The United States is a land of big dreams, booming innovation, and a whole lot of quirky charm. We all know about the Statue of Liberty and the White House, but did you know there are also squirrely secrets and bizarre bits of trivia hidden across the nation?
20 Lesser-Known and Playfully Funny Facts About the USA
- The Unicorn is Scotland’s National Animal, but… it’s also the official national animal of South Carolina.
- Peanut Power: Former US President Jimmy Carter was a peanut farmer.
- Feeling Sheepish: There are reportedly more sheep than people in Idaho.
- Alaska’s Got Room: You could fit the entire state of Texas into Alaska twice!
- Sweet Home… Ohio? Despite what some may think, Ohio is NOT the official birthplace of aviation (that honor goes to the Wright Brothers’ home state of North Carolina).
- Flag Faux Pas: A high school student in the 1800s designed the current US flag for a class project – and got a B-.
- California’s Redwood Giants: The tallest trees in the world (redwoods) live in Redwood National Park, California. Some are as tall as a 35-story building!
- Maine: One Syllable, Big State: Maine is the only state in the US with a one-syllable name.
- Montana’s Moo-ving Majority: Cows outnumber people roughly 3 to 1 in Montana.
- Forget the Elevator: The residents of Gurney, Alaska often use four-wheelers and snowmobiles instead of cars due to the lack of roads.
- Lost in Translation: Believe it or not, there’s no official language in the United States.
- A Pizza Lover’s Paradise: Americans eat approximately 100 acres of pizza every single day.
- A Whole Lotta Laws: There are some really odd laws still on the books in various states, like the fact that it’s illegal to tickle women in Virginia.
- Lucky Lips: In Delaware, it’s illegal to get married on a dare.
- Bear Hugging is Best Left to Pros: In Missouri, it’s illegal to wrestle a bear.
- Honk If You Love Sundays! In Denver, Colorado, it’s illegal to lend your vacuum cleaner to your neighbor.
- Pickle Power: The town of Berrien Springs, Michigan, is known as the Pickle Capital of the World.
- It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! No, it’s a… flying squirrel? North Carolina is the only state where you’ll find the Southern Flying Squirrel.
- Rhode Island’s Big Appetite: Rhode Island may be the smallest state, but it has the highest concentration of donut shops per capita.
- Presidential Penmanship: Three of the signers of the Declaration of Independence (John Hancock, Charles Carroll, and Edward Rutledge) were all from South Carolina.
The Takeaway
From quirky laws to natural wonders, the United States is a land full of surprises. The next time you’re looking for a laugh or a fascinating bit of trivia, look no further than your own backyard!
