New Jersey Is One Of The Least Patriotic States In America, Report Says

What makes a state “patriotic?”

In a recent study, information services provider WalletHub ranked New Jersey #49 on its controversial list, “2015’s Most and Least Patriotic States.”

Only New York ranked lower on WalletHub’s scale; Virginia took home the “most patriotic” slot.

The study used two main dimensions to reach its conclusion: “Military Engagement” and “Civilian Engagement.”

Military Engagement included:

• Percentage of Residents Who Enlisted in the Military in 2013: Triple Weight
• Number of Veterans per 100,000 Residents: Full Weight
• Number of Active-Duty Military Personnel per 100,000 Residents: Full Weight

Civilian Engagement included:

• Percentage of Residents Who Voted in the 2012 Presidential Election: Double Weight
• Volunteer Rate: Double Weight
• Number of Peace Corps Volunteers per 100,000 Residents: Full Weight
• Frequency of Google Searches for American Flags (Adjusted by Total Number of Searches): Quarter Weight
• Civics Education Requirement: Full Weight

See the study’s full methodology and ranking list here.

File photo by Vince Alongi via flickr

Do you think that New Jersey is “patriotic?” Vote in the Patch reader poll below, and tell us why you voted that way in the comments section.