How familiar are non-US citizens with the 50 states?

[Darth_Panda]

On my last trip abroad, to New Zealand last Feb, the group I met up with was a mix of mostly British (maybe 20-ish, 4 Swedish, an Aussie, 2 Dutch, an Italian, a Swiss, a couple of Canadians, and a German; plus our 2 Kiwi guides. Great group of people, only 1 knew where Charlotte was , because he had been there on business before. I don’t recall any of the others being aware of North Carolina esxcept for the Canadians.

Of course, I didn’t expect them too - just as I’m not familiar with the anything besides the larger / more prominent places from their countries. Of course, with the exception that I can draw a damn good map of Europe in 1419 due to playing so much Europa Universalis. I also do OK with England, having lived there for a few months.

So, my guess, would be that, in general, people from other countries will be knowledgable of US geography in the way that we are with theirs - that is to say, they’ll know where the big stuff is (NYC, California, the Grand Canyon), be familiar with some general stuff (the Midwest, New England, the Rockies) and have no idea where your little town is. They may have the added advantage of having learned some more through pop culture.

ETA: When I went to China, no one knew where anything besides NY and California was… (most of the above was aimed at the western world. I would imagine that people from small towns in Nepal know considerably less)

[fiddlesticks]

I remember in high school German class our teacher said that in her travels in Germany and Austria she said “most people” weren’t aware of the existence of Wisconsin…but everyone knew Chicago (before the 80s: “Al Capone!”, after: “Michael Jordan!”), so she usually used that to describe where she was from (a few hours north of Chicago). Apparently Milwaukee wasn’t much more well known than Wisconsin itself. Which is funny, because Wisconsin is the “Germanest” state in the country, though I’m guessing Wisconsinites in general couldn’t put Bavaria on the map any better than the average American.

[Chronos]

How about natural geographic features? If I were to tell a foreigner that I’m from the shores of the Great Lakes, would that mean anything to them? Those are pretty prominent even on a map that doesn’t show the states.

[robby]

@Chronos

…And the confusion about New England certainly isn’t helped by the fact that they have a football team (the New England Patriots). Usually, the geographical identifier for a major sports team is a city, or at most a state (like the Tennessee Titans). New England is also a bit odd in that it’s so rigidly-defined: One might argue about, say, whether Maryland counts as part of the South, or whether Ohio is part of the Midwest, but New England is always Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, nothing more nor less.

When I was a child, I remember being confused about what New England was, because I couldn’t find it on a map of the U.S. I knew it was somewhere up in the Northeast, but that was about it.

In fact, I don’t think I learned exactly what states comprised New England until I moved here. (As a child, I never would have guessed that I would end up living in New England, of all places, but I’ve now lived here longer than anywhere else. Funny how things turn out, sometimes.)

[Livardo]

@SanVito

But would you recognise the names if a Brit told you? Yorkshire, Lancashire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Warwickshire, Worcestershire (yes, the sauce), Devon, Cornwall, Kent, Essex, Sussex, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire, and on and on and on. Any of those sound familiar?

Incidentally, the names aren’t the same as the names of the County Towns, but some are related (e.g. Cambridge is the county town of Cambridgeshire, Oxford is in Oxfordshire, etc)

I recognize a lot of those mainly because they’re US counties in the North East! There’s a Suffolk in NY and MA, an Essex and Sussex in NJ, a Norfolk in MA, etc…

[Livardo]

@robby

When I was a child, I remember being confused about what New England was, because I couldn’t find it on a map of the U.S. I knew it was somewhere up in the Northeast, but that was about it.

In fact, I don’t think I learned exactly what states comprised New England until I moved here. (As a child, I never would have guessed that I would end up living in New England, of all places, but I’ve now lived here longer than anywhere else. Funny how things turn out, sometimes.)

When I was a kid, I thought Maryland was an amusement park kind of like Disneyland. I remember seeing a postcard of Baltimore, Maryland and asking myself "where’s the ferris wheels and roller coasters?

[Michael_of_Lucan]

@Chronos

How about natural geographic features? If I were to tell a foreigner that I’m from the shores of the Great Lakes, would that mean anything to them? Those are pretty prominent even on a map that doesn’t show the states.

Some people might prefer that if they have a general idea where the Great Lakes are, and it might be clearer than telling them you are from Illinois or Michigan. However if the person you are talking to knows a bit about the USA, you will just confuse them, as the area is to large. Indeed, you could be from Canada.

Foreigners’ knowledge is hard to assess. Decades ago, I often went to one of the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. It’s a Gaeltacht area, and the islanders speak the Irish language between themselves, although have English if necessary.

A local man on the island often sat in the little pub near the beach chatting to tourists. Tourists from America told him great tales of their country, describing its wonders and sights, the skyscrapers and the streets. The old man listened courteously, and asked questions, so long as they were buying him pints. Then he would say quietly as he left-

“It was grand to talk to you. It took me back to when I worked in New York as a taxi driver.”

[EdwardLost]

@Michael_of_Lucan

In the past, it was a standard kid’s game in Ireland to try to name the 50 States. With a bit of time and brain-storming, we always managed it. However, someone always suggested Omaha.

I wonder if they were from my generation and watched US television. If you hear “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom” often enough you might imagine Omaha to be a state.

[Bytegeist]

@Chronos

How about natural geographic features? If I were to tell a foreigner that I’m from the shores of the Great Lakes, would that mean anything to them? Those are pretty prominent even on a map that doesn’t show the states.

The following is personal anecdote only, using a sample size of one, and is in no way meant to be representative of anybody, anywhere. But here it goes.

I once met a Briton, a university educated Briton no less, who had never heard of the Great Lakes. True, she was the incurious sort anyway, about a great many things as it turned out — but still. I was stunned to hear this, and probably didn’t do a good job hiding it. How can you reach adulthood, in the Western world anyway, and not know about the Great Lakes?

The last thing I want to be is the ugly, parochial American, or North American, who expects everyone on earth just naturally takes a keen interest in us and our little part of the world. But still. It’s not a matter of national pride. The Great Lakes stick out on every map of North America, even blank maps with no topography or political boundaries drawn. They’re more prominent than mountain ranges, in that respect. How can you not notice them at some point in your life and never ask, “Hey, what the hell are those blobs?” “Those are large lakes, called the Great Lakes.” “Ah, gotcha.”

“They are large freshwater lakes, formed during the last Ice Age by retreating glac—” “I don’t give a damn about any of that.” “Fine, fine, but at least let the take-away from our little discussion be that these, these things here, are the Great Lakes.”

“No promises.”

She did know about the Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains, and the Mississippi River, though I don’t know whether she could place them on a map. On the other hand, she hadn’t heard of the Appalachian Mountains or the Ohio River. (She also had never heard of the Magna Carta or the English Civil War, which stunned me yet again, but that’s another topic for another day.)

[Chronos]

Some people might prefer that if they have a general idea where the Great Lakes are, and it might be clearer than telling them you are from Illinois or Michigan. However if the person you are talking to knows a bit about the USA, you will just confuse them, as the area is to large. Indeed, you could be from Canada.

Well, then, if necessary, I can say “Lake Erie”, and specify the American side of the lake. And even if “The Great Lakes” is too large an area, it at least pins things down better than “The eastern half of the country, but not the East Coast, and not in the South”, which is about the best you could do with someone who didn’t recognize Ohio.

[Canadjun]

@Bytegeist

She did know about the Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains, and the Mississippi River, though I don’t know whether she could place them on a map. On the other hand, she hadn’t heard of the Appalachian Mountains or the Ohio River. (She also had never heard of the Magna Carta or the English Civil War, which stunned me yet again, but that’s another topic for another day.)

I haven’t heard of the Ohio River either (I do know about everything else you mentioned).

[RickJay]

@mnemosyne

Most Canadians are probably more-or-less familiar with all 50 states, and most have probably tried to name them all at random drunken parties at some point in their lives! There’s one no one remembers, though.

I can get all fifty, all the capitals, and draw you a crude but reasonably accurate map.

But I’m a map fiend.

[sisu]

Although I have been to the states so I know the coastal states and that texas is hot so it must be down south. I would say that a lot of aussies like me know the states and the rest couldn’t give a rat’s.

[Little_Nemo]

I once met a Briton, a university educated Briton no less, who had never heard of the Great Lakes. True, she was the incurious sort anyway, about a great many things as it turned out — but still. I was stunned to hear this, and probably didn’t do a good job hiding it. How can you reach adulthood, in the Western world anyway, and not know about the Great Lakes?

The last thing I want to be is the ugly, parochial American, or North American, who expects everyone on earth just naturally takes a keen interest in us and our little part of the world. But still. It’s not a matter of national pride. The Great Lakes stick out on every map of North America, even blank maps with no topography or political boundaries drawn. They’re more prominent than mountain ranges, in that respect. How can you not notice them at some point in your life and never ask, “Hey, what the hell are those blobs?” “Those are large lakes, called the Great Lakes.” “Ah, gotcha.”

I don’t see this as too surprising. I live very near one of the lakes but I’ve never thought of them as global geographical features. Just look across the border - how many Americans do you think could point to Lake Athabasca, Lake Manitoba, Lake Winnipeg, Lake Winnepegosis, Great Bear Lake, and Great Slave Lake on a map?

[salinqmind]

I am embarrassed to admit that though I am half Canadian, have visited Canada many many times, and I’M NOT STOOPID, I had for most of my lifetime no knowledge of anything about Canada other than: Vancouver on the west, Saskatchawan prairie in the middle, Newfoundland on the east. And Quebec, Toronto, and Montreal. The lakes and whatever lands they’re set in were unknown to me. I blame the lousy US educational system, because I didn’t learn that little bit in school, but from reading on my own.

[SmackFu]

When traveling overseas, I’ve never had much luck saying I live in Connecticut, which doesn’t really surprise me. What does is that saying I live halfway between Boston and New York doesn’t really get much better results. People really do just know New York.

[Spoons]

@SmackFu

When traveling overseas, I’ve never had much luck saying I live in Connecticut…

I’m not American, but this has been my experience when I’ve been overseas. Many Europeans are not familiar with Canadian provinces (and, I wouldn’t be surprised, American states). Consequently, telling a Frenchman, as I once did, that I was from Ontario, resulted in a blank stare. Telling him next that I was from Toronto at least elicited some response: Ah, you’re from Canada. But the political subdivisions of Canada were unknown to him. I’d imagine that to some, the political subdivisions of the US are just as unknown.

[Michael_of_Lucan]

@Johanna

@ruadh

I’m from Maryland. Nobody in Ireland knows where that is unless they’re one of the rare Irish people who’ve been there. (Blank stare. “It’s right next to Washington DC.” Another blank stare. “Four hours south of New York.” “Oh.”) They can’t pronounce it either.

My, how ironic. In the 18th century Maryland was sure to be one colony known to the Irish. They emigrated to Baltimore in considerable numbers—because Maryland was the only Catholic-friendly colony. I’m descended from some of those immigrants.

Curiously, if you said you were from Baltimore, they are likely to know roughly where that is. People are often more aware of cities than the states in which they are found. They know Las Vegas, but may not know the state.

I live outside the city of Dublin. :smack: No, dear. That’s not Dublin, Ohio. Or the one in California. Or Georgia. Or … It’s the REAL Dublin, the one in Ireland.

I’m told by a postal worker, that a lot of post from the USA is addressed to Dublin, United Kingdom or Dublin, England. It’s been the capital of an independent state for nearly a century, and of course England is on a different island. I guess there’s no point in being picky about it. At least they spell the name correctly.

[Raguleader]

For some added info on the US Postal Service and the ZIP Codes: For added specificicity (yes, I made that word up), they have ZIP+4 Codes, basically the five digit zip code, followed by an additional four digits, ie (to make up an address):

Tori Spelling
92 Melrose Place,
Beverly Hills, CA 90210-1138

The “-1138”, depending on the size of the area serviced by that zip code’s post office (I’ve always understood a zip code to go to a specific post office, I could be wrong), might specify an individual mailbox within that zip code, or else might just define a group of mailboxes, such as a street in a neighborhood, or a group of apartments in a complex.

I’ve also heard (but never bothered to verify) that it’s possible to get a particular address registered with a particular name, so instead of “92 Melrose Place”, maybe Tori could get it registered so she could just get her mail at “Melrose Place” or “Tori Manor” or whatever she pleased.

I clicked on this thread because it seems to be a popular joke off-and-on that Americans can’t find Iraq or whichever country on a map (the counter-joke is: “Fortunately, most of those who can are all Air Force pilots”), so I was idly curious to see if people from Europe or wherever were expected to have knowledge of US geography.

Granted, while it might not be TOO embarrassing if a random American doesn’t know where or what Bulgaria is, it can be a tad embarrassing if it turns out they also don’t know that New Mexico is part of the US, or that Texas is not part of The South.

[Chronos]

I live outside the city of Dublin. No, dear. That’s not Dublin, Ohio. Or the one in California. Or Georgia. Or … It’s the REAL Dublin, the one in Ireland.

Oh, you mean in Baile atha Cliath?

(I’ve always understood a zip code to go to a specific post office, I could be wrong)

Roughly speaking, but not exactly. For instance, here the University is part of the same zip code as the big post office in the federal building downtown, but there’s also a smaller post office on campus, just because it’s convenient to have one here. And there are probably some more rural places where multiple zip codes are served by a single post office, too.