The state’s board of elections formally certified the referendum results on Nov. 30, finalizing the name change’s win with 53% support against 47% opposition

I love how these things almost always seem to win by the slimmest of margins.

And why did 47% of the state think “yeah, this fifteen word name that mentions plantations is pretty cool”?

Rhode, Island, the smallest US state by area, actually had a longer official name until last year: State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.