List of U.S. states by traditional abbreviation
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of traditional abbreviations for U.S. states and territories. These abbreviations (short names) were used in mailing addresses before the introduction of two-letter U.S. postal abbreviations. The traditional abbreviations are still commonly used in other ways besides mailing addresses. For example, they can be used in writing after a city (like in "Miami, Fla."). In 1987, the Secretary of Commerce switched to the two-letter State Alpha Code for state abbreviations.
[edit] States
| State | Traditional abbreviation |
Other abbreviations |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Ala. | |
| Alaska | Alaska | Alas. |
| Arizona | Ariz. | |
| Arkansas | Ark. | |
| California | Calif. | Cal. |
| Colorado | Colo. | Col. |
| Connecticut | Conn. | |
| Delaware | Del. | |
| District of Columbia | D.C. | |
| Florida | Fla. | Flor. |
| Georgia | Ga. | |
| Hawaii | Hawaii | H.I. |
| Idaho | Idaho | Id. or Ida. |
| Illinois | Ill. | |
| Indiana | Ind. | |
| Iowa | Iowa | Ia. |
| Kansas | Kans. | Kan. |
| Kentucky | Ky. | Ken. or Kent. |
| Louisiana | La. | |
| Maine | Maine | Me. |
| Maryland | Md. | |
| Massachusetts | Mass. | |
| Michigan | Mich. | |
| Minnesota | Minn. | |
| Mississippi | Miss. | |
| Missouri | Mo. | |
| Montana | Mont. | |
| Nebraska | Nebr. | Neb. |
| Nevada | Nev. | |
| New Hampshire | N.H. | |
| New Jersey | N.J. | |
| New Mexico | N. Mex. | N.M. or New M. |
| New York | N.Y. | |
| North Carolina | N.C. | |
| North Dakota | N. Dak. | N.D. |
| Ohio | Ohio | O. |
| Oklahoma | Okla. | |
| Oregon | Oreg. | Ore. |
| Pennsylvania | Pa. | Penn. or Penna. |
| Rhode Island | R.I. | |
| South Carolina | S.C. | |
| South Dakota | S. Dak. | S.D. |
| Tennessee | Tenn. | |
| Texas | Tex. | |
| Utah | Utah | |
| Vermont | Vt. | |
| Virginia | Va. | |
| Washington | Wash. | |
| West Virginia | W. Va. | W.V. |
| Wisconsin | Wis. | Wisc. |
| Wyoming | Wyo. |
[edit] Territories
| Territory | Traditional abbreviation |
Other abbreviations |
|---|---|---|
| American Samoa | A.S. | |
| Guam | Guam | |
| Northern Mariana Islands | M.P. | |
| Panama Canal Zone | C.Z. | |
| Puerto Rico | P.R. | |
| Virgin Islands | V.I. |
[edit] References
- The Riverside Publishing Company. (1984). Webster's II New Riverside University Dictionary. ISBN 0-395-33957-X
- Chicago Manual of Style and AP Style Manual state abbreviations
- FIPS State Codes of the US and Outlying Areas

