Fascinating Facts
Curious Facts About Each U.S. State
Discover unique curiosities from each U.S. state in this fascinating journey.
Each of the 50 states in the United States has its own set of fascinating facts and curiosities that set them apart. From geographical quirks to unique cultural traditions, here is a tour of some of the most curious facts about each state.Alabama
- Alabama is the only state with an official state spirit: Conecuh Ridge Alabama Fine Whiskey. This drink was originally distilled by the legendary moonshiner Clyde May.
Alaska
- Known for its fishing, mining, and oil, Alaska has seen a boom in the peony industry. Since 2000, peony farms have grown from zero to over 200, producing about 1.5 million stems annually.
Arizona
- In Sedona, Arizona, you will find the only McDonald's in the world where the Golden Arches are not golden, but turquoise. This color was chosen to harmonize with the city's red rock landscape.
Arkansas
- Arkansas is home to the only state park where visitors can take home any precious gems they find. At Crater of Diamonds State Park, tourists can search for diamonds and keep what they discover.
California
- If California were a country, it would have the eighth-largest economy in the world, surpassing Italy, Russia, and India.
Colorado
- Although Congress intended Colorado to be a perfect rectangle, surveyors went slightly off course. A small deviation on the western border disqualifies it from being a true rectangle.
Connecticut
- The first American cookbook was published in Hartford in 1796, titled American Cookery by Amelia Simmons.
Delaware
- Delaware is known for its generous corporate laws, serving as a model for tax havens like the Cayman Islands.
Florida
- Florida is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles coexist.
Georgia
- In Savannah, Georgia, the Girl Scouts were founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low.
Hawaii
- Iolani Palace in Hawaii is the only royal palace in the United States.
Idaho
- Idaho boasts the longest main street in America, at 33 miles, located in Island Park.
Illinois
- Chicago, Illinois, is home to the tallest building in the United States, the Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower).
Indiana
- The city of Wabash, Indiana, was the first in the world to be electrically lit.
Iowa
- Iowa City is the only UNESCO City of Literature in the United States, recognized for its rich literary history.
Kansas
- Kansas is home to the world's largest ball of twine.
Kentucky
- The Mammoth-Flint Ridge Cave System in Kentucky is the longest in the world, stretching 300 miles.
Louisiana
- Louisiana produces 98% of the world's crayfish.
Maine
- Maine has the easternmost point in the United States, West Quoddy Head.
Maryland
- Baltimore, Maryland, was home to the first umbrella factory in the United States, established in 1928.
Massachusetts
- Harvard University, located in Massachusetts, is the oldest university in the United States, founded in 1636.
Michigan
- Battle Creek, Michigan, is known as the "Cereal Bowl of America" due to its high cereal production.
Minnesota
- The oldest rock in the world, 3.8 billion years old, was found in the Minnesota River Valley.
Mississippi
- The first teddy bear, known as the "Teddy Bear," originated in Mississippi.
Missouri
- Missouri is known as the "Cave State" due to its more than 6,000 caves.
Montana
- In Montana, Grasshopper Glacier is named for the grasshoppers that can still be seen frozen in the ice.
Nebraska
- Nebraska is home to the world's only roller skating museum, located in Lincoln.
Nevada
- From 1951 to 1992, a stretch of land about 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas was used for hundreds of nuclear weapons tests.
New Hampshire
- New Hampshire license plates bear the motto "Live Free or Die" and are made by inmates.
New Jersey
- New Jersey has more horses per square mile than any other state, including Kentucky.
New Mexico
- In New Mexico, "Smokey Bear," an orphaned cub from a 1950 fire, is buried in Smokey Bear Historical Park.
New York
- Twice a year, the setting sun aligns perfectly with Manhattan's street grid, illuminating the east-west streets with an orange glow.
North Carolina
- The Venus flytrap, a carnivorous plant, is native to North Carolina.
North Dakota
- In 2007, North Dakota set the Guinness World Record for the most people making snow angels simultaneously.
Ohio
- Ohio is home to the first electric traffic light, invented and installed in Cleveland in 1914.
Oklahoma
- Oklahoma has the most man-made lakes of any state.
Oregon
- Oregon is home to the world's smallest park, totaling 452 inches, created in Portland for snail and leprechaun races.
Pennsylvania
- In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the first American magazine, The American Magazine, was published in 1741.
Rhode Island
- Rhode Island is known for its Rhode Island Red chickens, first bred in 1854, marking the start of the poultry industry in the United States.
South Carolina
- South Carolina is home to the first tea farm in the United States, established in 1890.
South Dakota
- South Dakota is home to the world's largest natural hot water pool, Evans' Plunge, in Hot Springs.
Tennessee
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee is the most visited national park in the United States.
Texas
- Texas is larger than any country in Europe.
Utah
- In Utah, Rainbow Bridge is the world's largest natural stone bridge, standing 290 feet high and 275 feet wide.
Vermont
- Vermont is the largest producer of maple syrup in the United States.
Virginia
- Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia is the world's largest living history museum.
Washington
- Six out of ten apples consumed in the United States are grown in Washington.
West Virginia
- In West Virginia, a peculiar October tradition known as the "Scarecrow Festival" takes place.
Wisconsin
- Wisconsin hosts the world's largest cranberry festival.
Wyoming
- In Wyoming, there are only two escalators in the entire state.
These facts are just a glimpse of the wonders and peculiarities that can be found in every corner of the United States. From unique cultural traditions to astonishing natural features, each state has something special to offer.