Selling a state slogan, from ‘I Love New York’ to ‘Sweet Home Alabama’

Chau Tu and Daryl Paranada Jan 11, 2013

Selling a state slogan, from ‘I Love New York’ to ‘Sweet Home Alabama’

Chau Tu and Daryl Paranada Jan 11, 2013

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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