In the very earliest days before statehood, Iowans took to the name Hawkeye, securing it as their cognomen (nickname). Very few people know that one of the reasons we did so was to protect our fair land and ourselves from being ridiculed like our poor neighbors to the east and south had been. How would you feel if people called you the Illinois Sucker or the Missouri Puke?
In 1884, this colorful promotional map/poster (above) was published by H.W. Hill & Co. of Decatur, Illinois, and it offered an entertaining look at the nicknames of the 38 U.S. States & 9 Territories via the graphics of one pig per state or territory.
This advertising poster was quite popular back in the day. For 5-cents, you could order one of these H.W. Hill posters and you’d be the proud owner of America’s Nicknames Of The States poster! For us today, the map holds one extra appeal. As you can see, over the last century – since the poster’s publication – the nickname landscape has shifted. A few, of course, have remained the same (Iowa Hawkeye, Minnesota Gopher, Wisconsin Badger, etc.), but many have fallen into disuse. Read more here.
READ MORE ABOUT THIS IOWA STORY HERE
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