# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/161 "2003-05-16T18:19:45Z")
Just looking at the list, and the fact that the list is given at the site with an animated map strongly suggests that geography is a clue. My own thoughts on looking at the list (clearer if you see the map) is that so far most Western & New England states are not on the list. One guess is that it might be something related to black population, especially 1900-1950. Minnesota & Arizona did not have large black populations then, but it could fit with the other states. Perhaps the states from which troops were first integrated during WWII, or maybe something like UNCF scholarships? Or something like a business which expanded slowly but is in all 50 states now, though I don’t know what that would be. Some sort of food item, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/162 "2003-05-16T19:08:48Z")
What puzzles me is that NY, VT, ME and NH haven’t made it to the list yet, but neighboring states NJ, CT, MA, RI are all in. There does seem to be a distinct geographical component to the order, but what would keep those four out when every other eastern state is in? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/163 "2003-05-17T04:31:15Z")
WalMarts? New England was one of the last areas they expanded into. But Arkansas is ninth on the list. Maybe Sam’s Clubs. ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/164 "2003-05-17T04:32:50Z")
Not even Cecil will be able to solve this one, not that he would bother trying. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/165 "2003-05-29T14:59:33Z")
_Bump_ ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/166 "2003-05-29T15:00:57Z")
I should have added that the website has not been updated as of today since the previous update mention above. ---
**Author:** ![probationsmack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/46a35a/32.png) [@probationsmack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/probationsmack)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/167 "2003-05-29T16:02:02Z")
“This is the order in which \.” hmmmm blank= “the guy randomly pointed at them with his feable index finger?” this is “charity” so if he makes some stupid crap up saying there is obvious logic here, then people will continue paying to guess an unanswerable problem. but ill bite maybe it has nothing to do with american history? Instead, it relates to separate regions but throws you off by confining them within their present day state borders. Maybe something to do with indians, dutch, spaniards, exploration? Could it be the order in which states accepted reforms such as women’s voting rights. There is also the fact that it may be a “who is worse off in some catergory” list, delaware being the most stricken ---
**Author:** ![probationsmack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/46a35a/32.png) [@probationsmack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/probationsmack)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/168 "2003-05-29T16:07:24Z")
HOLD ON!!! IS IT THOSE GODDAMN STATE QUARTERS THEY HAVE BEEN ISUING? i forgot all about those things and i remember delaware being first ---
**Author:** ![muttrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a8b319/32.png) [@muttrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muttrox)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/169 "2003-05-29T16:12:21Z")
Probation, slow down. Read the thread. Do some research. Then post. ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/170 "2003-05-29T16:53:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by panamajack \* > **Just looking at the list, and the fact that the list is given at the site with an animated map strongly suggests that geography is a clue** Only if the owner of the site actually knows the solution to the puzzle. ---
**Author:** ![smam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@smam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smam)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/171 "2003-05-29T17:27:42Z")
Perhaps it’s an elevation thing, the states that are on average lower or closer to sea level come first maybe? Or if the ice-caps were to melt these are the states that flood first. UFO sightings? Winners on Jeapordy? The states least likely to have an average joe make MLB given one years training? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/172 "2003-05-29T17:31:46Z")
No to the elevation/sea level/flooding - Florida is 17. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/173 "2003-05-29T18:05:49Z")
Don’t forget what the creator of the puzzle stated on the original google.answers link - the ordering is connected to the date when ‘something happened’. This rules out many of the guesses. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/174 "2003-05-29T19:49:02Z")
New direction\> I’m not from Deleware but is there any restraunts, retail stores, hotel chains that started in Deleware and this is the route of thier expansion? If the business had a “colorful publication” it may list their expansion territories. Often locations are given numbers and they are in order of when they opened. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/175 "2003-05-29T20:20:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hampshire \* > \*\*New direction\> > > I’m not from Deleware but is there any restraunts, retail stores, hotel chains that started in Deleware and this is the route of thier expansion? > If the business had a “colorful publication” it may list their expansion territories. Often locations are given numbers and they are in order of when they opened. \*\* That’s not bad. The geography of the list is obviously important, as others have mentioned. NE - Mid West - South. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/176 "2003-05-29T22:19:09Z")
Ok, I’ll throw out an idea. How about ranking from least to most the highest elevation in the state? It seems to fit, but I haven’t searched yet… ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2003, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/177 "2003-05-29T22:38:14Z")
I read one comment on the Google answers thread that said something about answering this puzzle requires some personal knowledge about the puzzle creator - anyone know if this is the case? If so that would invalidate the whole puzzle as far as the great majority of us are concerned. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/178 "2003-05-30T02:50:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Steelerphan \* > \*\*Ok, I’ll throw out an idea. How about ranking from least to most the highest elevation in the state? It seems to fit, but I haven’t searched yet… \*\* I doubt it, with Florida at 17. ---
**Author:** ![xvxdarkknightxvx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/34f0e0/32.png) [@xvxdarkknightxvx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xvxdarkknightxvx)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/179 "2003-05-30T03:19:32Z")
_Gasp_ We’ve been [spotted](http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/19383) . :eek: ---
**Author:** ![xvxdarkknightxvx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/34f0e0/32.png) [@xvxdarkknightxvx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xvxdarkknightxvx)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2003, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573/180 "2003-05-30T03:24:34Z")
_Gasp_ I’m about a year late. Heh, didn’t realize the fourth page wasn’t the first page. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-ordering-of-us-states/123573.md?page=10)