<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0cGNAd_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0cGNAd_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ></figure><p>When you think of states with the most polite populations, which ones come to mind first?</p><p>Online language learning marketplace Preply set out to discover whether stereotypes like southern hospitality and rude New Yorkers hold any truth.</p><p>Preply conducted their study by surveying Americans in all 50 states, asking them questions to gauge how important “polite” actions were to the participants. Points were assigned to responses, and Preply adjusted the score on a scale of 0 to 100. The closer a state ranked to 100, the more polite Preply determined it was.</p><h2>Reality vs Perception</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3ySiKH_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3ySiKH_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: chartphoto via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>In addition to ranking the most polite states in America via questions to gauge how important polite gestures are, Preply also straight up asked participants to rate their state’s politeness. These were the results.</p><h2>1: Arkansas</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=09odMx_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=09odMx_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: Sono Creative via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>Arkansas is the most polite state in America, with an impressive politeness score of 99.3 out of 100. Nearly 75% of Arkansan participants in Preply’s study responded they feel it’s “very important” to hold the door for other people. It appears Arkansas residents embrace polite culture; they scored a 90.8 on the perceived politeness question, which put them in second place after Minnesota.</p><h2>2: Georgia</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1Ee3Lr_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1Ee3Lr_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: Gary via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>Georgia scored a 98.9 on the politeness scale. Sixty-two percent of Georgians agreed that it’s “very important” to respect someone’s preferred titles or pronouns, which contributed to The Peach State’s high ranking. Meanwhile, Georgians’ responses about their perceived politeness of their state ranked in 14th place.</p><h2>3: Alabama</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4fKZ3U_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4fKZ3U_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: allard1via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>Alabama’s 98.6 politeness score was fueled in great part by nine out of ten Alabaman participants responding that giving up their seat on public transportation to someone in need is important. As for how polite they perceive their state to be? Alabama ranked in sixth place, tied with Kentucky.</p><h2>4: South Carolina</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0OaB93_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0OaB93_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: dmsphoto via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>If you’re not convinced that Southern hospitality has backing to it, South Carolina might do the trick. The Palmetto State received a 98.5 politeness rating. Although residents don’t view their state as quite as polite, their 88.9 perceived politeness score also landed them in fourth place.</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3QfuAS_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3QfuAS_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: aheflin via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>Tennesseans land in respectable fifth place for the politest states in the U.S., with a politeness score of 98.0. In contrast, Tennessee residents don’t appear to see themselves as much in the polite light, for they ranked in ninth place for perceived politeness.</p><h2>6: Kentucky</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0Znq5O_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Znq5O_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: aheflin via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>Not only does Kentucky breed horses, but they breed polite people too. The Bluegrass State ranks as the sixth most polite state in America, with a politeness score of 97.6. That ranking is spot-on with Kentuckians’ perceived politeness, where they also rank in sixth place. </p><h2>7: Kansas</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4bAfrK_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4bAfrK_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: scottevers7 via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>Kansans received a 97.6 score in Preply’s politeness study. The problem? Kansans don’t view themselves as overly polite; they ranked in thirteenth place for the self-reported perceived politeness of their state. </p><h2>8: Louisiana</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3QjPhw_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3QjPhw_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: Dave via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>The Pelican State is home to a polite group of residents, based on their 97.3 politeness score. Louisianans rank higher in perceived politeness compared to Americans in other states (sixth place), although overall, they don’t see themselves as ultra-polite, given their perceived politeness score was only 87.5.</p><h2>9: North Carolina</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=03iqWj_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=03iqWj_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: Pavlo Vakhrushev via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>North Carolina residents answered questions pertaining to politeness that landed them a 97.1 score. However, The Tar Heel State had the greatest difference in perceived politeness up to this point, ranking in 22nd place.</p><h2>10: Michigan</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=26PMDv_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=26PMDv_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: shrirampatki via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>Michigan rounds out the top ten most polite states in the U.S. The Wolverine State scored an even 97.0 for politeness. That said, Michiganians’ perceived politeness score was 76.9, which landed them in 30th place. </p><h2>11: Minnesota</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1MiqXL_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1MiqXL_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: AMB-MD Photography via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>Minnesota joins Michigan in being a polite state that isn’t in the southern part of the U.S. Preply gave Minnesotans a politeness score of 96.8, whereas locals appear to think they’re far more polite: Minnesota ranked number one for perceived politeness.</p><h2>12: Ohio</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3YgWaS_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3YgWaS_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: Patricia E. Thomas via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>Ohio ranks below Minnesota by just 0.1 on the politeness scale. However, Ohioans don’t think highly of their state’s politeness; they ranked in 28th place for the self-assessed perceived politeness question.</p><h2>13: Mississippi</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2Z7vgD_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2Z7vgD_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: Daniel Thornberg via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>Heading back down south, Mississippi scores a 96.4 for politeness. Ask Mississippi residents, though, and many would disagree with The Magnolia State’s 13th-place ranking; it ranked in fifth place for perceived politeness compared to the rest of the nation’s perception of their states’ politeness.</p><h2>14: Utah</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2HxH9S_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2HxH9S_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: Jenifoto via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>Utah scored a solid 96.0 for politeness. The Beehive State doesn’t view themselves in such a good light, though. They ranked in 21st place for perceived politeness, with a score of 80.3.</p><h2>15: Virginia </h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2aSrHS_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2aSrHS_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: Oliver via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>Virginia’s politeness score of 95.5 means that, in theory, travelers can be expected to be greeted by many polite gestures when visiting there. However, with Virginians answering the perceived politeness question in a way that ranked them in 26th place, a mixed politeness experience for travelers might be a more accurate expectation.</p><h2>16: West Virginia</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3CxBNT_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3CxBNT_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: Barry via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>West Virginia ties with Virginia, joining it with a 95.5 politeness score. Unlike Virginians, West Virginians view their state’s politeness more highly, ranking in tenth place for perceived politeness.</p><h2>17: Iowa</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0dd4yx_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0dd4yx_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: harmantasdc via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>The Hawkeye State scored a 95.4 in Preply’s politeness study. That’s significantly higher than Iowa’s 86.1 perceived score ranking, even though this ranking makes it the eleventh most perceived polite state in the U.S.</p><h2>18: Nebraska</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0cITLN_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0cITLN_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: Zack Frank via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>Nebraska falls just a hair below Iowa, with a politeness score of 95.3. Although The Cornhusker State’s residents don’t perceive themselves as quite as polite (89.5 score), they landed in third place for perceived politeness.</p><h2>Uncovering Southern Hospitality</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3INCgm_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3INCgm_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: BrittanyMillie via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>Professor and author Anthony Szczesiul says that the term “Southern hospitality” was coined in the 1820s or 1830s. It was a way for white Southerners to defend their slavery-dependent lifestyle and political system when debates about slavery were rising across the nation.</p><h2>Digging Into Politeness</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2CbzTk_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2CbzTk_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: JackF via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>Studies show that politeness, and managing varying degrees of politeness, is a vital part of integrating into society. A lack of politeness doesn’t always signify a person is acting impolitely; it can be a sign of feeling close to a person. Case in point? Saying, “Hey, Jane,” instead of “Hello, Ms. Jane.”</p><h2>14 Real-Life Sin Cities in the U.S.</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=44BBV1_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=44BBV1_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: Justin via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>We all have our vices, but not every city is notorious for its transgression. From the dazzling lights of Las Vegas to the vibrant streets of Miami, these are the most mischievous urban hubs in America.</p><p>14 Real-Life Sin Cities in the U.S.</p><h2>50 Weirdest Laws in Each State</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3keiOB_0vG7z1L300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3keiOB_0vG7z1L300" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Photo Credit: ahirao via stock.adobe.com.</figcaption></figure><p>Most Americans are clear on treating thy neighbor as they’d want to be treated to reduce the chance of fines and jail time. But did you know you could be breaking the law by carrying an ice cream cone in your pocket? These are the weirdest laws in each state, most of which courts don’t enforce.</p></div></body>

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18 Most Polite States in the USA

When you think of states with the most polite populations, which ones come to mind first?. Online language learning marketplace Preply set out to discover whether stereotypes like southern hospitality and rude New Yorkers hold any truth. Preply conducted their study by surveying Americans in all 50 states, asking them...