Tell something about your state that most people don't know.

[ccharles000]

North Carolina leads all other states in Sweet Potato production, producing about 40% of the national supply. Cape Hatteras is the largest lighthouse ever to be moved due to erosion problems. Mount Mitchell in the Blue Ridge Mountains is the highest peak east of the Mississippi. It towers 6,684 feet above sea level. Krispy Kreme Doughnut was founded in Winston-Salem.

[azmouse]

1. Arizona grows some of the best cotton in the world - Pima.

[MrScorpio]

2. We have a German town and a Dutch town

And no, the German town never invaded the Dutch town

[krispos42]

5. ...yet...

n/t

[skygazer]

3. Vermont was an independent republic for 14 years

And it's constitution was the first to outlaw slavery. I get a lot of satisfaction from that.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

63. You were a republic too??? How cool!

Texas was a republic from 1836 to 1845.

We have community property in Texas because of the Spanish law influence, which says that women can own and transfer property without their husband's consent. Pretty radical for 1836.

I learned that when I took Marital Property in law school.

[rug]

4. There's an undrground coal fire that's been burning since 1962.

http://www.stormchaser.ca/Fires/Centralia_Coal_Fire/Centralia_Coal_Fire.html

[Roon]

6. We are the thinest state in the country

and my fat ass has to live here!!!!

[krispos42]

7. Minnesota has the most shoreline of all 50 states.

However, we have a terrible lack of sandy beaches and minimally-clad Spring Breakers.


:shrug:

[XemaSab]

8. I can't find an exact number

but 45% of California is federal land and 2,300 square miles are state land. Then there are county and local parks.

I really wish I had an exact number for you, but more than half the state is public land.

[Kali]

30. ha! I gave a similar answer before I read the whole thread

:o

[Arkansas Granny]

9. The first woman elected to served in the U.S. Senate was from Arkansas.

The first woman elected to the Senate was Hattie Wyatt Caraway of Arkansas. Appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of her husband, U.S. Senator Thaddeus Caraway, Ms. Caraway then sought and won election on her own in 1932. She was reelected in 1938 and served until 1945.

[KamaAina]

10. Hawai'i contains all but one of the planet's climate zones.

They're arranged by elevation, from the distinctly tropical (at sea level) to the subarctic (at the uppermost Big Island summits). We're only lacking the distinctly arctic. It even snows up there (Mauna Kea means "white mountain"); people working at the observatories are advised to have chains 'n' stuff, and there's even a Hawaiian snow goddess, Poliahu!

[Jamastiene]

11. Our bogs on the coast are also the home of the famous Venus Fly Trap plants.

:thumbsup:

[XemaSab]

56. Our bogs in the mountains are the home of pitcher plants

:D

[HopeHoops]

12. Pennsylvania has a Department of Hogweed Eradication

Genesis, in the early Gabriel years, did a song called "Revenge of the Giant Hogweed". As it turns out, it was a ballad based on fact. The Giant Hogweed is a menace and it is illegal to grow or cultivate it in PA. The Department of Hogweed Eradication is charged with finding and exterminating all such plants in the state.

No this is NOT an April Fools Day joke - look up "Hogweed".

[trof]

13. The Vulcan statue is the largest cast iron statue in the world.

The Vulcan statue is the largest cast iron statue in the world, and is the city symbol of Birmingham, Alabama, reflecting its roots in the iron and steel industry. The 56-foot (17 m) tall statue depicts the Roman god Vulcan, god of the fire and forge. It was created as Birmingham's entry for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (1904 World's Fair) in St. Louis, Missouri. It is the seventh-tallest free-standing statue in the United States.<2>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulcan_Park

[bigwillq]

14. Not everyone that lives in it is rich.

:eyes:

[Liberal Veteran]

15. Washington is pronounced Worshington.

[dixiegrrrrl]

50. And Boeing is pronounced Boeing's

but Bill Gates still goes by MF.
( ex- Wash. native here )

[Fleshdancer]

16. The King Ranch in Texas is bigger than the state of Rhode Island

More wool comes from the state of Texas than any other state in the United States.

The worst natural disaster in United States history was caused by a hurricane that hit Galveston in 1900. Over 8000 deaths were recorded.

El Paso is closer to Needles, California than it is to Dallas.

The Heisman trophy is named for John William Heisman the first full-time coach and athletic director at Rice University in Houston.

[XemaSab]

57. You're better off being closer to Dallas

:hide:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

62. And the worst Industrial disaster was 15 miles away.

In Texas City in 1947 when two ships blew up.

[Shell Beau]

17. The world's largest pine tree "Old Boss" was grown and cut down in Mississippi.

120 feet high and 91 feet to the first limb!

[Mike 03]

18. Phoenix can be 50 degrees, and it can be snowing just one hour away by car.

My wonderful Canadian relatives refuse to believe that it can snow in Arizona, especially so close to Phoenix.

But the elevation jump from Phoenix north towards Sedona and Flagstaff is rather substantial.

I imagine most people don't know that Arizona has these cooler climates.

[CreekDog]

19. California is the "Golden State" but NOT because of the Gold Rush

but because of its golden hillsides.

[Brother Buzz]

36. The Golden Gate was named two years before gold was discoverd

The Golden Gate was named by John C. Fremont, Asshole, Captain, Topographical Engineers of the U.S. Army in 1846. The entrance to the San Francisco bay reminded him of a harbor in Istanbul named Chrysoceras or Golden Horn.

Golden hillsides and blue trees - My grandmother, a native Californian, always told me the California colors, blue and gold, were chosen because of the coastal hills in the fall when the grass was gold and the oaks took on a blue hue.

[TZ]

69. I actually knew that...

:P

[CreekDog]

93. they covered CA in your classes in Ohio?

hmmm. very interesting.

[Parche]

20. Oregon Has One Stud That Lives In Portland

:rofl: :woohoo: :hi: :hug: :loveya:

[no name no slogan]

22. I'm sure swag will be glad you remembered him

:hide:

[ccharles000]

27. ...

:hi: :hug:

[skygazer]

21. Oh, and a tidbit about my two states

The one I was born in and the one I live in.

The population of San Jose, CA is larger than the population of the entire state of Vermont. :rofl:

(and I hope it always stays that way)

[hellbound-liberal]

23. Approx. half of all the people in the U.S live within 500 miles of our state capitol, Richmond.

In Virginia, more people work for the U.S. government than any other industry, about 25%.

[fizzgig]

24. a few on colorado

-Colorado contains 75% of the land area of the U.S. with an altitude over 10,000 feet.

-Colorado is the only state in history, to turn down the Olympics. In 1976 the Winter Olympics were planned to be held in Denver. 62% of all state Voters choose at almost the last minute not to host the Olympics, because of the cost, pollution and population boom it would have on the State Of Colorado, and the City of Denver.

[Ilsa]

25. You can buy these two things together:

Buy four guns, get a "fifth" free!

Texas, of course.

[NoSheep]

33. Hey-yul yeah!

[ccharles000]

61. how very Texas

[Arugula Latte]

26. Oregon: All beaches are public access beaches, and you can't pump your own gas.

Also, we grow a hell of a lot of hazelnuts here.

[MajorChode]

55. You can pump your own gas in Oregon

If you go to the right place.

[tabbycat31]

89. why would you want to pump your own gas

I'm in the other state where it's illegal (New Jersey) and I like it that way.

[MajorChode]

94. The convienience comes at a price

And I'm a cheap bastard.

[kentauros]

28. It is illegal to own more than five "sexual educational devices" in the State of Texas

http://thememlingindex.com/texas_obscenity_laws.html">Molly Ivins in Dildo Diaries

:rofl:

[ccharles000]

31. omg that was so funny

"what if it slips"

[kentauros]

39. I know!

I especially love the laughter coming from the rest of the Legislature

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

40. I'm a criminal

[Lethe]

53. man that was priceless, everybody should watch this

lol, they can't talk about dildos for vaginal usage, (they are demonstration models for condom usage, but anal sex, hell ya)

but wait, if you want to have consentual anal sex with your married partner, you might face hanging.

[XemaSab]

58. TOO FUNNY!

:rofl:

[Terry in Austin]

81. Zucchini and cucumber sales are pretty slow here

You have to sign an affadavit...

[kentauros]

87. I'm surprised y'all have the water to grow them anymore

:P

Maybe foreign elongated and botanically-correct veggies are what require the affidavit ;)

[Kali]

29. Arizona is an urban state - more so than New York

and less than 15% (I think it's 13) of its land is private property.

[NoSheep]

32. North Carolina has a lot of smart people...in Durham.

[ccharles000]

35. But more so in Greensboro

;-)

[NoSheep]

37. Phft. :-)

[darkstar]

34. The oldest acheological site in America is in Illinois

Cahokia....I could walk there in a few hours if I had to....
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/IL-Cahokia.html

[mix]

43. Cahokia, apparently

had been the largest city in North America until the late 1700s when Philadelphia surpassed it in size...500 Nations, maybe you know it, is a really well-done series of documentaries on Native Americans, there is one extensive part on Cahokia...if you haven't seen 500 Nations I highly recommend it.

[PassingFair]

38. Detroit has a GIANT underground salt mine...

They used to give tours, but not any more....

[crimsonblue]

75. Hutchinson, KS has a salt mine that produced, at its peak, 25% of the country's salt needs.

Nowadays, it houses a museum and an underground storage facility. In fact, the original reels from such movies as "Casablanca" and "Gone with the Wind" are stored there.

[no name no slogan]

Minnesota is the furthest north of the lower 48 states

It also contains a piece of territory called the Northwest Angle, a geographical anomaly that sticks up like a notch above the 49th parallel from the rest of the lower 48 states. The Northwest Angle is not accessible by road from the rest of the US-- the only way to drive there involves going into Canada (Manitoba), and re-entering the Angle. The Angle has a population of approximately 200 people.

[mix]

41. New Mexico

at one time or another parts of present day New Mexico were claimed by Spain, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, and even France

[EastTennesseeDem]

42. Tennessee Williams was named after my state

It's true.

[no name no slogan]

78. Williams? Where the hell is that?

:P

[EastTennesseeDem]

82. It borders Ernie Ford

[no name no slogan]

85. ...

:spray:

:thumbsup:

[hedgehog]

44. New York has some very rural areas and the Andirondack

State Park is greater in size than Yellowstone, Everglades, Glacier, and Grand Canyon National Park combined.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

45. Florida has had an amazing track record of sports team championships in the 2000s

Baseball--Marlins (2003)
Hockey--Lightning (2004)
Pro Football--Buccanneers (2002)
Pro Basketball--Heat (2005)
College Football--Gators (2006, 2008), Hurricanes (2001)
College Basketball--Gators (2006)

I honestly am not aware of any other state's dominance of all four major pro sports and men's college football and basketball all in one decade.

Also, no point in Florida is more than 60 miles from either the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico.

[A HERETIC I AM]

47. Florida led the nation in 8th inning triples in the month of July.

Sorry...I was channeling "Mr. Baseball"

The Everglades is technically the worlds widest river.

Its farther from Key West to Pensacola than it is from Pensacola to Chicago.

[abq e streeter]

46. Not sure if well known or not--Buddy Holly recorded his hit records in Clovis, NM

[av8rdave]

48. Fun little Texas fact:

It is further from El Paso (Western corner of the state) to Texarkana (northeastern corner) than it is from Texarkana to Chicago.

[hibbing]

49. Nebraska

Hi,
Harold Edgerton was born here - Many of you I am sure have seen his fascinating photographs of capturing things in time using a strobe light. Bullet going through a playing card, drop of milk landing in a saucer and others.

Edwin Perkins the inventor of Kool Aid was born here.

Not unique to Nebraska I don't think, but if you get out on some country roads, some fence posts have old worn upside down cowboy boots on them, always a cool thing to see!

Also while driving on country roads, it is common courtesy to raise your index finger from the driving wheel when someone is driving towards you as a cool little mini wave.

Interesting thread Charles, thanks.

Peace

[OmahaBlueDog]

52. Were we not also the first state to complete our section of I-80?

....and we are the birthplace of Kool-Aid

[dixiegrrrrl]

51. 80% of Alabama forest is owned by individuals, not state or Feds.

[hibbing]

54. not sure about I-80

Hi,
I was not aware of that. I do enjoy seeing all those ponds/little lakes leftover from when they were constructing I-80 right along it. Whoever came up with that idea was brilliant. Too bad other states didn't follow, maybe some did?

Peace

[hibbing]

60. hmmm

Hi,
Well that certainly is interesting. Actual individuals or corporations?

Peace

[dixiegrrrrl]

71. Actual people...NOT corporations.

I have 2 sources for this.
1. One of my friends is a forester,
2. same detail was published in the newspaper in a section on forestry.
And btw...numerous people here are "registered foresters" even if they are not currently doing that work.

Many people have anywhere from 5 to hundres of acres used for hunting, often rent out their land to out of staters for hunting.

[hibbing]

77. wow

Hi,
Well that certainly is interesting!

Peace

[Juche]

59. Nobody knows where the term 'hoosier' actually comes from

So we call ourselves Indiana Hoosiers and we don't know what it even means.

[blockhead]

67. you guys are tires

[no name no slogan]

79. I know where it comes from.

It comes from everybody walking around going "Hoosier Daddy?"

At least, according to an Ohioan I know....

[jeff30997]

64. Something about my state that most people don't know?

Easy ! I don't live in a state,I live in a province. :)

[Ellipsis]

65. Wisconsin Ginseng is known as the highest-quality panax quinquefolius in the world.

[TreasonousBastard]

66. We had to take the Statue of Liberty off our license plates...

when the Supreme Court gave it to New Jersey.

[blockhead]

68. we are really NOT part of Canada

[underpants]

70. Virginia- we started this country we just let other people run some parts

as my step-father a native Virginia once told me

[vadawg]

74. virginia, the shenandoah is actually common sense for "gods country"

[underpants]

84. Virginia- we couldn't stand state employees getting a day off for a black guy

so we gave them FOUR days off ....for a black guy oh and two guys who came in second in a war *

* we have lots of second place trophies around here

[RubyDuby in GA]

72. Georgia - there are actual liberals that live here

:)

[RebelOne]

76. This liberal lives there in a very red county.

[crimsonblue]

73. It's windy here. n/t

[Highway61]

80. Maine

Largest toothpick producer in the U.S. (2 million/day)

Also largest blueberry producer in the country...99% of blueberries in U.S. come from Maine.

[derby378]

83. The last battle of the Civil War took place off the shore of Texas

A few months after Appomattox, there was a battle between Union and Confederate naval forces off of Galveston. That was the last skirmish of the war.

[BeachBaby]

86. Jersey owns and regulates Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty....

NOT New York.

[MissMillie]

88. The state does extend west beyond Route 128.

for quite a bit, actually.

I get a kick out of people who say Worcester is "Western Massachusetts".... it's pretty much in the middle.

[namahage]

90. Hawai'i is the only state that has two official languages:

English and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian).

Article XV, Hawaii State Constitution

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES

Section 4. English and Hawaiian shall be the official languages of Hawaii, except that Hawaiian shall be required for public acts and transactions only as provided by law. (Add Const Con 1978 and election Nov 7, 1978)

You can even write checks in Hawaiian--and Hawaii banks must honor them as they would English-language checks. Imagine getting a check for

Hoʻokahi kaukani hoʻokahi haneli kanakolukūmāwalu a me 29/100 kālā

and being required to know and honor it the same way as one written

One thousand one hundred thirty-eight and 29/100 dollars ($1,138.29).

When I worked as a teller at a Hawaii bank I had one regular customer who would write check amounts (and dates, so "April 2" would be ʻApelila 2) in Hawaiian, primarily as a form of protest.

[Maine-ah]

91. not proud of this one but here ya go

With 150,000 members in 1920, Maine possessed the largest, most active Ku Klux Klan outside of the south. This group targeted the Franco-Americans rather than the African Americans, because they were Catholic, different than the people that were already in Maine. They were scared that the number of these people would become so large that they would take over Maine. Klan members would include 1 out of every 10 English-speaking Mainers. Businessmen, bankers, ministers, politicians, and newspaper editors were the main starters of this Klan. Milo, Maine was where the first Ku Klux Klan march was held in the broad daylight.

http://www.msad54.org/sahs/socialstudies/finely/1920s/1920gr15/kkk.html

[hunter]

92. The craziest of the right wing crazies live in California.

We've got people here who make Sarah Palin look like a Swedish Socialist, and you can run into them anywhere.

Biography of Jack Chick

I don't think I need any more examples.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

95. Minnesota had a Socialist governor in the 1930s

His name was Floyd B. Olson, and he was very popular, but he died of cancer while still in his forties, mourned by most of the population.

One of the highways that runs northwest out of Minneapolis is designated as Floyd B. Olson Memorial Highway, or more commonly, "Olson Highway."

A few years ago, the Republicanites proposed renaming the highway Reagan Highway, since "nobody remembers Floyd B. Olson anymore." Fortunately, nothing came of it.

[MajorChode]

96. Texas has over 1900 airports

No other state has even half as many, and that's not even counting all the ingocneto airfields used for drug shipments.