By Ally BuzzangaOctober 04, 2013
While U.S. citizens undoubtedly have cause to wave their state flag, each of the 50 states also has its share of less than brag-worthytraits.
It’s been shown that Americans have strong opinionsabout states beside their own, but we atUpwavewere curious how residents of a state feel about home sweet home. We used ourconsumer survey serviceto ask7,340 respondents if they were proud to be from the state in which they reside.
The results showed that 34% of respondents were “extremely proud” to be from the state in which they currently live, while 9% were “not at all proud.”
States of the Union
We found that Oregon, California, and Washington were among the proudest states, each with over 42% of respondents saying they were “extremely proud” to live there. Arizona, Indiana, and North Carolina were the least proud, as each state had less than 21% of respondents answer they were “extremely proud.”
Since Texas isknownfor its larger than life persona, we predicted that the former sovereign nation would produce extraordinary results in terms of state pride. However, Texas was towards the middle of the pack for both proud and not proud residents, recording the 20th highest total for rates of “extremely proud” residents (36%) and 19th highest for those who were “not at all proud” (12%).
We also found gender differences among Texas respondents, as women were over twice as likely as men to say they are “not at all proud” of their state.
Teen angst
Perhaps because they’re unlikely to have much say in where they live, respondents age 13-17 were the age group most likely to answer that they are “not at all proud” to be from their state. At 15%, teens were 67% more likely than respondents over age 18notto take pride in their place of residence.
Our take
We were struck by the fact that over a third of total respondents were “extremely proud” to be from their state, and will be curious to see how these totals fluctuate with any future political and economic changes.
Footnotes for our fellow data geeks
This article discusses a survey conducted by Upwave, focusing on the pride levels of residents in their respective states in the United States. As an enthusiast in data analysis and social research, I've delved into various methodologies used in surveys and statistical analyses, including the interpretation of demographic patterns and their implications. This specific study utilized a consumer survey service and interviewed 7,340 respondents online between September 30 and October 3, 2013. The aim was to gauge the levels of pride individuals held for their home states.
The survey revealed that 34% of respondents expressed being "extremely proud" of their state, while 9% indicated they were "not at all proud." Oregon, California, and Washington emerged as the states with the highest pride percentages, with over 42% of respondents claiming to be "extremely proud." Conversely, Arizona, Indiana, and North Carolina showed lower rates of state pride, each having less than 21% of respondents who felt "extremely proud."
The study highlighted Texas's unexpected position in the middle ground despite its well-known larger-than-life reputation. While it recorded 36% "extremely proud" residents (ranked 20th) and 12% "not at all proud" (ranked 19th), the state's position didn't align with expectations based on its distinct identity.
Additionally, gender differences were noticeable among Texas respondents, with women being more than twice as likely as men to express being "not at all proud" of their state. Furthermore, an interesting observation was made regarding age groups, where teens aged 13-17 were notably more inclined (15%) to claim they were "not at all proud" compared to respondents over 18 years old.
The article concludes by contemplating potential shifts in these pride percentages due to future political and economic changes, expressing curiosity about how these sentiments might evolve over time.
The article's depth goes beyond mere statistical figures, delving into societal perceptions and implications, highlighting intriguing disparities in pride levels across different demographics. The footnotes provide avenues for further exploration through downloadable data and analysis tools like Statwing, catering to fellow data enthusiasts interested in scrutinizing the underlying information and methodologies employed in the survey.
