Nope, it's not North or South Dakota. The answer might surprise you!
What Is the Most Forgotten State in the U.S.?
Updated on Mar. 28, 2025
If you’ve ever tried to list all the U.S. states from memory, you know how hard it is. Unless you still have the “Fifty Nifty United States” song from elementary school memorized, you probably can’t name all 50 states in less than five minutes. You’ll most likely fly through the first 35 or 40 and then struggle to remember the rest. Even with a blank U.S. map at your disposal, you’ll still get stuck on a state that inevitably holds the total count at 49. So what is the most forgotten state in America?
Read on to know which state it is and what potentially contributes to it being overlooked.
Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more fun facts, humor, travel, tech and entertainment all week long.
What is the most forgotten state in America?
Nope, it’s not Indiana or Montana. The least memorable state in the U.S. is Missouri.
That’s according to quiz site Sporcle’s U.S. States Quiz. Players have attempted to name all 50 states more than 35 million times, and Missouri is the state with the lowest percentage of people who guessed correctly.
In 24.5% of those games, players failed to remember Missouri when naming all 50 states. In other words, the state of Missouri was forgotten a staggering 8.6 million times—making it the most overlooked state in America.
What other U.S. states are often overlooked?
Following Missouri closely, these five states often fly under the radar. The Sporcle quiz reveals the percentage of times these states managed to slip players’ minds in the game:
- Massachusetts: 21.4%
- Nebraska: 21.4%
- Minnesota: 22.4%
- Connecticut: 23%
What impacts the popularity of a state?
The same Sporcle quiz lists California, Texas, Washington, Florida and New York as the easiest-to-recall states. By looking into what makes some states memorable for Americans, we can guess why Missouri is the most forgotten state in the country.
All five of these states seemingly fare well in one or more of the following areas:
Cultural significance
A state’s culture—from its festivals and fashion sense to famous cuisines, attractions and more—shapes how we remember it. Certain places and events leave a lasting impression.
Think about it: After watching the coverage of the dazzling Met Gala in New York, going on an unforgettable trip to Disney World in Florida and experiencing the colorful traditions of Mardi Gras in Louisiana, you’ll have those states etched in your memory for years to come.
Representation in media
How often we see a state in popular TV shows and films or hear its name in chart-topping music adds to its popularity. Psychologists refer to this as the exposure effect, the tendency to remember things simply due to repeated exposure. And unless you’re a nomad, media is the best way to gain exposure.
So the next time you watch an episode of Only Murders in the Building or Friends and spot the image of the Big Apple’s busy streets, New York will take up a little more space in your mind. Or when you hear the iconic chords of the famous track “Sweet Home Alabama,” that state is more likely to stay top of mind.
Population
The number of people living in a state directly impacts how well-recognized the state is. The population also determines how much attention the state and its affairs are likely to get from the government, media and, ultimately, the rest of the country.
Take, for instance, California. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it’s the most populated state, with 39.4 million people. Considering the number of residents and the sheer size of the state, it’s no wonder people outside California are more aware of its existence. And that’s before you factor Hollywood into the equation!
Between a state’s size and population, the latter has a stronger impact on memorability. Take New Jersey and Wyoming, for example. Despite its larger size, Wyoming is not as well-recognized. New Jersey, on the other hand, is much smaller, but its population of 9.5 million (compared with Wyoming’s mere 0.58 million) allows it to rank higher on this Sporcle quiz.
Location
When it comes to a state’s popularity among tourists and locals alike, where it falls on a map still matters. Nearby attractions can greatly affect a state’s appeal and, ultimately, how readily people remember it.
A trip to Nevada, for example, is a tourist’s chance to experience beautiful sites like Lake Tahoe, Red Rock Canyon and the Hoover Dam, along with flashy Las Vegas. All will likely come to mind when trying to remember the U.S. states, and the name Nevada will soon follow.
So why is Missouri the most forgotten state?
You might assume Sporcle’s test-takers would draw a blank on centrally located states like Nebraska and Illinois. And well, Missouri is closer to the middle of the country. But here are some other possible reasons why it may be the state that people forget in this geography quiz:
It has a smaller population
Although more heavily populated than states like Indiana and Tennessee, Missouri is home to only 6.24 million residents. Compare that with the two most memorable states—California and Texas—which boast populations of 39.4 million and 31.2 million, respectively. The relatively small population likely plays a role in Missouri’s low profile in national and international news.
It is centrally located
Located in the heart of the country, Missouri may get overshadowed by states on the coasts.
It’s one of many M states
Eight U.S. states start with the letter M—you’re bound to forget one of them. Being able to list Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi and Montana on your own already signals a pretty good memory. You’d be forgiven for forgetting one of the two states that share not only an initial letter but also the next three letters of the state’s name: Mississippi and Missouri.
It has low cultural diversity
A state’s culture—and its popularity—often hinges on its diversity. According to 2020 U.S. Census Bureau data, Missouri’s diversity index is 40.8%, making the state the 36th most racially and ethically diverse in the nation. Or put another way: It’s the 15th least diverse of all the states and Washington, D.C.
In contrast, more popular states like California and New York take the second and eighth spots, respectively. This shows that a more homogenous population, such as Missouri’s, can miss out on the buzz that comes with a vibrant mix of people—leading to fewer festivals, community events and unique traditions that make a state memorable.
Will Missouri always be the most forgotten state in America?
Probably not! Trends are ever-changing, so there’s a good chance that Missouri’s time in the spotlight will come.
Take Montana, for example. It’s a fairly large state with fewer people (than Missouri, at least). But when the show Yellowstone suddenly took off, it got everybody talking about and even planning trips to Montana. Despite the state’s small population, its mention on a hit TV show changed its popularity. It just goes to show how, when a state’s position in pop culture changes, the way we think about the place (and if we think about it) changes too.
If you drew a blank on Missouri as well, consider this a sign to take a closer look at the state. Whether you choose to indulge in a Google deep dive or book tickets to explore the land firsthand (don’t miss the Gateway Arch!)—Missouri has a lot to offer.
And if you haven’t yet, now is the time to put yourself to the test. Do you think you can name all 50? If you’re forgetting a lot of states, don’t worry. Memorizing the lyrics to that catchy “Fifty Nifty United States” song should definitely do the trick. Good luck!
Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece on what the most forgotten state is, we verified all facts and data and backed them with credible sourcing, and we will revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Sporcle: “U.S. State Stats: Can you name the US states?”
- United States Census Bureau: “Quick Facts: California Population”
- United States Census Bureau: “Quick Facts: Missouri Population”
- United States Census Bureau: “Quick Facts: New Jersey Population”
- United States Census Bureau: “Quick Facts: Wyoming Population”
- United States Census Bureau: “Quick Facts: Texas Population”
- United States Census Bureau: “Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the United States”
