Useless Knowledge: Test trivia on states

By Linsay Carlson - 08/28/2008

How much do you know about the United States?

1. Which state borders the most Great Lakes?

2. Which state is the only state in history to turn down hosting the Olympics?

3. Which state is home to the oldest newspaper still being published?

4. Which state is home to the geographic center of North America?

5. Which state has more varieties of grass growing in it than any other state?

6. Which state is the only state not to have counties?

7. Which state was the first to have a sales tax?

8. Which state is home to the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in North America?

9. Which state is the only state to have both its east and west borders formed completely by rivers?

10. Which state is the nation's leading peach producer east of the Mississippi?

11. Which state has had six nation's flags flying over it at one time or another?

12. Which state is the leading producer of cranberries?

13. Which state built the first subway system in the United States?

14. Which state is home to the only active diamond mine in the U.S.?

15. Which state is called "the mother of presidents" because eight U.S. presidents were born there?

16. Which state is home to the longest cave system in the world?

17. Which two states have outlawed all forms of gambling?

18. Which state is home to the Black Hills?

19. Which state was the first to ratify the U.S. Constitution?

20. Which state had the nation's first electric traffic light installed?

Information in part from: www.50states.com/facts/, www.infoplease.com Linsay Carlson is a copy editor for The Montana Standard. She enjoys trivia immensely and may be reached via e-mail at linsay.carlson@mtstandard.com.

ANSWERS: 1. Michigan; 2. Colorado; 3. Connecticut; 4. North Dakota; 5. Nebraska; 6. Louisiana; 7. West Virginia; 8. Florida; 9. Iowa; 10. South Carolina; 11. Texas; 12. Wisconsin; 13. Massachusetts; 14. Arkansas; 15. Virginia; 16. Kentucky; 17. Utah and Hawaii; 18. South Dakota; 19. Delaware; 20. Ohio