“First word in two U.S. state names” crossword clue

Reveal the answer to see why it works and where this clue has appeared before.NORTH is the answer to the New York Times crossword clue “First word in two U.S. state names”. It was last seen in the puzzle of February 2, 2026, where it runs at 16 Across and fills 5 squares. It crosses 5 other entries in that grid — those are listed below and are the quickest way to confirm the letters you already have.