The Hidden Gems of America's Emptiest States

[@ggeorge4144]

There is nothing so nice as living away from people. For me the more desolate the better. I have never had a dog, cat, or horse steal from me, report me to the town officials for my weeds being two tall, or cause any other problems. This is my main reason for loving this country, it's big and you can live alone in peace and quiet if you choose. And of course, for those who like crowds, they are there too.

[@Hatbox948]

Agreed!

[@BuilderofRat]

I hear you! I am a country boy at heart. Where I live it is bearable. I have one close neighbor, and across the road is one more. I live 6 miles out of town. 20,000 people live in the one closest to me, and then a larger town (50,000) is next to the small one. Basically, if you don't see the city limit sign, you do not know where the first town ends and the second town begins. There are a lot of mountains around here, and a lot of quad trails to ride on. All in all, a great place to retire. I could not live in a place that dictated how high my grass was. Sadly, 2 years ago, thieves took a couple thousand dollars worth of my stuff out of my shop. I had not locked that shop for 15 years. I would like to introduce the thief to my 12 gauge. The world would one a better place without thieves in it.

[@anthonydurante1149]

Something tells me that wherever you used to live, you were a shitty neighbor.

[@pathader4839]

Yes but it's kind of scary.

[@fireboltaz]

Bro. All these middle states are in the fallout zone from the above ground nukes we tested from 1940s-1960s

[@anthonykyle2429]

Montana, just a heads up on anyone wanting to move here. -20 temps this weekend... -55 wind-chill. And be sure to look up how smokey it gets here in fire season in the summer.

[@tymarls]

Pretty much the entire country north of Kansas will be that cold this weekend

[@Mike-vd2qt]

@anthonykyle2429 Yep, I've bicycled across MT from east to west via the Cabinet Mtns over Glacier, across the Plains via Browning, MT; and north to south on the Divide Route off road. Talking with a bar tender outside of Wolfpoint in late June, myself fighting a head wind all day, he said, "Every summer people from the southern states come up here on vacation and hit a nice sunny day, light wind, and purchase a piece of property". "Two years later, that same piece of property is up for sale again". He also said, "The wind always blows up here, one direction or another, the wind always blows here". Smart bartender. Temps in Northern CO today are a balmy 15 deg. 🙂

[@vextract4662]

Yup I have friends there we only visit in the Summer and there is smoke from fires they complain about it sometimes.

[@Hatbox948]

I lived in Billings, Montana for 2 years. I left because I couldn't handle the cold, but have regretted it ever since.

[@bluewaters3100]

Back in the 70's I was a mail delivery person in Helena, MT. One year it stayed below 0 for the entire month of December. I was so bundled up when I went out on my walking route, wearing a knitted face masks, ski pants and parka that I once had a boy say to me," I can't tell if you are a boy or a girl"! I am a girl and grew up in Alaska as a kid and teenager. If you live in these places you just need to dress for the weather and keep your car and house weather proofed. I live in a small town in Western WA now and I love the weather here along with the trees and waterways. Unfortunately places like this start growing and then get overpopulated. But for now I am happy here.

[@4uFriday]

Montana is still flying under the radar. They have some hidden gem places around that state and I personally like them.

[@sean9448]

Shh..don't tell em about Whitefish. Second most beautiful place outside Alaska imo.

[@4uFriday]

@@sean9448 Montana is one of my favorite states. Big Sky Country

[@solascriptura-e7t]

​@@sean9448, I listen to a radio personality, here in Atlanta, that was born there.

[@savannahsmiles1797]

until winter hits and the natives are the only ones that wanna be there

[@haroldvoelkel1909]

Lol as long as those gems aren't named Missoula, Bozeman or Whitefish. None of those are even remotely representative of what Montana is

[@glenmorewhite3653]

But they say earth is over populated. Still trying to get that one figured out

[@EricDurrant-k5z]

Let me make it easier for you: over-populated in terms of resource consumption, not land coverage.

[@jarlwhiterun7478]

Just too many dickheads in the same areas. Resources and economies are strained from it and people aren't spread out as much.

[@savannahsmiles1797]

Weather is the theme. Tornadoes, brutal winters, or too hot summers, and WIND. So many of those states have too much wind.

[@rylantrainbrain]

Very true I hate the wind in Wyoming. Will be moving soon.

[@nogames8982]

I think the lack of water is more of an issue.

[@johnnyrocket4357]

@@nogames8982 If lack of water was the biggest problem, then why are some of them farming states? AZ isn't on this list despite water issues.

[@sundinfamforlife4129]

You mentioned too hot of weather. I’d argue Arizona and Texas have very hot climates but people still move there.

[@trevordaviestheawesomeness2176]

I think we all knew Alaska by far had the lowest population density. But a fun fact about that, so in Alaska, their counties are called Boroughs, and the borough with the lowest population density, aka the lowest population density county-equivalent in the US, the Koyukuk borough, covers 147,000 square miles through central Alaska, which is about the same size as Montana, and only has 5,179 residents in that whole area. That is crazy to think about. Even Alaska’s North Slope borough that covers the state’s arctic tundra, has a bigger population density than the Koyukuk, albeit not by much. I just happened to do research on this randomly one night back around Thanksgiving time, and it stuck in my head. Figured I’d share it here. And gee, I’ve always felt like many of the counties in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula felt so remote and sparsely populated when I’ve visited them, an example being Luce County, of which I’ve been on road trips where we drove through Luce County from the small town of Newberry 30ish miles up to the Lake Superior shoreline, with that entire 30 mile distance being remote wilderness. But I bet even Luce County would be like a metropolis compared to many of Alaska’s boroughs, which are much bigger in size. I haven’t looked up the stats for Luce County to compare with, but it’s personally one of the most remote areas I’ve personally been to, and to think there are places out there that are far more remote and sparsely populated is crazy

[@Chris_at_Home]

I worked there over six years along the Dalton. Most of the villages are pretty small. The Mat Su has grown. It is about 25,000 square miles and in 1980 there were about 17,000 people, now there are about 113,000 people.

[@DustySmith1]

Lowest Population density does not mean lowest population

[@johnbaskett2309]

Koyukuk census area, not a borough. I live in Galena Alaska which is in the Koyukuk census area.

[@texanfournow]

I have visited Luce County, specifically Muskallonge State Park. Beautiful area.

[@johnbaskett2309]

@@texanfournow What does that have to do with Alaska?

[@eandsm4620]

Brutal in MT?! Indeed. This weekend, the NW corner is experiencing wind chill of -60 to -75 degrees F. all weekend long!

[@Chris_at_Home]

I’ve lived in Alaska 45 years and had a blast. The golden years were the 1980s when the state had more money than they knew what to do with and most oil field jobs started over $50,000 a year.

[@SanDmaNTheFreakTrucker]

I absolutely love “empty” and desolate States. Keep your cities of crime, inflated prices, traffic, and over pop. The peace and quiet of country living is amazing.

[@jarlwhiterun7478]

Some of those rural areas have a much higher rate of crime than small cities. Depends on the people

[@JohnMasterson-ew6mg]

No they don’t.

[@laurachristianson1688]

Yeah everyone wants to live alone in the desert, or some featureless plains area, it’s just too depressing.

[@thullraven1]

Good Luck with that when you need Medical Care. My mom almost died because she was far from a hospital. SMH at the ignorance.

[@michaelbindner9883]

If you exclude urban counties it changes how empty some places are. Low rural density is Alaska, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming. Some places, no one even lives in rural areas.

[@TheCharleseye]

A lot of things change when you exculde urban counties. Like crime rate, taxes, friendliness, etc. Most everything gets better when you exclude urban areas. If only we could fence them off or something.

[@juliehanson1175]

I was thinking the same thing. If you take out Fargo in ND and Sioux Falls in SD what kind of population density do you have outstate?

[@happilybaked]

@@TheCharleseye The rural areas wouldn’t get the money the cities generate. In most states that is around 80% of the states economy.

[@TheCharleseye]

@@happilybaked Okay.

[@timlubbers2884]

⁠@@happilybakedand yet the urban areas would eat … what(?) … if it wasn’t for the rural areas … personally I’ll take the food and freedom of the rural spaces …

[@BuilderofRat]

I have lived in 4 states. Oregon, (born there), Washington, Nevada, and California. I am not a people person, so I was only able to stay in Cali for 4 years. I use to like Oregon, but not so much any more. I loved Nevada. I could ride my ATVs until the wheels fell off. I then put them back on and rode some more. Then I moved to Idaho. This by far my favorite state. Lots of mountains, and I love mountains. I drove through Kansas once, and you could not pay me to live there! I have found that the people in all 4 states to be nice for the most part. Portland Oregon was always a crap hole. I thanked my lucky stars that I never had to live there. In Cali, I lived in San Diego, and as far as southern Cali is concerned, San Diego is the crown jewel, but there were just too many people for this country boy. I will most likely stay in Idaho until I die, and that is ok. I have no desire to go anywhere else. The winters are cold, but the spring and fall are gorgeous. If the summer gets too hot, all I need to do is go to the mountains.

[@SBearden73]

If you love mountains, you need to at least take a vacation to Alaska. Just moved from WA to AK May 2023. Video doesn't do justice for the mountains here. It puts the PNW mountains to shame. Nothing compares to the beauty here. Not even CO can beat the mountains here.

[@Dwayne-mb2uj]

People from California cringe when people say "Cali" and no one who lives there speaks that way .

[@BuilderofRat]

@@Dwayne-mb2uj Ok. I am just lazy and don't want to type the whole word out. I did live there for 4 long years. As far as making them cringe, I don't care. They will get over it. If they don't get over it, I guess that they will die unhappy. AND, I still won't care. Would you prefer me to call it Commiefornia? That is pretty much what millions of Americans call it, me included!

[@ziqi92]

Heh, I’m the opposite. I was raised in Shanghai for the first few years of my life, so I can’t stand rural areas. Much as I like exploring state and national parks, I can’t live in an empty place with so few people for very long. I’m definitely a city boy at heart, but I get where you’re coming from. Hard disagree with you on California’s politics, but no need to get so fussed up about a place you no longer live in.

[@e.oconnell8461]

@@BuilderofRat California is the 6th largest economy in the world with less than 40M people. Its economy is built upon intellect and creativity (hint: Hollywood and Silicon Valley). If you don't have the intellect or competitive juices you move elsewhere.

[@augiegirl1]

I moved to South Dakota for 4 years of college in Sioux Falls (Augustana), then went back home to Nebraska after I graduated.

[@raymondperez2972]

Aloha Kakahiaka or good morning! In Hawaii there’s too much people for such small group of islands. I live on the main island O’ahu in Honolulu where majority of the jobs are. Way too many people per square mile which means no privacy in Honolulu. I could buy a house in one of those states and live in the middle of nowhere. Only the driving to get to the nearest city would be the sacrifice. For medical, dental, food and other services. You sacrifice something to gain something. Mahalo nui loa Briggs!!!

[@bluewaters3100]

When I was younger I lived in Alaska, Montana, and South Dakota and Idaho. It was in the 60's nd 70's and all were a great place to live. Now these states have grown quite a bit. I actually loved life back then because people were way more friendlier and trusting. I used to hitchhike across the country and even though I was an attractive girl in my 20's I never had a bad experience and always got rides with very nice people. It is a different country now and I would not want my daughter doing some of the things I did back then. Sigh....

[@finallife87]

they may have been nice good people; but, you got lucky back than.

[@AbsyntheAndTears]

The 70s were actually the golden age of the serial killer so you definitely got lucky

[@jarlwhiterun7478]

Some of the rudest and more dangerous people live in those states now. Society has just changed for the worse in general

[@amybreunig1214]

Nice video. Could you do a video for best places for seniors or people with disabilities to live? Thanks in advance.

[@drivingwithricks]

Pretty soon California's going to be on this list due to all the people leaving.

[@wPatrickSF]

😂😂😂.. Oh, you're serious.

[@Dreblueskies]

The illegals will make up for the ones leaving.

[@kevinwood5005]

There's plenty more on their way to replace em afraid

[@miketrusky476]

Home prices up 14%, people are funny when they leave Home prices go down.

[@jarlwhiterun7478]

California will always have a high population. Coastal state with beautiful weather and every type of climate you could want. You are just an extreme right winger and blame California for all our problems.

[@markbrown9765]

You mention the ruggedness of Idaho....Sitting here in northern Idaho as I watch your video. It's been snowing for three days, we're now up to a couple feet. I've cleared the 1/2 mile drive down off the mountain twice since this storm started and need to go do it again. It's currently -4F and we'll be at these temps for a few days. We got out yesterday with the Jeep (4-wheel drive with studded snow tires) after I spent 3 hours clearing snow. If we take the 4-wheel drive Ford F-250 I have to put chains on the back to get out then put them back on when we come back in even if the road is snow blowed (snow blowed? snow blown?). Oh, and between the federal and state government right at 2/3rds of Idaho is owned by the government.

[@seanmcdirmid]

My dad would drive us around northern Idaho given family roots (mostly in Spokane, but it includes northern Idaho). They have...sandpoint, bonners ferry, priest lake, did I miss anything? Very beautiful up there. I remember going bear watching at night in priest lake when I was a kid.

[@markbrown9765]

@@seanmcdirmid We're a little bit south of that, in the Silver Valley area, about 30 minutes from Coeur D'alene. But, were at 3,000ft which is the same elevation as the pass so we get quite a bit of snow. Absolutely stunning in the winter with the snow covered cedar and douglas fir tree covered mountains. Like a scene from a calendar but it comes at a cost. We get a lot of precipitation, mostly as snow. Long winters (cabin fever is a real thing) but I just tell my wife, that's why we don't have all those ugly pine trees (pines require much less water) and 'all sun makes a desert'. :) We regularly have deer coming through. Occasional moose and elk and have had a mountain lion cruise right past our place twice. There's a black bear somewhere about 400 yards away but I haven't found the den. Just smelled it and the carrion. It's is a beautiful place to be and live but there's definitely a personal cost.

[@savannahsmiles1797]

SE Idaho is snowy, cold, and WINDY...and has been for days and will continue for a few more.

[@markbrown9765]

@@savannahsmiles1797 I have a friend that lives down that way (Meridian area). He told me a couple days ago the temp had plummeted....so I figured it was headed this way. I've been down there a couple times, the constant wind would drive me crazy.

[@SBearden73]

I moved from Washington to Alaska May 2023. Some things are more expensive but overall is similar to Washington. Washington is due to high tax and Alaska is due to shipping costs. Chips and soda are extremely expensive here, which is why we hardly buy them now - good for our diet and health I guess.

[@naithngr81-jh2bb]

"Chips and soda are extremely expensive her" What about actual healthy stuff like produce fruits and vegetables?

[@SBearden73]

@@naithngr81-jh2bb honestly, not much difference than WA. Maybe a few cents.

[@tlewisAK]

I love how the opening shot for Alaska is the native village of Nenana. It’s located 60 miles south of Fairbanks. As for industry, we have oil & gas, lumber, mining, & fishing. We have the world’s largest Zinc mine, but you’d never know it from the air as it’s all underground. Fairbanks support 2 booming gold mines, as well as 2 military bases. Ally of Alaskas land is locked up by the Federal Government. Also, we have a lot of untapped oil wells that the current Presidential Administration won’t let us pull from.

[@bluewaters3100]

I grew up in Anchorage , Alaska from 1961 to 1977. The main "C" street wasn't paved until after the 1964 earthquake when Federal assistance actually upgraded many roads. A small population made it so that the death toll was low for the amount of destruction that took place after a 9.2 quake along with a big Tsunami which destroyed many small towns and villages. In 1970 the population exploded along with much construction with the advent of the big oil pipeline construction starting. I had many friends who made big money then. The whole state grew and it was forever changing from then on. I haven't been there since 1991 when I helped my mom move down to Wahington state to be close to me. I loved living in Alaska and hope it is still the friendly and great place to live.

[@requiett]

Alaska here. I'm about an hour outside of Anchorage and we rarely see bears here.

[@nunyabidness3075]

One problem these states have is too much federal land. We need to reconsider all the federal land reserves. Too many, too much, too mismanaged, etc.

[@Dreblueskies]

That is true although I appreciate having public land to shoot on, hike, ride, and ect. Although there can be a happy medium and NV and UT has way too much land owned by the feds.

[@leftright5]

I live in Montana and we all do carry guns.

[@josephgoebbels2854]

That is great 👍🏻

[@matthewcaldwell1384]

I really liked the video and wish everyone would follow the advice given in closing- “Be Nice To Everyone”

[@lanaarpin6540]

Shhhh! I live in Kansas and I believe it’s one of the best kept secrets. Drive across Kansas on I70 and it is flat and boring. You guys just keep going. Those of us living here know it’s a great place to live.

[@barbaraallen7164]

Same with Nebraska, just keep going.

[@dennisw.truman3325]

Good morning Briggs! Have a great day! 🎚️🇺🇸🪖👮‍♂️

[@sandrashort6563]

We need Kansas for food production don't you think?

[@traveldreamer4616]

Nice comparison video. Thanks for the information. I appreciate the effort it takes to create such videos. Well done.

[@bjdon99]

It’s sort of mentioned in each state, but for both KS and NE most of the people in each state live in the handful of big cities. In NE I believe @ 85% of the pop lives in either the Omaha or Lincoln metro areas, and in KS it’s about 85% live in either the KC ‘burbs or Wichita metro. The population in Omaha and the KC ‘burbs in particular are booming. But leave those 4 metro areas and it is very very empty

[@pamelamays4186]

Alaska is truly the last untamed region in the United States.

[@TheMightyCookieShow]

If a place has no industry, it has no population.

[@johnchedsey1306]

You lost me for good on saying Idaho's politics are okay. They literally prevent women from getting life saving health care.

[@alanbourne2332]

Fool

[@garymitchell7551]

How is Idaho preventing woman from getting health care or life saving health care? If your talking about abortion a woman can still get abortion in Idaho

[@alanbourne2332]

@@garymitchell7551 He’s trying to rebrand baby killing up to birth, as women’s health care

[@domdrty]

Omaha's metro area has about half of the state's population. 😆 I lived there for a few years. It was a great town.

[@ZenThruAnger]

How much of all the land by percentage is "owned & controlled" by the government, private businesses, insanely wealthy people, protected lands, condemned, and available to the rest of us civilians?

[@dancarlton7973]

The large sand hills region of NE has practically 0 or almost 0 population.

[@SunshineCatwoman]

As an Arizona resident for most of my life, I can say that these things keep me from moving to another state: (1) Daylight Savings Time. We don't have it, and nobody else should, either. It's stupid. If you want "more time" in your day, get up earlier. Just don't try to make everybody else do it, too. (2) Not as bitterly cold as other states. If I want to see snow, I can drive north or east for an hour or so. (3) Gorgeous scenery. Superstition Mountain is the most beautiful mountain I have ever seen, and we have lots of mountains. We are also one of the few states that are part of the Sonoran Desert, so we have saguaro cacti throughout the state. Unfortunately, these same reasons are what keep more people moving here, along with the fact that the idiots in California have ruined their state, so they keep coming here, too, hoping to ruin ours as well. I really hate it when people complain about how hot it gets in the summer here. If it's too hot for you, move to some other state and thus decrease our surplus population!

[@lynnettecherry5754]

Good show!

[@manwithnoname3454]

I grew up in Nebraska. Lived in Chadron, Kearney, Lincoln, Omaha. Great place to be from.

[@richardalvarez2390]

I've lived in Lexington, Kearney, Ogallala, and Omaha; it's a great state, great people, never moving out of Nebraska

[@AnjiThornton]

People can't handle winter in the Dakotas. Like today it's -15 degrees F. Literally can barely breathe without freezing your lungs

[@barbaraallen7164]

Many people couldn't live in the midwest. It takes a hardy person to live there.

[@alantrask6500]

The fact more people live in my town than some of the states blows my mind.

[@xlerb2286]

North Dakota took a hit from the depression which saw a lot of businesses collapse, followed by WW2 where there were good jobs in other states to support the war effort. We've never really recovered because there's not a lot to bring people in. But the thing about ND is if the winters aren't a downside to you (for most people that's not the case) and you like a small town lifestyle more than a big city lifestyle there's a lot here. Cost of living is reasonable and housing is affordable. In small towns it's downright cheap.

[@punchfreneticallydot]

It’s the opposite in Montana the cost of living is getting very bad here mainly in the western part of the state because everybody wants to live in western Montana. I believe the reason why Montana is much more popular than North Dakota is for one big reason, North Dakota is flat while Montana is mountainous, a very beautiful state so it makes sense Montana is a much more popular choice than North Dakota, people like the beauty of Montana while North Dakota is just flat (no offense) but hey at least it keeps the out of staters out, I wish they would stay out of Montana but you can’t stop people from coming here.

[@xlerb2286]

@@punchfreneticallydot I'm sorry to hear that. Western ND was starting to see some of the same thing. But the oil boom has put that on hold. Nobody want's to set up a country retreat where trucks are rolling by all day and there are gas flares stinking up the air. Eastern ND hasn't been noticed - yet.

[@michaelmarsh8802]

Have not been in South Dakota for 18 years. Victim of speed trap in Custer.

[@zarkus6]

You had a glimpse of Salt Lake City in the Nebraska section. Maybe you were thinking about the Pioneer trails going along the Platte River.

[@joanhyde1745]

In North Dakota, there are grazing livestock of all kinds, and those need lots of range to graze.

[@railfanmaximstill7279]

5:15 Nebraska is mainly because nobody wants to wait for an almost 3 or 4 mile long freight train moving at 70 mph. I live in Nebraska and you get used to it after a while

[@NickDanger0001]

decent politics in Idaho? Not hardly,.

[@RuthSmith1]

Really Good Topic!!

[@VechsDavion]

These places look like absolute paradises.

[@williamjones6031]

Not everyone wants to live in crowded places. Keep me west of the Mississippi and east of Caliphoney. I lived in a medium sized Nebraska town. When I left in 1980 the population was roughly 12.000. When I returned to visit in 2011 the population was almost exactly the same. They have a Walmart now. I currently live in Reno.

[@subterranea9095]

oh thank goodness. somebody that knows how much land that's available. please tell people to go settle all this empty land and to start growing the us economy through their labor. love it. keep it up.

[@randallthomas5207]

A comment on the Federal Government owning most of Nevada. Southern Nevada was one of the last places in the lower 48, that could be homesteaded. The requirements were the loosest ever in the homestead program, build a residence and live in it. You had to develop a septic system, but you could haul water. They still couldn’t give it away.

[@HOLLYHOUSE11]

People want to live in THE FREE STATES. That's why.

[@teamofone1219]

If anything these state might be the safest states to live in during a zombie apocalypse. The only real threat would be other people or just survival.

[@Tobins_throwbacks]

Another great video!

[@paulrusin3344]

Over caffeinated high school chemistry teacher ! Sounds exciting and entertaining. SOLD!

[@nedlyest]

They don't actually pay you to live in Alaska. When you are an Alaskan resident you are entitled to oil royalties. So no oil, no dividends.

[@BWowed]

I lived in fairbanks alaska but I currently live in wyoming. The winters in wyoming are worse than they were in fairbanks to me. Another thing nobody talks about in wyoming is the altitude. Most cities in wyoming are six thousand feet or higher, and it does have an effect on you when you go hiking in things. Alaska has more lakes than people. I also believe there are more dogs than people.

[@bakert7000]

I guessed the last three states. I plan to go to Wyoming and Montana this summer. Most of the people live in the south in Wyoming and try ssne in Montana . I love the pictures in the video. I lived in South Dakota in the Black Hills. It is best place to live for beauty. ❤

[@janeentumbao8690]

Hey. I hope you and your crew are OK in OR. There's alot of power outages over there. (Air hug)

[@1lthrnk]

Eastern Oregon people want to be bart of Idaho . S.W. South Dakota is popular in the first week in August

[@bobcratchet3736]

Got land. Now find the money to get clean water and electricity for millions of more destitute people.

[@lucialamprey2690]

The part of the state around my family's homestead is gorgeous. I'd live there if I could.

[@boomerang379]

Idaho, South Dakota and Wyoming are the short list of places I would move to if I left where I’m at now.

[@paulineespinosa4928]

South Dakota approved gambling in 1988. Doesn't that have something to do with population increasing? IDK. This was a very interesting video, thank you!

[@dianecheney4141]

North Dakota had a gold rush once upon a time

[@fremontpathfinder8463]

"Decent politics" in Idaho? No they are another Handmaid's Tale state.

[@emptysoul2757]

It’s turning purple. No good. Damn Californians

[@Ovibos5]

He also called Kristi Noem “smart”

[@fremontpathfinder8463]

​@@emptysoul2757You can't expect things to stay the same.

[@meatrobot]

I suspect he's a libertarian. Libertarians are like cats, completely convinced of their independence while being totally dependent on people.

[@callen8908]

Some people really prefer living in areas of low population density. I’m not one of them. Small towns can offer a nicely relaxed life, but I don’t want to have to drive mile after mile to visit the doctor or buy food. I also like the stimulation and diversity I find in the city

[@auroralance8546]

No one is paid to live in Alaska! That’s a misnomer. Yes we have a shared dividend from our resources, but we do loan billions to the state of Florida and others!

[@Sm0kEyX420]

The city of Boston has a greater population then the whole state of Wyoming, that’s insane.

[@Simbecile]

Taking women's rights is decent politics? Interesting

[@waheedali2429]

Don't be promiscuous Problem solved

[@annjames1837]

State rights are fabulous. Don't agree then move

[@tlockerk]

Had to laugh at Kansas comment, "Farming Season". Farmers and ranchers I know are busy all year. Lots of friendly folks in those small towns, and $100,000 will buy a really nice home there.

[@julierideout4317]

Eastern Kansas is beautiful and green. Lot’s of rolling hills.

[@marigeobrien]

The main reason most of these northern states have low populations is the long, cold winters as well as rough terrain. All along the Canadian border winters are nothing to sneeze at. Of course, if the climate keeps warming that will soon change and so will these states' population. It should be noted, too, that though those populations are low, most of that is clustered into small(ish) areas. For example, in Alaska one third of the state is uninhabitable, being north of the artic circle and much of the population resides along the coast. The Rocky Mountain range runs through Montana and Wyoming, making those areas largely uninhabitable, too, because of the lack of water or feasibility of sinking a well. Also, much of New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada lack water resources and are just too remote to consider. As for the the U.S. government "ownership," it's more like the USG has kept this land more than taken it over. That is, it came with the package, you might say, and no one ever claimed it. So, much of it was designated as public or government land.

[@stevewhitaker1474]

You should do more research on S Dakota and petroleum. The Williston Basin extends into S Dakota. S Dakota does have a HOT governor !!!!

[@CAROLDDISCOVER-1983]

Post office choice should be to the offset what are the most populous states?

[@blindfredy6128]

Alaska sounds really good to me.

[@cynthiasymons]

I lived in Nebraska for several months. And I drove from NY to Kansas in August one year. (Just try driving across Missouri in August without air conditioning. We closed the windows because keeping them open was like sitting in front of a blast furnace. When we got gas, the gasoline bubbled right up out of our tank. Yikes.) My point: I think you are overlooking the importance of climate. Horrible hot summers, brutal winters, potential for tornados. The people are wonderful, but who chooses that weather if you aren’t born there? Not me…

[@Zalis116]

Maybe I'm biased because I was born and still live in Nebraska. But I do like living in this 4-seasons area because it means that our infrastructure and services are built to deal with anything that comes our way. Unlike how the Pacific northwest and New England lack air conditioning and see their roads buckle in heat waves, Southern California and the Southwest can't handle heavy rain, and Texas and the Southeast can't handle cold snaps and snow.

[@cynthiasymons]

@@Zalis116 That’s a good point-and very true. I live in upstate NY. Syracuse gets more snow than just about any other place in the country, and if you talk to the people there, in certain areas around the city they will say that they never have snow days…the highway departments just know how to handle it. I always envied people in the south because when they get a little bit of snow, everything shuts down. It would have been nice not to drive to work when the weather was bad. LOL

[@sallyclay1974]

Rural aread aren't known for job opportunities. Nowadays ,if u have computer skills, u can work remotely. I feel sorry for young people now, because there Is alot more competition for work. We have a hugh problem with immigration now

[@haroldmcclellan3448]

Not enough big post office you have to work to live there

[@brucetisdell9404]

fascinating especially Alaska

[@MiataChannel]

As someone who was born and raised in Nebraska, I have to say I had to stop your video when you said "Nebraska does lead the country in BOREDOM" because I was laughing so hard. Hit the nail right on the head there. That's the whole reason I left Nebraska and never looked back.

[@barbaraallen7164]

Are you kidding? I'm from Nebraska living out here in central CA, not for long. I'm tired of hearing sirens, watching people running red lights, the accidents are horrendous, people are rude, the cost of living is expensive, the air quality is bad, shootings, stabbings and theft of anything not nailed down! I'd give anything right now to live in a peaceful quiet small town in Nebraska. I went home 4 months ago to Scottsbluff, I couldn't get over the peacefulness of the town, very calming.

[@myfalconry76]

Yeah but, a lot of that are is not habitable, like extreme mountainous areas desert or lack of resources

[@danporath536]

Water is a limiter.

[@glory3670]

This one has useful information for me. I did guess #1 right.

[@monixx9081]

Wonder if Briggs knows who Stratton is

[@suzanibafazi8661]

Its mainly a desert like South Africa 🇿🇦's Northern Cape Province dominated by The Karoo Desert.

[@fudhater8592]

"Mount Rushmoore" LOL

[@ThatGuy-yf5je]

I'm sure the large portion of nuclear arsenal in some of those states has something to do with it as well. Like Wyoming, I haven't seen much land publicly available too.

[@wyldrydr1823]

I live in RI how about doing the most densely populated states??

[@starchaser57]

Sone states are just too COLD COLD COLD.

[@wra3official]

TIL that Idaho has "decent politics". Dude....

[@stuffnuns]

Gotta disagree re Idaho having “decent politics”. Teaching science in school is problematic, Creationists have big sway in government. And do not get pregnant there. The anti-abortion laws are so draconian, that many obgyn doctors are leaving their practice in the state. Finding prenatal care in Idaho is gonna get harder to find in the future - even in Boise. I considered moving there, and after the misogynistic laws got passed, I’m glad I didn’t.

[@justinsane7128]

Imagine a president that lets in three times your states population in illegal immigrants

[@vpolite1]

Trumps going to prison soon so we won't have to worry about that anymore.

[@chuckinhouston9952]

Aw, I can’t imagine people would be dumb enough to elect someone like that.

[@Fakeaorta]

Imagine a state that thinks agriculture and construction would survive without immigrants.

[@lioneldemun6033]

​​​@@FakeaortaAI, robotics, modern machinery. Manpower is less and less needed.

[@Fakeaorta]

@@lioneldemun6033 We are not there yet. In fact we are a few decades away from construction being fully AI and robots.

[@dianecheney4141]

So many sunflowers in Kansas

[@Barry-ui9ic]

I watched it all the way to the end and then it said something about Alaska only has 1.3 people per square mile I don't understand how you have a third of a person????

[@olikat8]

Mom's side is on their 7th generation in Alaska...

[@slik00silk84]

In Wyoming, we generally appreciate people more; outside of the bigger cities anyway. Much of the state is lagging behind the times. Which is a good thing most of the time. However, thanks to the internet, much of the younger generation is catching up, which of course creates some friction with the older folks. Racism towards Latinos, particularly recent immigrants, is still a problem. I am surprised that more people don't appreciate the courage it takes to move to another country.

[@orangeblueandlavenda]

I think I wanna move to alaska

[@blindfredy6128]

Australia has a population density of 3.5 persons per square kilometre.

[@OneOfThoseTypes]

Good job. Keep it up.

[@doylebrockman8225]

There places in Kansas where can snow ski.

[@joanhyde1745]

By Government land do you mean national parks, etc?