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What makes the 50 US states unique?

July 4, 2016 04:15 by author

The United States of America is comprised of a number of states (hence the name) – 48 contiguous states, as well as Alaska and Hawaii.

Each varies in size and the backdrop has changes significantly since the USA gained independence in 1776. Initially there were only 13 states, although that number has now increased to 50.

Given that they are spread out over a range of geographical areas, it is understandable that each state is different. But are some of the more unique factors that help to set them apart?

1. Alabama

The Confederate flag was first designed in Alabama in 1861, with Montgomery the birthplace of the Confederate States of America.

2. Alaska

The coastline of Alaska, at a length of 6,640 miles, is more than that of every other state combined.

3. Arizona

Home to the Grand Canyon National Park and the Grand Canyon, formed by the Colorado River over a period of millions of years. It’s 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide in places – not to mention more than a mile deep.

4. Arkansas

Known as The Natural State, Arkansas contains more than 9,700 miles of streams and rivers, as well as some 600,000 acres of lakes. The Ozark National Forest is more than one million acres in size.

5. California

Once the state that Arnold Schwarzenegger was governor of, California is renowned for its turkeys – you’ll find the most there than in any other state – and wine, as more than 300,000 tons of grapes are grown annually, which aids the production of around 17 million gallons of wine every year.

6. Colorado

The biggest silver nugget ever pulled from the earth came from Smuggler Mine in Aspen. Found in 1894, it weighed in at an incredible 1,840 pounds.

7. Connecticut

The Hartford Courant, produced in the state, is the oldest U.S newspaper in continuous publication – dating back to when it was established in 1764.

8. Delaware

The first state to ratify the US constitution – back in December 1787.

9. Florida

Often mistakenly referred to as the southern-most state (Hawaii is), Florida is home to the nation’s launch pad for space travel at Cape Canaveral – formerly Cape Kennedy. Meanwhile, Orlando (home to Disney, among others) attracts more visitors than another amusement park destination in the country.

10. Georgia

The state hosts golf’s major competition – the Masters – at the Augusta National course every April, bring the world’s best players together to compete for the prestigious green jacket.

11. Hawaii

The most isolated population centre in the world – Hawaii is 2,390 miles from California, 5,280 from the Philippines, 4,900 miles from China and 3,850 from Japan. Enjoy the flight, if you ever visit!

12. Idaho

If man-made geysers are your thing, Soda Springs boasts the largest one in the world.

13. Illinois

Home to the world’s first skyscraper in Chicago, built in 1885, the city is also home to The Sears Tower which is the tallest building on the continent.

14. Indiana

Motor racing fans flock to the state for the Indy 500 – one of sport’s greatest spectacles. The 500 mile long race sees racers average speeds of close to 170mph while more than $1 million is up for grabs in prize money.

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15. Iowa

The birthplace of western star John Wayne, real name Mario Mitchell Morrison, born on 26 May 1907 and star of classics including Rio Bravo, True Grit, The Alamo and She Wore A Yellow Ribbon.

16. Kansas

The birthplace of Pizza Hut after brothers Dan and Frank Carey opened a store in Wichita in 1958. The store came to the UK 15 years later and there are now more than 700 in Britain alone.

17. Kentucky

Mammoth Cave is the world’s longest at 300 miles in length, and as it was first promoted in 1816, it’s also the second oldest tourist attraction in the USA – behind only Niagara Falls.

18. Louisiana

The New Orleans Superdome is the biggest steel-constructed room that is unobstructed by posts. Measuring more than 82 metres high and 210 metres across, the roof covers an area of 9.7 acres. It served as a refuge for thousands of people in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

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19. Maine

The only state to share its border with just one other, Maine is home to the easternmost city in the USA – Eastport – while around 90% of the nation’s lobster is caught of its coast.

20. Maryland

Home to the world’s oldest dental school at the University of Maryland – it celebrated its 175th anniversary in May 2015.

21. Massachusetts

The USA’s oldest subway tunnel – the Tremont Street Subway – can be found as part of Boston’s MBTA subway system. It’s also the third oldest in the world to exclusively use electric traction (behind London and Budapest) having opened in September 1897.

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22. Michigan

Michigan has the longest stretch of freshwater shoreline in the world – it is bounded by four of the five Great Lakes. Its total shoreline is second to only Alaska in terms of US states.

23. Minnesota

The waters of Minnesota flow outwards in three directions – north to Hudson Bay, east to the Atlantic Ocean and south to the Gulf of Mexico.

24. Mississippi

Coca Cola was first bottled in Mississippi, having originally been promoted as a soda fountain beverage. Shop owner Joseph A. Biedenharm first bottled the product in 1894, although it wasn’t until 20 years later that an official bottle was adopted by the company.

25. Missouri

Winston Churchill’s famed Iron Curtain speech following the Second World War was delivered at Westminster College in 1946.

26. Montana

No US state has as many different mammal species as Montana – the largest migratory elk herd can be found there while the average square mile of land contains at least three deer, as well as one elk and antelope.

27. Nebraska

The Naval Ammunition Depot in Hastings produced more than 40% of the munitions needed during the Second World War – making it the largest US ammunition plan of the war.

28. Nevada

Las Vegas, famed for its gambling, has more hotel rooms than any other place on earth, as well as some of the largest.

29. New Hampshire

The only state to play host to the formal conclusion of a foreign conflict, as the treaty ending the 1905 Russo-Japanese war was signed at Portsmouth.

30. New Jersey

The world’s first drive-in movie theatre was developed in 1933. Hollingshead successfully applied for a patent the year before and the site officially opened on 6 June 1933 near Camden.

31. New Mexico

Every October, the world’s biggest international hot air balloon fiesta arrives in Albuquerque, featuring hundreds of brightly coloured balloons.

32. New York

The first presidential inauguration took place in New York in 1789. George Washington was sworn in at the Federal Office in April of that year.

33. North Carolina

Cape Hatteras is the largest lighthouse to be shifted due to erosion problems. The 4830 ton structure was lifted and moved 880 metres inland in 1999, although erosion means the tower now stands around 450 metres from the shore – the same as when it was first built.

34. North Dakota

Rugby in North Dakota is the geographical centre of North America and is marked by a 15 feet tall rock obelisk.

35. Ohio

Thomas Edison, the famed inventor of the electric light bulb, motion camera and phonograph, was born in Milan, Ohio in 1847.

36. Oklahoma

More man-made lakes exist in Oklahoma than any other state. There is more than one million surface acres of water behind the state’s many dams.

37. Oregon

The state flag of Oregon features a different design on the front and back. While the front features a navy and gold escutcheon from the state seal, the reverse features a gold beaver, the state animal.

38. Pennsylvania

The Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia in 1776, and one of its founding fathers Benjamin Franklin founded the zoo in the city – the first public zoo in the USA.

39. Rhode Island

The smallest of all the US states and covering just over 1,200 square miles, Rhode Island covers a distance of just 48 miles from north to south and 37 miles from east to west.

40. South Carolina

The American fort on Sullivan Island, in Charleston Harbour, provided plenty of protection for troops during the American Revolutionary War. Built from spongy Palmetto logs, the fortifications absorbed much of the bombardment with some British cannonballs reportedly even bouncing off the structure.

41. South Dakota

The faces of George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson are sculpted into the face of Mount Rushmore, representing the world’s biggest mountain carving.

42. Tennessee

Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley can be found in Memphis. It’s the second most visited home on the USA, after the White House.

43. Texas

The Alamo in San Antonio is remembered as an area where Texas fought for its liberty in the ace of Mexican General Santa Anna. Despite being massively outnumbered, the small force of Texan’s defended the site to the death and their sacrifice coined the phrase ‘Remember the Alamo’.

44. Utah

Nature’s abstract stone structure – Rainbow Bridge – was formed from solid sandstone and is the world’s largest natural rock span. It’s 278 feet wide and more than 300 feet high.

45. Vermont

The state capital of Montpelier is the only one in the US without a McDonalds while there are more dairy cows that people in the region!

46. Virginia

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is the world’s largest bridge-tunnel complex and is now more than 50 years old. It was heralded as one of the engineering wonders of the world when it was first built. More than 100 million vehicles have used it in that time.

47. Washington

The state of Washington is the only one to be named after a US President – George Washington who oversaw the creation of the US Constitution.

48. West Virginia

Around 75% of the 24,000 square miles in the state is covered by forest.

49. Wisconsin

The first typewriter was designed in Milwaukee in 1867 by Carlos Glidden and Christopher Sholes.

50. Wyoming

The first state to allow its female citizens to vote back in 1889. The Wyoming state convention approved a constitution that year and the vote followed 12 months later.