Is Your Hometown One of the 20 Most Sinful States in America?
Nobody is perfect; although, some people would argue otherwise. We all have our vices and bad habits, and now there is a survey to tell us just what those are. Wallethub, a personal finance website, released its report on 2018’s most sinful states. Spoiler alert: Nevada was not No. 1. The site ranked all 50 states according to their population's penchant for sinful behavior, with such categories as Anger and Hatred, Jealousy, Excesses and Vices, Greed, Lust, Vanity, and Laziness. Each state received a score out of 100. What's even more wicked were the sub-topics for each category per capita. Anger and Hatred illustrated such behaviors as violent and hate crimes, sex offenders, and bullying. Jealousy was based on thefts per capita, including such crimes as identity-theft complaints and fraud. Excesses and Vices included adult obesity, excessive drinking, and drug overdose deaths. Greed measured casinos per capita, and the population with gambling disorders, while Lust looked into the teen birth rate, Google search interest index for “XXX Entertainment,” and average time spent on adult entertainment sites. Vanity ventured into beauty salons per capita and Google search interest index for “Top 5 Plastic Surgeries.” Lastly, Laziness included average daily time spent watching TV, adults not exercising, and disconnected youth. For good clean living, there's always Vermont, which ranked as the least sinful state. Perhaps your hometown placed among the top 20. Take a look, and don't forget to SHARE these most sinful states with your debaucherous (or curious) friends!
We Love New York State
New York was one of the original 13 colonies that formed the United States. With an estimated 19.85 million residents, it is known for New York City and Niagara Falls. The island of Manhattan is home to several famous skyscrapers, including the Empire State Building and newer Freedom Tower. The iconic Statue of Liberty stands in New York Harbor, welcoming your tired and your poor every day to the city. Out east, New Yorkers enjoy such Long Island beaches as those found in the Hamptons, Montauk, and Fire Island. New York ranks No. 20 when it comes to the most sinful state, receiving a score of 44.70. However, New Yorkers came in No. 1 for Vanity. The newest plastic surgery trend in New York, according to Dr. Matthew Shulman, is patients asking to look like the Snapchat-filtered version of themselves. New York also loves hanging out, as the state ranked No. 14 for Laziness.
Missouri: The Show-Me State
The most widely known legend of the state's nickname attributes the phrase to Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver. While a member of the U.S. House Committee on Naval Affairs, Vandiver attended an 1899 naval banquet in Philadelphia. In a speech there, he declared, "I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have got to show me." Well, Missouri showed they are sinners, ranking No. 19 with a score of 46.16. The state, with a population of 6.13 million, ranked No. 8 for Jealousy. Theft also runs rampant in Missouri — from credit card theft to stealing guns from a UPS freight trailer, as reported in the Atlanta Business Chronicle. They are No. 11 for Excesses and Vices, and got No. 17 for both Anger and Hatred and Lust.
New Mexico: Land of Enchantment
The land of enchantment nickname aptly describes New Mexico's scenic beauty and its rich history. This saying was first placed on New Mexico license plates in 1941. Its diverse terrain encompasses the Chihuahuan Desert and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Its capital, Santa Fe, was founded in 1610 and is known for upscale spas and Spanish colonial architecture. It's also home to a vibrant arts scene. The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and the open-air Santa Fe Opera also are there. New Mexico — with a population of 2.09 million — isn't as enchanting when it comes to sin. They ranked No. 18 with a score of 46.35. It ranked No. 6 for Jealousy. Car theft is so out of control that one lawmaker is calling it a “state of emergency,” according to KRQE News 13. The state came in at No. 8 for Laziness, No. 13 for Greed, and No. 20 for Lust.
Is Oklahoma OK?
This Oklahoma state slogan first appeared on licence plates back in 1967. The name derived from the Choctaw words "okla" and "humma," meaning "red people." With the passing of time and the continual relocation of Native American tribes, the Indian Territory was reduced to what is now Oklahoma. Still home to many Native Americans, the state ranked No. 17 on the list of most sinful states, receiving a score of 46.56. The state, home to 3.94 million residents, ranked No. 5 in Greed, likely thanks to 130 tribal casino operations. There is no end in sight to casinos, as lawmakers have discussed proposals to legalize roulette and dice games. The establishments could rake in another $20 million for the state under existing tribal compacts. The state also is No. 9 in Lust and No. 12 in Laziness.
Mississippi: The Magnolia State
Mississippi is named for the magnolia, which is the state flower and the state tree. Its Mississippi Delta region is considered to be the birthplace of blues music. Such historic civil rights sites as the home of Medgar Evers in Jackson are memorialized on the Mississippi Freedom Trail. It has a network of more than two dozen marker, where visitors can witness how pivotal events in Mississippi changed the world. As for sin, Mississippi ranked No. 16 with a score of 46.75. It got third place for Lust and Laziness. Despite the state's emphasis on abstinence education, Mississippi has some of the highest rates of teen pregnancy. According to the Jackson Clarion Ledger, Mississippi has the fourth-highest teen birth rate in the nation. They also ranked No. 4 for Hatred and Anger, and No. 16 in Excesses and Vices.
New Jersey: The Garden State
New Jersey was not nicknamed for its many gardens. The name originated at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia on Jersey Day in 1876. Abraham Browning of Camden compared New Jersey with “an immense barrel, filled with good things to eat and open at both ends, with Pennsylvanians grabbing from one end and the New Yorkers from the other.” Why this led to the name is bewildering, but it's stuck ever since. Jersey City, located just across the Hudson River from Lower Manhattan, is the site of Liberty State Park, where ferries embark for nearby Ellis Island. There's also the historic Immigration Museum and the iconic Statue of Liberty. The Jersey Shore includes such notable resort towns as historic Asbury Park and Cape May, with its preserved Victorian buildings. Perhaps the most famous thing about New Jersey is Bruce Springsteen, who grew up in Freehold. With a population of 8.9 million, New Jersey is No. 15 on the most sinful state scale with a score of 46.93. It ranked No. 3 for Vanity. Even Perth Amboy's Jon Bon Jovi grew up with a hairstylist — his dad, John Bongiovi, which explains a lot about his hair. New Jersey also ranked No. 8 for Greed, no doubt for its casino culture in Atlantic City.
Arizona: The Grand Canyon State
Most of the canyon lies within the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. Aside from its majestic outdoor beauty, Arizona is famous for sterling silver jewelry. The state — with a population of 7.12 million — is the No. 14 most sinful state with a score of 47.59. They were No. 10 for Jealousy, No. 13 in Laziness, and No. 15 in Lust. Arizona also scored No. 19 in Vanity.
Ohio: The Birthplace of Aviation
In 2003, Congress officially declared Ohio as the “birthplace of aviation” because Dayton was the home of Wilbur and Orville Wright. The brothers are credited with inventing and flying the first aircraft. The state takes its name from the Ohio River, as it stretches from the river to the Appalachian Mountains. On the shores of Lake Erie is the city of Cleveland, which is the site of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland also is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. The state has a population of 11.64 million, and ranked as the 13th most sinful state with a score of 47.62. However, it was No. 1 in Excesses and Vices. It also was ranked No. 12 in Vanity, No. 14 in Anger and Hatred, and No. 17 for Laziness.
Washington: The Evergreen State
On Nov. 11, 1889, Washington became the 42nd state to enter the Union. It is named for our first president. Washington was nicknamed “The Evergreen State” by C.T. Conover — a pioneer Seattle realtor and historian — for its abundant evergreen forests. With a population of 7.53 million, Seattle is Washington's most-populated city and home to many techies. It also is the birthplace of Starbucks, which began in 1971 with just one store in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. All that coffee and computer time may be the cause of Washington's ranking as the No. 12 most sinful state, with a score of 47.85. The state also ranked No. 7 for Excesses and Vices, No. 10 for Vanity, and No. 11 for Jealousy.
Sweet Home Alabama
Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd put Alabama on the map in 1974 with the song “Sweet Home Alabama.” Alabama also is home to significant landmarks from the American Civil Rights Movement. Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church — now a museum — was a protest headquarters in the 1960s. In the state's capital, Montgomery, are Martin Luther King Jr.'s church and the Rosa Parks Museum. Alabama ranked as the No. 11 most sinful state with a score of 48.27. The population, 4.89 million, ranked fifth when it comes to Laziness, seventh for Lust, and ninth for both Anger and Hatred and Excesses and Vices.
Fall in Love With Louisiana All Over Again
"Fall in Love With Louisiana All Over Again" was a 2006 tourism campaign unveiled by Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu to lure tourists back to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and it stuck. New Orleans-based celebrities donated their time and images for the campaign, including Chef Emeril Lagasse, professional golfer David Toms, actor John Goodman, and jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. With a population of 4.68 million, its history is an amalgamation of French, African-American, and French-Canadian cultures. Those cultures mash-up in Creole and Cajun. New Orleans is known for its colonial-era French Quarter, raucous Mardi Gras festival, and New Orleans Jazz Festival. The festivities at Mardi Gras alone are enough to help Louisiana rank as a sinful state. The state came in at No. 10 with a score of 48.37. We're not surprised after all that partying that it ranked No. 2 in Laziness, No. 4 in Excesses and Vices, No. 6 in Lust, No. 16 in Anger and Hatred, and No. 17 in Jealousy.
Arkansas:The Natural State
Arkansas is famous for its natural scenic beauty, clear lakes and streams, and abundant wildlife — thus the nickname. Its capital, Little Rock, is home to the Clinton Presidential Center, where Bill Clinton’s presidential archives reside. There's even a song called "Little Rock" recorded by Reba McEntire from the album Whoever's in New England (1986). However, underneath that beauty lies a sinful state. Home to roughly 3.02 million people, Arkansas was ranked the ninth-most sinful state. It scored 48.71, and was ranked No. 3 for Anger and Hatred. Identity theft and fraud continue to be on the rise in Arkansas, mostly during tax season, which results in people having to wait quite some time to receive their tax refunds. The state ranked fourth for both Lust and Laziness, fifth for Excesses and Vices, and seventh for Greed.
Pure Michigan
Turns out Michigan is not so pure after all; it was ranked as the eighth-most sinful state with a score of 49.19. "Pure Michigan" came from a 2006 advertising campaign by the state, featuring the voice of Tim Allen, to attract tourism. Michigan is home to 43 downhill ski areas, and more than 6,000 miles of snowy trails. It contains more than 11,000 inland lakes, bordering four of the Great Lakes. Its largest city, Detroit, is famous for its ties to the auto industry. Detroit also is home to Hitsville U.S.A., the original headquarters of the Motown record company. The state ranked third in Jealousy. An identity theft scam, known as the Felony Lane Scheme, involved breaking into cars to steal checkbooks, credit cards, and driver's licenses. The checkbooks and identification were provided to female participants to write checks and then use disguises, including wigs, to cash the stolen checks. Michigan was ranked sixth in Anger and Hatred, 13th in Excesses and Vices 14th in Vanity, and 16th in both Lust and Laziness.
Illinois: Land of Lincoln
The moniker Land of Lincoln comes from President Abraham Lincoln, who moved to Macon County, Illinois, in 1830 when he was 21 years old. He lived in Illinois until he became president in 1861. Chicago, known as the windy city, is one of the largest in the United States, surrounded by Lake Michigan. It’s famous for its skyscrapers, such as the Willis Tower and the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower. Chicago also is known for its deep dish pizza. With its population of 12.76 million, Illinois was ranked the seventh-most sinful state, with a score of 49.40. It ranked No. 6 for Vanity, No. 13 for Lust and Anger and Hatred, and No. 19 for Jealousy.
Tennessee: The Volunteer State
Tennessee earned its nickname during the War of 1812 because of the prominent role played by volunteer soldiers from Tennessee, especially during the Battle of New Orleans. Its capital, Nashville, is known as Music City for being the heart of the country music scene, as well as home to the famed Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Its legendary stretch of honky tonks feature live music and a cowboy boot store virtually on every corner. Memphis is known as the home of Elvis Presley’s Graceland, rock and roll pioneering Sun Studio, and the blues clubs of Beale Street. All that shaking and rattling going on has made it the sixth-most sinful state with a score of 50.48. Tennessee has a population of 6.78 million. It is No. 1 in Anger and Hatred. Davidson county alone has 1,855 registered sex offenders. Racism and white supremacy are alive and well on university campuses. Tennessee was No. 3 for Excesses and Vices, No. 11 for Lust, No. 15 for both Jealousy and Laziness, and No. 20 for Greed.
Georgia On My Mind
The 1930 song "Georgia on My Mind" was written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell. However, it is associated with Georgia native Ray Charles, who recorded it for his 1960 album, The Genius Hits the Road. With a population of 3.9 million, the capital city of Atlanta is home to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, dedicated to the leader's life and times. The city of Savannah is famed for its 18th- and 19th-century architecture and leafy public squares — some even believe it's haunted. Georgia was ranked as the No. 5 most sinful state with a score of 51.15. It ranked No. 2 in Jealousy and Lust. Stolen credit cards and identity theft are big problems in Georgia. To combat teen pregnancy, Jane Fonda founded the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power and Potential in 1995, when Georgia had the highest teen birth rate in the country. “I had a fraught adolescence and understood what happens when a young woman doesn't know how her body works,” she said. Georgia scored sixth in Laziness and 11th in Vanity.
Texas: The Lone Star State
The distinctive five-pointed star and the nickname "Lone Star State" became official in 2015. The legend of the Lone Star came into existence in 1821, when Henry Smith, the governor of the Mexican Providence of Texas, cut a five-pointed star from his overcoat to use as a seal when signing important papers. Texas is the second-largest state with a population of 29.4 million. The state's leading industries are beef, cotton, and oil production. Its biggest city, Houston, is home to Space Center Houston, which offers interactive displays engineered by NASA. Austin, the capital, is known for its eclectic music scene and LBJ Presidential Library. As far as sin goes, it ranked No. 4 with a score of 52.14. However the state ranked No. 1 in Lust. Texas has the fifth-highest teen pregnancy rate in the nation. They scored No. 7 in both Vanity and Jealousy, and No. 19 in Anger and Hatred.
Nevada: The Silver State
Nevada is known as the Silver State because of the importance of silver to its history and economy. With a population of 3.06 million, its most popular city is Las Vegas, whose motto, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” can be attributed to its round-the-clock casinos and entertainment on the Las Vegas strip. You would think that temptation alone would make the state No. 1, but it actually ranked third with a score of 53.51. However it did rank No. 1 in both Greed and Laziness, No. 5 in Jealousy, and No. 14 in Lust.
California: The Golden State
California received its nickname in 1968 for its golden sunsets, Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and gold poppies. Its terrain features cliff-lined beaches, the redwood forest, the Sierra Nevada mountains, Central Valley farmland, and the Mojave Desert. The city of Los Angeles is the hub of Hollywood. California, with its 39.78 million people, ranked No. 2 as the most sinful state, receiving a score of 55.76. Speaking of beautiful people, the state also ranked No. 2 for Vanity. It was No. 5 for Lust, No. 9 for Jealousy, No. 10 for Anger and Hatred, and No. 14 for Greed.
Florida: The Sunshine State
With a subtropical climate, Florida beaches draw thousands of tourists every year. Florida has a population of 21.31 million. Miami, which is known for its Latin American cultural influences, has a healthy nightlife, especially in upscale South Beach. Perhaps that is why out of 100, Florida scored 57.27, making it the No. 1 most sinful state. The state also ranked No. 1 in Jealousy. According to Miami Herald, Florida ranked No.1 in Fraud and No. 2 in Identity Theft by the Federal Trade Commission. They were No. 4 in Vanity, No. 7 in Laziness, and No. 8 in Lust.