What's in a Name?

I've lived in the state of Georgia (U. S., that is) for a little over eight years now, and I've traveled extensively throughout the state.  One thing I have noted, or rather, not noted, is the vast peach orchards along my routes of travel.  In fact, I cannot recall seeing even one peach tree in this state much less a whole peach orchard.  And yet, Georgia's nickname is "The Peach State."  In Atlanta alone, there are 55 streets with the name "Peachtree" in them.  Many other towns and cities on Georgia have similarly named streets and avenues.

I've also traveled through our neighboring state, South Carolina, and have seen literally thousands of peach trees there.  Just drive up Route 25 from North Augusta to Greenwood and from there on to Laurens and you'll see orchards lining both sides of the road most of the way, all peaches.

Georgia has never been a leader in the growth and production of peaches. The state now ranks first among the 50 states in the production of peanuts, pecans, lima beans and pimiento peppers.  Do you see peaches listed there?  No, and you won't see any ancient or dead orchards either.

So, the question is, how did Georgia come to be known as "The Peach State", of more Accurately, "The Peach Tree State"?

The name goes all the way back to the colonies.  One of Georgia's first exports was pine tar, the harvested resin of the tree now known as the Georgia Pine.  Pine tar was very important in shipbuilding, as it was used to seal the joints and crevasses between the boards on wooden sailing vessels.  Because of this plentiful and useful commodity, it is just as likely that Georgia would have been called "The Pitch Tree State", but who would want that appellation to attract people to their state?

There is another possible origin in the name of a Native American (Creek) village that once existed near Atlanta.  It was called "Standing Pitch Tree."  Where that name came from, nobody seems to know.  Perhaps if we had left the Creeks alone, hadn't marched them on the "Trail of Tears" over to Oklahoma, one of their descendants could tell us about it, or even give us a tour of the village.

It was very easy to use the southern drawl to change the pronunciation of the word pitch to peach, an attractive and tasty fruit that everybody likes. When you also drop the word "tree" from it, there is no longer any association with the pine tree.  And what better name to get people to either migrate to Georgia, or to come for a visit?  Once they get here, they just forget that it was peaches that first attracted them to this idyllic place, and they can always buy some in the local farmers markets (imported from South Carolina, of course).

I think the next thing I might tackle is the origin of the state nicknames of Iowa and Kansas.  Oh, and I already know that Maine is appropriately called the "Pine Tree State", but that conjures up a lot better mental image than "Pitch Tree State".