Thomas Jefferson proposed dividing the American Midwest into 10 states with Greek and Latin names: Sylvania, Michigania, Chersonesus, Assenisipia, Metropotamia, Illinoia, Saratoga, Polypotamia, Pelisipia, and Washington.
While we may see the reasons for these names, we may be thankful that they did not prevail, wrote Curtis Manning Geer in The Louisiana Purchase (1904). Ohio is better than Pelisipia, and Wisconsin to be preferred to Assenisipia.
Just looking at Indiana, I think I like this division better. I might even bring the northern border down more. The landscape in southern Indiana is so different from Northern Indiana, it should be a different state. Although I like the name Saratoga, most of the other names are silly. (Metropotamia?)
So wrong. 
