How Well Do You Know the Panhandle States?

WORLD

By: Beth Hendricks

6 Min Quiz

Image: Andrew Peacock/ Stone/ Getty Images

About This Quiz

It's time to cook some eggs ... or maybe fry some hamburgers. What do you reach for in your kitchen? A toaster? A pot? No! A pan, of course! And why? Because it's long, skinny handle makes it simpler to cook or fry your way to dinner! While a "panhandle" won't help you with cooking, you can relate it to the kitchen component in one important way: A long, skinny strip of land that extends beyond its primary land area. 

Just look at Florida. Its panhandle starts south of Georgia and extends west almost through the entire state of Alabama. But, when you think of Florida, you probably only think about its long, Southernly body. Panhandles don't have to be enormous, though. Even the roughly 5,500 square miles that make up the tiny state of Connecticut have a panhandle. Yep, it's true! Connecticut's miniature panhandle covers just over 61,000 acres. The similarly-small state of Maryland also has one — and, get this — West Virginia has two! Double the panhandle, double the fun!

In total, nine U.S. states boast this unique land formation: Alaska, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia. Are you an expert on any of these special states? Or all of them? Can you "handle" this quiz where panhandles are the priority? We hope this trivia "pans" out into a win for you!

You'd need to head south to this panhandle state to find the only place on Earth where crocodiles and alligators co-exist in the same environment. What state is it?

The Florida Everglades is home to both crocodiles and alligators — the only place, in fact, where the two species live together. Why? It has to do with the environment where each species is typically found. South Florida is the perfect meeting point for both.

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Whoa! This panhandle state, dubbed "The Last Frontier," has a lake as large as one of our other panhandle states. Which is it?

If you tried, you could fit roughly 19 other U.S. states into the 663,000 square miles that make up Alaska, so it stands to reason some of its geographic features would likewise be enormous. Lake Iliamna, the state's largest, is basically the size of Connecticut.

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Travel to the New England states and you'll find this one, where the first-ever automobile law was set. What state did it?

The year was 1901 and Connecticut would lead the nation in passing the first-ever automobile law to keep the streets safe. What was it, you ask? A speed limit ... set at 12 miles an hour.

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This is the only panhandle state that was formed during a war — the Civil War, to be exact. Can you guess which it is?

Not only was the state of West Virginia formed during the Civil War, but it is also the only state to become its own state as a result of seceding from a Confederate state — Virginia. That's right; West Virginia and Virginia are two different states.

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I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T, do you know what that means? Which of these states was its own independent entity from the mid-1830s to the mid-1840s?

Texas is as big as some countries and was, in fact, its own independent nation from 1835 to 1846. Texas eventually became a member of the United States and we've lived happily ever after.

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Land O'Lakes? The Sooner State has more manmade lakes — 200! — than any other in the Union. What is it known as?

You might not equate Oklahoma with a plethora of bodies of water, but you should start. The Sooner State is home to some 200-plus manmade lakes across its nearly 70,000 square miles.

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Salute! You'll find the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis in which of these states with a panhandle?

The United States Naval Academy was founded in Annapolis, Maryland, in 1845. It is one of the two oldest service academies in the United States, second only to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York.

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One of the world's largest indoor rain forests exists in perhaps the unlikeliest of panhandle states. Do you know which one it is?

Located in Omaha, Nebraska, the Lied Jungle at Henry Doorly Zoo features nearly 100 different species ranging from blue monkeys to otters. You can also check out a variety of plants indigenous to the continents of South America, Asia and Africa.

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Don't get lost: This westernmost panhandle state in the contiguous U.S. holds the record for the longest straw bale maze. What state is it?

They create Guinness World Records for the craziest things! Rupert, Idaho, holds one for having the longest straw bale maze at more than 96,000 square feet — eight times the required space to earn the record.

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The first-ever Mother’s Day was celebrated in a town in this state located entirely in the Appalachian Mountains. What panhandle state did it occur in?

Andrews Church in Grafton, West Virginia, is credited with the first observance of Mother's Day, way back in May of 1908. Just a few short years later, in 1914, it was named a national holiday.

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This panhandle state is twice the size of another panhandle state famous for its belt buckles and BBQ. Which one are we talking about?

Alaska has the market cornered on "largest state in the Union" at 663,300 square miles. That's big enough to put two — count 'em, two — of the state of Texas comfortably inside. That's big!

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Don't drink the Kool-Aid ... or do. This panhandle state in the middle of the country is credited with its creation. What is it?

Thanks to the Cornhusker State, we can all pour a cold one in the summer — a glass of Kool-Aid, that is! Edwin Perkins of Hastings, Nebraska, is credited with its creation, which first started as a syrup before being modified into a powder.

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Seventeen of the 20 tallest mountain peaks in the United States exist in this panhandle state. Which one are we talking about?

West Virginia is hilly, but Alaska is famous for its mountain ranges. It is home to 17 of the 20 tallest mountain peaks in the United States, including Denali, which stands more than 20,300 feet above sea level.

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This state, famous for its Orioles, was also the birthplace of famous baseball player Babe Ruth. Which is it?

Maryland has a storied baseball history. Not only is the city home to Major League Baseball's Orioles, but the legendary Babe Ruth was born there in Baltimore. Ruth had a total of 714 home runs as a professional baseball player.

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If you're driving to Disney World, you'll probably travel on a toll road or two. Which of these panhandle states has the most toll roads and bridges in the U.S.?

Maybe it's because everybody is vacationing in the Sunshine State, but be prepared to shell out some bucks if you're driving through Florida. It has more toll roads and toll bridges than any other state in the U.S.

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There are more than 70 types of precious stones in the Gem State, which also happens to have a panhandle. Which of these is it?

You might know Idaho more for its popular crop, but it is also a state of numerous precious stones — more than 70 types, in fact. That has helped the western state earn its "Gem State" nickname.

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Dating back to 1764, The Hartford Courant in this panhandle state is the oldest newspaper in the United States that's still being published. What state is it located in?

Maybe you've heard of Hartford, Connecticut? Home to the United States' oldest newspaper, it is also noted for its Mark Twain Museum and its Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, which features the late author's home.

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Our national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner," got its start in this tiny panhandle state. Where was Francis Scott Key when he came up with the words?

Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner" after observing the survival of the flag during a battle at Fort McHenry. Fort McHenry stood to defend the Baltimore Harbor from British troops.

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It's a ways from the ocean, but this landlocked panhandle state has its own nautical landmark, known as Linoma Lighthouse. What state is it?

If you're in Nebraska, you're quite a ways from the nearest ocean, where lighthouses are more commonly seen. But that hasn't stopped the residents of Ashland, Nebraska, who have their own lighthouse that is a part of the National Register of Historic Places.

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Oh boy! This state's official floral emblem is mistletoe. Get ready to pucker up! Which state is it?

Mistletoe is, in fact, the oldest of Oklahoma's official symbols, selected in 1893 — a decade and a half before the territory became an official state. Mistletoe is a naturally-occurring plant in the state, particularly in its southern areas.

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One of the first words spoken by astronauts on the moon was the name of a city in which of these states?

A nod to Houston's place in NASA's history, among the first words spoken on the moon were, "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." Houston was the home of mission control at the Johnson Space Center.

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We know it affectionately as the "Mountain State," but we could just as easily call it the "Sales Tax State," since it was the first to have one. Which of these is it?

The Mountain State, otherwise known as West Virginia, may well be the originator of the sales tax. It was the first state to have one, after all, which went into effect in July 1921.

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Leave us a message: The man credited with creating voicemail was a resident of Tulsa in this state. What is it?

Gordon Matthews first developed the technology behind voicemail in the 1970s. Matthews was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ultimately, he gave all of us the ability to hit "decline" and ignore that out-of-state number.

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Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. in terms of area at more than 840 square miles. In which state is it located?

When you think of the largest city in the United States, Jacksonville, Florida, probably isn't the first place that comes to mind, but it should. At more than 840 square miles, it is officially the largest city in the country.

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It's kind of ironic that a New England state's official song is "Yankee Doodle." Do you know which one it is?

Connecticut adopted "Yankee Doodle" as its state song in the late 1970s. The song was originally written as a way of making fun of New England soldiers' attire during the Revolutionary War.

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You probably don't want to mess with this state — they gave us Dr Pepper! Which is it?

Dr Pepper remains one of the most popular soda options in the world, but it got its start in Texas at the hands of a pharmacist in Waco. And, lest you think we spelled it wrong, there's definitely no period in its name.

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You'd need to travel to the UK to see Stonehenge or you can travel to this state to see Carhenge, a replica made of automobiles. Which one of these is it?

Carhenge, a replica in size and shape of the original Stonehenge, can be viewed near Alliance, Nebraska. You can view the arrangement, which has even been painted to resemble the color of Stonehenge, for free.

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This state is probably synonymous in your mind with potatoes. Can you guess which it is?

Does the term "Idaho potatoes" ring a bell? Idaho grows roughly a third of all of the potatoes used and consumed in the United States. Potatoes are an extremely versatile vegetable, but our favorite has to be French fries.

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The most southern of these panhandle states has a major river that flows from south to north. Do you know which it is?

Florida's largest river, known as the St. Johns River, is one of a small number in the United States that flows south to north. The St. Johns River begins in Indian River County and flows north to Duval County.

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If you travel to this state that has a musical that shares its name, you can visit these cities with odd names — Loco, Cookietown, Corn, Moon, Forty-One and IXL. Which of these is it?

Oklahoma (or "Oklahoma!" if you're thinking about Broadway) is home to some cities with pretty unique city names: Slapout, Moon, Bushyhead and the others featured in this question.

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One of the first schools in the United States — King William's School — opened in 1696 in this state on the Chesapeake Bay. What is its name?

The state of Maryland was the site of one of the first schools to be created in the New World — King William's School — in the late 1600s. It later became known at St John's College in Annapolis, Maryland.

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The fastest highway in America is located in Austin in this state. Which of these is it?

You can put the pedal to the metal in Texas; Austin's Highway 130 has a speed limit of 85 miles per hour, making it the fastest freeway in the United States. Of course, it is a toll road, so get ready to pay for all that speed!

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Love apples? The Golden Delicious variety got its start in this state in the Appalachian Mountains. Which is it?

Golden Delicious apples, which are a variation of yellow apples, are native to the mountains of West Virginia. The first tree producing this particular fruit was observed in the 1700s in Clay County.

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This state has one of the country's oldest newspapers and is the homeplace of the author of the first dictionary. Coincidence? Can you guess which it is?

Noah Webster, who lived in West Hartford, Connecticut, is credited with authoring the first dictionary. Have you ever heard of "Webster's Dictionary?" Well, now you know the name behind it!

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With nearly 34,000 miles of coastline, this panhandle state has more than the rest of the United States in total. Which of these is it?

Alaska not only has the longest coastline at more than 6,600 miles, but also the most coastline of any state at 33,904 miles. In fact, it's more than all other states in the Union combined!

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