863
Serit ut alteri saeclo prosit One sows for the benefit of another age Latin March 11, 2011
Northern Mariana Islands
Ohio With God, all things are possible English October 1, 1959
Oklahoma Labor omnia vincit Labor conquers all things Latin March 10, 1893
Oregon Alis volat propriis She flies with her own wings Latin 1854
Pennsylvania Virtue, liberty, and independence English 1875
Puerto Rico Joannes Est Nomen Ejus John is his name Latin 1511
Rhode Island Hope English May 4, 1664
South Carolina Dum spiro spero While I breathe, I hope Latin May 22, 1777
Animis opibusque parati Ready in soul and resource Latin
South Dakota Under God the people rule English 1885
Tennessee Agriculture and Commerce English May 24, 1802
Texas Friendship English 1930
Utah Industry English May 3, 1896
Vermont Freedom and Unity English February 20, 1779
Stella quarta decima fulgeat May the fourteenth star shine bright Latin April 10, 2015
Virginia Sic semper tyrannis Thus always to tyrants Latin 1776
U.S. Virgin Islands United in Pride and Hope English January 1, 1991
Washington Al-ki or Alki (Unofficial) By and by Chinook Jargon
West Virginia Montani semper liberi Mountaineers are always free Latin September 26, 1863
Wisconsin Forward English 1851
Wyoming Equal Rights English 1893

See also


This page was last updated at 2023-11-25 18:04 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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