states.json

{
    "Alabama" : {
        "FIPS" : "01",
        "name" : "Alabama",
        "population" : 5024279,
        "largest_cities" : ["Montgomery", "Huntsville", "Birmingham", "Mobile", "Tuscaloosa"],
        "abbreviation" : "AL",
        "motto" : "Audemus jura nostra defendere",
        "nickname" : "Yellowhammer State",
        "universities" : ["University of Alabama", "Auburn University", "University of Alabama at Birmingham", "Columbia Southern University"]
    },
    "Alaska" : {
        "FIPS" : "02",
        "name" : "Alaska",
        "population" : 733391,
        "largest_cities" : ["Juneau", "Anchorage", "Fairbanks", "Wasilla", "Sitka"],
        "abbreviation" : "AL",
        "motto" : "North to the Future",
        "nickname" : "The Last Frontier",
        "universities" : ["University of Alaska"]
    },
    "Arizona" : {
        "FIPS" : "04",
        "name": "Arizona",
        "population": 7151502,
        "largest_cities": ["Phoenix", "Tucson", "Mesa", "Chandler", "Glendale"],
        "abbreviation": "AZ",
        "motto" : "Ditat Deus",
        "nickname" : "Grand Canyon State",
        "universities": ["University of Arizona", "Arizona State University", "University of Phoenix"]
    },
    "American Samoa" : {
        "FIPS" : "",
        "name": "American Samoa",
        "population": 46189,
        "largest_cities": ["Pago Pago", "Tafuna", "Nu'uuli", "Ili'ili", "Aua"],
        "abbreviation": "AS",
        "motto" : "Samoa, Muamua Le Atua",
        "nickname" : "",
        "universities": ["American Samoa Community College"]
    },
    "Arkansas" : {
        "FIPS" : "05",
        "name": "Arkansas",
        "population": 3011524,
        "largest_cities": ["Little Rock", "Fort Smith", "Fayetteville", "Springdale", "Jonesboro"],
        "abbreviation": "AR",
        "motto" : "Regnat populus",
        "nickname" : "Natural State",
        "universities": ["University of Arkansas", "Arkansas State University"]
    },
    "California" : {
        "FIPS" : "06",
        "name": "California",
        "population": 39538223,
        "largest_cities": ["Sacramento", "Los Angeles", "San Diego", "San Jose", "San Francisco", "Fresno"],
        "abbreviation": "CA",
        "motto" : "Eureka",
        "nickname" : "Golden State",
        "universities": ["University of California, Berkeley", "Stanford University", "University of Southern California"]
    },
    "Colorado" : {
        "FIPS" : "08",
        "name": "Colorado",
        "population": 5773714,
        "largest_cities": ["Denver", "Colorado Springs", "Aurora", "Fort Collins", "Lakewood"],
        "abbreviation": "CO",
        "motto" : "Nil sine numine",
        "nickname" : "Centennial State",
        "universities": ["University of Colorado Boulder", "Colorado State University", "University of Denver"],
        "bellwether" : "True"
    },
    "Connecticut" : {
        "FIPS" : "09",
        "name": "Connecticut",
        "population": 3605944,
        "largest_cities": ["Hartford", "Bridgeport", "New Haven", "Stamford", "Waterbury"],
        "abbreviation": "CT",
        "motto" : "Qui transtulit sustinet",
        "nickname" : "Constitution State",
        "universities": ["Yale University", "University of Connecticut", "Quinnipiac University"]
    },
    "Delaware" : {
        "FIPS" : "10",
        "name": "Delaware",
        "population": 989948,
        "largest_cities": ["Dover", "Wilmington", "Newark", "Middletown", "Smyrna"],
        "abbreviation": "DE",
        "motto" : "Liberty and independence",
        "nickname" : "First State",
        "universities": ["University of Delaware", "Delaware State University"]
    },
    "District of Columbia" : {
        "FIPS" : "11",
        "name": "District of Columbia",
        "population": 689545,
        "largest_cities": ["Washington, D.C."],
        "abbreviation": "DC",
        "motto" : "Justitia Omnibus",
        "nickname" : "",
        "universities": ["Georgetown University", "George Washington University", "Howard University"]
    },
    "Florida" : {
        "FIPS" : "12",
        "name": "Florida",
        "population": 21538187,
        "largest_cities": ["Tallahassee", "Jacksonville", "Miami", "Tampa", "Orlando", "St. Petersburg"],
        "abbreviation": "FL",
        "motto" : "In God we trust",
        "nickname" : "Sunshine State",
        "universities": ["University of Florida", "University of Central Florida", "Florida State University", "University of Miami", "Florida International University"],
        "bellwether" : "True"
    },
    "Georgia" : {
        "FIPS" : "13",
        "name": "Georgia",
        "population": 10711908,
        "largest_cities": ["Atlanta", "Augusta", "Columbus", "Macon", "Savannah"],
        "abbreviation": "GA",
        "motto" : "Wistom, Justice, Moderation",
        "nickname" : "Peach State",
        "universities": ["University of Georgia", "Georgia Institute of Technology", "Emory University"]
    },
    "Guam" : {
        "FIPS" : "",
        "name": "Guam",
        "population": 169231,
        "largest_cities": ["Hagåtña", "Dededo", "Yigo", "Tamuning", "Mangilao", "Barrigada"],
        "abbreviation": "GU",
        "motto" : "Where America's Day Begins",
        "nickname" : "Tånó y Chamoru",
        "universities": ["University of Guam"]
    },
    "Hawaii" : {
        "FIPS" : "15",
        "name": "Hawaii",
        "population": 1455271,
        "largest_cities": ["Honolulu", "Pearl City", "Hilo", "Kailua", "Waipahu"],
        "abbreviation": "HI",
        "motto" : "Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ‘Āina i ka Pono",
        "nickname" : "Aloha State",
        "universities": ["University of Hawaii at Manoa", "Brigham Young University–Hawaii"]
    },
    "Idaho" : {
        "FIPS" : "16",
        "name": "Idaho",
        "population": 1839106,
        "largest_cities": ["Boise", "Meridian", "Nampa", "Idaho Falls", "Pocatello"],
        "abbreviation": "ID",
        "motto" : "Esto perpetua",
        "nickname" : "Gem State",
        "universities": ["Boise State University", "University of Idaho", "Idaho State University"]
    },
    "Illinois" : {
        "FIPS" : "17",
        "name": "Illinois",
        "population": 12812508,
        "largest_cities": ["Springfield", "Chicago", "Aurora", "Rockford", "Joliet", "Naperville"],
        "abbreviation": "IL",
        "motto" : "State soverignty, national union",
        "nickname" : "Prairie State",
        "universities": ["University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign", "Northwestern University", "University of Chicago"]
    },
    "Indiana" : {
        "FIPS" : "18",
        "name": "Indiana",
        "population": 6785528,
        "largest_cities": ["Indianapolis", "Fort Wayne", "Evansville", "South Bend", "Carmel"],
        "abbreviation": "IN",
        "motto" : "The crossroads of America",
        "nickname" : "Hoosier State",
        "universities": ["Indiana University Bloomington", "Purdue University", "University of Notre Dame"]
    },
    "Iowa" : {
        "FIPS" : "19",
        "name": "Iowa",
        "population": 3190369,
        "largest_cities": ["Des Moines", "Cedar Rapids", "Davenport", "Sioux City", "Iowa City"],
        "abbreviation": "IA",
        "motto" : "Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain",
        "nickname" : "Hawkeye State",
        "universities": ["University of Iowa", "Iowa State University", "University of Northern Iowa", "Ashford University", "Kaplan University"]
    },
    "Kansas" : {
        "FIPS" : "20",
        "name": "Kansas",
        "population": 2937880,
        "largest_cities": ["Topeka", "Wichita", "Overland Park", "Kansas City", "Olathe"],
        "abbreviation": "KS",
        "motto" : "Ad astra per aspera",
        "nickname" : "Sunflower State",
        "universities": ["University of Kansas", "Kansas State University", "Wichita State University"]
    },
    "Kentucky" : {
        "FIPS" : "21",
        "name": "Kentucky",
        "population": 4505836,
        "largest_cities": ["Frankfort", "Louisville", "Lexington", "Bowling Green", "Owensboro", "Covington"],
        "abbreviation": "KY",
        "motto" : "United we stand, divided we fall / Deo gratiam habeamus",
        "nickname" : "Bluegrass State",
        "universities": ["University of Kentucky", "University of Louisville", "Western Kentucky University"]
    },
    "Louisiana" : {
        "FIPS" : "22",
        "name": "Louisiana",
        "population": 4657757,
        "largest_cities": ["Baton Rouge", "New Orleans", "Shreveport", "Lafayette", "Lake Charles"],
        "abbreviation": "LA",
        "motto" : "Union, justice, and confidence",
        "nickname" : "Pelican State",
        "universities": ["Louisiana State University", "Tulane University", "University of Louisiana at Lafayette"]
    },
    "Maine" : {
        "FIPS" : "23",
        "name": "Maine",
        "population": 1362359,
        "largest_cities": ["Agusta", "Portland", "Lewiston", "Bangor", "South Portland", "Auburn"],
        "abbreviation": "ME",
        "motto" : "Dirigo",
        "nickname" : "Pine Tree State",
        "universities": ["University of Maine", "Bates College", "Bowdoin College"]
    },
    "Maryland" : {
        "FIPS" : "24",
        "name": "Maryland",
        "population": 6177224,
        "largest_cities": ["Annapolis", "Baltimore", "Columbia", "Germantown", "Silver Spring", "Frederick"],
        "abbreviation": "MD",
        "motto" : "Fatti maschi, parole femmine",
        "nickname" : "Old Line State",
        "universities": ["University of Maryland, College Park", "Johns Hopkins University", "University of Maryland, Baltimore County"]
    },
    "Massachusetts" : {
        "FIPS" : "25",
        "name": "Massachusetts",
        "population": 7029917,
        "largest_cities": ["Boston", "Worcester", "Springfield", "Cambridge", "Lowell"],
        "abbreviation": "MA",
        "motto" : "Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem",
        "nickname" : "Bay State",
        "universities": ["Harvard University", "Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)", "Boston University"]
    },
    "Michigan" : {
        "FIPS" : "26",
        "name": "Michigan",
        "population": 10077331,
        "largest_cities": ["Lansing", "Detroit", "Grand Rapids", "Warren", "Sterling Heights", "Ann Arbor"],
        "abbreviation": "MI",
        "motto" : "Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circimpsice",
        "nickname" : "Great Lakes State",
        "universities": ["University of Michigan, Ann Arbor", "Michigan State University", "Wayne State University"]
    },
    "Minnesota" : {
        "FIPS" : "27",
        "name": "Minnesota",
        "population": 5706494,
        "largest_cities": ["Saint Paul", "Minneapolis", "Rochester", "Duluth", "Bloomington"],
        "abbreviation": "MN",
        "motto" : "L'Étoile du Nord",
        "nickname" : "North Star State",
        "universities": ["University of Minnesota, Twin Cities", "Minnesota State University, Mankato", "St. Olaf College"]
    },
    "Mississippi" : {
        "FIPS" : "28",
        "name": "Mississippi",
        "population": 2961279,
        "largest_cities": ["Jackson", "Gulfport", "Southaven", "Hattiesburg", "Biloxi"],
        "abbreviation": "MS",
        "motto" : "Virtute et armis",
        "nickname" : "Magnolia State",
        "universities": ["University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)", "Mississippi State University", "Jackson State University"]
    },
    "Missouri" : {
        "FIPS" : "29",
        "name": "Missouri",
        "population": 6154913,
        "largest_cities": ["Jefferson City", "Kansas City", "St. Louis", "Springfield", "Columbia", "Independence"],
        "abbreviation": "MO",
        "motto" : "Salus populi suprema lex esto",
        "nickname" : "Show Me State",
        "universities": ["University of Missouri, Columbia", "Washington University in St. Louis", "Missouri State University"]
    },
    "Montana" : {
        "FIPS" : "30",
        "name": "Montana",
        "population": 1084225,
        "largest_cities": ["Helena", "Billings", "Missoula", "Great Falls", "Bozeman", "Butte"],
        "abbreviation": "MT",
        "motto" : "Oro y plata",
        "nickname" : "Treasure State",
        "universities": ["University of Montana", "Montana State University", "Montana Tech"]
    },
    "Nebraska" : {
        "FIPS" : "31",
        "name": "Nebraska",
        "population": 1961504,
        "largest_cities": ["Lincoln", "Omaha", "Bellevue", "Grand Island", "Kearney"],
        "abbreviation": "NE",
        "motto" : "Equality before the law",
        "nickname" : "Cornhusker State",
        "universities": ["University of Nebraska-Lincoln", "Creighton University", "University of Nebraska Omaha"]
    },
    "Nevada" : {
        "FIPS" : "32",
        "name": "Nevada",
        "population": 3104614,
        "largest_cities": ["Carson City", "Las Vegas", "Henderson", "Reno", "North Las Vegas", "Sparks"],
        "abbreviation": "NV",
        "motto" : "All for our country",
        "nickname" : "Silver State",
        "universities": ["University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)", "University of Nevada, Reno", "Nevada State College"],
        "bellwether" : "True"
    },
    "New Hampshire" : {
        "FIPS" : "33",
        "name": "New Hampshire",
        "population": 1377529,
        "largest_cities": ["Concord", "Manchester", "Nashua", "Derry", "Dover"],
        "abbreviation": "NH",
        "motto" : "Live free or die",
        "nickname" : "Granite State",
        "universities": ["Dartmouth College", "University of New Hampshire", "Southern New Hampshire University"],
        "bellwether" : "True"
    },
    "New Jersey" : {
        "FIPS" : "34",
        "name": "New Jersey",
        "population": 9288994,
        "largest_cities": ["Trenton", "Newark", "Jersey City", "Paterson", "Elizabeth", "Edison"],
        "abbreviation": "NJ",
        "motto" : "Liberty and Prosperity",
        "nickname" : "Garden State",
        "universities": ["Princeton University", "Rutgers University", "Stevens Institute of Technology"]
    },
    "New Mexico" : {
        "FIPS" : "35",
        "name": "New Mexico",
        "population": 2117522,
        "largest_cities": ["Santa Fe", "Albuquerque", "Las Cruces", "Rio Rancho", "Roswell"],
        "abbreviation": "NM",
        "motto" : "Cescit enudo",
        "nickname" : "The Land of Enchantment",
        "universities": ["University of New Mexico", "New Mexico State University", "New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology"],
        "bellwether" : "True"
    },
    "New York" : {
        "FIPS" : "36",
        "name": "New York",
        "population": 20201249,
        "largest_cities": ["Albany", "New York City", "Buffalo", "Rochester", "Yonkers", "Syracuse"],
        "abbreviation": "NY",
        "motto" : "Excelsior!",
        "nickname" : "Empire State",
        "universities": ["Columbia University", "New York University (NYU)", "Cornell University"]
    },
    "North Carolina" : {
        "FIPS" : "37",
        "name": "North Carolina",
        "population": 10439388,
        "largest_cities": ["Raleigh", "Charlotte", "Greensboro", "Durham", "Winston-Salem"],
        "abbreviation": "NC",
        "motto" : "Esse quam videri",
        "nickname" : "Tar Heel State",
        "universities": ["University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill", "Duke University", "North Carolina State University"]
    },
    "North Dakota" : {
        "FIPS" : "38",
        "name": "North Dakota",
        "population": 779094,
        "largest_cities": ["Bismarck", "Fargo", "Grand Forks", "Minot", "West Fargo"],
        "abbreviation": "ND",
        "motto" : "Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, One and Inseparable",
        "nickname" : "Peace Garden State",
        "universities": ["University of North Dakota", "North Dakota State University", "Minot State University"]
    },
    "Northern Mariana Islands" : {
        "FIPS" : "",
        "name": "Northern Mariana Islands",
        "population": 49587,
        "largest_cities": ["Saipan", "Tinian", "Rota"],
        "abbreviation": "MP",
        "motto" : "Satil Matawal Pacifiko",
        "nickname" : "",
        "universities": ["Northern Marianas College"]
    },
    "Ohio" : {
        "FIPS" : "39",
        "name": "Ohio",
        "population": 11799448,
        "largest_cities": ["Columbus", "Cleveland", "Cincinnati", "Toledo", "Akron"],
        "abbreviation": "OH",
        "motto" : "With God, all things are possible",
        "nickname" : "Buckeye State",
        "universities": ["Ohio State University", "University of Cincinnati", "Case Western Reserve University"],
        "bellwether" : "True"
    },
    "Oklahoma" : {
        "FIPS" : "40",
        "name": "Oklahoma",
        "population": 3959353,
        "largest_cities": ["Oklahoma City", "Tulsa", "Norman", "Broken Arrow", "Lawton"],
        "abbreviation": "OK",
        "motto" : "Labor omnia vincit",
        "nickname" : "Sooner State",
        "universities": ["University of Oklahoma", "Oklahoma State University", "University of Tulsa"]
    },
    "Oregon" : {
        "FIPS" : "41",
        "name": "Oregon",
        "population": 4237256,
        "largest_cities": ["Salem", "Portland", "Eugene", "Gresham", "Hillsboro"],
        "abbreviation": "OR",
        "motto" : "Alis volat propriis",
        "nickname" : "Beaver State",
        "universities": ["University of Oregon", "Oregon State University", "Portland State University"]
    },
    "Pennsylvania" : {
        "FIPS" : "42",
        "name": "Pennsylvania",
        "population": 13002700,
        "largest_cities": ["Harrisburg", "Philadelphia", "Pittsburgh", "Allentown", "Erie", "Reading"],
        "abbreviation": "PA",
        "motto" : "Virtue, Liberty and Independence",
        "nickname" : "Keystone State",
        "universities": ["University of Pennsylvania", "Penn State University", "Carnegie Mellon University"],
        "bellwether" : "True"
    },
    "Puerto Rico" : {
        "FIPS" : "",
        "name": "Puerto Rico",
        "population": 3285874,
        "largest_cities": ["San Juan", "Bayamón", "Carolina", "Ponce", "Caguas"],
        "abbreviation": "PR",
        "motto" : "Joannes Est Nomen Eius",
        "nickname" : "La Isla del Encanto",
        "universities": ["Universidad de Puerto Rico", "Sistema Universitario Ana G. Mendez", "Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico"]
    },
    "Rhode Island" : {
        "FIPS" : "44",
        "name": "Rhode Island",
        "population": 1097379,
        "largest_cities": ["Providence", "Warwick", "Cranston", "Pawtucket", "East Providence"],
        "abbreviation": "RI",
        "motto" : "Hope",
        "nickname" : "Ocean State",
        "universities": ["Brown University", "University of Rhode Island", "Providence College"]
    },
    "South Carolina" : {
        "FIPS" : "45",
        "name": "South Carolina",
        "population": 5118425,
        "largest_cities": ["Columbia", "Charleston", "North Charleston", "Mount Pleasant", "Rock Hill"],
        "abbreviation": "SC",
        "motto" : "Dum spiro spero / animis opibusque parati",
        "nickname" : "Palmetto State",
        "universities": ["University of South Carolina", "Clemson University", "College of Charleston"]
    },
    "South Dakota" : {
        "FIPS" : "46",
        "name": "South Dakota",
        "population": 886667,
        "largest_cities": ["Pierre", "Sioux Falls", "Rapid City", "Aberdeen", "Brookings", "Watertown"],
        "abbreviation": "SD",
        "motto" : "Under God the people rule",
        "nickname" : "Mount Rushmore State",
        "universities": ["University of South Dakota", "South Dakota State University", "Dakota State University"]
    },
    "Tennessee" : {
        "FIPS" : "47",
        "name": "Tennessee",
        "population": 6910840,
        "largest_cities": ["Nashville", "Memphis", "Knoxville", "Chattanooga", "Clarksville"],
        "abbreviation": "TN",
        "motto" : "Agriculture and Commerce",
        "nickname" : "Volunteer State",
        "universities": ["Vanderbilt University", "University of Tennessee, Knoxville", "Belmont University"]
    },
    "Texas" : {
        "FIPS" : "48",
        "name": "Texas",
        "population": 29145505,
        "largest_cities": ["Austin", "Houston", "San Antonio", "Dallas", "Fort Worth"],
        "abbreviation": "TX",
        "motto" : "Friendship",
        "nickname" : "Lone Star State",
        "universities": ["University of Texas at Austin", "Texas A&M University", "Rice University", "Dallas College"]
    },
    "Utah" : {
        "FIPS" : "49",
        "name": "Utah",
        "population": 3271616,
        "largest_cities": ["Salt Lake City", "West Valley City", "Provo", "West Jordan", "Orem"],
        "abbreviation": "UT",
        "motto" : "Industry",
        "nickname" : "Beehive State",
        "universities": ["University of Utah", "Brigham Young University", "Utah State University"]
    },
    "Vermont" : {
        "FIPS" : "50",
        "name": "Vermont",
        "population": 643077,
        "largest_cities": ["Montpelier", "Burlington", "South Burlington", "Rutland", "Essex Junction", "Barre"],
        "abbreviation": "VT",
        "motto" : "Freedom and Unity / Stella quarta decima fulgeat",
        "nickname" : "Green Mountain State",
        "universities": ["University of Vermont", "Middlebury College", "Norwich University"]
    },
    "Virginia" : {
        "FIPS" : "51",
        "name": "Virginia",
        "population": 8631393,
        "largest_cities": ["Richmond", "Virginia Beach", "Norfolk", "Chesapeake", "Arlington"],
        "abbreviation": "VA",
        "motto" : "Sic semper tyrannis",
        "nickname" : "Old Dominion State",
        "universities": ["University of Virginia", "Virginia Tech", "George Mason University", "Liberty University"]
    },
    "U.S. Virgin Islands" : {
        "FIPS" : "",
        "name": "U.S. Virgin Islands",
        "population": 106290,
        "largest_cities": ["Charlotte Amalie", "Anna's Retreat", "St. Croix", "Frederiksted", "Christiansted"],
        "abbreviation": "VI",
        "motto" : "United in Pride and Hope",
        "nickname" : "",
        "universities": ["University of the Virgin Islands"]
    },
    "Washington" : {
        "FIPS" : "53",
        "name": "Washington",
        "population": 7693612,
        "largest_cities": ["Olympia", "Seattle", "Spokane", "Tacoma", "Vancouver", "Bellevue"],
        "abbreviation": "WA",
        "motto" : "Al-ki",
        "nickname" : "Evergreen State",
        "universities": ["University of Washington", "Washington State University", "Seattle University"]
    },
    "West Virginia" : {
        "FIPS" : "54",
        "name": "West Virginia",
        "population": 1793716,
        "largest_cities": ["Charleston", "Huntington", "Parkersburg", "Morgantown", "Wheeling"],
        "abbreviation": "WV",
        "motto" : "Montani semper liberi",
        "nickname" : "Mountain State",
        "universities": ["West Virginia University", "Marshall University", "West Liberty University"]
    },
    "Wisconsin" : {
        "FIPS" : "55",
        "name": "Wisconsin",
        "population": 5893718,
        "largest_cities": ["Madison", "Milwaukee", "Green Bay", "Kenosha", "Racine"],
        "abbreviation": "WI",
        "motto" : "Forward",
        "nickname" : "Badger State",
        "universities": ["University of Wisconsin-Madison", "Marquette University", "University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee"]
    },
    "Wyoming" : {
        "FIPS" : "56",
        "name": "Wyoming",
        "population": 576851,
        "largest_cities": ["Cheyenne", "Casper", "Laramie", "Gillette", "Rock Springs"],
        "abbreviation": "WY",
        "motto" : "Equal Rights",
        "nickname" : "Equality State",
        "universities": ["University of Wyoming", "Casper College", "Wyoming Technical Institute"]
    }
}