Talk about your State

[Malice]

I have seen some talk about peoples states. SO I wanted to start a thread about your state...Post some interesting facts about it.

Try an be positive in this thread, no derisive comments about states and the like, this is so people can post facts about their state to educate others.

For instance, I know alot about Texas...but not too much specific facts/history on other states...and I would love to know about them.
Not exactly Political....but I think its better served here then in another forum

 

[SurfDUI]

Indiana

Used to be big in manufacturing but we've been bleeding jobs for 10 years and recently have tried to move into bio-tech and at the same time stop one of the highest rates of brain drain in the U.S.

Unemployemnt is @ 10% and climbing, not a great number of higher educated folks, but good workers. Indianapolis tries to be a big play city, but we just can't afford it. YOUR Indianapolis COLTS a new palace, but can't afford to maintain it so there tryin to raise taxes AGAIN to keep it and Conseco Fieldhouse afloat. Our sewer systems is nearly 100 years old and has needed work so bad that during bad storms the white river floods and spills over sewage.

People here are O.K. depending on where you go, we still have a large contingent of biased residents depending on what side of town your in. We still have a town that is widely known not to really want any black folks there at all, and they will say as much.

Our public schools have troubles like a lot of places and we are near the top of dropout rates.

The good about it is kinda few and far between which are the people and for the most part arn't SO bad, but we definatly are struggling....and it's too damned cold.

 

[Malice]

Texas
- Texas is the only state to have the flags of 6 different nations fly over it. They are: Spain, France, Mexico, Republic of Texas, Confederate States, and the United States.

- Although six flags have flown over Texas, there have been eight changes of government: Spanish 1519-1685, French 1685-1690, Spanish 1690-1821, Mexican 1821-1836, Republic of Texas 1836-1845, United States 1845-1861, Confederate States 1861-1865, United States 1865-present.

- The King Ranch in Texas is bigger than the state of Rhode Island.

- Texas is the only state to enter the United States by treaty instead of territorial annexation.

- coastal live oak located near Fulton is the oldest tree in the state. The tree has an estimated age of more than 1,500 years. (I have seen this tree...its quite impressive...)

- Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state. (Texas has hundreds of manmade lakes)

- When Texas was annexed in 1845 it retained the right to fly its flag at the same height as the national flag.

- Austin is considered the live music capital of the world.

- The first suspension bridge in the United States was the Waco Bridge. Built in 1870 and still in use today as a pedestrian crossing of the Brazos River.

- The capitol in Austin opened May 16, 1888. The dome of the building stands seven feet higher than that of the nation's Capitol in Washington, D.C.

- Texas has the first domed stadium in the country. The structure was built in Houston and opened in April 1965. (The Astrodome)

- The worst natural disaster in United States history was caused by a hurricane that hit Galveston in 1900. Over 8000 deaths were recorded. (This is trully an interesting and scary story...I reccommend people looking up information about this online, "The Galveston Hurricane of 1900")

- The first word spoken from the moon on July 20, 1969 was Houston.

- El Paso is closer to Needles, California than it is to Dallas.

- The Flagship Hotel on Seawall Boulevard in Galveston is the only hotel in North America built entirely over the water. (Heavilly damaged by Hurricane Ike, but still there)

- Brazoria County has more species of birds than any other comparable area in North America.

- The Tyler Municipal Rose Garden is the world's largest rose garden. It contains 38,000 rose bushes representing 500 varieties of roses set in a 22-acre garden.

- The average January temperature for Amarillo is 36.7 degrees while in Brownsville the average is 61.4. On March 27, 1984, the temperature in Brownsville was 106 degrees while Amarillo reported snow and 35 degrees.

- The San Jacinto Monument near Houston is among the tallest columns in the world; at 570 feet, its about twenty feet higher than the Washington Monument in the District of Columbia.

 

[VampElvis]

People love to dog us, but once they've lived here - they tend not to leave.
Rammer Jammer Yellahammer!!

 

[Poetic Chaos]

There are many places I want to go and see but I would never live outside of California. The weather is perfect and we have everything. You can go to San Francisco and explore some of the most famous streets, buildings and bridges made by man or you can go to Yosemite and experience the best sights nature has to off. You can go surfing in San Diego or snowboarding at Lake Tahoe (practically CA). I love this state.

 

[Addendum]

For Tennessee, the only good things are the barbecue pork in Memphis, the Stax Records catalog from 1957-1975 and the Smoky Mountains in the eastern part.

 

[Malice]

For Tennessee, the only good things are the barbecue pork in Memphis, the Stax Records catalog from 1957-1975 and the Smoky Mountains in the eastern part.

Addendum, been to Rendevous in Memphis?
My father-in-law, had some pork ribs shipped to me for my birthday..DAMN they were good!

 

[Addendum]

Of course I've been to the Rendezvous. I've lost count how many times I've been to a barbecue joint in town.

One of the things that I like is the barbecue contest in May. When the wind blows just right, it makes all of downtown smell like barbecue pork.

 

[Malice]

Of course I've been to the Rendezvous. I've lost count how many times I've been to a barbecue joint in town.

One of the things that I like is the barbecue contest in May. When the wind blows just right, it makes all of downtown smell like barbecue pork.

STOP! making me drool!

 

[Addendum]

STOP! making me drool!

http://www.interstatebarbecue.com/delivery.html

Neely's has some excellent barbecue and their barbecue spaghetti is awesome.

Another awesome place is Central BBQ

http://www.cbqmemphis.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=6&Itemid=31

They don't get as much press as Corky's, Rendezvous, or Neely's Interstate BBQ, but it's damn good

 

[Kelly]

For Tennessee, the only good things are the barbecue pork in Memphis, the Stax Records catalog from 1957-1975 and the Smoky Mountains in the eastern part.

The Smoky Mountains are my home away from hom Addendum....I spend most of my time around Townsend...I am more content there than any place on earth......

 

[Malice]

I was in the Smokey Mountains when I was kid...dont remember them much, but the pictures are breath-taking

 

[SurfDUI]

The best thing....the only good thing about the drive from Indpls to ATL is passing through Tennessee, it is tight with all the mountains and the curves and the river, I alwasy want to stop-it takes your breath away. I love that area right round Chatanooga (sp)

 

[terry78]

Indiana

Used to be big in manufacturing but we've been bleeding jobs for 10 years and recently have tried to move into bio-tech and at the same time stop one of the highest rates of brain drain in the U.S.

Unemployemnt is @ 10% and climbing, not a great number of higher educated folks, but good workers. Indianapolis tries to be a big play city, but we just can't afford it. YOUR Indianapolis COLTS a new palace, but can't afford to maintain it so there tryin to raise taxes AGAIN to keep it and Conseco Fieldhouse afloat. Our sewer systems is nearly 100 years old and has needed work so bad that during bad storms the white river floods and spills over sewage.

People here are O.K. depending on where you go, we still have a large contingent of biased residents depending on what side of town your in. We still have a town that is widely known not to really want any black folks there at all, and they will say as much.

Our public schools have troubles like a lot of places and we are near the top of dropout rates.

The good about it is kinda few and far between which are the people and for the most part arn't SO bad, but we definatly are struggling....and it's too damned cold.

Basically this.

 

[Carcharodon]

Oregon: It's fun on 4/20.

 

[Excel]

Massachusetts: Boston is cool, and the Kennedys are from around here. Our sports teams dominate.

 

[BatMatt]

Connecticut
Invented the hamburger, n'uff said

 

[Matt]

Massachusetts: Boston is cool, and the Kennedys are from around here. Our sports teams dominate.

Hmm, lets see...

World Series Champions - Philadelphia Phillies

Soon to be Stanely Cup Champions - Pittsburgh Penguins

Super Bowl Champions - Pittsburgh Steelers

Yeah, I think Pennsylvania has something to say about your so called dominance. Hell, even when we lose, we're dominant as the Pirates are about to set the record for most consecutive losing seasons in professional sports. So we're even the best at losing.

As for basketball, basketball sucks any way so you guys can keep it.

Also, who would really want the Kennedys? I love Bobby, but come on, between Ted's manslaughter and the brothers tag teaming Marilyn Monroe while their wives drank their sorrows away, they may be some of the worst people of the past century. We had Senator John Heinz, now he was a good man.

 

[SuBe]

This is a great thread idea Mal.

I live in Florida.

From Wiki:

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 20,976 people, 10,803 households, and 6,568 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,744.3/sq mi (673.2/km² ). There were 16,956 housing units at an average density of 1,410.0/sq mi (544.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.50% White, 4.6% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 2.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 10,803 households out of which 10.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.92 and the average family size was 2.38.

In the city the population was spread out with 10.9% under the age of 18, 2.3% from 18 to 24, 14.5% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 42.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 61 years. For every 100 females there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $71,553, and the median income for a family was $102,262. Males had a median income of $86,092 versus $30,948 for females. The per capita income for the city was $61,141. About 3.1% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

 

[BatMatt]

Hmm, lets see...

World Series Champions - Philadelphia Phillies

Soon to be Stanely Cup Champions - Pittsburgh Penguins

Super Bowl Champions - Pittsburgh Steelers

Yeah, I think Pennsylvania has something to say about your so called dominance. Hell, even when we lose, we're dominant as the Pirates are about to set the record for most consecutive losing seasons in professional sports. So we're even the best at losing.

As for basketball, basketball sucks any way so you guys can keep it.

Also, who would really want the Kennedys? I love Bobby, but come on, between Ted's manslaughter and the brothers tag teaming Marilyn Monroe while their wives drank their sorrows away, they may be some of the worst people of the past century. We had Senator John Heinz, now he was a good man.

And you forgot....

 

[SuBe]

This is a great thread idea Mal.

I live in Florida.

From Wiki:

I forgot to mention that I live in Naples. And that Wiki Article is about the "Nape".

 

[Hobgoblin]

Sweet home, Illinois. And I live in Crystal Lake, so I see the lawn chair dads every July 4. t:

Abraham Lincoln started his law career in Illinois, which is sometimes called the Land of Lincoln.
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The world's first McDonald's franchise was opened in Des Plaines, Illinois, in 1955.
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In 1830, the site of what would become Chicago was only a cluster of 20 log cabins. Today Chicago is home to the nation's tallest building - the 110-story Sears Tower.
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A prairie is a large area of grassland with few, if any, trees. Prairies are known for their rich soil. Many of the prairies in Illinois are now farms that grow soybeans and corn. Prairies are also famous for prairie dogs.
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Illinois has a state dance--square dancing.
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Every year on St. Patrick's Day, the Chicago River is dyed green to honor of the city's Irish heritage.
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In 1893, the Rueckheim brothers introduced a new snack made of popcorn, peanuts and molasses at the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It was --and still is--known as Cracker Jack.
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Crystal Lake, Illinois is home to the Precision Lawn Chair Marching Dads, a parade group of Illinois men that entertains crowds by executing drills with lawn chairs. Wearing white tank tops, stars-and-stripes boxer shorts and black socks, they perform to the beat of chants like "She don't know and I don't care, I'm wearing yesterday's underwear."
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The Chester Gould-Dick Tracy Museum in Woodstock, Illinois, commemorates the life and work of Illinois native Chester Gould, the creator of the Dick Tracy comic strip. Chic Young, creator of the Blondie comic strip, is also an Illinois native.
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Libby's plants 5,000 acres of Dickinson Select pumpkins each year in and around Morton, Illinois. Morton, where 80 percent of the world's canned pumpkin is packed at the Libby's factory, is known as the "Pumpkin Capital of the World." The town hosts an annual Pumpkin Festival to celebrate the start of the pumpkin canning season.

 

[Addendum]

Every year on St. Patrick's Day, the Chicago River is dyed green to honor of the city's Irish heritage

To quote a line from The Fugitive- If they can dye the river green today, why can't they dye the river blue the other 364 days of the year?

 

[Hobgoblin]

To quote a line from The Fugitive- If they can dye the river green today, why can't they dye the river blue the other 364 days of the year?

Mayor Daley says no. And we all thank him for his time.

 

[terry78]

Mayor Daley says no. And we all thank him for his time.

Daley says no to a lot of things.