Utah: The Jello State?

There's apparently some who don;t think much of the Beehive State. No, it's not that they don't like Utah, they just don't think the Beehive State is much of a nickname. Yes, in today's world of comparison and ranking, even state nicknames are rated, like in this article in Ranker.

Seems those voting in the ranking weren't all that impressed by our nickname as Beehive State was ranked 41^st (at the time of this writing) best nicknamed state in the country. Now as people can continue to say yes or no to each states nickname, the rankings are subject to change, but as of now, it's not looking so good for Utah.

Of course, most here in the state know the heritage of the state nickname. The beehive became a prominent symbol when early Mormon pioneers, led by Brigham Young, arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. They sought to build a self-sufficient society in the harsh desert landscape, and the beehive reflected their strong work ethic and cooperative spirit. In 1849, they proposed naming their territory “Deseret,” a term from the Book of Mormon meaning “honeybee.” Though the federal government eventually named it Utah, the beehive remained a central emblem.

The beehive was officially adopted as the state emblem in 1959, and it appears on Utah’s flag, seal, and road signs. In fact is is the shape of our state road signs. It signifies the importance of hard work and unity, traits that continue to define Utah’s communities. Even today, the beehive remains a symbol of the state’s economic growth, innovation, and commitment to service.

I think that's a pretty good representation of us here in Utah. I think it represents us better than say the 35^th ranked The Garden State of New Jersey. Is New Jersey really the garden of America? Or what about West Virginia as “The Mountain State.” Are you kidding? Anything east of the Mississippi barely qualify as hills compared to the mountains of the west.

Now, there are some, in my opinion pretty cool state nicknames out there.

How can you resist the Aloha State for Hawaii? New Mexico's Land of Enchantment isn't bad, and Roswell is pretty enchanting. Alaska's “The Last Frontier” I think deserves the currently held top ranking.

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So, I think were ok being the Beehive State, and if other folks don't get it, it doesn't bother me. Besides, what would we replace it with? Arizona uses the Grand Canyon State to let others know what it is most famous for. Using that logic, wouldn't Utah have to become the Jello State?