# Puzzle - ordering of US States **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 12, 2002, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573 "2002-08-12T18:21:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![JamesCarroll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@JamesCarroll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JamesCarroll)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/81 "2002-08-21T08:25:32Z")
Being from Delaware there only one other thing that I can think of that we’re number 1 in: Out of state students in our Universities. USNews (a magazine with lots of pictures) does those rankings of colleges and grad schools. Aside from a top notch Chemical Engineering program (love that Dupont money!!), U. of Del was the only school with more out of state students than in state. Just a guess but I couldn’t find the list on the web. It may have been removed though since the puzzle is over a year old and the review and web site have been redone. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/82 "2002-08-21T16:34:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JayLa \* > \*\*Another friend has confirmed for me what optional nos. 49 and 50 are. And yes, they are the obvious ones. \*\* Um, yeah, ditto micknlu–what are numbers 49 and 50? And 48, 47, 46, 45 …? If someone has solved this puzzle, please let us know. ---
**Author:** ![jessicala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@jessicala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jessicala)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/83 "2002-08-21T17:05:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JayLa \* > \*\*So the obvious assumption to make there is that it has something to do with the contiguous 48, with Alaska and Hawaii tacked on at the end. But maybe that’s just a trick. \*\* And no, no one has solved the puzzle yet. I don’t know the guy who has the answers, just a couple guys who work in his group. (this may double-post) ---
**Author:** ![LexNet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8dc957/32.png) [@LexNet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LexNet)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/84 "2002-08-21T23:37:48Z")
Just read the thread and joined. My first observation is that, if it is an ordered quantitative list, it may be ordered either from most to least (which is what many have thus far tried) or from least to most (which may be less obvious). If the latter, then imagine the list in reserve order, which may have the larger or more Western or more populous states on top and will end with: Rhode Island Massachusetts Connecticut Deleware ---
**Author:** ![LexNet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8dc957/32.png) [@LexNet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LexNet)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/85 "2002-08-21T23:39:26Z")
(and no, I can’t spell Delaware) ---
**Author:** ![JS\_Princeton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@JS\_Princeton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JS_Princeton)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/86 "2002-08-22T00:09:58Z")
I just did an exhaustive search of USA Today to no avail. There are SO MANY lists that have the names of all these states in them. My WAG is as follows: you will find the list in USA Today, but it won’t be in order, that is, you’ll have to order it yourself based upon one of the numbers. For those interested in going this route: [here is a preliminary search](http://usatoday.sitesearch.lycos.com/default.asp?srch=site&query=Delaware+Massachusetts+Connecticut+Rhode+Island) using the first four state names as starting points. There are only 70 in the list, but I have a feeling the search isn’t exhaustive. If you read the thread on Google Answers, that will have my rationale for going to USA Today. Also, the puzzle creator said that there were some comments in the Google Answers thread on the right track. The other publications that would be good to check would be Sports Illustrated and National Geographic. Keep at it, I think we need to solve this one. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/87 "2002-08-22T00:18:38Z")
Well what about a ranking of high low. For example #50, #1, #49,#2,#3,#48 and so forth. What about rankings like that or anagrams of state names or state names that can spell particular features in that state. Or states where the publisher of US Today has offices or employees. Me thinks the simplest solution is the correct. In other words don’t look hard. Maybe states that once contained the largest American city or states that say the population of state listed two could be contained in state one. Then state listed 3 could contain 1 plus 2 on the list ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/88 "2002-08-22T00:31:08Z")
Well what about a ranking of high low. For example #50, #1, #49,#2,#3,#48 and so forth. What about rankings like that or anagrams of state names or state names that can spell particular features in that state. Or states where the publisher of US Today has offices or employees. Me thinks the simplest solution is the correct. In other words don’t look hard. Maybe states that once contained the largest American city or states that say the population of state listed two could be contained in state one. Then state listed 3 could contain 1 plus 2 on the list ---
**Author:** ![LexNet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8dc957/32.png) [@LexNet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LexNet)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/89 "2002-08-22T02:02:45Z")
I played around with the logic of the problem. It’s probably not an alphabetical list of, e.g., senators, because it’s too improbably weighted to the eastern and smaller states. On the other hand, it might be a list of , e.g., the spread of a disease or pest – and then it makes sense that the spread is not wholly contiguous or uniform. I picked four states from the list (Wisconsin Texas Arkansas Louisiana) and ran them forwards and backwards without success using Google and USA Today. It’s an interesting (and addictive?) problem. ---
**Author:** ![thekohser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/57b2e6/32.png) [@thekohser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thekohser)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/90 "2002-08-22T03:35:16Z")
I have just wasted an hour of time trying to get to the bottom of this, and I’m still not certain. So, let me say it here and now – I think this has something to do with an ordered list of states with “the fewest acres of National Park Service land” or “fewest acres of National Parks, Monuments, and Historic Sites” or something like that. Delaware has none. Connecticut has 68 acres on the Weir Farms Historic Site. Massachusetts has almost 28,000, but if you take away the 27,000 in the Cape Cod National Seashore, it’s pretty small once again. I also have the impression that Texas might be high on the list, despite its size. It’s Arizona (Grand Canyon) that is really troubling me. The whole thing could be “tweaked” by something as silly as “National Park Service land that is deeded to private individuals”. That might explain how an Arizona gets on the list (if Grand Canyon has not been deeded away in large tracts). I’m having trouble “proving” this, because it’s hard to find a good RANKING of NPS areas by state. The agency seem transfixed by listing by parks. Anyway, that’s my guess – but I’m too tired tonight to try to figure it out for sure. Greg ---
**Author:** ![joeadk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f14d63/32.png) [@joeadk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joeadk)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/91 "2002-08-22T20:45:31Z")
I think it’s GSP(Gross State Product) per capita from a April 2000 \Governing Magazine\ study. > **[Delaware.gov - Official Website of the State of Delaware](https://delaware.gov/)** > > The official website of the State of Delaware. Find information about state government, programs, and services. The First State is located in the Northeast U.S. In this article it says that Delaware ranked 1st, New Jersey ranked 5th, and Maryland ranked 20th. This would fall around the same time the puzzle started. ---
**Author:** ![joeadk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f14d63/32.png) [@joeadk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joeadk)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/92 "2002-08-22T20:46:07Z")
I think it’s GSP(Gross State Product) per capita from a April 2000 Governing Magazine study. > **[Delaware.gov - Official Website of the State of Delaware](https://delaware.gov/)** > > The official website of the State of Delaware. Find information about state government, programs, and services. The First State is located in the Northeast U.S. In this article it says that Delaware ranked 1st, New Jersey ranked 5th, and Maryland ranked 20th. This would fall around the same time the puzzle started. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/93 "2002-08-22T20:50:45Z")
Percentage that tolls contribute to state revenue? ---
**Author:** ![JS\_Princeton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@JS\_Princeton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JS_Princeton)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/94 "2002-08-22T21:10:42Z")
**Greg**. I had your idea about a week ago. The hitch? Arizona being so ridiculously high. ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/95 "2002-08-22T23:34:07Z")
regardless of money or any other prize…i want to figure this out for myself, so if anyone figures out the answer, i would appreciate it if you dont post it, or post it on another site, then link to it, or at least put “WARNING: ANSWER FOLLOWS” in your message or something, ok??? that would be awesome!!! ---
**Author:** ![mazzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@mazzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazzer)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/96 "2002-08-22T23:42:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by joeadk \* > \*\*I think it’s GSP(Gross State Product) per capita from a April 2000 Governing Magazine study. > … > In this article it says that Delaware ranked 1st, New Jersey ranked 5th, and Maryland ranked 20th. > \*\* **joe** , that article looked promising, but I did some number-crunching and, although my source data is different (I got mine from [US Census](http://www.census.gov/statab/www/ranks.html)), it doesn’t quite match up. It is close, but there are some differences that are likely to be deal-breakers, unless someone can tweak it somehow. Note especially the low showing of Arizona. Here are my results for Gross State Product per capita (we can ignore D.C., Alaska, Hawaii): [GSP per capita](http://www.zarate.org/rank.txt) ---
**Author:** ![mazzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@mazzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazzer)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/97 "2002-08-22T23:51:36Z")
PS: I spent about an hour searching the [governing.com](http://governing.com) article database with no luck, so if anyone can find the article that press release is referencing, that would obviously help tremendously. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/98 "2002-08-23T00:24:11Z")
Lottery income per capita? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/99 "2002-08-23T00:33:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chriszarate \* > \*\* > **joe** , that article looked promising, but I did some number-crunching and, although my source data is different (I got mine from [US Census](http://www.census.gov/statab/www/ranks.html)), it doesn’t quite match up. It is close, but there are some differences that are likely to be deal-breakers, unless someone can tweak it somehow. Note especially the low showing of Arizona. Here are my results for Gross State Product per capita (we can ignore D.C., Alaska, Hawaii): > > [GSP per capita](http://www.zarate.org/rank.txt) \*\* Per the reference list I don’t see how number 15. Alabama and number 16. Mississippi could be at those positions relative to income per capita. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/100 "2002-08-23T05:36:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chriszarate \* > \*\*PS: I spent about an hour searching the [governing.com](http://governing.com) article database with no luck, so if anyone can find the article that press release is referencing, that would obviously help tremendously. \*\* I can’t find it either. I did find this list of sources for [governing.com](http://governing.com): [http://www.governing.com/sbcite.htm](http://www.governing.com/sbcite.htm) One really interesting site is: [http://www.bea.doc.gov](http://www.bea.doc.gov) It lets you query tons of stats including GSP. However, none of the data exactly matches the data quoted in the press release. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573.md?page=6)