Did you know that Jacksonville is actually the largest city in Florida by area? Also cool: It is the most populous city in the South outside of the state of Texas. For those of you who've seen The Good Place, it seems that Jason Mendoza actually did have something to be proud of when he bragged about living in Jacksonville all the time.
The United States is enormous––and there's so much more to learn. After Redditor FriendoAmigo asked the online community, "U.S. residents: What is a lesser known fact about the state you live in?" people took the opportunity to boast!
Louisiana
Louisiana is the only state that uses the Napoleonic Code for laws. Louisiana is also the only state that has parishes instead of counties.
Pennsylvania
Until WWI German was the most spoken language in PA. Papers were printed in it, schools were taught in it, it was spoken in homes and businesses. Then we soured on Germany and in a matter of years it was erased except for place names, last names, and the language of the Plain people.
Somehow...
...this doesn't surprise me.
New Jersey
New Jersey is home to the Pine Barrens, basically the cleansing apparatus for the entire Northeastern seaboard for the last few centuries. Interesting lore surrounding the New Jersey Devil living there too.
They are also the setting for that one scene in "The Sopranos."
You know the one.
Idaho
The first instance of nuclear power producing electricity happened in Arco, Idaho.
A lab there created the world's first breeder reactor (EBR-1) and produced just enough electricity to power 4 lightbulbs.
Bonus, but probably less surprising, fact: Idaho hosts the national finals for competitive fiddling. The town of Weiser triples in population during the contest as over 7k people come through to compete, hang out, and jam.
Minnesota
Minnesota was not a very populous state during the Civil War, but we sent hundreds of soldiers to fight, including the First Minnesota. The First Minnesota Regiment suffered 80% casualties at the Battle of Gettysburg, but for their sacrifice they won a Virginian Battle Flag as a trophy from the field.
Florida
Miami is NOT the biggest city in Florida by population. It's actually Jacksonville (city proper). However, the Miami metropolis (Miami and its surrounding cities; Miami Beach, Hialeah, Hollywood, etc.) are much more populous than Jacksonville, which is why Miami really is a much "bigger" city than Jacksonville in the traditional sense (also more high rise buildings). The amount of people within the same amount of square miles around Miami vs Jacksonville is much higher in Miami, but the "city proper" of Miami is smaller.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin may be 2nd in volume of dairy products (the sheer size of California overwhelms) but we are #1 in cranberry production.
Also, our state animal and college mascot (the badger) derives from our early mining history, though mining is not much––if anything––in our economy.
Cranberries are incredible.
I could probably snack on them all day. I'd likely be in heaven if I paid the state a visit.
Utah
Utah is home to the second highest population of Pacific Islanders, second only to Hawaii.
The country is vast!
Take a road trip sometime. You could drive and drive and drive and never see all of it. There's always more to see and do––we are lucky to live in a land as varied as this one.
Have some facts of your own? Feel free to share them in the comments section below!
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