ConnecticutWithin its compact borders, Connecticut has forested hills, new urban skylines, shoreline beaches, white-steeple colonial churches, and historic village greens. There are classic Ivy League schools, modern expressways, great corporate offices, and small farms. Connecticut is a thriving center of business, as well as a vacation land. It is both a New England state, and suburban to New York City.
Maine
Population of Maine in 2000: 1,274,923
Counties: 16
State Capitol: Augusta
Statehood: Became the 23rd State on March 15, 1820
MassachusettsThe shape of the shield is called "Plantagenet." The Native American model used was of the Algonguin nation. The arrow points downward to indicate the Indian is peaceful and the star indicates that Massachusetts was one of the original thirteen states; it was the sixth. The sword illustrates the Latin motto that is written in gold on a blue ribbon around the bottom of the shield: "Ense petit placidam sub liberate quietem." This is the second of two lines written about 1659 by Algernon Sydney, English soldier and politician, in the Book of Mottoes in the King's Library in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was adopted in 1775 by the Provincial Congress and means, "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty."
New HampshireNew Hampshire has adopted many symbols over the past 200 years, beginning with the first state seal in 1775 and continuing to the most recent symbol, the State Tartan in 1995. The flag, seal and various symbols are all ways the state identifies itself. They had been adopted by the legislature as symbolic of the state in one way or another.
Motto
Live Free or Die. The motto comes from a statement written by the Revolutionary General John Stark, hero of the Battle of Bennington.
New JerseyThe female figures pictured in the state seal are Liberty on the left, carrying the liberty cap on her staff. The liberty cap was worn as a symbol of rebellion by patriots in the colonies. Ceres, the Roman goddess of grain is on the right. She holds a cornucopia filled with harvested produce, symbolizing abundance. Below it all is a banner with the state's motto, "Liberty and Prosperity".
New
YorkOn the right side of the shield. The figure of Liberty in natural colors, her unbound hair decorated with pearls. She is clothed in blue with red sandals, a loose robe of red hanging down from her shoulders to her feet. In her right hand, she holds a staff topped with a gold Phrygian cap; her left arm is bent at the elbow, the hand supporting the shield at its top right. A royal crown lies at her left foot, thrown down to illustrate the lessening of power of the English monarchy.
On the left side of the shield. The figure of Justice in natural colors, her unbound hair decorated with pearls. She is clothed in gold with a blue belt fringed in red, wearing sandals and a robe as Liberty and bound about the eyes with a narrow band of cloth. In her right hand she holds a gold handled sword, held erect, and resting on the top left point of the shield; left arm is also bent at the elbow, holding scales in front of herself.
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The State seal shows a shield with a sailing ship, a plough, and three sheaves of wheat. The combination of symbols on the shield may represent seals from early Pennsylvania counties. The plough, which was on Chester County's seal, symbolizes the rich resources of the Commonwealth. The ship under sail, which was on Philadelphia County's seal, symbolizes the commercial network across the state and around the world. The wheat symbolizes the harvest of not only agriculture and minerals but also of creative minds. The seal of Sussex county, Delaware (originally a part of the Pennsylvania province) had three sheaves of wheat.
Rhode IslandThere is no official documentation from the time when Rhode Island first adopted the word "Hope" on its Seal and flag that explains why this word was chosen. The Rhode Island General Assembly first adopted a Seal for the colony containing an anchor with the word "Hope" above it on May 4, 1664.
VermontThe first Great Seal of Vermont, designed by Ira Allen and made by Reuben Dean of Windsor in 1778, was accepted by resolution of the General Assembly on February 20, 1779. That seal wore out so a new seal was made in 1821. While this included many of the basic design elements of the original seal, it was distinctly more pictorial, rather than symbolic, in character. Seals in several variations of that second design, which was similar to the State Coat of Arms described elsewhere, were used over the next 115 years. In 1937 a new seal was adopted, this a precise reproduction of the original Ira Allen design. It remains to use today.