1

Nike’s Swoosh was created for $35

Image: Shubham Mittal

Yes, it was. The iconic Nike swoosh was sketched in 1971 by Carolyn Davidson, a graphic design student, for the grand sum of $35. She was helping out a friend—Nike co-founder Phil Knight—who needed a logo for his up-and-coming sneaker brand.

Years later, as Nike soared, the company gave her a thank-you gift: a gold swoosh ring and stock options that ended up being worth millions .

2

Coca-Cola originally contained cocaine

Image: Olena Bohovyk

It sounds like an urban legend, but it’s true: early versions of Coca-Cola did contain coca leaf extract , which naturally included trace amounts of cocaine. When pharmacist John Pemberton invented the drink in 1886, it was marketed as a "brain tonic" and nerve remedy, back when cocaine was legal and considered medicinal. By 1929, the formula was fully decocainized.

3

Neither Ben nor Jerry had any previous business experience

Image: Hybrid Storytellers

Absolutely. Longtime friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield took a $5 correspondence course in ice cream making from Penn State and launched their first scoop shop in a converted gas station in Vermont in 1978.

4

Barbie was based on a German adult doll

Image: Peyman Shojaei

True! She sure was. In the 1950s, Ruth Handler spotted a German novelty doll called Bild Lilli while on vacation. Originally sold as a gag gift for men, Lilli was fashionable, curvy, and definitely not meant for children. But Handler saw potential: she reimagined Lilli as a stylish role model for girls, and the first Barbie debuted in 1959.

5

Milton Hershey missed the Titanic voyage

Image: Janne Simoes

He definitely wasn’t on board—lucky for him! But just how close he came to sailing is uncertain. Legend has it that Milton Hershey and his wife were set to sail on the Titanic in 1912, but canceled at the last minute.

The only clue? A check stub showing a $300 deposit to the White Star Line. While there’s no confirmed ticket, the story has stuck.

6

GM hated (and banned) the nickname "Chevy"

Image: Jose Mueses

This one is partially true. In 2010, GM sent a memo urging employees to stop using the nickname "Chevy" in favor of the full "Chevrolet." The public backlash was swift—critics called the move tone-deaf. After all, "Chevy" was beloved, catchy, and woven into Americana.

Within days, the company backpedaled , assuring fans that "Chevy" wasn’t going anywhere. You just can’t mess with a nickname that’s already set in people’s hearts.

7

Apple was named after the forbidden fruit

Image: TheRegisti

Not quite. Steve Jobs chose the name "Apple" in 1976 because it sounded "fun, spirited, and not intimidating." It also gave the young company a strategic edge—it came before "Atari" in the phone book, which mattered in the era of printed directories.

8

Starbucks was named after Moby Dick’s first mate

Image: Athar Khan

Yes, though it was a winding path. The founders were searching for a name that evoked the seafaring tradition of coffee trading. After toying with " Pequod " (Captain Ahab’s ship), they landed on "Starbuck"—the first mate in Moby-Dick and a name with a strong, classic ring to it.

9

Harley-Davidson was going bankrupt, but its logo saved it

Image: Donald Teel

This one is sort of true. In the early 1980s, Harley-Davidson was revving on empty. The rise of Japanese bikes had them cornered—until the brand leaned hard into nostalgia . The bar-and-shield logo, dating back to 1910, became the centerpiece of a marketing push built on American pride, leather jackets, and the unmistakable growl of a V-twin engine.

It worked. The logo became a badge of rebellion, and Harley rebounded.

10

There’s an arrow hidden in FedEx’s logo

Image: Toni Pomar

Once you see it, you can’t unsee it. Look closely between the "E" and the "x" in the FedEx logo—there’s a white arrow formed by the negative space. It’s a perfect symbol for speed, direction, and efficiency.

The logo was designed in 1994 by Lindon Leader, and the hidden arrow was no accident. It’s a subtle nod to the company’s core promise: to get it there fast .

11

"Breakfast at Tiffany’s" launched the brand

Image: Sam Lashbrooke

False! Breakfast at Tiffany’s didn’t launch the brand. Tiffany & Co. had been around since 1837, known for fine jewelry and that iconic blue box. However, after the 1961 film, Audrey Hepburn’s little black dress and wistful gaze into the Tiffany’s shop window helped cement the brand’s image of elegance .

12

Levi’s blue jeans were created for gold miners

Image: Varun Gaba

Absolutely. In 1873, Levi Strauss and tailor Jacob Davis patented durable denim trousers with copper rivets— perfect for miners during the California Gold Rush . The jeans were tough, practical, and ideal for the grueling work conditions out west. In time, what began as rugged workwear became an American icon.

13

Amazon was named after "the biggest river"

Image: Sunrise King

Yes, it was intentional. Jeff Bezos wanted a name that conveyed vastness, exoticism, and would appear early in web listings . "Amazon" fit the bill—although it could have been named "Nile," which is often cited as the world’s longest river. Bezos liked the idea of building the biggest online store in the world, just like the Amazon is the biggest river by volume.

1

Coyotes

Image: Ray Hennessy

Coyotes have a natural talent for survival, and they are built to thrive in any environment, including cities where food is readily available everywhere.

As it has been noticed multiple times, coyotes have deciphered how semaphors work and wait for the red light to cross the street.

2

Black bears

Image: Bruce Warrington

Studies have shown that female black bears living in urban areas aged one to one and a half years weighed nearly twice as much as their country counterparts. Some of those urban female bears produced cubs, while none of the rural bears of the same age reproduced.

Curiously, bears seem to know when it is trash day and will scavenge for food in trash cans on those dates specifically.

3

Raccoons

Image: Ralf Volkmer

Raccoons that live in urban environments are more exploratory than their country cousins, taking more time to investigate the squares. Some raccoons even figure out how to yank bungee cords off of trash cans .

These city animals are also more social, traveling in pairs more often than their rural relatives.

4

Bald eagles

Image: Alexas_Fotos

Believe it or not, in the 1960s, the bald eagle was on the verge of extinction due to the use of pesticides. But since those pesticides have been banned, their population has rebounded, and they're no longer on the list of endangered species.

City eagles need only a place to nest and a clean source of food, which can even be a trashcan, and they’ve figured out how to use city infrastructure like cellphone towers, bridges, and cranes along waterways .

5

Pigeons

Image: Dawood Javed

Possibly the most urban animal on the list, aside from rats, pigeons are uniquely suited to urban life. They can recognize human faces , so they know which people have fed them before.

These creatures have an incredible ability to distribute themselves, so there are never more pigeons than available food. A park with twice as much food as another park will also have twice as many pigeons.

6

Booklice

Image: Brett Jordan

Whether we see it or not, our homes are filled with insect life. One of them, booklice, has found that the starch in book bindings makes an ideal food source.

Booklice have adapted to suck the moisture directly out of the air and can live off that vapour for three weeks, avoiding dehydration.

7

Squirrels

Image: Mark Brennan

Squirrels and urban environments have gotten along for a long time now. There’s ample food and shelter, and few natural predators. They’ve learned to live in much greater densities in cities than they do in other environments, and they can tell which humans will feed them .

8

Sparrows

Image: Carlos Quintero

The sparrows that live in New York City have become night owls, staying out later to feed because the bright lights around buildings draw plenty of insects .

9

Rats

Image: Joshua J. Cotten

Almost no one would call a rat clean, but contrary to popular belief, city rats tend to carry fewer diseases and parasites than rural ones because they have less contact with livestock excrement from farms, and their human neighbors don’t harbor many parasites.

10

Ospreys

Image: KaroGraphix Photography

Ospreys have seen their numbers grow in North America partially because they have forsaken trees in favor of building their 250-pound nests on power poles, cell phone towers, channel markers , and other human-made structures.

11

Crows

Image: Veronica Dudarev

Crows are very smart creatures, and they have learned to use the city infrastructure to their advantage. These birds drop nuts and bones from great heights to crack the hard outer shells so that they can reach the food inside. City crows simply drop the previously impenetrable food into the street and let the cars crack it open .

12

Tomcods

Image: John Werner

Nature can adapt to almost anything, and tomcods are living proof of this. A very polluted segment of the Hudson River is home to these humble fish, who have adapted to its contaminated waters through genetic variations that allow them to thrive in such conditions.

1

The Show-Me State

Image: Chris Duan

Missouri’s license plates contain one of the strangest state nicknames in our list: The Show-Me State. Does that speak of residents with a no-nonsense, skeptical character? In part. This title can be traced back to 1899, when U.S. Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver used the phrase in a speech, implying that Missourians aren't easily swayed by "frothy eloquence" and need proof, saying, "I am from Missouri. You have got to show me. "

Since then, though "Show-Me State" isn't an official legislative title, it has been recognized as part of the state’s identity. Beyond this nickname, Missouri also holds others such as "The Cave State" due to its large number of caves, and "The Mother of the West" because of its historical significance in westward expansion.

2

The Hoosier State

Image: Pixabay

Indiana is famously known as "The Hoosier State", though the origin of this monicker is one of the most debated topics in the state’s history. One popular theory attributes it to a canal contractor named Samuel Hoosier, who preferred to hire workers from Indiana. These laborers were known as "Hoosier’s men," which eventually shortened to "Hoosiers."

Others say it came from the frontier slang word hoozer , meaning "someone from a rural area". Whichever version is real, "Hoosier" gained popularity in the 1830s through a poem titled The Hoosier's Nest by John Finley, which celebrated Indiana’s rural charm. The "Hoosier Dome" (now the site of Lucas Oil Stadium) and companies like the Hoosier Bat Company embraced the nickname. Indiana is sometimes also known as the "Crossroads of America" for being a key geographical center for major highways.

3

The Beehive State

Image: David Hablützel

The nickname "Beehive State" has roots in Utah's founding by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). When these settlers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, they viewed the beehive as an emblem of industriousness, unity, connection, and hard work —qualities they wanted their new society to represent.

The other term used to reference all things Utah is "Deseret," with a similar story: the term appeared in the Book of Mormon standing for "honeybee." It’s also the reason why the state’s motto is "Industry", and features an illustration of a beehive in the center of the state’s flag.

4

The Land of 10,000 Lakes

Image: Josh Hild

Minnesota actually has around 11,842 lakes , excluding smaller ponds and wetlands. But calling it "The Land of Over 11,842 Lakes" would have been a nuisance. This nickname evokes the territory’s vast natural beauty: The catchy term was adopted as part of a strategic tourism campaign in the early 20th century, aiming to get more Americans to visit the state. With the automobile industry booming, Minnesota promoted itself as a destination for camping, boating, and fishing.

The slogan helped create a reputation for Minnesota as a water paradise and led to the formation of the Ten Thousand Lakes of Minnesota Association in 1917, which spread the message of the joys of lakeside vacations. Within a decade, Minnesota's lakes were drawing visitors from across the country. The state is also sometimes called "The North Star State" or L'Étoile du Nord for being the northernmost state in the contiguous U.S.

5

The Empire State

Image: Frederik Sørensen

The Empire State is New York's longstanding nickname. It’s hard to dispute: it stands for the state’s significant economic, cultural, and historical influence. Though the exact origin of the nickname remains unclear, it’s believed to have stemmed from a comment by George Washington in 1785, where he referred to New York as the "Seat of the Empire" in recognition of its central role in the post-Revolutionary War. With time, this expression grew into the nickname "Empire State".​

The famous Empire State Building is an example of the prevalence of the nickname: The iconic skyscraper was completed in 1931 and held the title of the world's tallest building for several decades. The Empire State Plaza in Albany, a government complex, is another example. New York also goes by other nicknames, including "The Excelsior State," referencing the state motto, "Excelsior," meaning "ever upward."

6

The Pelican State

Image: Zac Lois

How many pelicans does it take to earn a full state this nickname? It is said that early settlers were impressed not just by the amount of birds in the territory’s bayou, but by the nurturing character that the birds showed. The brown pelican eventually became the state’s official bird and prominent emblem. It was endangered in the '60s, but fortunately, thanks to the state’s efforts in banning the pesticides that harmed them, the population was restored.

Louisiana also has other descriptive nicknames. It’s known as "The Bayou State" for its lush marshlands, "The Creole State" for its unique culture, and "The Sportsman’s Paradise."

7

The Lone Star State

Image: Lucas Beck

The "Lone Star" reflects Texas's struggle for independence from Mexico , when Texas briefly became its own republic before joining the United States in 1845. This star stood as a symbol of pride and the determination for self-governance. Today, it still shines bright in the middle of Texas’ flag.

Texas has a few other nicknames, though they’re less well-known. In the 1960s, The New Yorker called it the "Super-American State". Texas has also been called "The Beef State" and "The Jumbo State".

8

The Golden State

Image: Elizabeth Iris

Is it because of the beautiful sunsets tainting the Pacific Coast in a golden light? Well, no. California’s nickname, "The Golden State," refers to multiple facets of its history. Most prominently, it alludes to the California Gold Rush of 1848-1855, a period that saw thousands flock to the state. Gold remains a powerful symbol in California, commemorated by the state’s official colors, blue and gold, representing the state’s skies, beaches, and mineral wealth.

The state also boasts an official fish, the California golden trout, and a butterfly, the California dogface butterfly, whose hues contribute to this golden theme. There are other unofficial names, such as "The Land of Milk and Honey" and "The Grape State."

9

The Sunshine State

Image: Nextvoyage

Who could dispute this nickname? Florida boasts an impressive average of 237 sunny days a year, so of course we would refer to it as "The Sunshine State." Florida's year-round pleasant weather has positioned it as a top destination for those seeking a break from colder regions, especially in winter. But technically, Florida isn’t the sunniest state —that title goes to Arizona .

Before settling on "The Sunshine State," Florida had other, less recognized nicknames, including the "Alligator State" and "Everglade State." Today, the "Sunshine State" nickname supports Florida’s brand as a sunny paradise, though it’s worth noting that its climate also includes frequent rain and thunderstorms, making it both sunny and tropically lush year-round.

10

The Natural State

Image: Jessica Garner

The state is renowned for its 52 state parks , lush forests, clear rivers, and diverse geography that includes everything from mountainous regions to bayous. Arkansas earned its official nickname, "The Natural State," in 1995, replacing "The Land of Opportunity." This new name aided in promoting it as a top destination for outdoor-enthusiast tourists.

Arkansas has had several other notable nicknames throughout its history. "The Bear State" was one of its earliest names, winking at the high number of black bears once found there. "The Wonder State" was adopted in the 1920s to highlight its natural wonders, and "The Land of Opportunity" came into use around the 1940s as part of an economic development initiative.​