The Hawkeye State

Adopted early in the state's history, Iowa's nickname is "The Hawkeye State". The history of the nickname is debated. Some say it is a tribute to chief Black Hawk, leader of the native American Sauk tribe (relocated to Iowa after unsuccessful fighting of settlers). Others say the nickname comes from the novel "The Last of the Mohicans" by James Fenimore Cooper. In the novel, Hawkeye is a fictional character who is a skilled woodsman and warrior. He is also a member of the Mohican tribe, which is a Native American tribe that once lived in the area that is now Iowa.

Iowa is also called "The Corn State" - 90 percent of the land in Iowa is devoted to agriculture. All State Nicknames