# State Residents Are Called...? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 8, 2005, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973 "2005-05-08T22:30:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973/41 "2005-05-10T03:55:41Z")
Regarding a former U.S.-administered territory, the residents of the Canal Zone in Panama were known as Zonians (really). ---
**Author:** ![NoPretentiousCodename](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/82dd89/32.png) [@NoPretentiousCodename](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoPretentiousCodename)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973/42 "2005-05-10T03:57:09Z")
I’ve heard So-Dakker for South Dakota residents. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973/43 "2005-05-10T03:59:44Z")
> [@chique](#): > > They left DC off of that list. I used to call them DCers but I think Washingtonians was more common. “Washingtonians” is what I always hear (and _Washingtonian_ is the name of a DC magazine), but it’s the same term used by folks in the great northwest. “DCers” is awkward to say, but I vote for something like it – something that specifies _which_ Washington is being called “home.” Hmm, how about “Districtonians?” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973/44 "2005-05-10T04:20:43Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > Buckeyes. > > And just don’t TOUCH the ‘Delawarian/Delawarite’ issue. That one’s tricky. “The Delaweenians didn’t stand a chance.” - Rev Jim Ignitowski ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973/45 "2005-05-10T04:33:22Z")
Tennessee – M’am, Sir ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973/46 "2005-05-10T05:31:24Z")
Not a state, but - Seatellites? What with the Space needle and all. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973/47 "2005-05-10T08:10:59Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > Hmm, how about “Districtonians?” 😉 Or “Capitolists” ? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Kenneth\_Noisewater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@Dr.Kenneth\_Noisewater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Kenneth_Noisewater)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973/48 "2005-05-10T08:18:23Z")
> [@NoPretentiousCodename](#): > > I’ve heard So-Dakker for South Dakota residents. Did the ever-so-logical South Dakotans fall flat? ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973/49 "2005-05-10T11:37:03Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > For your reference, from your neighbours to the north: > \ > As for the Northwest Territories, I don’t think anyone is quite sure – I’ve seen “Northwest Territorian,” “Northwest Territorial,” “Northwesterner,” and “Northerner” (which last seem a trifle unspecific). If **Ginger** or **Miss Magic8Ball** could help, it’d be appreciated. In French, the term is the refreshingly definitive _Ténois_, from the abbreviation T.N.-O. for _Territoires du Nord-Ouest_. I don’t believe I ever heard a term other than “resident of Northwest Territories” or “Northwest Territories native/resident”. Delaware doesn’t exist, so I don’t know why you all keep trying to come up with a name for it. ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973/50 "2005-05-10T11:49:16Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > **Askance** , _New South Welshman_ That’s strange because I’m a south Walian ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973/51 "2005-05-10T13:42:21Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Tennessee – M’am, Sir :dubious: “My aunt Helen–She’s a M’am. She married a Sir, then they moved to Illinois.” I don’t _think_ so. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973/52 "2005-05-10T14:17:59Z")
Ambrose Bierce used _Jerseyman_ for an inhabitant of New Jersey. I like the sound of that better than cacophonies such as _New Jerseyan_ or _New Jerseyite_. But today you’d have to make it sex-neutral, and _Jerseyperson_ just doesn’t have the same ring. It’s hard to come up with an inhabitant noun from _Massachusetts_ that doesn’t sound like a sneeze. I’ve heard some use _Bay Stater_, which gets around the issue pretty nicely. My favorite, though, is for inhabitants of Utah. You see _Utahn_ in the Salt Lake Trib and the Deseret News all the time. It looks like it ought to have another vowel in there, and that makes it particularly appealing. ---
**Author:** ![Thrillhouse15](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ad7895/32.png) [@Thrillhouse15](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thrillhouse15)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973/53 "2005-05-10T15:36:27Z")
When I lived in Missouri, the Show Me State, I referred to native Missourians as “ShowMees,” admittedly because I’m not very clever. ---
**Author:** ![NE\_Texan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e99b99/32.png) [@NE\_Texan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NE_Texan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973/54 "2005-05-10T18:49:47Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > New Hampshire: ? “Hamsters”. -NE Texan (former Hamster). ---
**Author:** ![NoPretentiousCodename](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/82dd89/32.png) [@NoPretentiousCodename](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoPretentiousCodename)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973/55 "2005-05-10T20:22:18Z")
> [@Dr. Kenneth Noisewater](#): > > Did the ever-so-logical South Dakotans fall flat? But that has, like one whole extra syllable! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973/56 "2005-05-10T21:39:57Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Virginia: easy, Virginians > Florida: Floridians Actually, I’ve always thought that people from Florida should be called Flora 😉 And people from Montana are Mountains . . . And if you’re from Kansas, you’re a Kan . . . ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973/57 "2005-05-12T07:21:47Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > > [@matt\_mcl](#): > > > > Newfoundlanders and Labradorians/Terreneuviens et Labradoriens > > C’mon, Matt. In English, I’ve never seen any (printable) usage other than Newfie. Well, it’s a bit complicated. Some folks from the Rock are okay with Newfie - but others are not, and take it as an insult, because of all the Newfie jokes - sort of like assuming that “Polack” is acceptable to refer to those of Polish ancestry. For example, at [this site](http://www.ahajokes.com/newfoundland_jokes.html) someone has posted some tongue-in-cheek advice on how to get by in Newfoundland: > [@](#): > > Now that the summer is upon us, you might be considering a visit to Canada’s youngest province. Here are a few survial tips: > > … > > b) Always refer to a Newfoundlander as “Newfie”, otherwise you will be considered snobbish. And on [this message board](http://www.canadawebpages.com/pc-forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=501&whichpage=6) you can see both attitudes expressed: > [@](#): > > > [@igloo](#): > > > > I served in the Canadian army for four years and traveled to every province and territories. I was proud to be called a Newfie, very distinct don’t you think? > > > [@Newfoundlander not Newfie](#): > > > > Newfoundlander, not Newfie. > > > > Newfie was a derogative term aimed at Newfoundlanders by American Armed Forces. The term Newfie is short for “Goofie Newfie” because Newfoundlanders were deemed to be less intelligent then Americans. And of course there is the Stompin’ Tom Connors song, “The Man in the Moon is a Newfie.” Since there are feelings both ways over the term “Newfie”, my personal practice is to use “Newfoundlander” unless I’m sure that the term “Newfie” won’t offend. However, since a recent constitutional amendment, there is another problem, which **matt’s** post highights. When the official name of the province was “Newfoundland”, the term “Newfoundlander” could be used to mean either a resident of the island, or a resident of the province, including Labrador on the mainland. But now that the official name of the province is “Newfoundland and Labrador”, the term “Newfoundlander” presumably only means someone from the island, and “Labradorian” similarly only means someone from the mainland portion of the province. But what do we call a resident of the province? A Newfoundlander and Labradorian? Awfully long and cumbersome. A New-Lab? sounds too much like a Tony Blair supporter. So many issues, so little time… ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973/58 "2005-05-12T12:50:34Z")
A very common usage in the NWT to refer to Newfoundlanders is to call the ‘Newfs’. There’s a very large Newfoundlander population up there. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973/59 "2005-05-12T16:43:12Z")
> [@Joe K](#): > > [I found this.](http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0855542.html) I’ve never heard anyone use the term “Michiganite.” Michigander and Michiganian are both commonly used, however. Also, one of the guys at work was vacationing in Maine recently. Apparently, Masshole is an extremely popular term for people from the Bay State. Especially when you’re driving and they just cut you off. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973/60 "2005-05-12T17:12:09Z")
These are all easy. Try being from Tampa. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-residents-are-called/302973.md?page=2)