Each state boasts a collection of peculiar, fascinating, or unsettling facts, yet there are also those theyโd prefer to keep hidden. These are details that lack the grandeur or intrigue; in fact, they lean towards the somber side. Rest assured, your state certainly harbors one such fact.
Alabamaโs all-water mail


Alabama proudly hosts the sole city in the United States featuring an exclusive all-water mail route.
Alaska: The Antisocial State
If Manhattan shared Alaskaโs population density, the island would accommodate only 28 people. Additionally, contrary to popular jests, itโs worth noting that you canโt actually see Russia from Manhattan.


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reddit
Arizona has the worst-named natural feature
Even Wikipedia acknowledges that the aerial view of the volcano near Flagstaff bears a striking resemblance to a โtoilet catastrophe.โ While itโs formally named S.P. Crater, locals affectionately refer to it as โSh*t Pot.โ


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Wikimedia Commons
Arkansaโฆ s?
Confounding foreigners for quite some time, there exists a technically illegal act in Arkansas โ mispronouncing the stateโs name while within its borders. This peculiar law, enacted in 1947, has been a source of bemusement. Interestingly, the silent โSโ in โArkansasโ can be attributed to a blend of Sioux and French pronunciations. Now, youโre in the know.


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reddit
Californiaโs environmental legacy
The California grizzly, once revered for its majestic presence and designated as the state animal featured on Californiaโs flag, faced a tragic fate in the 19th century. Despite being admired by settlers, they were unfortunately subjected to widespread hunting, leading to the extinction of this once-iconic species in the region.


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Wikimedia Commons
Coloradoโs terrible stoner humor
In Colorado, the 420-mile marker had to be replaced due to incessant theft, likely fueled by a sense of humor enhanced by certain substances. While a good laugh is appreciated, the repeated disappearance of this marker prompted the need for a more resilient replacement.


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reddit
Connecticut once banned driving while gay
Fortunately, strides have been made since the 1970s regarding the unjust denial of driverโs licenses based on sexual orientation-induced fears. In that era, a man faced the unjust denial of a driverโs license solely due to his sexual orientation. Thankfully, societal attitudes and policies have evolved to be more inclusive and fair since then.


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reddit
Delaware desecrated a cemetery
A cemetery faced an eerie fate when the Delaware River was rerouted, resulting in flooding. Even to this day, tombstones from that cemetery continue to wash up on the shore, creating a scene straight out of a horror movie. One might wonder if anyone involved in the decision-making process had ever seen such cinematic tales unfold.


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reddit
Florida has no dinosaur fossils on record
Prospective dinosaur bone diggers should look elsewhere besides Florida, as the peninsula was submerged underwater during the dinosaur age. At that time, Florida did not exist as a land mass, making it an unsuitable location for unearthing dinosaur fossils.


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reddit
Georgia is serious about soda
Georgia, the birthplace of Coca-Cola, witnessed an ironic incident on State Coke Day in 1998. A student found themselves suspended for the day simply for wearing a Pepsi shirt, showcasing the intense brand loyalty associated with the iconic beverage in its home state.


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reddit
Hamsters and hummingbirds are illegal in Hawaii
If these small creatures were to escape, they could potentially wreak havoc on the ecosystem, causing widespread ecological damage. However, guinea pigs and chinchillas are considered acceptable in this regard.


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reddit
They drop a potato on New Yearโs in Idaho
In Boise, instead of the traditional ball drop, New Yearโs revelers witness the descent of a potato. Regrettably, the potatoโs appearance during this festive moment has been known to resemble something other than a potato, adding a humorous twist to the celebration.


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reddit
Illinois stole a leg from Mexico and wonโt give it back
During the Mexican-American War, a prosthetic leg belonging to General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was allegedly taken by an Illinois infantry. Despite Mexicoโs persistent requests for its return, Illinois has seemingly ignored the appeals, opting to remain unresponsive.


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reddit
Indiana canโt do math
In 1897, state legislators made an attempt to pass a bill that sought to legally redefine the mathematical constant pi as 3.2. This peculiar initiative was driven by a perhaps misguided fear of decimals.


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reddit
Iowa had a prisoner with a weirdly poetic last meal
In 1963, Victor Feguer, sentenced to hang for murder, made an unusual last meal request: a single olive with the pit. He expressed a hope that a tree would grow from his body as a symbol of peace. However, the irony is evident, as someone seeking peace might have considered avoiding taking the lives of others.


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reddit
Kansas likes hands-on learning
In 2008, the wind erosion lab at Kansas State University met an ironic fate when it was destroyed not by the winds it studied, but by a tornado.


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reddit
Kentucky once rained meat and people ate it
In 1876, despite the likelihood that the meat was horse and potentially sourced from regurgitating vultures, it did not deter the barbecue from taking place.


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reddit
Louisiana is in jail
In this state, one out of every 86 people is incarcerated, marking the highest incarceration rate in the world.


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reddit
Maine doesnโt have a Cabot Cove
Unlike the fictional town of Cabot Cove featured in the television series โMurder, She Wrote,โ Maine, in reality, does not have a place by that name.


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reddit
Maryland taxes toilets
Supporters of the โmellow yellowโ practice can find some cost savings in Maryland, where flushing a toilet is subject to taxation, amounting to approximately $2.50 per month.


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reddit
Massachusetts is windy
While Chicago is often associated with the moniker โWindy City,โ Massachusetts outdoes them, boasting 13 of the top 20 windiest cities in the United States.


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reddit
Who falls for the Nigerian prince scam? Michigan
In the infamous and remarkably foolish scam of 2007, Alcona County incurred a loss exceeding a million dollars.


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reddit
Minnesota is touchy
Sinclair Lewis authored โMain Street,โ a critique of the closed-mindedness of Minnesotans. Staying true to the theme of the novel, Minnesota banned the book.


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Wikimedia Commons
Mississippi
Despite Kermit the Frog being canonically from Mississippi, the show faced a ban in 1970 due to its feature of a racially integrated cast.


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reddit
Missouri has a margarine black market
In Missouri, it is against the law for margarine to be colored yellow. Those involved in the illicit trade of yellow margarine may face a penalty of up to 6 months in jail.


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Wikimedia Commons
Montana almost didnโt get associated with Miley Cyrus
In any case, the character was on the verge of being named โAlexis Texas.โ Itโs worth noting that โAlexis Texasโ is currently the stage name of an adult film actress, adding an interesting twist to the story.


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reddit
Nebraska drank the Kool-Aid
Given that the sugary drink was invented in this state, it has been designated as the official state beverage by the local authorities.


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reddit
Nevada gives you cancer
The nuclear testing conducted in the Nevada desert is believed to have resulted in the development of cancer in numerous individuals, including the renowned actor John Wayne.


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reddit
New Hampshire has a bitter irony
The license plates bearing the motto โLive Free or Dieโ are manufactured by prisoners.


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reddit
New Jersey sucked up to Donald Trump
New Jersey has faced its fair share of criticism, and in one notable instance, it sparked controversy when authorities attempted to use eminent domain to acquire an elderly womanโs home. The intention behind this was to facilitate the construction of a parking lot for Donald Trumpโs limousines.


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pixabay
New Mexicoโs first graduate didnโt make it to the ceremony
Sam Steel held the unique distinction of being the sole individual in his graduating class at New Mexico State University in 1893. Unfortunately, his academic journey took a tragic turn as he was fatally shot before he could officially receive his degree.


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Wikimedia Commons
New York had a riot over hats
In 1922, a peculiar social controversy in New York led to an eight-day riot over the acceptability of wearing a straw hat after September 15. The incident resulted in multiple arrests, showcasing an interesting manifestation of public sentiment.


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reddit
We bombed North Carolina (almost)
In 1961, North Carolina experienced a significant incident when two nuclear bombs, each larger than the one dropped on Hiroshima, accidentally fell. Fortunately, they did not detonate, but one of the bombs came dangerously close to disaster, with only the safety switch preventing a catastrophic event.


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reddit
Everyone forgets about North Dakota
North Dakota was officially admitted to the Union in 1889, but due to a clerical error, it wasnโt technically recognized as a state until 2011. Remarkably, this oversight went unnoticed for a significant period.


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Wikimedia Commons
Ohio might want to do something about that
The pollution in Ohioโs Cuyahoga River has reached such alarming levels that it has actually caught fire on multiple occasions.


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reddit
Oklahoma doesnโt know the difference between a fruit and a vegetable
In 2007, Oklahoma made an interesting and somewhat humorous declaration by designating the watermelon as its state vegetable. The rationale provided was that watermelons are related to cucumbers and gourds, thereby classifying them as vegetables rather than fruits. However, the decision has been playfully speculated to be a reflection of a preference for watermelon over traditional salad greens.


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reddit
Oregon has a tiny park
This succinct statement signifies the parkโs policy: โThatโs it. Thatโs the park. No dogs, please.โ


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Wikimedia Commons
Pennsylvania doesnโt care how good the storage is
In Pennsylvania, it is against the law to repurpose a milk crate for anything other than containing milk. This regulation was implemented to deter the resale of stolen milk.


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reddit
Rhode Island is the first state to introduce an official drink
Residents of Rhode Island are likely familiar with and fond of coffee milk, as it holds the distinction of being the stateโs official drink. Interestingly, the Rhode Island original was invented in 1920, adding a historical note to this beloved local beverage.


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reddit
South Carolina is wary of pinball
In South Carolina, individuals under the age of 18 are prohibited from playing pinball, according to the law.


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reddit
South Dakota could be better
The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation has a life expectancy of 48, ranking second only to Haiti. This reservation experiences one of the lowest standards of living in the Western hemisphere.


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reddit
Tennessee is grisly
In 2014, Tennessee reinstated the use of the electric chair as an alternative to lethal injections, which were in short supply. The state has been reluctant to abandon capital punishment. Notably, the electric chair in use dates back to 1916 and is constructed from the wood of the gallows it replaced, adding a historical and macabre element to its existence.


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reddit
Texas likes to burn stuff carelessly
The coal power plants in Texas, by themselves, generate pollution at a scale comparable to the entire country of Egypt.


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reddit
Utah needs a dictionary
In 2006, a teacher in Utah wrote about homophones, words that sound the same but have different meanings. The use of the term sparked a moral panic, leading to the teacherโs dismissal because the word sounded somewhat similar to โhomosexual.โ The school board mistakenly believed that the use of this word was promoting the โgay agendaโ rather than simply addressing linguistic concepts in the context of literacy education.


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reddit
Vermont is short
With its tallest building standing at only 11 stories, Vermont boasts the distinction of having the shortest tallest building in the entire country.


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Wikimedia Commons
Virginia clearly didnโt do the reading assignment
In 1966, the classic novel, โTo Kill a Mockingbirdโ by Harper Lee, was banned on the grounds of being deemed โimmoral.โ In response, the author Harper Lee established a fund to educate the school board, humorously suggesting that their decision might stem from a lack of literacy.


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reddit
Washington is known for its UFO sightings
The series of unidentified flying object (UFO) sightings known as the Washington flap, the Washington National Airport Sightings, or the Invasion of Washington occurred from July 12 to 29, 1952. The most widely publicized sightings took place on consecutive weekends, specifically on July 19โ20 and July 26โ27, capturing significant attention and interest at the time.


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wikipedia
West Virginia likes pizza a lot
West Virginia has an interesting imbalance in the distribution of businesses, with more pizza places than gyms.


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reddit
Wisconsin gave up on birds
In Madison, due to the significant impact of domestic cats on bird populations, the cityโs official bird humorously became the plastic lawn flamingo.


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Wikimedia Commons
Wyoming prefers the stairs
The state of Wyoming has a minimal number of escalators, with only two in the entire state.


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reddit
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