Sources
Every page lists its own sources at the bottom. This page gathers them by state, with official government sources first.
For every state, we checked the facts against the legislature's published code and session laws, the secretary of state, the state archives or library, and the state historical society, along with university and humanities-council encyclopedias. The lists below show the publishers each state's pages cite, official government sites first, with the number of times each is cited. Read how we verify for the full process.
National sources
- US Census Bureau, population estimates (Vintage 2025). US Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 population estimates (July 1, 2025), sub-est2025.csv.
- US Census Bureau, state area measurements. US Census Bureau, State Area Measurements and Internal Point Coordinates (2010).
- US Census Bureau, census regions and divisions. Regions and divisions on every state page and the regions page.
- Wikimedia Commons. Flag images and species photographs, each credited with its license.
Alabama
92 citations, from 12 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Alabama Legislature 58Official
- Alabama Department of Archives and History 2Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database 2Official
- Alabama Historical Commission 1Official
- Encyclopedia of Alabama 20
- Alabama Tourism Department 2
- WAFF 48 / WSFA 2
- Alabama Mosaic 1
- National Audubon Society 1
- Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources 1
Alaska
60 citations, from 22 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Alaska State Legislature 29Official
- Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library 2Official
- Alaska DNR Office of History and Archaeology 2Official
- City of Unalaska 1Official
- Alaska State Museum 1Official
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game 1Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database 1Official
- U.S. National Park Service 1Official
- University of Alaska 5
- City and Borough of Juneau, Juneau-Douglas City Museum 2
Arizona
64 citations.
Arkansas
75 citations, from 11 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Arkansas State Legislature 19Official
- Arkansas Secretary of State 14Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database 1Official
- Encyclopedia of Arkansas 26
- CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas 4
- University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Arkansas Tree Database 4
- KATV 2
- Justia (text of the Arkansas Code), via Internet Archive 2
- Justia 1
- National Audubon Society 1
California
92 citations, from 15 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- California State Capitol Museum 63Official
- California Legislature, Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture 2Official
- U.S. National Archives 1Official
- Historic State Capitol Commission 1Official
- California Legislature 1Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS / Plant Materials Program 1Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database 1Official
- California Department of Parks and Recreation 1Official
- National Park Service, Redwood National and State Parks 1Official
- California.Public.Law 10
Colorado
63 citations, from 16 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Colorado State Archives 11Official
- Colorado State Capitol 4Official
- Colorado Secretary of State 2Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database 2Official
- Colorado General Assembly 1Official
- Colorado LegiSource 1Official
- Colorado LegiSource, Office of Legislative Legal Services, Colorado General Assembly 1Official
- Colorado.Public.Law 23
- Denver Public Library Special Collections and Archives 5
- Colorado Virtual Library 4
Connecticut
74 citations, from 15 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- State of Connecticut 31Official
- Connecticut General Assembly 17Official
- Connecticut State Library 5Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database 2Official
- ConnecticutHistory.org 8
- North Carolina State University Extension 2
- League of Women Voters of Connecticut 1
- Petit Family Foundation 1
- The Daily Campus 1
- Air & Space / Smithsonian 1
Delaware
74 citations.
- Delaware General Assembly 46Official
- State of Delaware 12Official
- Town of Viola, Delaware 4Official
- Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs 3Official
- Delaware Public Archives 2Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database 2Official
- North Carolina State University Extension 2
- Encyclopedia Virginia 1
- University of Delaware 1
- Delaware Public Media 1
Florida
83 citations, from 13 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- The Florida Legislature 46Official
- Florida Department of State 15Official
- Florida Historic Capitol Museum 6Official
- The Florida Senate 5Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database 2Official
- U.S. Government Publishing Office / Congress.gov 1Official
- Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 1Official
- UF/IFAS Extension 2
- City of Tallahassee 1
- Florida Center for Instructional Technology, University of South Florida 1
Georgia
99 citations, from 16 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Georgia General Assembly 13Official
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service 2Official
- United States Senate 1Official
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center 1Official
- USDA Forest Service 1Official
- Onecle 28
- Digital Library of Georgia / GALILEO, University of Georgia 21
- New Georgia Encyclopedia 16
- FindLaw 6
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology 3
Hawaii
68 citations, from 15 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- National Park Service 4Official
- Hawaii Legislative Reference Bureau 3Official
- Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library 2Official
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service 2Official
- National Park Service, Haleakalā National Park 1Official
- Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife 1Official
- Hawaii State Legislature 40
- Encyclopaedia Britannica 5
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology 3
- Civil Beat / Digital Democracy 2
Idaho
55 citations, from 15 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Idaho State Historical Society 23Official
- Idaho Secretary of State 9Official
- Idaho State Capitol Commission 5Official
- Office of the Governor of Idaho 3Official
- Idaho Legislature 2Official
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service 2Official
- Idaho Legal History Society / Idaho State Bar 1Official
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Pullman Plant Materials Center 1Official
- USDA Forest Service 1Official
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology 3
Illinois
71 citations, from 15 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Illinois State Museum 18Official
- Illinois Department of Natural Resources 10Official
- Illinois General Assembly 9Official
- Illinois General Assembly, Office of the Architect of the Capitol 4Official
- Illinois Courts 3Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS 2Official
- Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Illinois 1Official
- Illinois Secretary of State 15
- WGLT 2
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2
Indiana
50 citations, from 18 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Indiana Historical Bureau 22Official
- Indiana Department of Administration, Statehouse Tour Office 3Official
- Indiana Governor History 2Official
- State of Indiana 1Official
- Indiana Archives and Records Administration 1Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS 1Official
- Justia 5
- Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites 3
- Indiana Senate Republican Caucus 2
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2
Iowa
39 citations, from 11 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Iowa Legislative Services Agency 13Official
- Iowa Legislature 9Official
- State of Iowa (Superintendent of Printing); hosted by the Iowa Legislature 7Official
- State of Iowa; hosted by the Iowa Legislature 2Official
- State of Iowa 1Official
- State Historical Museum of Iowa 1Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS 1Official
- Iowa State University Extension 1Official
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center 1
Kansas
81 citations.
- Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes 46Official
- Kansas Historical Society 26Official
- Kansas Secretary of State 2Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS 2Official
- Kansas Wildflowers & Grasses 2
- Kansas Collection Books 1
- University of Kansas 1
- National Audubon Society 1
Kentucky
88 citations, from 14 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Kentucky Legislative Research Commission 60Official
- Kentucky Secretary of State 8Official
- Kentucky Historical Society / Kentucky Legislative Research Commission 5Official
- Kentucky Historical Society 3Official
- ExploreKYHistory, Kentucky Historical Society 2Official
- National Park Service 1Official
- University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service 2
- Spectrum News 1 1
- State Symbols USA 1
- Northern Kentucky Tribune 1
Louisiana
86 citations.
- Louisiana State Legislature 60Official
- Louisiana House of Representatives 7Official
- U.S. National Archives 2Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS 2Official
- Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries 1Official
- Law Library of Louisiana 7
- 64 Parishes 6
- National Audubon Society 1
Maine
73 citations, from 11 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Maine Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes 39Official
- Maine Secretary of State 18Official
- Maine Legislature 4Official
- Maine Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 3Official
- Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library 2Official
- Native Plant Trust 2
- Bowdoin College, Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum 1
- Flags of the World 1
- Bangor Daily News 1
- National Audubon Society 1
Maryland
82 citations.
- Maryland State Archives 56Official
- Maryland General Assembly 13Official
- Maryland Secretary of State 7Official
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service 2Official
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources 1Official
- USDA Forest Service 1Official
- National Audubon Society 1
- University of Maryland Extension 1
Massachusetts
103 citations, from 17 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Secretary of the Commonwealth, Citizen Information Service 52Official
- Secretary of the Commonwealth 3Official
- Massachusetts Legislature 2Official
- Town of Watertown 1Official
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service 1Official
- State Library of Massachusetts 26
- Onecle 5
- Boston Magazine 2
- The Provincetown Independent 2
- The Boston Globe 2
Michigan
56 citations, from 19 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Michigan State Capitol Commission 7Official
- Michigan Department of State 5Official
- Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs 3Official
- USDA NRCS 2Official
- Michigan Legislature 1Official
- Library of Michigan 1Official
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources 1Official
- Michigan History Center 1Official
- FindLaw 21
- State Symbols USA 3
Minnesota
64 citations, from 13 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Office of the Revisor of Statutes, Minnesota Legislature 26Official
- Minnesota Legislative Reference Library 14Official
- State of Minnesota 1Official
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 1Official
- Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources 1Official
- Missouri Department of Conservation 1Official
- Minnesota Historical Society 13
- Minnesota State Emblems Redesign Commission 2
- KTTC 1
- MPR News 1
Mississippi
76 citations, from 11 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Mississippi Secretary of State 32Official
- Mississippi Legislature 22Official
- Mississippi Department of Archives and History 8Official
- Mississippi Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Geology 3Official
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service 1Official
- Mississippi State University Extension Service 3
- Mississippi State University Libraries 2
- USDA Forest Service 2
- National Audubon Society 1
- American Bird Conservancy 1
Missouri
88 citations.
- Missouri Secretary of State 46Official
- Missouri Revisor of Statutes 20Official
- Missouri State Archives 5Official
- Missouri State Capitol Commission 4Official
- Missouri Department of Conservation 3Official
- State Historical Society of Missouri 5
- Missouri State Parks 4
- National Audubon Society 1
Montana
54 citations, from 14 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Montana Historical Society 20Official
- Montana Legislature 20Official
- Montana Secretary of State 1Official
- Montana Attorney General 1Official
- Montana Field Guide, Montana Natural Heritage Program and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks 1Official
- Montana Field Guide, Montana Natural Heritage Program 1Official
- National Park Service, Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail 1Official
- USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center 1Official
- Intermountain Histories 2
- Montana Public Radio 2
Nebraska
68 citations, from 16 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- History Nebraska 14Official
- Clerk of the Nebraska Legislature 14Official
- Nebraska Legislature 13Official
- Nebraska Secretary of State 6Official
- Office of the Capitol Commission, State of Nebraska 5Official
- United States Senate 2Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database 2Official
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 1Official
- USDA Forest Service 1Official
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology 3
Nevada
74 citations, from 16 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- U.S. National Park Service 8Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database 4Official
- Nevada State Historic Preservation Office 1Official
- Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records 1Official
- Washoe County Clerk 1Official
- USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program 1Official
- USDA Forest Service 1Official
- USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station 1Official
- Nevada.Public.Law 34
- Travel Nevada / Nevada Magazine 11
New Hampshire
74 citations, from 19 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- New Hampshire State Library 31Official
- New Hampshire General Court 13Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database 3Official
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire 1Official
- USDA NRCS 1Official
- New Hampshire Historical Society 6
- Citizens Count 4
- SeacoastNH.com 2
- Flags of the World 2
- Chesterfield Historical Society 2
New Jersey
62 citations, from 15 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- State of New Jersey 14Official
- New Jersey State Archives 2Official
- New Jersey Office of Legislative Services 1Official
- New Jersey Historic Trust 1Official
- Founders Online, National Archives 1Official
- USDA PLANTS Database 1Official
- USDA Forest Service 1Official
- New Jersey State Library 31
- FindLaw 3
- City of Trenton 2
New Mexico
74 citations, from 12 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- New Mexico Secretary of State 46Official
- New Mexico Legislature 3Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database 3Official
- New Mexico History Museum, Department of Cultural Affairs 2Official
- U.S. National Park Service 1Official
- New Mexico Compilation Commission 11
- Tourism Santa Fe 3
- New Mexico Office of the State Historian 1
- Catholic Answers 1
- Indianz.com 1
New York
64 citations, from 19 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- New York State Library 20Official
- New York Department of State 9Official
- New York State Senate 9Official
- New York State Office of General Services 3Official
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 3Official
- New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation 2Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database 2Official
- Library of Congress 1Official
- Founders Online, National Archives 1Official
- Historical Society of the New York Courts 1Official
North Carolina
80 citations.
North Dakota
73 citations, from 12 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- State Historical Society of North Dakota 33Official
- North Dakota Legislative Branch 18Official
- USDA PLANTS Database 3Official
- State of North Dakota 2Official
- North Dakota Game and Fish Department 1Official
- USDA Forest Service 1Official
- Prairie Public Broadcasting 4
- North Dakota Tourism 3
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology 3
- Minnesota Wildflowers 2
Ohio
67 citations, from 18 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Ohio Legislative Service Commission 5Official
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological Survey 3Official
- U.S. House of Representatives, History, Art & Archives 2Official
- National Park Service 1Official
- Court News Ohio 1Official
- Onecle 34
- Ohio Magazine 6
- Remarkable Ohio 2
- State Symbols USA 2
- Cleveland 19 News 2
Oklahoma
95 citations, from 13 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Oklahoma Legislature 18Official
- Oklahoma Arts Council 1Official
- Oklahoma State Senate 1Official
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service 1Official
- USDA Forest Service 1Official
- Oklahoma Historical Society 66
- Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma 1
- National Audubon Society 1
- Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation 1
- HelpMeFind Roses 1
Oregon
65 citations, from 12 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Oregon Secretary of State 31Official
- Oregon State Legislature 3Official
- Oregon Historical Society 11
- OregonLaws (public.law), text of the Oregon Revised Statutes 7
- Willamette Heritage Center 4
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 2
- Oregon State University, Department of Horticulture 2
- Oregon Capital Chronicle 1
- National Audubon Society 1
- Mount Pisgah Arboretum 1
Pennsylvania
54 citations, from 24 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Office of the Governor of Pennsylvania 9Official
- Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission 3Official
- Pennsylvania General Assembly 3Official
- Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee 2Official
- Pennsylvania Game Commission 2Official
- National Park Service 2Official
- Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources 1Official
- Pennsylvania Department of State 1Official
- Pennsylvania Senate Republican Caucus 6
- State Symbols USA 5
Rhode Island
71 citations, from 16 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Rhode Island Department of State 16Official
- State of Rhode Island General Assembly 16Official
- RI.gov 16Official
- RI.gov / Office of the Secretary of State 2Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database 2Official
- Town of South Kingstown 1Official
- USDA Forest Service 1Official
- Encyclopaedia Britannica 6
- Center for the Study of the American Constitution, University of Wisconsin-Madison 2
- Newport Historical Society 2
South Carolina
96 citations.
- South Carolina Legislative Services Agency 59Official
- South Carolina Legislature 18Official
- South Carolina Encyclopedia, University of South Carolina Institute for Southern Studies 14
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, NC State University 2
- The Avalon Project, Yale Law School 1
- NCpedia, State Library of North Carolina 1
- National Audubon Society 1
South Dakota
62 citations, from 13 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- South Dakota Legislature 33Official
- South Dakota Secretary of State 11Official
- State Historical Society of North Dakota 2Official
- South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks 2Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database 1Official
- South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources 1Official
- South Dakota Public Broadcasting 5
- Travel South Dakota 2
- South Dakota Magazine 1
- Wordorigins.org 1
Tennessee
133 citations, from 14 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
Texas
120 citations, from 15 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Texas Legislature Online 59Official
- Texas State Library and Archives Commission 21Official
- Texas Legislature 11Official
- Texas State Preservation Board 4Official
- Texas Secretary of State 1Official
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 1Official
- U.S. National Park Service 1Official
- U.S. Geological Survey 1Official
- Texas State Law Library 1Official
- USDA Forest Service 1Official
Utah
80 citations, from 16 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Utah State Legislature 16Official
- National Park Service 4Official
- Utah Division of State History 1Official
- Fillmore City, Utah 1Official
- National Park Service, Arches National Park 1Official
- National Park Service, Cedar Breaks National Monument 1Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database 1Official
- Utah State Library, Utah's Online Library 44
- Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School 3
- KUNC / KUER 2
Vermont
61 citations, from 17 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Vermont General Assembly 34Official
- Vermont State Archives and Records Administration 2Official
- Vermont House Clerk's Office 2Official
- Vermont State Curator's Office 2Official
- National Park Service 1Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database 1Official
- Vermont Historical Society 8
- VTDigger 2
- Vermont Public 1
- WCAX 1
Virginia
83 citations, from 21 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System 30Official
- Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia 12Official
- Virginia House of Delegates Clerk's Office 4Official
- Virginia General Assembly 3Official
- Library of Virginia 2Official
- USDA Forest Service 2Official
- Virginia Department of Historic Resources 1Official
- USDA PLANTS Database 1Official
- Virginia Department of Forestry, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Virginia Cooperative Extension 1Official
- Virginia Dogwood 6
Washington
67 citations, from 13 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Washington State Legislature 37Official
- Washington State Legislature, Office of the Code Reviser 8Official
- Washington Secretary of State 7Official
- Washington State Capitol Campus 3Official
- Washington State Office of the Attorney General 2Official
- USDA Forest Service, Fire Effects Information System 1Official
- USDA Forest Service, Olympic National Forest 1Official
- USDA Forest Service 1Official
- HistoryLink.org 2
- Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation 2
West Virginia
67 citations, from 11 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- West Virginia Legislature 33Official
- West Virginia Secretary of State 4Official
- USDA Forest Service 1Official
- West Virginia Archives and History 18
- e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia 3
- Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School 3
- Encyclopedia Virginia 1
- National Audubon Society 1
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, NC State University 1
- Wonderful West Virginia Magazine 1
Wisconsin
66 citations, from 15 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau 33Official
- Wisconsin State Legislature 15Official
- Wisconsin Department of Administration 4Official
- United States Senate 1Official
- Iowa Legislature 1Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database 1Official
- USDA NRCS 1Official
- USDA Forest Service 1Official
- Wisconsin Historical Society 2
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas at Austin 2
Wyoming
55 citations, from 14 publishers; ten are listed, official sources first.
- Wyoming Secretary of State 15Official
- Wyoming Legislature 15Official
- State of Wyoming 5Official
- Wyoming Department of Administration & Information 1Official
- Wyoming Legislature, Legislative Service Office 1Official
- Wyoming State Library 1Official
- National Park Service 1Official
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database 1Official
- USDA Forest Service 1Official
- WyoHistory.org 9