Symbol | Official Item

Florida designated the ballad  "I Am Florida" as an official state song in 2013; not to replace, but to accompany Florida's other official song; The Swanee River (Old Folks at Home). All State Songs

Vermont designated the mammoth tooth and tusk discovered in 1848 at Mount Holly as the official state terrestrial fossil in 2014. Vermont's original state fossil, the fossilized skeleton of a white whale, was re-designated the official state marine fossil. All State Dinosaurs & Fossils

The beautiful black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes) was designated the official state butterfly of New Jersey in 2015, and signed into law by Governor Christie on January 11th, 2016 (New Jersey also recognizes an official state bug). All State Insects

New Jersey 216th Legislature; Senate No. 939

An Act designating the Black Swallowtail butterfly as the New Jersey State Butterfly ...

Washington adopted Ostrea lurida as the official state oyster in 2014. All Aquatic-Life Symbols

The only oyster species native to the Pacific Northwest coast, Ostrea lurida was championed as a state symbol of Washington by 14-year-old Claire Thompson, an eighth-grader at Nova School in Olympia. Ostrea lurida oysters are also commonly called native oysters, western oysters, and Olympia oysters.

The bobcat (Lynx rufus) was designated the official state wildcat of New Hampshire in 2015 thanks to promotion by 4th and 5th graders at the Well School in Peterborough NH (guided by teacher Audrey Carrel). New Hampshire also recognizes a state animal. All Mammal Symbols

Illinois designated sweet corn as the official state vegetable in 2015. Elementary school students from Chatham, Illinois worked with their local legislator to propose a state vegetable to the General Assembly.

Pumpkin pie was designated as the official state pie of Illinois in 2015 (Illinois also recognizes a state fruit, state vegetable, and a state snack food).

Oregon designated Jory soil as the official state soil in 2011. Named after Jory Hill in Marion County, Oregon, Jory soils are deep, well-drained soils that formed in the foothills surrounding the Willamette Valley. Jory soils exist on over 300,000 acres in western Oregon. All State Soils

Mississippi designated Natchez silt loam as the official state soil in 2003. Natchez silt loam soil was originally selected In 1988 by the Professional Soil Classifiers Association of Mississippi to represent the soil resources of the state. Natchez silt loam soils exist on 171,559 acres of land in Mississippi. All State Soils

HOUSE BILL NO. 1273 (as passed the House):

AN ACT DESIGNATING NATCHEZ SILT LOAM AS THE OFFICIAL STATE SOIL; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Houdek soil was designated the official state soil of South Dakota in 1990. All State Soils

Houdek soils have been mapped on about 600,000 acres in South Dakota and are of major economic importance; often used for range-land or crops (the most common crops are small grains, corn, sunflowers, soybeans, and alfalfa). 

The dark color of the surface layer of Houdek soil is a result of decayed prairie grass, plants, and other materials that have been deposited over thousands of years.