What U.S. states have Spanish derived names?

As a consequence of Spanish influence over regions that are now part of the United States, there are many U.S. places names of Spanish origin, mostly located in the southwest region. read more

Had it not been for the Spanish formalization of the regions’ names, the territories would have been given different names by their regional American governments upon annexation. edit: Thanks to Ben Waggoner and Miguel Romero C for pointing out some inconsistencies with my knowledge of state name etymologies. read more

As a consequence of former Spanish and, later, Mexican sovereignty over lands that are now part of the United States, there are many places in the country, mostly in the southwest, with names of Spanish origin. read more

Not all Spanish place name etymologies in the United States originate from the Spanish colonial period or from the Spanish language. Spanish-sounding place names are classified into four categories: Colonial: Spanish names that were given during the Spanish colonial period, or adaptations of names originally given in the colonial period to the same place or to nearby related places. read more