While driving down an East Texas country road I spotted this scene. The autumn trees and the late afternoon sun made these golden bales of hay shine just a little bit more. Fortunately I had my camera with me. (c) James Q. Eddy Jr.
Your Four State CBC, BBC & Kansas News Service Source Airing The Most Public Radio Shows in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma or Arkansas (90 Programs)
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Hear KRPS newscasts, updated twice weekdays and stream all three of our channels in the NPR app!

New Norms Found in Study of American States

Billboards in Los Angeles reflect the area's diverse demographics.
David McNew
/
Getty Images
Billboards in Los Angeles reflect the area's diverse demographics.

How "average" or "American" is your state? The Associated Press has produced an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data that ranks the 50 states and the District of Columbia according to how closely they resemble the country's demographics.

They looked at 21 demographic factors — from race, age, income and education to immigration and the percentage of residents living in urban and rural areas.

Illinois came out on top, because the state's racial, urban, and rural characteristics almost match that of the nation, as the AP's Stephen Ohlemacher tells NPR's Michele Norris.

The state least like the rest of the nation: West Virginia.

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.