The biggest lies told about every US state - There is an abundance of stereotypes about Americans all over the world, such as everyone being overweight and uneducated. However, there are just as many misconceptions floating around within our own borders. For starters, not everyone in the South is bigoted, not everyone on the East coast is rude, and there's more to the USA than New York and Los Angeles. Thanks to a list from the media outlet Little Things, these are the most common things you're told about every state that are just plain wrong.

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Alabama: Everyone is racist - Alabama's tragic history of racial injustice has given the state a less than favorable reputation. However, many Alabamans pride themselves on being home to civil rights heroes such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., as well as having the Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham.

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Alaska: It is always smothered in snow - While this could be said of the northern portion of the state, the most populated areas of Alaska are relatively temperate. Fun fact: It is actually 10 degrees warmer on average than parts of the Midwest.
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Arizona: It's just a vast expanse of deserts - Though sandstone structures and sand cover much of the state, it is also home to magnificent bodies of water like Havasu Falls and Lake Powell.

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Arkansas: Everyone knows Bill Clinton - Though Little Rock residents may have a Bill Clinton story or two, this can't be said for all people from the Natural State. So the next time you visit, maybe leave the Bill Clinton questions at home.

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California: It's about to sink into the ocean! - There is something to be said about California lying on top of a tectonic plate. Scientists have come to a consensus that the idea of the state breaking off into the ocean is largely a Hollywood fantasy, but San Francisco and Los Angeles will likely be much closer together one day.

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Colorado: Everyone is high all the time - The Mile High City is just a stoner free-for-all, right? Not exactly. It is still technically illegal to smoke in public places, you can only purchase an ounce at a time, and opening a dispensary requires a lengthy bureaucratic process.

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Connecticut: Everyone has a country club membership - Due to the high number of wealthy residents in the state of Connecticut, the East coast state has become notorious for tennis, boat shoes, and khakis. However, this isn't representative of the majority of the population.

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Delaware: All it's good for is shopping - Due to the state having no sales tax, people from Pennsylvania and New Jersey flock to Delaware for many of their consumer needs. However, it is also home to dozens of historic sites, beaches, and endless breweries to enjoy.

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Florida: It's all sunshine all the time - It may be called the Sunshine State, but Florida isn't impervious to rain or hurricanes. Floridians can expect random torrential downpours at any time between June and December.

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Georgia: Everyone looks and acts like Honey Boo Boo's family - Mama June and Paula Deen's thoroughly fried recipes have not helped Georgia overcome its reputation as the land of the overweight. While the state has a higher rate of obesity than most, of course not everyone fits this stereotype. 

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Hawaii: Get your passport ready! - Though it may seem silly to some, the questions that typically pop up when traveling to Hawaii is whether it's necessary to bring a passport, adaptors, or a change of currency. Hawaii is a full-fledged state, people! 

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Idaho: It's just one big potato farm - While its bountiful potato harvest makes up much of the state's GDP, the majority of the population lives in cities and it is also home to beautiful lakes, rivers, and forests.

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Illinois: There's Chicago and then nothingness - Tourists usually go straight to the Windy City, but Illinois has much more to offer. Springfield is home to numerous attractions for history buffs. For outdoorsy folks, there is also the Garden of the Gods.

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Indiana: People drive tractors everywhere - There actually is a Drive Your Tractor to School Day which applies to some rural parts of the state, but this doesn't apply to the city folk in Indianapolis. While agriculture is vital to the economy, farm life isn't the only way of life.

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Iowa: Iowans eat, live, and breathe corn - It is true that Iowa has corn fields as far as the eye can see, but a simple way of life doesn't mean people aren't cultured. The Des Moines Art Center features work from various world-famous artists.

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Kansas: Kansans are always fleeing tornadoes - Thanks to the impressionable image from 'The Wizard of Oz,' Americans can't let go of the idea that Kansas is a disaster area. While tornadoes do happen, people in Kansas are well-equipped to weather the storm.

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Kentucky: Their export of choice is chicken-fried hillbillies - Many people from up North picture Kentuckians as stereotypical barefooted rednecks drinking Moonshine out of a glass jar. However, as it is home to stars like Johnny Depp and George Clooney as well as presidents and Nobel Peace Prize winners, this is a clear fallacy.

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Louisiana: People outside of New Orleans are swamp-dwellers - While the bayou in Louisiana is more expansive than other states, most just pass by the swamplands or use them for tourism rather than actually living in these wet and smelly mosquito havens.

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Maine: Mainers eat all lobster for breakfast, lunch, and dinner - Yes, Maine is famous for lobster and you can find a lobster roll here as easily as you can find a hamburger. However, people in this state like variety as much as anyone else.

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Maryland: If you've seen 'The Wire' then you know everything about Maryland - After 'The Wire' did a feature about the drug war in Baltimore, that's all many outsiders picture when they think of Maryland. Despite the negative rep the state has received, it is home to gorgeous landscapes, profound history, and some of the best seafood on the East coast.

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Massachusetts: You're a Kennedy or a Wahlberg, there is no in-between - When you think of people from Massachusetts, two images typically come to mind—either an upper-class snob from an Ivy League school or a blue-collar worker from Boston who loves the Red Sox. In reality, the people from Massachusetts come from a variety of backgrounds.

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Michigan: Everyone must own a boat - With over 1,000 lakes between its borders, people must spend all their free time out on the water, right? Not exactly. Most of the state's population lives hours away from any of Michigan's popular lakes.

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Minnesota: Everyone has a really funny accent (You betcha!) - The Minnesotan accent has been imprinted in many Americans as an absolute truth thanks to 'Fargo.' While some people from the state may have a unique way of speaking, it isn't nearly as exaggerated as the film portrays.

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Mississippi: It's the land of rednecks - If you think that everyone from Mississippi falls into the stereotype of being a toothless hillbilly, then you are sorely mistaken. This was the birth state of Oprah Winfrey, William Faulkner, and two Pulitzer-winning playwrights, among many others.

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Missouri: It's a boring state - While the state doesn't have a particular claim to fame like some others, it does have popular sports teams, an expansive history of art, and is home to many friendly people.

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Montana: There's nothing to do - Sure, it may not be a metropolitan mecca, but for those who love the outdoors, Montana is essentially a giant playground for adults. Between Glacier National Park, The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center, and Glacier National Park, there are endless fishing, hiking, and exploring opportunities in this scenic state.

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Nebraska: It's a great state... to drive through - While it may not have mountains or beaches, those who call Nebraska a fly-over or a drive-through state are missing out. There are a wide variety of museums, such as the Durham and Joslyn Art Museum, and it is home to the Chimney Rock National Historic Site.

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Nevada: It's a den of sin plain and simple - This may sound a bit crazy, but Nevada actually has more to it than Vegas, Reno, and infamous brothels. The state itself is actually home to beautiful state parks and flourishing communities outside of the Las Vegas strip.

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New Hampshire: Everyone skips out on paying taxes - It is true that people from New Hampshire don't pay sales tax or personal income tax. However, they make up for this by having the third highest property taxes in the USA.

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New Jersey: It's New York's garbage can - New Jersey is too often the butt of jokes for people on the East Coast for its residents like Snooki and Tony Soprano. However, the Garden State has some beautiful beaches, luscious vegetation, and the famous Atlantic City boardwalk.

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New Mexico: People don't speak English - Don't let the name fool you. Although the state shares a colorful history with our southern neighbor, it is very much part of the US. New Mexico has a diverse population with a large community of American Indians.

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New York: Home to the sleepless city and that's all - This state isn't all skyscrapers! Of course, tourists head straight to NYC when they are taking a trip to New York. However, the orchards in the Hudson Valley and views of the awe-inspiring Niagra Falls are to die for.

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North Carolina: It's the same as South Carolina - These states separated for a reason, you guys. North Carolina is larger, has a less agricultural-based economy, and is home to a wide variety of phenomenal forests, like those in the Smoky Mountains.

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North Dakota: Nobody actually lives there - It is no shock to anyone that North Dakota is one of the more rural parts of the US, but this does not make it a barren wasteland. Every year thousands of visitors come visit The Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The Plains Arts Museum and Fargo Air Museum are also popular among locals and tourists.

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Ohio: Ohio is irrelevant without Drew Carey - Just because Drew Carey is no longer on 'The Price Is Right,' that doesn't mean Ohio isn't the birthplace of some other important folk, like Toni Morrison and Steven Spielberg. Plus this swing state is incredibly important during election season.

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Oklahoma: Fine arts are absent here - Oklahoma is seen by many as very rural and small-town. However, the urban centers in Tulsa and Oklahoma City have a variety of art galleries, opera houses, ballets, and museums.

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Oregon: 'Portlandia' is 100% accurate - Everyone you meet in Oregon is an ultra-liberal hipster sporting a North Face jacket, right? Within Portland, you may meet many people who fit this mold, but much of the rest of the state lives in rural areas and holds fairly conservative views.

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Pennsylvania: This state has no variety - If you think that Pennsylvania is completely uniform across the state, then someone from Pittsburgh or Philadelphia will be quick to correct you. The terms and phrases used change depending on what part of the state you're in and Pennsylvania is also home to several Amish communities.

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Rhode Island: It's only known for being tiny - Rhode Island may be small, but it is mighty. Besides having beautiful beaches, delectable seafood, and lush parks, Providence has a vibrant night life.

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South Carolina: It's super country and everyone looks the same - Like most of the US states, the majority of South Carolina's population is Caucasian. However, nearly one-third of the state is Latino, Asian, or African-American. Also, Charleston is a far cry from "country." The city has a 17-day art festival with artists from around the US.

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South Dakota: People must love living near Mount Rushmore - South Dakotans do have some pride for being home to one of the most iconic monuments in America. However, after seeing the faces of the founding fathers for the 100th time or so, it starts to get a bit old.

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Tennessee: Everyone is or wants to be a country music star - Don't get us wrong, Nashville is a bustling country music hub that draws thousands of hopeful musicians every year. However, beyond Graceland, Tennessee also has the stunning Smoky Mountains and prestigious universities.

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Texas: All Texans want to secede from the US - While Texas pride is not something to be taken lightly, not everyone wants their own country. A large portion of the state sees themselves as American patriots and would never consider leaving The Star-Spangled Banner behind.

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Utah: Everyone is Mormon - If Utah comes into a conversation between Americans, a joke about Mormons will certainly follow. It is true that 60% of the state identifies as Mormon but that leaves almost half of the population as unaffiliated.

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Vermont: There are hippies everywhere you turn - The image of people from Vermont being a bunch of older granola-loving hippies is true in some cases, but not representative of the population as a whole.

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Virginia: Outside of DC, you're basically in West Virginia - Believe it or not, bordering our nation's capital, Virginia has a lot more than forests and small rural towns. There are bustling cities, beach towns, and a whole lot of history in this picturesque state.

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Washington: This state always votes liberally - Even though Washington was one of the first states to legalize marijuana and gay marriage, there are many rural communities filled with conservative voters.

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West Virginia: You have to watch out for the Appalachian hicks - Stereotypes of people from West Virginia began during President Lyndon B. Johnson's fight on poverty when he used rural Appalachian Mountain towns as his prime example. The image of people from this state being poor and uneducated has proliferated despite how much the state has evolved since that time.

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Wisconsin: Wisconsinites are all cheeseheads - In the eyes of a large portion of America, if you're from Wisconsin, then your life revolves around cheese and the Green Bay Packers. Though both of these things are important cultural symbols for the state, they are not necessarily an obsession for all of Wisconsin's residents.

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Wyoming: Everyone is or knows a cowboy - Though Wyomingites wear their Wild West badge with pride, not everyone wears a cowboy hat and rides a horse to work. Besides wide open space, the state also has lively metropolitan cities and popular universities.

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