subject: Want To Tell Someone Where To Go? [print this page] Maine is the most peaceful state in the U.SMaine is the most peaceful state in the U.S. This was the finding of the 2012 ranking by the Institute for Economics & Peace. The 5 criteria used in the ranking were number of homicides per 100,000 people; number of violent crimes; incarceration rate; number of police employees; and availability of small arms. Vermont was second most peaceful followed by New Hampshire, Minnesota and Utah. The 5 least peaceful states were Louisiana (for the 11th year running) followed by Tennessee, Nevada, Florida and Arizona. The strong correlation between peace and economic opportunity, health, education and social capital make this ranking the "peace de resistance".
Alexandria, Virginia, the historic suburb outside Washington, D.C., is the most well-read U. S. city. This was the result of Amazon's 2012 ranking of municipalities with populations over 100,000. The ranking - which was based on per capita sales of books, magazines and newspapers - found that romance novels are very popular in Alexandria. Following Alexandria in the ranking were other college towns: Cambridge, Massachusetts; Berkeley, California; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Boulder, Colorado. Rounding out the top 10 were Miami, Florida; Arlington, Virginia; Gainesville, Florida; Washington, D.C.; and Salt Lake City, Utah. Surprisingly "Reading", Pennsylvania didn't make the list.
The most ozone-polluted U.S. city is Los Angeles, California. Surprisingly, cars aren't the main problem. Having 43% of the country's imports come through LA is the main problem. According to the 2012 ranking by the American Lung Association, Visalia, California is second. Its main problem is being just south of Fresno. Third is bowl-shaped Bakersfield, California with mountains on 3 sides. Fourth, due to traffic, is the previously mentioned Fresno, California; and fifth is Hanford, California, which is Fresno's neighbor to the north. I'm guessing California would like to "take a breather" from having the top 5 ozone-polluted cities.
The U.S. city with the best air quality is Santa Fe, New Mexico. This was also according to the American Lung Association. The air's cleanliness is primarily attributed to the city not having dirty industries. Bismarck, North Dakota being second is due to it being predominantly flat; and Duluth, Minnesota being third is primarily due to having its own microclimate at the end of Lake Superior. Honolulu, Hawaii being on an island and Port St. Lucie, Florida being on a long peninsula contribute to their being fourth and fifth. People in these 5 cities can "breath a sigh of relief".
