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?
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?
“This is the order in which <blank>.”
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
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?
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’.
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.
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.