# Which states are most well known across the pond? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 10, 2017, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982 "2017-09-10T01:35:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2017, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982/1 "2017-09-10T01:35:45Z")
If I were to ask the average Joe across the pond to name off as many US states as he (or she) could. Which states would like come up the most often? I’m guessing: California, Texas, New York and Florida. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982/2 "2017-09-10T02:14:26Z")
I’d add Illinois, although it’s mainly Chicago that people in the U.K. are familiar with Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2017, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982/3 "2017-09-10T05:52:20Z")
From here across the Pacific ditch, and I promise I’m not googling, I’ll try to rattle off as many of the US states that I can: Arizona, California, Oregon, Nebraska, Wisconsin, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, Florida, Kentucky, Kansas, Washington, Illinois, Idaho, Ohio, Michigan, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Georgia, New England, Arkansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Missouri, Connecticut, Alaska, Hawaii, Colorado, Iowa, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Louisiana, Wyoming… That was 5 minutes worth of brain-stretch. Now, for the 'Merkins, how many states (and territories) can you name in Australia? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2017, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982/4 "2017-09-10T06:03:24Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I’d add Illinois, although it’s mainly Chicago that people in the U.K. are familiar with > Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I actually wouldn’t expect Illinois, the state, to be all that well known. Chicago, yes. (Back in the 80s, it was “Oh, you’re from Chicago? Al Capone!” Then in the 90s “Michael Jordan!”) But I’d be surprised if most people would know it was in Illinois. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2017, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982/5 "2017-09-10T06:04:48Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > Now, for the 'Merkins, how many states (and territories) can you name in Australia? 😃 Well, there’s only like seven of them, right? Tasmania, Queensland, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Victoria, and then I get lost. (Looks it up: Oh, well, they have quite generic names, so I can’t be faulted.) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2017, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982/6 "2017-09-10T06:12:00Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > From here across the Pacific ditch, and I promise I’m not googling, I’ll try to rattle off as many of the US states that I can: > > Arizona, California, Oregon, Nebraska, Wisconsin, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, Florida, Kentucky, Kansas, Washington, Illinois, Idaho, Ohio, Michigan, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Georgia, New England, Arkansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Missouri, Connecticut, Alaska, Hawaii, Colorado, Iowa, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Louisiana, Wyoming… > > That was 5 minutes worth of brain-stretch. Not bad at all. I’m often impressed at how much foreigners know about the U.S., especially those things that really don’t impact them in any way. However, New England is not a state. It’s a region in the northeast (I’ve heard some quibbles over the exact boundary) that share something of a common geography and history. The states are so small that travel from one to another is commonplace; it’s not unusual to live in one New England state and work in another. > [@](#): > > Now, for the 'Merkins, how many states (and territories) can you name in Australia? 😃 Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania,… ---
**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:** [September 10, 2017, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982/7 "2017-09-10T07:27:32Z")
New England is actually composed of the six most northeastern states, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2017, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982/8 "2017-09-10T07:44:00Z")
If I can’t sleep I will sometimes try to list all the US States. I am pretty good up to about 45, then I really falter, and the one I usually completely forget is Delaware. I then try to remember the two-letter abbreviations. Luckily I am asleep before I attempt capitals, because that ain’t ever gonna happen. I do know there are eight States that begin with M. Maine (ME), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi (MS), Maryland (MD), Montana (MT), Michigan (MI), Missouri (MO), and Massachusetts (MA). ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2017, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982/9 "2017-09-10T08:13:28Z")
In recent years, I’ve identified myself as being from Texas. I don’t even have to say America, just Texas. Most people responded with cowboy or western movie allusions, and I have to explain that its all oil now. I also have to add that I’m the only Liberal in Texas – the world doesn’t see right-wing America in a very good light, and associate it with Texas. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2017, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982/10 "2017-09-10T08:26:23Z")
Top three I’d imagine would be…Florida, California, Texas Bottom three…Rhode Island, Delaware, Wisconsin All the others somewhere in the middle ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2017, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982/11 "2017-09-10T08:34:18Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > New England is actually composed of the six most northeastern states, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. That’s the most common definition, but I knew someone in eastern Pennsylvania who swore that was part of New England. It’s not an official designation, so I don’t know if anyone can establish an official boundary. > [@GuanoLad](#): > > I do know there are eight States that begin with M. Maine (ME), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi (MS), Maryland (MD), Montana (MT), Michigan (MI), Missouri (MO), and Massachusetts (MA). Also eight that start with N; four News, two Norths, Nebraska, and Nevada. ---
**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:** [September 10, 2017, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982/12 "2017-09-10T09:01:08Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > That’s the most common definition, but I knew someone in eastern Pennsylvania who swore that was part of New England. It’s not an official designation, so I don’t know if anyone can establish an official boundary. It is the official designation. Your friend in Pennsylvania is wrong. > [@](#): > > New England is a geographical region comprising six states of the northeastern United States: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. > **[New England](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_England)** > > New England is a region consisting of six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick to the northeast and Quebec to the north. The Gulf of Maine and Atlantic Ocean are to the east and southeast, and Long Island Sound is to the southwest. Boston is New England's largest city and the capital of Massachusetts. Greater Boston... > [@](#): > > The New England region of the U.S. is comprised of six very unique states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont — all easily reached through the gateway city of Boston. [http://www.discovernewengland.org/about-new-england/new-england-states](http://www.discovernewengland.org/about-new-england/new-england-states) > [@](#): > > The natural beauty, culture, and history of New England attract and delight visitors from around the world. The six states that compose the region – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont – have distinct characters, but they all host visitors in all seasons of the year. > **[New England Travel, Tourism & Vacation Guide - Visit New England](https://www.visitnewengland.com/all/)** > > Explore New England with our online travel, tourism, and vacation guides. Visit New England can assist with your next trip. Check out our travel guides today. [Maps](http://www.visitnewengland.com/adservimage/5064.jpg) [of](https://i.redd.it/3m5tav648w1y.png) [New](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/a6/e2/5d/a6e25d365868c83909a09e89924062d1--good-relationships-east-coast.jpg) [England](http://www.new-england-map.com/new-england-map-400.gif). ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2017, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982/13 "2017-09-10T09:32:46Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > It is the official designation. Official from whom? It’s not a state, it’s not a time zone. [discovernewengland.org](http://discovernewengland.org) may find it convenient to refer to New England that way, but whence comes the imprimatur to define it? ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2017, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982/14 "2017-09-10T09:45:20Z")
I’ve left a half hour between reading kam’s post and trying it myself, just to get an independent-ish data point:) Texas Florida (it’s in the news!) California Utah New York Maryland Virginia West Virginia North Carolina South Carolina Kansas Arkansas Nevada Montana Minnesota New Mexico Illinois Rhode Island Massachusetts Washington Wyoming Ohio Delaware Georgia Connecticut North Dakota South Dakota Winnipeg (is that right?) Idaho Michigan Vermont Cleveland (unless that’s a city) I think I’ll stop now… ---
**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:** [September 10, 2017, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982/15 "2017-09-10T10:02:05Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Official from whom? It’s not a state, it’s not a time zone. [discovernewengland.org](http://discovernewengland.org) may find it convenient to refer to New England that way, but whence comes the imprimatur to define it? It’s generally agreed upon that New England is composed of those six states. I even learned it school. I provided seven cites, and there are many more. But if you have a cite that there are other states in New England besides those six, please, let’s see it. ---
**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:** [September 10, 2017, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982/16 "2017-09-10T10:06:00Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > I’ve left a half hour between reading kam’s post and trying it myself, just to get an independent-ish data point:) > > Texas Florida (it’s in the news!) California Utah New York Maryland Virginia West Virginia North Carolina South Carolina Kansas Arkansas Nevada Montana Minnesota New Mexico Illinois Rhode Island Massachusetts Washington Wyoming Ohio Delaware Georgia Connecticut North Dakota South Dakota Winnipeg (is that right?) Idaho Michigan Vermont Cleveland (unless that’s a city) I think I’ll stop now… Winnipeg is the capital of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Cleveland is a city in Ohio. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2017, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982/17 "2017-09-10T10:29:02Z")
Texas, California, Florida, New York for sure would be the best known. Kansas just from the Wizard of Oz. Aside from that, from occasional conversations on the subject with random friends and work colleagues here in the UK, everyone sees to know a random selection, with no real pattern. When we tried it as a driving game once on a family holiday when I was a teenager, we could remember all between 4 of us, but it did take a while, and a few Canadian provinces snuck in the list for a while, though we could barely remember any Canadian provinces when we tried them. Oh, and I _do_ know all the Aussie states and territories off the top of my head, but then I did spend a year over there. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2017, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982/18 "2017-09-10T11:35:04Z")
Country Music is popular in Europe, so Tennessee, via Nashville, has a footprint. Fan Fest’s annual turnout proves that. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2017, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982/19 "2017-09-10T11:56:40Z")
A significant proportion of _Americans_ seem to be under the impression that travel to my new home state of New Mexico requires a passport. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2017, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982/20 "2017-09-10T12:17:12Z")
Alaska and Hawaii probably also have some recognition. Alaska as “that place that’s damn cold”, and Hawaii as the only specks of land visible on a globe for thousands of miles of Pacific. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-states-are-most-well-known-across-the-pond/795982.md?page=2)