As the Fourth of July approaches, many wonder which states exhibit the most patriotism. According to a recent study by WalletHub, Colorado ranks as the 6th most patriotic state in the nation.
Defining Patriotism
WalletHub’s study defined patriotism through a combination of military engagement and civic engagement. They used a 100-point system, with military engagement accounting for up to 25 points and civic engagement up to 75 points.
Military Engagement Metrics
For military engagement, the study looked at:
- Military enlistees per 1,000 adults (2015-2020)
- Veterans per 1,000 adults
- Active-duty military members per 100,000 adults
- Share of adult population in military reserves
Civic Engagement Metrics
Civic engagement included metrics such as:
- Share of adult population who voted in the 2020 elections
- Volunteer rate
- Number of AmeriCorps and Peace Corps volunteers
- Jury participation
- U.S. history/civics education requirement
Colorado’s Performance
Colorado’s high rank is largely due to its strong performance in civic engagement. The state ranks 1st in the nation for having a U.S. history/civics education requirement. Additionally, Colorado has a significant number of volunteers, ranking 4th for Peace Corps and 5th for AmeriCorps volunteers per capita.
In military engagement, Colorado ranks 10th for active-duty military population, 15th for the number of military enlistees, and 25th for the number of veterans.
Top 6 Most Patriotic States
According to WalletHub, the top six most patriotic states are:
- Virginia
- Alaska
- Montana
- Maine
- Oregon
- Colorado
This recognition highlights Colorado’s strong commitment to both civic duties and military service, showcasing the state’s overall patriotic spirit.
