Selling a state slogan, from ‘I Love New York’ to ‘Sweet Home Alabama’
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Selling a state slogan, from ‘I Love New York’ to ‘Sweet Home Alabama’
Michigan’s state tourism slogan, “Pure Michigan,” fell into political crossfire this week when the state’s economic development agency paid for an ad in the Wall Street Journal to tout the state’s new right-to-work law. The state slogan is different than a more official state motto — most of these slogans are developed as advertising for a state, to encourage tourism or economic development.
Labor and union advocates argue that connecting Michigan’s slogan to the controversial issue of right-to-work is misleading and “offensive.” Here’s more from our story on today’s Marketplace show.
But what about state slogans all over the U.S.? Is Colorado really colorful? And is Georgia really on your mind?
Is your state slogan the best — or worst? Come up with your own, and let us know on Twitter @MarketplaceAPM or leave a comment below.
| State | Slogan |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Share The Wonder |
| Alabama the beautiful | |
| Sweet Home Alabama | |
| Alaska | North to the Future |
| Arizona | The Grand Canyon State |
| Arkansas | The Natural State |
| (formerly) Land of Opportunity | |
| California | The Golden State |
| Find Yourself Here | |
| Colorado | Colorful Colorado |
| Enter a Higher State | |
| Pike’s Peak or Bust | |
| Rocky Mountain High | |
| Where the Columbines Grow | |
| Connecticut | |
| CONNECTicut | |
| (formerly) We’re full of surprises (later Full of Surprises) | |
| You Belong in ConneCTicut | |
| (formerly) Better yet, Connecticut | |
| Delaware | It’s Good Being First |
| (formerly) Small Wonder | |
| (formerly) Smaller, Faster, Smarter. | |
| (formerly) The First State. | |
| District of Columbia | The American Experience |
| Taxation without Representation | |
| (formerly) Celebrate & Discover | |
| Florida | Sunshine State (formerly The Land of Good Living) |
| Georgia | Georgia on My Mind |
| We’re glad Georgia’s on your mind | |
| Hawaii | The Islands of Aloha |
| Idaho | Great Potatoes. Tasty Destinations. |
| (formerly) Famous Potatoes | |
| Illinois | Mile After Magnificent Mile |
| Right Here. Right Now. | |
| The Land of Lincoln | |
| Iowa | Life Changing |
| Fields of Opportunities | (formerly) You make me smile | (formerly) Is this heaven? |
| Indiana | Restart Your Engines |
| (formerly) Enjoy Indiana | |
| Crossroads of America | |
| Kansas | There’s No Place Like Home |
| Kansas, as big as you think | |
| (formerly) Simply Wonderful | |
| (formerly) Land of Ahhs | |
| Kentucky | Unbridled Spirit |
| (formerly) It’s That Friendly | |
| (formerly) Where Education Pays | |
| Louisiana | Fall in love with Louisiana all over again |
| Come as you are. Leave Different. | |
| Sportsman’s Paradise | |
| Maine | Worth A Visit, Worth A Lifetime |
| The Way Life Should Be | |
| Where America’s Day Begins | |
| Vacationland | |
| It must be Maine | |
| There’s More to Maine | |
| Maryland | Maryland of Opportunity |
| (formerly) Seize the Day Off | |
| (formerly) America in Miniature | |
| (formerly) More Than You Can Imagine | |
| Massachusetts | Make It Yours |
| (formerly) Take a Real Vacation | |
| The Spirit of America | |
| Michigan | Pure Michigan and Getting The Upper Hand (Business Attraction) |
| (previously) Say Yes to Michigan | |
| (formerly)Great Lakes, Great Times; More To See | |
| Water Winter Wonderland, Great Lakes State | |
| Minnesota | Explore Minnesota |
| Land of 10,000 Lakes | |
| Mississippi | Feels Like Coming Home |
| The South’s Warmest Welcome | |
| Missouri | Show Me State |
| Close to Home. Far from ordinary. | |
| The Cave State | |
| (formerly) Where The Rivers Run | |
| Montana | The Last Best Place |
| Big Sky Country | |
| Get Lost in Montana | |
| Nebraska | Possibilities…Endless |
| The Good Life | |
| Nevada | Wide Open |
| Battle Born | |
| Home Means Nevada | |
| The Silver State | |
| New Hampshire | You’re Going to Love it Here |
| Live Free or Die | |
| New Jersey | Come See For Yourself (2006–present) |
| The Garden State | |
| (formerly) What a Difference a State Makes | |
| (formerly) New Jersey and You: Perfect Together | |
| New Mexico | Land of Enchantment |
| New York | I Love New York |
| The City That Never Sleeps | |
| The Big Apple | |
| The Empire State | |
| North Carolina | A Better Place to Be |
| First in Flight | |
| North Dakota | Legendary |
| Ohio | So Much to Discover |
| Birthplace of Aviation | |
| Birthplace of Aviation Pioneers | |
| (formerly) The Heart of It All | |
| Oklahoma | (formerly) Oklahoma is OK |
| Native America | |
| Oregon | We Love Dreamers (2003–present) |
| Things Look Different Here (1987 – 2003) |
|
| Pacific Wonderland | |
| Pennsylvania | State of Independence |
| (formerly) Memories Last a Lifetime | |
| You’ve Got a Friend in Pennsylvania | |
| America Starts Here | |
| Rhode Island | Unwind The Ocean State |
| (formerly) Hope | South Carolina | Smiling Faces. Beautiful Places. |
| South Dakota | Great Faces. Great Places. |
| Tennessee | Tennessee- America at its best |
| (formerly) Sounds Good to Me | |
| (formerly) Follow Me To Tennessee | |
| Texas | It’s Like a Whole Other Country |
| (formerly) Deep in the Heart of Texas | |
| Don’t Mess With Texas | |
| State of the Arts | |
| Every thing’s bigger in Texas | |
| The Lone Star State | |
| Utah | This Is Still The Right Place |
| Life Elevated | |
| Greatest Snow on Earth | |
| Utah! Where Ideas Connect | |
| Vermont | Vermont, naturally |
| The Green Mountain State | |
| (formerly) I LoVermont | |
| Virginia | Virginia is for Lovers (Recently accompanied with newer slogan: Live Passionately) |
| Washington | Say WA! |
| (formerly) Experience Washington | |
| West Virginia | Wild and Wonderful (was replaced by Open for Business before being changed back) |
| (formerly) Open for business | |
| (formerly) Almost Heaven | |
| Wisconsin | Live like you mean it |
| America’s Dairyland | |
| (formerly) Life’s so good | |
| (formerly) Escape to Wisconsin | |
| (formerly) Stay just a little bit longer | |
| (formerly) You’re among friends | |
| Wyoming | Like No Place on Earth |
| Forever West |
Credit: Wikipedia
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