# What or who is your state known for? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 11, 2015, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518 "2015-08-11T03:21:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518/1 "2015-08-11T03:21:43Z")
A couple of recent threads got me thinking about this. If they made a movie that takes place in your state what would they show? We know for Maine it would be the rocky coast, and possibly pine trees or moose. If people from the other states were asked to name the 3 most famous people from your state who would they say? Sadly I can’t think of much of an answer for Rhode Island, except for being small and being the only island not totally surrounded by water we’re barely known at all. Some people might be able to name Roger Williams, and fewer maybe Buddy Cianci. How about your state? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518/2 "2015-08-11T03:25:08Z")
I live in Nevada. We have Las Vegas: Elvis, Liberace, Sinatra, etc. Many of our hotels and our Strip are easily recognized at the moment. Las Vegas is pretty well-known (I’m taking an online class in Understatement) but the rest of the state not so much… Area 51 would be the thing most people would recognize, prolly. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518/3 "2015-08-11T03:36:50Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > A couple of recent threads got me thinking about this. > > If they made a movie that takes place in your state what would they show? We know for Maine it would be the rocky coast, and possibly pine trees or moose. > > If people from the other states were asked to name the 3 most famous people from your state who would they say? > > Sadly I can’t think of much of an answer for Rhode Island, except for being small and being the only island not totally surrounded by water we’re barely known at all. Some people might be able to name Roger Williams, and fewer maybe Buddy Cianci. > > How about your state? How about Newport, and Gatsbyesque millionaires? Or _Family Guy_? Sure, your state’s a little obscure, but I think perhaps you overestimate its cultural invisibility. I can tell you more about Rhode Island than I can about Nebraska, f’r instance. As far as Georgia is concerned, I would guess most people would think Jimmy Carter, crunk, and _The Walking Dead_. Movies about Georgia tend to be set in Atlanta. As far as famous Georgians, the top three are probably Jimmy Carter, Martin Luther King Jr. and … well, Julia Roberts is hugely famous, and from suburban Atlanta, but she’s not really associated, ISTM, with her native state. Ten years ago, I would have said Newt Gingrich, but he’s kinda fallen off the radar. (Thank Og.) Hmm. Gladys Knight? Ludakris? The Indigo Girls? Not sure. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518/4 "2015-08-11T03:47:41Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > How about Newport, and Gatsbyesque millionaires? Or _Family Guy_? Sure, your state’s a little obscure, but I think perhaps you overestimate its cultural invisibility. I can tell you more about Rhode Island than I can about Nebraska, f’r instance. The Family Guy would be pretty good for some circumstances. While people have heard of Newport and it’s wealth they’d wouldn’t have an easy time recognizing it if it was used in an establishing shot in a movie. You’d definitely need a caption for it. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518/5 "2015-08-11T03:54:12Z")
California here, if I am in the south people tend to ask about Hollywood a lot. If a am in the east they talk about the beach and the nightlife. Years ago we were known for citrus, Hollywood and Disneyland. Now there are just too many possibilities for people to focus on. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518/6 "2015-08-11T04:05:28Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > If they made a movie that takes place in your state what would they show? We know for Maine it would be the rocky coast, and possibly pine trees or moose. I’m a resident of Fargo, North Dakota. They did make a movie about it. They got the cold winter weather right, but everything else is wrong. Fargo is suburban. It’s peaceful and safe. Few people get pushed into wood chippers up here. Few people even have wood choppers, because there’s not much wood. (Also, it pisses me off that they try to establish the setting and mood with a shot of a statue of Paul Bunyan. That statue is in an amusement park in Minnesota, nowhere near Fargo.) > [@](#): > > If people from the other states were asked to name the 3 most famous people from your state who would they say? [ul] [li]Teddy Roosevelt. He was a cowboy out here for two or three years. Obviously he’s not from here, but we take what we can get.[/li][li]Lawrence Welk. of course young whippersnappers will say, “Who was Lawrence Welk?” Again we take what we can get.[/li][li]Ummmm… maybe Sitting Bull or Crazy Horse? Sioux chieftains who ranged over lands including what’s now North Dakota.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518/7 "2015-08-11T04:11:18Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > I’m a resident of Fargo, North Dakota. They did make a movie about it. They got the cold winter weather right, but everything else is wrong. Fargo is suburban. It’s peaceful and safe. Few people get pushed into wood chippers up here. Few people even have wood choppers, because there’s not much wood. > > (Also, it pisses me off that they try to establish the setting and mood with a shot of a statue of Paul Bunyan. That statue is in an amusement park in Minnesota, nowhere near Fargo.) > [ul] > [li]Teddy Roosevelt. He was a cowboy out here for two or three years. Obviously he’s not from here, but we take what we can get.[/li][li]Lawrence Welk. of course young whippersnappers will say, “Who was Lawrence Welk?” Again we take what we can get.[/li][li]Ummmm… maybe Sitting Bull or Crazy Horse? Sioux chieftains who ranged over lands including what’s now North Dakota.[/li][/ul] The Movie Fargo explicitly takes place almost entirely in suburban and exurban Minneapolis. The only way the city of Fargo is involved in the movie is that the two criminals Jerry hires come from there. There is a brief scene at the end in North Dakota, but it’s in Bismarck. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518/8 "2015-08-11T05:51:25Z")
I believe the OP’s question has already been answered musically back in 1948. [Link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnWkbZuM788). ---
**Author:** ![Dobbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Dobbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dobbs)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518/9 "2015-08-11T06:12:00Z")
Virginia. A whole lot of the Civil War, mostly because Richmond. Also, presidents. They were born, lived, and died here. That was after the Revolution, of course. And some other stuff, some of which was pre-Revolution related. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518/10 "2015-08-11T06:56:21Z")
The most famous guy from my home state was [the crazy-ass mayor of its biggest city](https://amusicology.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/exposeyourselftoart1.jpg). And Linus Pauling. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518/11 "2015-08-11T08:23:06Z")
I’d say Arizona is best known for the Grand Canyon. After that, most people probably think of the desert when they think of Arizona. The three most famous Arizonans are undoubtedly John McCain, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, and probably Barry Goldwater. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518/12 "2015-08-11T08:24:19Z")
Born and grew up in Pennsylvania. > [@TriPolar](#): > > If they made a movie that takes place in your state what would they show? They _have_ made some movies there, and the subjects tend to be: the Amish (_Witness_), steel mills, hunting and Russian Roulette (_The Deer Hunter_), and minor league hockey (_Slap Shot_). > [@](#): > > If people from the other states were asked to name the 3 most famous people from your state who would they say? Uh, drawing something of a blank here. Taylor Swift, Joe Paterno and James Stewart? Oh, there’s that guy the state (or Commonwealth, rather) was named for. I think he invented the pennsyl or something. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518/13 "2015-08-11T12:58:38Z")
Florida checking in. The jokes write themselves. Or just launch some reruns of _Miami Vice_. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518/14 "2015-08-11T13:31:45Z")
Thinking of a couple of variants - listing what you think your state is most popular for, and seeing if other folk can identify it. Or seeing if residents and nonresidents agree. So here goes: Political corruption, corn and soybeans, Al Capone, the Blues Brothers. Most famous, probably Abe Lincoln (tho born elsewhere). ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518/15 "2015-08-11T13:32:18Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Florida checking in. The jokes write themselves. Or just launch some reruns of _Miami Vice_. We’re where the news comes from. Also drug dealers, professional athletes and old fat people. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518/16 "2015-08-11T13:33:03Z")
My home state is known for the worst US president until W eclipsed him, for Joe Paterno, and Rick Santorum. A sorry lot. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518/17 "2015-08-11T13:42:28Z")
Davy Crockett, Elvis, Dolly Parton, Buford Pusser, Andrew Jackson, Chet Atkins, Oak Ridge, walking horses, Jack Daniel… ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518/18 "2015-08-11T13:44:50Z")
Mormons, Mormons, and Mormons. Utah’s history and culture are inextricably linked to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. And pretty much everyone famous from Utah (Osmonds, etc.) is Mormon. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay behind Mormonism would be things like our ski resorts and canyonlands. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518/19 "2015-08-11T14:04:54Z")
I’m in Alabama (not from there, but my paycheck is here and I’m rather fond of that paycheck…). Yeah. I’ve got nothing. (Except that we are not Mississippi; Alabamans take great pride in that…;)😛 As for people; Rosa Parks, Harper Lee, Hugo Black ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518/20 "2015-08-11T14:06:08Z")
I live in New York, so it’s pretty obvious what they would show. I hate that people think nothing exists North of NYC. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-or-who-is-your-state-known-for/727518.md?page=2)