<form action=""> <div class="form-group"> <label for="js-states">Select State</label> <select class="js-states form-control" id="js-states"> <option value="AK">Alaska</option> ... <option value="WV">West Virginia</option> </optgroup> </select> </div></form><script> $(function($) { $(".js-states").select2(); });</script>