The Best States for UFO Enthusiasts
In the years that followed the end of World War II, UFO sightings soared, and the U.S. government, concerned with national security, did its best to explain them away – weather balloons, other aircraft, atmospheric phenomena, birds…. But the proliferation of reports in every state has made it difficult for some people to accept the government’s explanations. ( Here is why scientists think there is life on other planets .) To compile a list of the best states for UFO enthusiasts in 2022, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the results of a report on the subject from Lawn Love , a lawn care resource site, which frequently analyzes data around various lifestyle topics. Drawing on some 13 governmental and non-governmental sources, Lawn Love collected data on 12 differently weighted criteria across four categories: number of UFO and UAP (unidentified aerial phenomena) sightings; community (including number of UFO-related clubs and organizations and average month Google searches for UFO-related terms); sighting potential (number of planetariums and observatories, number of U.S. Air Force bases, communication towers per square mile, and historical average air quality index); and entertainment (number of UFO-related tours, attractions, and events). Scores for each state were averaged across all categories to determine the states (including the District of Columbia) most and least likely to report extraterrestrial activity. Data on UFO sightings since 1998 and total sightings came from the National UFO Reporting Center , a non-profit organization that records and attempts to document possible UFO related-events. NOFORC has reported more than 150,000 sightings since it was founded 48 years ago. ( These are the states where people see the most UFOs .) The evidence is making it more difficult for the U.S. government to ignore. In June 2021, the director of the Office of National Intelligence published a report titled “Preliminary Assessment: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena.” The report did not find proof of extraterrestrial activity, but the government did not rule out that possibility either. In July 2021, the House of Representatives passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to set up a government system for reporting UFOs. That same year, the U.S. Navy officially published previously released videos showing unexplained objects. The top five states for UFO fans are all in the West. Besides California and Texas, the nation’s two most populous states, UFO experts say the desert landscapes and the lack of so-called light pollution in the Southwest offer the best viewing opportunities for these visitors. Beyond the top five, UFO sightings are dispersed across the U.S.
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51. North Dakota • Overall score: 3.24/100 • Sighting potential rank: 3rd lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 7.75 per 100,000 people — 14th lowest • Total sightings 266 • Total population 774,948
IMG_6136-5×7 (CC BY-SA 2.0) By John Brian McCarthy
50. South Dakota • Overall score: 3.81/100 • Sighting potential rank: 8th lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 8.95 per 100,000 people — 20th highest • Total sightings 375 • Total population 895,376 ALSO READ: States Where People See the Most UFOs
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49. Maine • Overall score: 4.20/100 • Sighting potential rank: 6th lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 13.72 per 100,000 people — 5th highest • Total sightings 1,130 • Total population 1,372,247
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48. Vermont • Overall score: 4.66/100 • Sighting potential rank: 5th lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 6.46 per 100,000 people — the highest • Total sightings 581 • Total population 645,570 ALSO READ: These Are the Cities With the Most UFO Sightings
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47. Montana • Overall score: 4.75/100 • Sighting potential rank: 9th lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 11.04 per 100,000 people — 3rd highest • Total sightings 962 • Total population 1,104,271
Garnet Ghost Town, Montana (CC BY 2.0) By Bureau Of Land Management
46. Delaware • Overall score: 4.90/100 • Sighting potential rank: 13th lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 10.03 per 100,000 people — 25th highest • Total sightings 389 • Total population 1,003,384 ALSO READ: Here Is Why Scientists Think There Is Life on Other Planets
Indian River Inlet Bridge (CC BY-SA 2.0) By Lee Cannon&nbsp
45. Wyoming • Overall score: 4.95/100 • Sighting potential rank: 4th lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 5.79 per 100,000 people — 9th highest • Total sightings 395 • Total population 578,803
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44. West Virginia • Overall score: 5.34/100 • Sighting potential rank: 14th lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 17.83 per 100,000 people — 16th highest • Total sightings 861 • Total population 1,782,959 ALSO READ: The Counties With the Most UFO Sightings
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43. Alaska • Overall score: 5.85/100 • Sighting potential rank: 24th lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 7.33 per 100,000 people — 4th highest • Total sightings 617 • Total population 732,673
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42. Nebraska • Overall score: 6.07/100 • Sighting potential rank: 25th lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 19.64 per 100,000 people — 13th lowest • Total sightings 670 • Total population 1,963,692 ALSO READ: The Strangest Tourist Attraction in Every State
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41. Kentucky • Overall score: 6.16/100 • Sighting potential rank: 11th lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 45.09 per 100,000 people — 19th lowest • Total sightings 1,611 • Total population 4,509,394
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40. New Hampshire • Overall score: 6.25/100 • Sighting potential rank: 2nd lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 13.89 per 100,000 people — 6th highest • Total sightings 1,129 • Total population 1,388,992 ALSO READ: States Where People See the Most UFOs
Empty Elm (CC BY 2.0) By Ian's Isolation&nbsp
39. Rhode Island • Overall score: 6.40/100 • Sighting potential rank: 23rd highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 10.96 per 100,000 people — 14th highest • Total sightings 577 • Total population 1,095,610
Providence, Rhode Island (CC BY 2.0) By JJBers
38. Louisiana • Overall score: 6.43/100 • Sighting potential rank: 18th lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 46.24 per 100,000 people — 2nd lowest • Total sightings 1,064 • Total population 4,624,047 ALSO READ: These Are the Cities With the Most UFO Sightings
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37. Idaho • Overall score: 6.43/100 • Sighting potential rank: 12th lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 19.01 per 100,000 people — 10th highest • Total sightings 1,295 • Total population 1,900,923
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36. Mississippi • Overall score: 6.75/100 • Sighting potential rank: 26th lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 29.50 per 100,000 people — 4th lowest • Total sightings 748 • Total population 2,949,965 ALSO READ: Here Is Why Scientists Think There Is Life on Other Planets
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35. Iowa • Overall score: 7.19/100 • Sighting potential rank: 16th lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 31.93 per 100,000 people — 23rd lowest • Total sightings 1,166 • Total population 3,193,079
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34. Utah • Overall score: 7.28/100 • Sighting potential rank: the lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 33.38 per 100,000 people — 19th highest • Total sightings 1,443 • Total population 3,337,975 ALSO READ: The Counties With the Most UFO Sightings
Park City At Night (CC BY-SA 2.0) By Eric Fredericks&nbsp
33. Kansas • Overall score: 7.46/100 • Sighting potential rank: 15th lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 29.35 per 100,000 people — 25th lowest • Total sightings 1,128 • Total population 2,934,582
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32. Hawaii • Overall score: 8.26/100 • Sighting potential rank: 23rd lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 14.42 per 100,000 people — 17th highest • Total sightings 649 • Total population 1,441,553 ALSO READ: The Strangest Tourist Attraction in Every State
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31. Minnesota • Overall score: 8.47/100 • Sighting potential rank: 20th lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 57.07 per 100,000 people — 17th lowest • Total sightings 2,013 • Total population 5,707,390
Minnesota Fair 2012 (CC BY-SA 2.0) By Iain
30. Arkansas • Overall score: 8.87/100 • Sighting potential rank: 10th lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 30.26 per 100,000 people — 22nd highest • Total sightings 1,210 • Total population 3,025,891 ALSO READ: States Where People See the Most UFOs
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29. Alabama • Overall score: 9.11/100 • Sighting potential rank: 14th highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 50.40 per 100,000 people — 5th lowest • Total sightings 1,295 • Total population 5,039,877
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28. Connecticut • Overall score: 9.12/100 • Sighting potential rank: 25th highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 36.06 per 100,000 people — 12th highest • Total sightings 1,917 • Total population 3,605,597 ALSO READ: These Are the Cities With the Most UFO Sightings
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27. Wisconsin • Overall score: 9.91/100 • Sighting potential rank: 19th highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 58.96 per 100,000 people — 23rd highest • Total sightings 2,338 • Total population 5,895,908
Madison, WI 04-20-2011 025b (CC BY 2.0) By Richard Hurd
26. Missouri • Overall score: 10.00/100 • Sighting potential rank: 19th lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 61.68 per 100,000 people — 18th highest • Total sightings 2,677 • Total population 6,168,187 ALSO READ: Here Is Why Scientists Think There Is Life on Other Planets
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25. Oklahoma • Overall score: 10.18/100 • Sighting potential rank: 24th highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 39.87 per 100,000 people — 16th lowest • Total sightings 1,398 • Total population 3,986,639
Tulsa, Oklahoma (CC BY 2.0) By Paul Sableman
24. District of Columbia • Overall score: 10.34/100 • Sighting potential rank: 7th highest • UFO sightings since 1998: N/A • Total sightings N/A • Total population N/A ALSO READ: The Counties With the Most UFO Sightings
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23. Virginia • Overall score: 11.51/100 • Sighting potential rank: 20th highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 86.42 per 100,000 people — 8th lowest • Total sightings 2,545 • Total population 8,642,274
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22. Tennessee • Overall score: 12.45/100 • Sighting potential rank: 17th highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 69.75 per 100,000 people — 10th lowest • Total sightings 2,181 • Total population 6,975,218 ALSO READ: The Strangest Tourist Attraction in Every State
Kendra Harrell / IStock Via Getty Images&nbsp
21. South Carolina • Overall score: 12.64/100 • Sighting potential rank: 18th highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 51.91 per 100,000 people — 21st highest • Total sightings 2,134 • Total population 5,190,705
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20. Oregon • Overall score: 13.10/100 • Sighting potential rank: 21st lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 42.46 per 100,000 people — 7th highest • Total sightings 3,384 • Total population 4,246,155 ALSO READ: States Where People See the Most UFOs
Portland, Oregon 2014-9874 (CC BY 2.0) By Anna Hanks&nbsp
19. Maryland • Overall score: 13.14/100 • Sighting potential rank: 11th highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 61.65 per 100,000 people — 6th lowest • Total sightings 1,716 • Total population 6,165,129
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18. Georgia • Overall score: 13.54/100 • Sighting potential rank: 13th highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 108.00 per 100,000 people — 3rd lowest • Total sightings 2,578 • Total population 10,799,566 ALSO READ: These Are the Cities With the Most UFO Sightings
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17. New Jersey • Overall score: 13.85/100 • Sighting potential rank: 9th highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 92.67 per 100,000 people — 9th lowest • Total sightings 2,736 • Total population 9,267,130
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16. Indiana • Overall score: 14.32/100 • Sighting potential rank: 8th highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 68.06 per 100,000 people — 24th lowest • Total sightings 2,582 • Total population 6,805,985 ALSO READ: Here Is Why Scientists Think There Is Life on Other Planets
Downtown Indianapolis At Night (CC BY-SA 2.0) By Josh Hallett&nbsp
15. Colorado • Overall score: 14.39/100 • Sighting potential rank: 21st highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 58.12 per 100,000 people — 13th highest • Total sightings 3,075 • Total population 5,812,069
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14. Illinois • Overall score: 14.78/100 • Sighting potential rank: 22nd highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 126.71 per 100,000 people — 11th lowest • Total sightings 4,102 • Total population 12,671,469 ALSO READ: The Counties With the Most UFO Sightings
Illinois (CC BY 2.0) By GPA Photo Archive&nbsp
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12. Massachusetts • Overall score: 16.15/100 • Sighting potential rank: 12th highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 69.85 per 100,000 people — 21st lowest • Total sightings 2,538 • Total population 6,984,723 ALSO READ: The Strangest Tourist Attraction in Every State
Zakim Bridge At Night (CC BY 2.0) By Massmatt&nbsp
11. North Carolina • Overall score: 18.93/100 • Sighting potential rank: 16th highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 105.51 per 100,000 people — 12th lowest • Total sightings 3,461 • Total population 10,551,162
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10. Washington • Overall score: 18.97/100 • Sighting potential rank: 15th highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 77.39 per 100,000 people — 2nd highest • Total sightings 6,866 • Total population 7,738,692 ALSO READ: States Where People See the Most UFOs
Wet Night City: Seattle, From … (CC BY 2.0) By Wonderlane&nbsp
9. Nevada • Overall score: 19.20/100 • Sighting potential rank: 7th lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 31.44 per 100,000 people — 15th highest • Total sightings 1,605 • Total population 3,143,991
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8. New Mexico • Overall score: 19.22/100 • Sighting potential rank: 22nd lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 21.16 per 100,000 people — 8th highest • Total sightings 1,578 • Total population 2,115,877 ALSO READ: These Are the Cities With the Most UFO Sightings
BRRISON Pre Launch Sunset (CC BY 2.0) By Zach Dischner&nbsp
7. Ohio • Overall score: 21.77/100 • Sighting potential rank: 4th highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 117.80 per 100,000 people — 20th lowest • Total sightings 4,234 • Total population 11,780,017
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6. Pennsylvania • Overall score: 23.23/100 • Sighting potential rank: 5th highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 129.64 per 100,000 people — 22nd lowest • Total sightings 4,730 • Total population 12,964,056 ALSO READ: Here Is Why Scientists Think There Is Life on Other Planets
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5. Arizona • Overall score: 25.27/100 • Sighting potential rank: 17th lowest • UFO sightings since 1998: 72.76 per 100,000 people — 11th highest • Total sightings 4,721 • Total population 7,276,316
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4. New York • Overall score: 31.08/100 • Sighting potential rank: 3rd highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 198.36 per 100,000 people — 7th lowest • Total sightings 5,590 • Total population 19,835,913 ALSO READ: The Counties With the Most UFO Sightings
New York City (CC BY 2.0) By Jörg Schubert&nbsp
3. Florida • Overall score: 32.96/100 • Sighting potential rank: 6th highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 217.81 per 100,000 people — 18th lowest • Total sightings 7,749 • Total population 21,781,128
Yacht At Night (CC BY-SA 2.0) By Dave Herholz
2. Texas • Overall score: 43.61/100 • Sighting potential rank: the highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 295.28 per 100,000 people — the lowest • Total sightings 5,786 • Total population 29,527,941 ALSO READ: The Strangest Tourist Attraction in Every State
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1. California • Overall score: 69.77/100 • Sighting potential rank: 2nd highest • UFO sightings since 1998: 392.38 per 100,000 people — 24th highest • Total sightings 15,401 • Total population 39,237,836
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