It’s amazing how many random facts you can learn about a state.
Our “Did you know?” series will take you state by state and educate you on random facts, some of which are well known (to some) and others are obscure.
Take a moment to read through the state facts listed below. They are in alphabetical order. If you find something interesting feel free to share it on a social network such as Pinterest or Facebook.
Alabama
Alabama workers built the first rocket to put humans on the moon.
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state and is over twice the size of Texas. North to south it’s 1,400 miles long and east to west it’s 2,700 miles wide. Rhode Island could fit in Alaska 425 times.
Arizona
The amount of copper on the roof of the Arizona Capital building is equivalent to 4,800,000 pennies.
Arkansas
Arkansas contains over 600,000 acres of lakes and 9,700 miles of streams and rivers.
California
Demonstrations on making toothpaste from orange by-products were popular attractions at the Los Angles County Fair in 1922.
Colorado
Colorado is the only state in history to turn down the Olympics. In 1976, 62% of voters choose not to host the Olympics, because of the cost, pollution and population boom it would have on the state and Denver.
Connecticut
The first telephone book ever issued contained only fifty names. The New Haven District Telephone Company published it in New Haven, Connecticut on February 1878.
Delaware
The 87-foot Fenwick Island Lighthouse was painted in 1880 for a total cost of about $5.
Florida
Gatorade was named for the University of Florida Gators where the drink was developed.
Georgia
Six Flags Over Georgia was actually named for six flags that flew over Georgia. England, Spain, Liberty, Georgia, Confederate States of America and the United States.
Hawaii
Hawaii is the most isolated population center on the face of the earth. Hawaii is 2,390 miles from California; 3,850 miles from Japan; 4,900 miles from China; and 5,280 miles from the Philippines.
Idaho
There’s a law in Idaho that forbids a citizen to give another citizen a box of candy that weighs more than 50 pounds.
Illinois
The Illinois state dance is square dancing.
Indiana
Deep below the earth in Southern Indiana is a sea of limestone. It’s the richest deposits of top-quality limestone found anywhere on earth. New York City’s Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center were built by it.
Iowa
Cornell College is the only school in the nation to have its entire campus listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Kansas
At one time it was against the law to serve ice cream on cherry pie in Kansas.
Kentucky
Cheeseburgers were first served in 1934 at Kaolin’s restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky.
Louisiana
In Louisiana, biting someone with your natural teeth is considered a simple assault, but biting someone with your false teeth is considered an aggravated assault.
Maine
Maine is the only state that shares its border with only one other state.
Maryland
On June 24, 1784, in Baltimore, 13-year old Edward Warren went airborne in the first successful manned balloon launch in the United States.
Massachusetts
The Fig Newton was named after Newton, Massachusetts.
Michigan
The Detroit Zoo was the first zoo in America to feature cageless open exhibits that allowed the animals more freedom to roam.
Minnesota
Minnesota has 90,000 miles of shoreline, more than California, Florida and Hawaii combined.
Mississippi
In 1884 the concept of selling shoes in boxes in pairs occurred in Vicksburg, Mississippi at Phil Gilbert’s Shoe Parlor on Washington Street.
Missouri
The first successful parachute jump to be made from a moving airplane was made by Captain Berry at St. Louis in 1912.
Montana
In Montana, the elk, deer and antelope populations outnumber the humans.
Nebraska
Nebraska is the birthplace of the Reuben sandwich.
Nevada
Las Vegas has more hotel rooms than any other place on earth.
New Hampshire
The first potato planed in the United States was at Londonderry Common Field in 1719.
New Jersey
New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is sometimes referred to as the diner capital of the world.
New Mexico
Each October, Albuquerque, New Mexico hosts the world’s largest international hot air balloon fiesta.
New York
New York City has 722 miles of subway track.
North Carolina
Babe Ruth hit his first professional home run in Fayetteville, NC on March 7, 1914.
North Dakota
Milk is the official state beverage of North Dakota.
Ohio
Cleveland boasts America’s first traffic light. It began on August 5, 1914.
Oklahoma
The National Cowboy Hall of Fame is located in Oklahoma City.
Oregon
Oregon and New Jersey are the only states without self-serve gas stations.
Pennsylvania
Benjamin Franklin founded the Philadelphia Zoo, the first public zoo in the United States.
Rhode Island
The first circus in the United States was in Newport, Rhode Island in 1774.
South Carolina
Stretching 60 miles from Little River to Georgetown, South Carolina’s Grand Strand is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States.
South Dakota
Clark is the Potato Capital of South Dakota. It’s home to the world famous Mashed Potato Wrestling contest.
Tennessee
The name “Tennessee” originated from the old Yuchi Indian word, “Tana-see,” meaning “the meeting place.”
Texas
A coastal live oak located near Fulton is the oldest tree in Texas. It has an estimated age of more than 1,500 years.
Utah
Utah state symbol: The Beehive symbolizes thrift and industry.
Vermont
Until 1996, Vermont was the only state without a Wal-Mart.
Virginia
The first peanuts grown in the United States were grown in Virginia.
Washington
Washington is the only state to be named after a United States president.
West Virginia
West Virginia was the first state to have a sales tax. It became effective July 1, 1921.
Wisconsin
The first practical typewriter was designed in Milwaukee in 1867.
Wyoming
Wyoming was the first state to give women the right to vote.