How did US states get their names?

The United States is made up of 5 0 states , each with its own unique history and origin story . The names of the states are often derived from ge ographical features , historical events , or Native American tribes that once inhab ited the area . \n \n For example , the state of California is named after the Spanish mission ary Juan C res pi , who sa iled up the coast of what is now California in 1 7 6 9 . The state of Texas is named after the Mexican state of T ama ul ip as , which means " land of the tall po pp ies " in the ind igen ous N ahu at l language . \n \n Other states are named after expl or ers , such as Florida , which is named after the Spanish expl orer Hern ando de S oto , or after early American leaders , such as John Adams , who later became the country ' s second president , and whose name is shared by the state of Massachusetts . \n \n Some states are named after Native American tribes , such as Michigan , which is named after the O j ib we word " m ish ig ama a ," meaning " large water " or " gre at lake ," and Wisconsin , which is named after the O j ib we word " wi ish ik oz i ib i ," meaning " red earth ." \n \n Over all , the names of the states in the United States reflect the diverse history and ge ography of the country , and each state has its own unique story to tell . </s>