The reputable site WalletHub gives credit for the most American innovation. The website compares all states, including the District of Columbia. Wyoming didn’t do great, but we didn’t do too bad – overall number 27.

In Research & Development, however, the Cowboy state did the worst, and we mean worst of all – #51. Wyoming is good at not spending money it doesn’t have, so a poor showing in one category that does require capital means it is impressive to still be 27th. Elsewhere we stayed middle of the road – or better - without the “human capital” other states have.

Here is more of the 18 different criteria: STEM Professionals – science, technology, engineering and math – states with the highest density of STEM, and the lowest. States with the most and least STEM “demand” was considered, as was most and least science and engineer grads aged 25 plus.

They must have to use computers to tabulate so many categories, especially seeing anomalies such as New Mexico - Top18 - but one of the worst in the country for 8th-grade math.

Congratulations to COLORADO for earning Top 5, and UTAH Eighth in the country.

  1. District of Columbia
  2. Maryland
  3. Massachusetts
  4. California
  5. Colorado

Our nation as one spent an estimated $514 billion on research and development — more than any other country in the world — helping rank No. 4 on a Global Innovation Index.

More From My Country 95.5