One-of-a-kind
The one thing these states can brag about (and no one else can)
Image: RDNE Stock project
Every state in the U.S. has its own personality, but some come with bragging rights no one else can touch. From deserts and diamonds to cave systems and cheese-making microbes, each of these states has a claim to fame that sets it apart. If you enjoy travel trivia, fun facts, or just knowing more about our big and quirky country, you’ll want to stick around for this one. Let’s take a lighthearted look at the states that are true originals.
1
South Dakota sits right in the middle of it all
Image: Intricate Explorer
Just outside the town of Belle Fourche, South Dakota, lies the geographic center of the United States when you include Alaska and Hawaii . It is not marked with neon signs or big crowds, but there is something satisfying about standing near the heart of the whole country. It feels like the center of gravity for the U.S.
2
Iowa is flanked by rivers on both sides
Image: Justin Wilkens
If you look at a map, you will see Iowa neatly tucked between two mighty rivers . The Mississippi River borders it to the east, and the Missouri River forms most of its western boundary. No other state can say that its entire east and west borders are made up of rivers. That gives Iowa a front-row seat to river life from both sides.
3
Kansas is flatter than a breakfast pancake
Image: Edson Saldaña
Believe it or not, a group of researchers once compared Kansas to a pancake and found that Kansas is actually flatter . This was not a joke. They used real measurements. If long, open roads and wide horizons are your thing, Kansas is the ultimate smooth ride.
4
Arizona has all the deserts in one place
Image: Keith Hardy
Arizona is not just dry, it’s uniquely arid. It is the only state that includes parts of nearly all of the major North American deserts . These include the Sonoran, Mojave, Chihuahuan, and Great Basin deserts. That makes it a desert lover's dream and a living science exhibit where four very different ecosystems meet in one sunbaked state.
5
Michigan lives and breathes freshwater
Image: Aaron Burden
Michigan has more freshwater shoreline than any other state in the country. It borders four of the five Great Lakes , features two peninsulas, and is even home to a floating post office that delivers mail by boat. If you enjoy water views and lakeside life, Michigan delivers the goods in a big way.
6
Connecticut gave counties the pink slip
Image: Rusty Watson
Unlike most states, Connecticut does not have county governments. The state decided back in the late 1950s and early 1960s to get rid of them entirely. Now, counties are just lines on a map and have no political power. If you live in Connecticut, you deal directly with your town or city. No middleman needed.
7
Delaware still uses ‘hundreds’ and no, not the money kind
Image: Gary Cole
In Delaware, land is still divided into areas called hundreds . These are old British-style subdivisions that originally represented areas able to support roughly 100 households. While they do not play a role in law or government today, the names still show up in property documents and tax records.
8
Kentucky hides the longest cave under its feet
Image: Joshua Sortino
Beneath Kentucky’s surface lies a giant underground wonder called Mammoth Cave. It holds the record as the longest known cave system in the world , with over 400 miles of mapped tunnels. That is a whole lot of rock and mystery. Whether you are into history, geology, or just cool natural landmarks, this cave system is something special.
9
Louisiana prefers parishes over counties
Image: Joe Lavigne
Louisiana does not have counties like the rest of the country. Instead, it has parishes , a term carried over from its French and Spanish colonial days. These parishes work the same way counties do elsewhere, but the name gives the state a unique cultural twist.
10
Montana provides the nation's platinum and palladium
Image: Calvin Chai
Montana is the only significant source of domestically mined platinum and palladium in the United States. These rare metals are used in things like jewelry, dental tools, and car parts. Tucked into its rugged mountains, Montana’s mines quietly produce some of the most valuable materials in the country.
11
Wisconsin has an official microbe, and it makes cheese
Image: Azzedine Rouichi
Of course, Wisconsin would go this route. The state named Lactococcus lactis as its official microbe. It is the helpful little organism behind the cheese-making magic. Without it, you would not have cheddar, Colby, or many other favorites. Leave it to the dairy state to give a tiny cheese-maker its moment of fame.
