When we asked 1,690 Americans to choose between their local community and the nation as a whole as their primary source of pride, local won \u2014 41.7% to 30.6%. That’s a meaningful finding on its own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the state-level data is where the story gets genuinely interesting. The gap between the most locally rooted state (Vermont, at +47 percentage points) and the most nationally oriented (Texas, at -30 points) spans 77 percentage points. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These aren’t just variations in survey data \u2014 they’re distinct community identities that will shape how America 250 looks and feels in every corner of the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here’s what the data shows, state by state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shop America 250 Gear<\/a>\n\n\n\n Six states show a local-over-national pride gap of at least +29 percentage points \u2014 nearly triple the national average of +11 points. Each has a distinct profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vermont has the widest local pride gap in the dataset. 58.8% of Vermonters chose their local community as their primary source of pride; only 11.8% chose the nation. That +47-point gap is more than four times the national average. Vermont’s local identity appears to be both fierce and pluralistic \u2014 24% of Vermonters describe their community as “diverse and dynamic,” more than double the 11% national rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Indiana has the second-widest gap in the country: 50% local pride vs. 11.8% national, a spread of +38 points. Hoosiers also over-index on sports as a community anchor \u2014 21% cite local sports teams as a top source of local pride, compared to 12% nationally. That combination of tight local identity and sports culture shows up consistently in Indiana’s community data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Montana and Rhode Island share the third-widest gap at +32 points, though the character of that local pride differs sharply. Montana’s identity leans independent: 35% describe their community as “independent and self-reliant,” nearly double the 18% national rate. Rhode Island’s, by contrast, skews toward diversity \u2014 47% of Rhode Islanders cite community diversity as a top pride source, and 50% of the state’s America 250 planners intend to order or wear patriotic gear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wisconsin and Hawaii also share a +29-point local gap. Wisconsin combines that pride with extraordinary parade enthusiasm \u2014 75% of Wisconsin’s America 250 planners say they’ll attend a parade, the highest rate in the entire dataset. Hawaii’s local identity runs deep in a different way: 44% of Hawaiians cite local landmarks and history as a top pride source, compared to 23% nationally, and 50% name community diversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texas is the only major state in the survey where national pride decisively beats local. 57.6% of Texans chose the nation as their primary source of pride; only 27.3% chose their local community. That -30-point gap puts Texas at the opposite end of the spectrum from Vermont \u2014 a 77-point spread between the two states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the data also makes clear that national orientation and community enthusiasm are not the same thing. Texas’s America 250 planners are among the most active in the country: 71% say they’ll host or attend a block party for the anniversary \u2014 more than double the 30% national rate. Texans who plan to celebrate aren’t doing it quietly. They’re also the most likely state in the dataset to report a stronger need for community connection, with 84.8% saying they crave it more than they did a few years ago \u2014 the highest connection-hunger score in the survey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The picture Texas paints is not disconnection. It’s a state whose pride starts with country and scales down from there \u2014 and one whose celebrations, when they happen, tend to go big.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nationally, the top sources of local community pride are people and neighbors (42.4%), natural environment and outdoor spaces (29.8%), food and restaurant scene (24.6%), community diversity (24.3%), and local landmarks and history (23.5%). But state-level patterns diverge meaningfully from those averages \u2014 and the deviations tell a more specific story about regional identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sports as a community pride anchor over-indexes in Alabama (24%, vs. 12% nationally), Indiana (21%), Missouri (24%), South Dakota (18%), and Tennessee (18%). These are states where a local team \u2014 whether a college program, a professional franchise, or a high school rivalry \u2014 is genuinely embedded in community identity rather than simply a preference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oregon stands out here most sharply, with 53% of residents citing natural environment as a top pride source, compared to 30% nationally. Wyoming (47%) and Hawaii (cited extensively for landscape and landmarks together) also index high. These are states where outdoor character isn’t scenic backdrop \u2014 it’s central to what residents think their community is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wyoming leads at 47% (vs. 23% nationally), followed by Nebraska (38%) and Hawaii (44%). Pennsylvania is a notable case: 47% of Pennsylvanians chose local pride in the forced-choice question, and 38% of the state’s America 250 planners specifically intend to visit a historic site \u2014 fitting for the state where the Declaration was signed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tennessee leads significantly \u2014 29% of Tennesseans name arts and culture as a top pride source, more than double the 13% national rate. Colorado (24%), Alaska (27%), and Arizona (26%) also over-index. This concentration of arts-as-identity in states with strong creative or musical legacies is consistent with what residents told us in open-ended responses about what makes their communities distinctive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Massachusetts is the notable outlier here: 18% cite local government as a top pride source, double the 9% national average. It’s one of the few states where civic pride and trust in local institutions appear to move together. Mississippi (15%) and North Dakota (cited for community events and traditions at 29%) show distinct patterns of civic engagement that surface in different ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Iowa leads the dataset at 42% (vs. 23% nationally) for community events and traditions as a pride anchor \u2014 the highest of any state. North Dakota (29%) and Kansas (well above average for tight-knit community identity) follow. In these states, the tradition of gathering is itself the thing people are proud of \u2014 not just what they gather for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nationally, 28.8% of Americans are actively planning something specific for America 250. But that figure ranges widely by state, and the type of celebration varies even more. Below are the most distinctive planning patterns from the state-level data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wisconsin (75%), New Hampshire (78%), Connecticut (73%), and Delaware (75%) all show parade attendance as the dominant America 250 activity, each roughly double the 37% national rate. These are states where the public procession is still the cultural center of a July 4th \u2014 and for the 250th, the appetite for that form of civic gathering is even higher. Alaska (71%) and Iowa (67%) also over-index substantially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texas (71%), Oklahoma (64%), Wisconsin (62%), and Arizona (57%) all show block party rates well above the 30% national average. These states’ planners aren’t waiting for an official event \u2014 they’re organizing their own streets and neighborhoods. Wisconsin’s block party rate is particularly notable because it coexists with that 75% parade rate: Wisconsinites are apparently planning to do both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oregon (60%), Idaho (60%), and West Virginia (44%) lead here, each well above the 21% national rate. Oregon and Idaho’s numbers are striking because they suggest an America 250 celebration anchored less in parties and more in reflection \u2014 visiting a place that ties local geography to national history. D.C. (67%) also ranks high, which makes geographic sense for a city that is itself a collection of historic sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n South Dakota (67%), Utah (58%), Missouri (56%), Delaware (50%), Kansas (50%), and Washington (54%) all show volunteering as a standout America 250 activity \u2014 at least 2.5 times the 21% national rate in most cases. These states are channeling anniversary energy into service, not just celebration. It’s a finding that speaks to a specific community ethic: the anniversary as an occasion to give back rather than just show up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New York leads the country at 26% of respondents saying they are personally hosting or organizing an America 250 event \u2014 2.6 times the 10% national rate. California (18%), Virginia (15%), and Ohio (18%) also over-index on the hosting\/organizing category. In these states, the America 250 moment appears to be activating people who wouldn’t typically describe themselves as event organizers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n D.C. (83%), South Carolina (60%), Maryland (50%), and Rhode Island (50%) lead on ordering or wearing patriotic gear for America 250 \u2014 each well above the 23% national rate. Louisiana’s gear agreement score (88.2% agreeing that coordinated gear makes events more cohesive, the highest in the dataset) reflects that same orientation toward the visual, collective dimension of celebration. Connecticut (45%), Oklahoma (45%), and Arkansas (44%) also over-index on patriotic gear plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ohio (67%), New York (50%), Oklahoma (55%), Mississippi (38%), and Washington (46%) all show social media sharing as a top America 250 activity. Ohio’s 67% rate \u2014 three times the 21% national average \u2014 is the highest in the dataset and suggests the state’s America 250 story will travel beyond its borders in real time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All states with n\u226515 in our survey of 1,690 Americans. Data fielded May 2026. Gap = % Local Pride minus % National Pride. Positive gap = local leads national; negative gap = national leads local.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Source: Custom Ink 2026 Community Pride Report<\/a>, n=1,690, fielded May 2026. All states with at least 15 respondents included. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n America 250 is arriving in a country where local identity is strong \u2014 and varied. Vermont and Texas aren’t the same place, and they won’t hold the same kind of celebration. But the data suggests that wherever you look, people are ready to gather. <\/p>\n\n\n\n America 250 gear<\/a> is available for groups of any size, and our 250th anniversary design templates<\/a> give you a starting point you can make specific to your street, your school, your neighborhood, or your state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe Most Locally Proud States<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Vermont (+47pp)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Indiana (+38pp)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Montana (+32pp) and Rhode Island (+32pp)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Wisconsin (+29pp) and Hawaii (+29pp)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe Outlier: Texas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat Each State Is Most Proud Of<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sports<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Natural environment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Local landmarks and history<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Arts and culture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Local government<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Community events and traditions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow Each State Is Planning to Celebrate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Parades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Block parties and neighborhood events<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Historic site visits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Volunteering<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hosting and organizing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gear and patriotic apparel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Social media sharing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nFull State Data Table<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
State<\/th> n<\/th> % Local Pride<\/th> % National Pride<\/th> Gap (pp)<\/th> % Planning A250<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Vermont<\/td> 34<\/td> 58.8%<\/td> 11.8%<\/td> +47<\/td> 17.6%<\/td><\/tr> Indiana<\/td> 34<\/td> 50.0%<\/td> 11.8%<\/td> +38<\/td> 38.2%<\/td><\/tr> Montana<\/td> 34<\/td> 44.1%<\/td> 11.8%<\/td> +32<\/td> 20.6%<\/td><\/tr> Rhode Island<\/td> 34<\/td> 50.0%<\/td> 17.6%<\/td> +32<\/td> 17.6%<\/td><\/tr> Wisconsin<\/td> 34<\/td> 50.0%<\/td> 20.6%<\/td> +29<\/td> 23.5%<\/td><\/tr> Hawaii<\/td> 34<\/td> 52.9%<\/td> 23.5%<\/td> +29<\/td> 8.8%<\/td><\/tr> North Carolina<\/td> 34<\/td> 50.0%<\/td> 20.6%<\/td> +29<\/td> 38.2%<\/td><\/tr> Ohio<\/td> 34<\/td> 58.8%<\/td> 32.4%<\/td> +26<\/td> 35.3%<\/td><\/tr> Virginia<\/td> 34<\/td> 52.9%<\/td> 26.5%<\/td> +26<\/td> 35.3%<\/td><\/tr> Kansas<\/td> 34<\/td> 50.0%<\/td> 23.5%<\/td> +26<\/td> 17.6%<\/td><\/tr> Massachusetts<\/td> 34<\/td> 52.9%<\/td> 29.4%<\/td> +24<\/td> 41.2%<\/td><\/tr> Minnesota<\/td> 34<\/td> 50.0%<\/td> 26.5%<\/td> +24<\/td> 8.8%<\/td><\/tr> South Carolina<\/td> 33<\/td> 48.5%<\/td> 27.3%<\/td> +21<\/td> 30.3%<\/td><\/tr> Illinois<\/td> 33<\/td> 48.5%<\/td> 27.3%<\/td> +21<\/td> 39.4%<\/td><\/tr> Michigan<\/td> 34<\/td> 44.1%<\/td> 23.5%<\/td> +21<\/td> 26.5%<\/td><\/tr> Wyoming<\/td> 34<\/td> 50.0%<\/td> 29.4%<\/td> +21<\/td> 23.5%<\/td><\/tr> Pennsylvania<\/td> 34<\/td> 47.1%<\/td> 26.5%<\/td> +21<\/td> 23.5%<\/td><\/tr> New Hampshire<\/td> 33<\/td> 42.4%<\/td> 24.2%<\/td> +18<\/td> 27.3%<\/td><\/tr> Georgia<\/td> 34<\/td> 50.0%<\/td> 32.4%<\/td> +18<\/td> 32.4%<\/td><\/tr> New Jersey<\/td> 34<\/td> 47.1%<\/td> 29.4%<\/td> +18<\/td> 38.2%<\/td><\/tr> Washington<\/td> 34<\/td> 47.1%<\/td> 29.4%<\/td> +18<\/td> 38.2%<\/td><\/tr> Tennessee<\/td> 34<\/td> 35.3%<\/td> 20.6%<\/td> +15<\/td> 35.3%<\/td><\/tr> District of Columbia<\/td> 16<\/td> 50.0%<\/td> 37.5%<\/td> +13<\/td> 37.5%<\/td><\/tr> Kentucky<\/td> 33<\/td> 39.4%<\/td> 27.3%<\/td> +12<\/td> 36.4%<\/td><\/tr> Maryland<\/td> 34<\/td> 38.2%<\/td> 26.5%<\/td> +12<\/td> 41.2%<\/td><\/tr> Nevada<\/td> 34<\/td> 41.2%<\/td> 29.4%<\/td> +12<\/td> 35.3%<\/td><\/tr> North Dakota<\/td> 34<\/td> 41.2%<\/td> 29.4%<\/td> +12<\/td> 11.8%<\/td><\/tr> New York<\/td> 34<\/td> 44.1%<\/td> 35.3%<\/td> +9<\/td> 47.1%<\/td><\/tr> Missouri<\/td> 34<\/td> 41.2%<\/td> 32.4%<\/td> +9<\/td> 26.5%<\/td><\/tr> Iowa<\/td> 33<\/td> 36.4%<\/td> 30.3%<\/td> +6<\/td> 18.2%<\/td><\/tr> South Dakota<\/td> 33<\/td> 42.4%<\/td> 36.4%<\/td> +6<\/td> 18.2%<\/td><\/tr> New Mexico<\/td> 34<\/td> 35.3%<\/td> 29.4%<\/td> +6<\/td> 20.6%<\/td><\/tr> Maine<\/td> 34<\/td> 32.4%<\/td> 26.5%<\/td> +6<\/td> 20.6%<\/td><\/tr> Arkansas<\/td> 34<\/td> 32.4%<\/td> 26.5%<\/td> +6<\/td> 26.5%<\/td><\/tr> Delaware<\/td> 32<\/td> 34.4%<\/td> 31.3%<\/td> +3<\/td> 25.0%<\/td><\/tr> Mississippi<\/td> 34<\/td> 35.3%<\/td> 32.4%<\/td> +3<\/td> 23.5%<\/td><\/tr> Oregon<\/td> 34<\/td> 32.4%<\/td> 29.4%<\/td> +3<\/td> 29.4%<\/td><\/tr> California<\/td> 34<\/td> 38.2%<\/td> 35.3%<\/td> +3<\/td> 41.2%<\/td><\/tr> Utah<\/td> 34<\/td> 35.3%<\/td> 35.3%<\/td> 0<\/td> 35.3%<\/td><\/tr> Connecticut<\/td> 34<\/td> 38.2%<\/td> 38.2%<\/td> 0<\/td> 32.4%<\/td><\/tr> Louisiana<\/td> 34<\/td> 35.3%<\/td> 38.2%<\/td> -3<\/td> 44.1%<\/td><\/tr> Colorado<\/td> 34<\/td> 41.2%<\/td> 44.1%<\/td> -3<\/td> 23.5%<\/td><\/tr> West Virginia<\/td> 33<\/td> 30.3%<\/td> 33.3%<\/td> -3<\/td> 27.3%<\/td><\/tr> Alaska<\/td> 26<\/td> 30.8%<\/td> 34.6%<\/td> -4<\/td> 26.9%<\/td><\/tr> Nebraska<\/td> 34<\/td> 32.4%<\/td> 41.2%<\/td> -9<\/td> 23.5%<\/td><\/tr> Florida<\/td> 34<\/td> 35.3%<\/td> 44.1%<\/td> -9<\/td> 35.3%<\/td><\/tr> Alabama<\/td> 34<\/td> 38.2%<\/td> 47.1%<\/td> -9<\/td> 38.2%<\/td><\/tr> Arizona<\/td> 34<\/td> 32.4%<\/td> 47.1%<\/td> -15<\/td> 20.6%<\/td><\/tr> Idaho<\/td> 26<\/td> 30.8%<\/td> 46.2%<\/td> -15<\/td> 38.5%<\/td><\/tr> Oklahoma<\/td> 34<\/td> 23.5%<\/td> 41.2%<\/td> -18<\/td> 32.4%<\/td><\/tr> Texas<\/td> 33<\/td> 27.3%<\/td> 57.6%<\/td> -30<\/td> 21.2%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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