These Pictures Sum Up Each US State Perfectly

Each state in the US is unique in its own way. All 50 are known for something specific or have a comical stereotype that the rest of the country makes fun of them for. While people tend to be inherently loyal and defensive of their own state, no one state is better than all the others, as each has their own problems. Take a look to see some of the best pictures that perfectly capture the essence of these states.

Nebraska: If You Don't Love Corn, Get Out

Nebraska
RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty Images
RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty Images

Corn, corn, and more corn. Smack in the middle of the Country, Nebraska is full of not much else other than cornfields and wide open spaces. It's a whopping 77,220 square miles with a total population of just under 1.9 million people to give you an idea.

If you're trying to escape the overwhelming amount of corn, don't look to football as your answer. The majority of the state supports the University of Nebraska, whose mascot is the Cornhuskers. Fans proudly wear giant corn hats on their head to represent their state.

ADVERTISEMENT

New Jersey: Gym, Tan, Laundry

ADVERTISEMENT
New Jersey
Olivia Salazar/FilmMagic
Olivia Salazar/FilmMagic
ADVERTISEMENT

Bordered on the north and east by the State of New York, New Jersey is the fourth smallest state by area but is the most densely populated in the US. Although known as the "Garden State," most people have begun to refer to it as the home of the cast of the MTV reality television show Jersey Shore.

ADVERTISEMENT

People now assume that the state is crawling with Italian descendants who share a common obsession with tanning, working out, and making a name for themselves with the ladies.

ADVERTISEMENT

New York: The City That Never Sleeps

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
New York
Francesco Vaninetti/ClickAlps/REDA&CO/UIG via Getty Images
Francesco Vaninetti/ClickAlps/REDA&CO/UIG via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

One of the original 13 colonies, the state of New York has an estimated 19.85 million residents, with New York City making up 40% of the state's population. For those who don't live in New York or anywhere near it, New York City is the only thing that comes to mind when they think of the state.

ADVERTISEMENT

The rest of the country tends to forget that there are countless other cities in the area and that the state is bigger than just one city.

ADVERTISEMENT

Oregon: Keep Portland Weird

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Oregon
George Rose/Getty Images
George Rose/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Oregon became the 33rd state in the United States in 1859 and is considered to be one of the most geographically diverse in the US. There are volcanoes, dense forests, countless bodies of water, and even high deserts.

ADVERTISEMENT

Yet, when people think of Oregon, if it's not nature, it's most likely Portland's citizen's unwavering belief in "Keeping Portland Weird." Oregon has always been at the forefront of being progressive, so many people consider Oregonians to be nothing short of free-spirited hippies.

ADVERTISEMENT

Virginia: The War Never Ended

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Virginia
KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images
KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The first New England colony was founded at Jamestown, Virginia, making Virginia an incredibly proud state. Although rich in history with endless memorials and annual war reenactments, people from other states see Virginia nothing more than a tourist destination for American history fanatics or a place for people who would rather live in the past.

ADVERTISEMENT

While DC may seem like a big attraction, a lot of US citizens, including some Virginians, forget that Washington DC isn't even a part of Virginia.

ADVERTISEMENT

West Virginia: Country Roads, Take Me Home

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
West Virginia
Photo by Lane Turner/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Photo by Lane Turner/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

West Virginia is the only state to have formed by separating from a Confederate state and was one of the two states admitted to the Union during the Civil War. It's known for its mountains, rolling hills, and recreational activities, as well as its logging and coal mining industries.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, over the years, it has acquired the reputation of being a state where everyone is a hillbilly and a bigot. People often envision West Virginians living in squalor deep in the mountains, surviving off moonshine and beef jerky.

ADVERTISEMENT

Idaho: The Land Of Potatoes

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Idaho
Dean Conger/Corbis via Getty Images
Dean Conger/Corbis via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

With a population of 1.7 million and an area of 83,569 miles, it is the 14th largest and 12th least populous state. Much like Nebraska, people don't talk about Idaho much unless potatoes are part of the conversation. It's a simple state where people take pride in their isolation, their conservative views, and of course, their potatoes.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to Gallup, Inc. Idaho is the seventh-most conservative state in the country, so if you aren't comfortable with those beliefs you might want to steer clear of that state entirely.

ADVERTISEMENT

Alaska: Where Giant Animals Outnumber People

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
Galen Rowell/Corbis via Getty Images
Galen Rowell/Corbis via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Being the largest state in the country as well as the 3rd least populous and most sparsely populated, it's no surprise that nature dominates the state. There's an abundance of wildlife in Alaska, so it's not uncommon to see a grizzly bear or moose strolling the streets on a morning run.

ADVERTISEMENT

This is what most people imagine when they think of Alaska, and for the most part, they aren't wrong. Some animal encounters might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for some people, but not for Alaskans.

ADVERTISEMENT

Arizona: The Party Goes On

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Arizona
Ted Soqui/Corbis via Getty Images
Ted Soqui/Corbis via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

While Arizona is known for some of its tourist attractions such as the Grand Canyon and the city of Phoenix, it's also known for it's dedication to partying. Throughout the year, hundreds of thousands of people take to the rivers to avoid the blistering heat and participate in massive booze-fueled river and lake parties.

ADVERTISEMENT

Nothing screams Arizona more than Coors Light beer, cowboys hats, and cheetah printed bikinis. There's a reason a lot of parents forbid their children to go to Arizona for spring break.

ADVERTISEMENT

California: Traffic and Wildfires

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
California
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The most populous state in the country, nothing sums up California more than traffic and wildfires. While the people of California might like to act like they spend their days surfing and laying out on the beach, the reality of the state is a lot more like this image.

ADVERTISEMENT

At times, it may not be as glamorous as it makes itself out to be, and today, most people have all of their most precious items by the door in case a wildfire comes out of nowhere.

ADVERTISEMENT

Kansas: There's No Place Like Home

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Kansas
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
ADVERTISEMENT

Located in the Midwestern United States, most people tend to associate Kansas with wide-open prairies, tornadoes, and of course, The Wizard of Oz. Because it has so much open space, Kansas is well known for its agriculture of wheat, corn, and soybeans, all of which are constantly at risk of being ravaged by tornadoes.

ADVERTISEMENT

There wasn't much going on in Kansas before the Civil War, and even after the population boom that followed, little had changed as the prairies simply turned into farmlands.

ADVERTISEMENT

Arkansas: Home Of Bill Clinton

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Arkansas
Jeffrey Greenberg/UIG via Getty Images
Jeffrey Greenberg/UIG via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Being the 29th largest state and the 33rd most populous, one of the things that someone not from Arkansas might know about the state is that former President Bill Clinton was born and raised there.

ADVERTISEMENT

Other than that, people might tell you that hunting is a popular past time. With a population of only 3 million people, it's relatively spread out, with its citizens being proud of their past and their culture. However, most other states tend to not dwell too hard on it.

ADVERTISEMENT

Hawaii: Filled With Tourists

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Hawaii
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

While Hawaii may be a tropical paradise, there are some downsides to it. Because it's so beautiful, it has turned into a vacation destination for people all over the world, and it's not that big either.

ADVERTISEMENT

Hawaii is definitely not the place to go to if you are looking to get away from everything to relax. It's quite the opposite in fact. Not only will you be surrounded by thousands of other tourists, but you might want to tread lightly around the locals as well.

ADVERTISEMENT

Delaware: Shopping Galore

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Delaware
Lenora Quvus
Lenora Quvus
ADVERTISEMENT

Delaware is second-smallest and sixth-least populated state in the US. Probably one of the only notable things about the state is that it doesn't have a sales tax. This makes it an incredibly popular shopping destination for people on the east coast.

ADVERTISEMENT

Their tax laws encourage large companies to build their headquarters in their little state, which helps promote business and provide jobs. However, other than that, there's not much to be said about this state. You'll have to ask someone that lives there about it.

ADVERTISEMENT

Florida: Watch Your Back

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Florida
Education Images/UIG via Getty Images
Education Images/UIG via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

If you've seen the memes on the Internet, the majority of the country looks at Florida as if it's the Wild Wild West. The state is known for the flashiness of Miami, to people eating each other's faces after taking too many bath salts.

ADVERTISEMENT

Alligators are also treated as casually as most people might deal with a stray dog in their backyard. Not many people in the world could handle living in a place like that, so you have to respect those who do.

ADVERTISEMENT

Illinois: Baseball And Hotdogs

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Illinois
Kena Krutsinger/Getty Images
Kena Krutsinger/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

When people think of Illinois, hot dogs and baseball are usually a few things to come to mind. Although Illinois isn't the only state that has a style of food named after a city, the Chicago hot dog is a classic.

ADVERTISEMENT

To order anything else other than a Chicago dog is considered to be heresy in the area. Furthermore, much like New York, people from outside the state forget that places outside of Chicago even exist. Illinois is the sixth most populous state, and not everyone lives in Chicago.

ADVERTISEMENT

Iowa: Crops, Crops, And More Crops

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Iowa
Pinterest
Pinterest
ADVERTISEMENT

After the Louisiana Purchase, Iowa became part of the United States and began to lay a foundation for an agriculture-based economy. To this day, that's about all that Iowa is known for- being flat, and having a lot of agriculture.

ADVERTISEMENT

Considering that 60% of Iowa's land is covered in fields, it has become alluring to big companies that are looking to establish manufacturing plants. So, if you're driving through Iowa, chances are that you're going to see a lot of crops with some manufacturing plants sprinkled here and there.

ADVERTISEMENT

Kentucky: That's Finger-licking Good

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Kentucky
Marques/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Marques/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Although originally a part of Virginia, Kentucky became its own state in 1792 and hasn't looked back. The state has essentially been made popular for hosting the Kentucky Derby and of course, Kentucky Fried Chicken.

ADVERTISEMENT

Although Colonel Sanders may have not been born in Kentucky, that's a well-kept secret of the people from Kentucky who see him more as a mascot than a businessman. Aside from that, the people of Kentucky like to boast about having the two largest man-made lakes east of the Mississippi.

ADVERTISEMENT

Maine: Where The Air Is Cold And The Lobsters Are Red

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Maine
Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images
Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Being the northernmost state in New England, Maine essentially has the same weather as Canada which means some very cold winters. However, on the bright side, the fishing in Maine is some of the best in the world, which brings people from all over the world to try some world-famous Maine lobster.

ADVERTISEMENT

So, if you plan on visiting Maine, dress like you're going to Canada, but don't leave your patriotism or your appetite at home.

ADVERTISEMENT

Massachusetts: Home To Some Tough Individuals

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Massachusetts
ClimbAddict
ClimbAddict
ADVERTISEMENT

The most populous state in New England, when entering Massachusetts, you might as well be visiting another country. The accents in the state are so thick and their attitudes so unforgiving you'll feel extremely out of place.

ADVERTISEMENT

Chances are you will have no idea what's going on even trying to buy some famous Boston clam chowder. Also, if you're in Boston, don't get the Red Sox confused with the White Sox, or else you might be leaving the city with a lump on your head.