In 1850, the formerly Mexican land between the states of Texas and
California was divided into New Mexico Territory in the south and
Utah Territory in the north. Then during the Civil War, Utah Territory was split into three territories. The western portion bordering
California became the state of Nevada in 1864, while the central portion would become the state of Utah in the 1890s. The eastern portion bordering Kansas, however, was initially proposed to be named Idaho, but was later named Colorado after the reddish-hued river. Little did those who named the states foresee what the first letters in the names of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Texas, states that border
one another, would spell out!