Which U.S. states have the most pride?
State pride across the USA
A Gallup poll surveyed people in all 50 states to find out what percentage of residents say their state was the very best or one of the best places to live.
Jolie Lee, USA TODAY Network 10:12 a.m. EDT April 25, 2014
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(Photo: Brenda Ahearn, AP)
People who live in Montana and Alaska have the most state pride, according to a poll by Gallup.
In these two states, 77% of residents said their state was the best or one of the best possible states to live in.
Among the worst places to live in are Illinois, Rhode Island and Mississippi according to residents.
Residents who have a lot of state pride also "generally boast a greater standard of living, higher trust in state government, and less resentment toward the amount they pay in state taxes," according to Gallup.
The poll shows a correlation between positive attitudes and the state's location in a mountainous region with cold weather.
The bottom 10 states show a correlation between negative attitudes and state's location east of the Mississippi River or bordering it.
Most survey respondents did not say their state was the single best place to live, preferring instead to say it was "one of the best."
Texans were most likely to say their state was the very best place to live.
Gallup conducted the poll from June to December 2013 and interviewed at least 600 residents in each state.
Top 10 places to live:
1. Montana
2. Alaska
3. Utah
4. Wyoming
5. Texas
6. Hawaii
7. New Hampshire
8. North Dakota
9. Colorado
10: Vermont
Worst 10 places to live:
1. Rhode Island
2. Illinois
3. Mississippi
4. Louisiana
5. Michigan
6. New Mexico
7. New Jersey
8. Maryland
9. Missouri
10. Connecticut
See complete article/map: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/04/25/state-pride-gallup-montana-alaska/8140879/
