Are GA residents supporting the military? See how we rank in patriotism
As fireworks prep begins and flags start flying, you might assume Georgia is leading the patriotic parade, but that’s not really the case.
According to a new WalletHub survey, we’re more stars-and-stripes moderate than all-out red, white and blue. With Independence Day right around the corner, a ranking of the most patriotic states puts Georgia smack in the middle at 22.
Even though Columbus, Georgia, ranked no. 10 as most patriotic city in 2024, it turns out, Georgia, as a whole, is not exactly flag-waving overachievers.
How the survey measured patriotism
Each metric was scored on a 100-point scale, then combined for an overall state ranking.
The collected data includes:
Military enlistees
Number of veterans
Adults who voted in the 2024 presidential election
AmeriCorps volunteers per capita.
According to statistics analysts at WalletHub, “Patriotism also isn’t concentrated in any one particular area – the top states are located in vastly different geographic regions,” so Georgia’s results may be surprising to some.
Georgia ranked near the middle for most patriotic states
Georgia didn’t crack the top 10, but Georgia did manage to land at 22.
Although Georgians are highly connected to military service, they are far less likely to vote, volunteer or participate in civic life, two key factors that dragged the state’s overall patriotism score down.
We scored number 5 nationally in military engagement, thanks in part to our large active-duty and veteran populations. However, that strong showing was offset by a weak performance in civic engagement, where Georgia ranked no. 45 out of 50.
A breakdown of the numbers
According to Georgia’s Election Data Hub, there are roughly 8.2 million registered voters in the state, yet the Secretary of State reported that only about 5.2 million individuals voted in the Presidential election in 2024.
The Georgia Department of Veterans Service, reports the state is home to over 700,000 veterans, making it one of the top states for veteran population nationally, reinforcing Georgia’s deep connection to its military service members and their families.
As of August 31, 2024, Georgia’s military-connected population includes:
About 55,970 active-duty service members residing in the state
Approximately 43,642 National Guard and reserve members
Around 23,339 active-duty spouses and 44,542 active-duty children
Additionally, there are 16,607 National Guard and reserve spouses and 26,464 National Guard and reserve children
How does Georgia’s patriotism compare to other states?
Patriotism isn’t just about waving flags on the Fourth of July, says WalletHub, it’s about active participation in the community and the nation.
The states that made the top 10 did so because of their civic participation and connection to service members.
The top 10 most patriotic states in the US:
Virginia
Montana
Vermont
Colorado
Oregon Washington
North Dakota
Maryland
Minnesota
New Hampshire
Maryland
The10 least patriotic states in the U.S.:
Arkansas (50)
New York (49)
Louisiana (48)
Alabama (47)
Florida (46)
Texas (45)
Indiana (44)
New Jersey (43)
Rhode Island (42)
West Virginia (41)
While watching fireworks and eating hot dogs feels like a good way to celebrate the 4th of July, being patriotic means a lot more than these American staples. Register to vote, volunteer in your community and support our military members and families. These are ways to be the most patriotic.
How do you show your patriotism? Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.
