Is there a rule or an explanation to the way the states of America get their abbreviations?

Question

I understand NY - New York and NC - North Carolina, also California - CA etc but what about Alaska, Alabama and Arizona? And why is Florida FL? Should it not be FA?

Answer 1

The post office made up the 2-letter state codes. They did it several years back. Alaska is AK, Alabama is AL and Arizona is AZ. I think they tried to make the codes unique and something that made sense. Alaska is the only "a" state with a "k" in it, and Arizona is the only "a" state with a "z" in it, so those letters were incorporated into the code because there is no way to confuse them with Alabama.

Answer 2

If you look at the state and the year it became a state, the you will see a corelation between those and the abbreviations. Alabama was here many, many years before Alaska. therefore, Alabama got the right to have AL, Alaska got stuck with AK. Now, wny they chose AK and not AA or even AS, is beyond me. Just like Arkansas and Arizona. AR (Arkansas) was here first.

Then, there is the M states
Massecutsetts MA
Michigan MI
Minnesota MN
Maine ME

This one defies logic, as I believe Maine was around before Minnesota and Michigan, so they should have MI or even MN. They obviously can't take MA, as Massechusetts was here first.

Just chock those up to the fact that every rule MUST have an exception, and every exception MUST have a rule---its a vicious cycle.

Answer 3

I believe it's derived from the strongest sounding letter. For instance alasKa and ariZona. Florida is FL because of the strong L sound. Others will have another explanation but take them all with an open mind.

Answer 4

Two letter abbreviations sanctioned by the Post Office.

Answer 5

i before e - except after c
:)