Top 10 Most Self-Sufficient States In the United States

What state do you think could keep themself together? Could it be Alaska, California, or any state?
The Top Ten
1 California California is a state in the Southwestern United States. With 39.6 million residents across a total area of about 163,696 square miles (423,970 square kilometers), California is the most populous U.S. state and the third-largest by area. The state capital is Sacramento, and the largest city is Los Angeles.

California is a great state and the most progressive, hence the most prosperous. As much as people complain about Democrats and high taxes, it's to SUPPORT the progressive mantra to keep growing and flourishing. Anyone who complains about our politics elsewhere and internally, participate and practice your civic duties if your resident. If you're not, you're just envious. If you don't like it here, then leave to Texas are wherever you deem more free. I'm sure someone is waiting in line to take up your space from somewhere else.

California produces the biggest percentage of America's produce. California leads the nation in energy, technology, and entertainment. If California were to strike out on its own California would see more upside than downside. While the rest of America would deal with price surges in fruits and vegetables, California would likely see an economic boom.

California grows a large percent of food in the United States, behind no other state. Also, businesses in San Fransico, as well as the movie industry could keep it alive.

Solve irrigation and california is suddenly the france to the holy roman empire of europe.

2 New York New York is a state located in the Mid-Atlantic Region. New York was one of the original thirteen colonies that formed the United States. With an estimated 19.54 million residents in 2018, it is the fourth most populous state. In order to distinguish the state from the city with the same name, it is sometimes referred to as New York State.

Home to one of the most developed cities in the world, it would be a prosperous place if the crisis of the US splitting were to happen.

3 Michigan

California and the West couldn't last a year without the water provided by the Great Lakes. Michigan has everything it needs in theory. It has plenty of fresh water. It has plenty of farms with plenty of variety (second only to California, but again, how is California going to water those crops without Michigan? ). It has the now-profitable Big Three car companies. It has the untapped goldmine of resources in the Upper Peninsula. Coal, lumber, oil, you name it is up in the UP. It has a strong tourism economy (so much so that they have a law saying public schools must start after Labor Day to encourage tourism). The only state that can compete with Michigan is Texas because they have lots of military bases and oil, whereas Michigan only has enough of those for itself. But again, Texas doesn't strike me as overflowing with fresh water nor farms.

Two words: Fresh. Water. The West Coast would be in panic mode without Michigan and, to a lesser extent, the other Great Lakes states. So, Michigan has self-sufficient water. They have self-sufficient farming. They have self-sufficient natural resources in the UP. They have arguably the best healthcare in the nation (Grand Rapids is a hub for medical development, and UofM has the best hospital in the country). They are home to all major American motor companies. They are home to most major pizza companies and cereal companies. They have a great tourism economy. They have one of the best universities in the world, let alone the nation, in the University of Michigan. So, let's see.
1. Food? Check.
2. Water? Check.
3. Healthcare? Check.
4. Economy? Check.
5. Energy resources? Check.
6. Education? Check.
No other state can check all six boxes except for maybe Texas. Maybe.

Michigan has the resources necessary. Plenty of fresh water, as well as more natural resources in the U.P. We're doing great agriculturally, and we house a sizable part of the auto industry, as well as a good (but not overly large) population.

Despite misconceptions in Detroit, businesses are slowly coming back there. Not only that, but they grow a large portion of the US's food, most noteably around the Traverse City area (Cherry Capitol Of The World).

4 Texas Texas is a state in the Southern USA. It is the second largest by area and population. Its largest city is Houston.

Here's The deal, Texas is the second largest state, with terrain which varies widely, so, there is a broad production of multiple different goods. Texas produces the most Oil in the US, and even at times outproduces Saudi Arabia and other middle east places known for Oil.
Texas has a state militia that could easily hold its own against other world superpowers, at least for a time. Texas also has the most impressive Law Enforcement branch (Texas Rangers) known to man.
Texas is a hot-spot for businesses, and innovation, partially due to low taxes, but also partially due to Texans generally being able to be consumers to these businesses. Texas is a place of success, and though in the dense city populations, it does tend to have a few Democrats, the majority of Texans are hard working citizens, not only loyal to Texas, but extremely proud of it.

Finally, I would like to mention that Texas was actually once its own Country, whereas Every other state does not have that ...more

I think that the biggest indicator here is how a state would do on it's own, and by that standard, Texas is the clear winner. As a nation it would have a massive and prosperous oil industry because of the Gulf of Mexico. It has the most well regulated state militia with an army and a navy. California comes in second here, but is still leagues behind.
Texas also has a very good economy, unlike California, which is drowning in debt. California would collapse economically soon after it's independence but Texas, with it's extremely loyal citizens and booming industry, would leap onto the international stage while California would struggle.
All else aside, Texas also has a great flag. Meaning I could actually see it as a country. Can you imagine Wyoming's flag being a country flag?
I'm not a Texan and California is a great state. But in the long run, California just wouldn't make the cut. Meanwhile, Texas would be thriving.

Texas really should be number one although California has a pretty big economy even when compared to Texas and is tie or pretty close to Texas across the bored Texas has one big advantage. low taxes and government. Toyota just moved in FROM CALIFORNIA if both where to strike out on there own I think that over time that Texas would eventually emerge as the clear victor. not to mention that Texas has a large group of devoted citizens who would practically die to support it. I mean every time I walk out and see an american flag right next to it is a Texan flag something that I have never seen in any other state.

Texas WAS a independent nation for a period of 9 years after defeating Mexico in the war for it's independence. Texas joined the United States not because it had to, but because the citizens wanted to.

5 Idaho Idaho is a state in the northwestern region of the United States. Idaho is the 14th largest, the 39th most populous, and the 7th least densely populated of the 50 United States.

Large of amount of renewable energy.
Gas pipeline
Large agricultural production for population size
Food production plants
Large dairy production
Cattle-swine-poultry operations and processing plants.

Idaho has both mineral and food production as well as a tech industry and the potential for a manufacturing industry. With 4th generation nuclear technology, we could be fully self powered.

Idaho has a low population it would be easy for them to grow enough food to survive

6 Alaska Alaska is a U.S. state situated in the northwest extremity of the Americas. The Canadian administrative divisions of British Columbia and Yukon border the state to the east; it has a maritime border with Russia to the west across the Bering Strait.

Alaska is resource-rich, and its small population could lead to instant money. But, they shouldn't burn down all the glaciers.

7 Ohio Ohio is a state in the midwestern region of the United States. Ohio is the 34th largest by area, the 7th most populous, and the 10th most densely populated of the 50 United States.

Ohio has more major cities than any other state in the nation. Outside those cities, however, is vast sprawls of either woodland or fertile farmland. We also have well-established industrial and military centres (even after the rust belt collapse), as well as some of the largest freshwater ports and Marinas in the world. Although the large population could be a challenge, the huge amount of farmland would easily be able to feed the entire population with a surplus. Go Bucks!

I think that it's because they won the national championship. My state.

8 North Dakota North Dakota is the 39th state of the United States, having been admitted to the union on November 2, 1889.

I think North Dakota could survive but what about the savages? And North Dakota has tons of peep squeaks that run a round and mine oil...

Oil has been discovered there, and it's being mined as we speak.

9 Washington Washington is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States located north of Oregon, west of Idaho, and south of the Canadian province of British Columbia on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. It is the only state named after a president.

Seattle, as well as a high amount of food growth.

10 Florida Florida is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. Florida is the southeasternmost U.S. state, with the Atlantic on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other.

Without a doubt Florida would definitely be one of the most self sufficient states. Floridas agricultural is thriving year round because of the temperate climate along with the ocean to provide food. Fuel is not a problem in Florida because many cities are nuclear powered and the potential of rich untapped oil resources offshore. Lots of timber, manpower, tourism, solar energy the list goes on...

Florida has the potential to produce more produce than that of california at a cheaper cost since it wouldn't need to run as much irrigation and we can grow year round. As for oil we can drill for it off shore and being nearly surrounded by water means that there is a booming fishing industry. florida is one of the leaders in tourism in the entire country and it's citizens take their 2nd amendment seriously so it would definitely be able to defend itself. the only problem I see would be a lack of mineral resources such as iron and coal.

Access to water, plenty of land, 3rd most populated state, strong military.

The Contenders
11 Wisconsin Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States, in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions.

Is it possible cheese exports could keep the state alive?

12 Vermont

Vermont has a small population, yet they are extremely smart.

13 Illinois Illinois is a state in the midwestern region of the United States. It is the 5th most populous state and 25th largest state in terms of land area, and is often noted as a microcosm of the entire country.

Illinois has the 5th largest population in America, the 5th largest economy in America, and the 3rd largest city in America. They have the Farming capability of being their own nation. They are also on Lake Michigan, which gives them fresh water.

14 Louisiana

Louisiana has its foot in almost every industry from tech to agriculture, it's resource rich, and its population is just right in regards to self sustainability; that being, its population isn't too large to be reliant on others for resources and isn't too small to lack in production of products. It's also the home to 3 of the USA's largest ports, as it controls the mouth of the nations longest and perhaps most valuable river.
In regards to California and Texas they would be able to sustain themselves well for the beginning of the term; however, both states are prone to droughts and water shortages which could, in the long term, lead to famine as the states try to satisfy the needs of their large populations.

The absolute most sufficient state. A true Louisiana native can survive anything, anywhere and for any period of time. Don't get caught in the swamp after dark if you don't have any friends here. Most importantly we help each other, Lake Charles, La is the fastest growing city in the US and many nations are consulting this great state on methods, policies and procedures concerning rebuilding and resilience. Once revival hits us, there won't be any stopping us, God bless Louisiana.

Who said most powerful? This was the most self sufficient. If you want to talk warfare La sinks a couple of ships north of Baton Rouge in the Mississippi in October they cut the entire central portion of the country off from fresh fruits and vegetables from central and South America, heating oil, etc. As far as seeing bombings, radar sights can see thru rain. You can bomb all you want if you can't put in ground troops who cares blow the bridges and see what happens about getting in.

Louisiana has it's own energy industry, cattle industry, timber industry, fisheries, agriculture, plenty of water, temperate climate (long growing seasons and manageable winters), multiple ports, and control of the mouth of the largest river in the USA. If managed properly it could be the most self sufficient state in the USA

15 Maine
16 Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state located in the northern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.

Needs to be above Mississippi.

17 Iowa Iowa is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States, bordered by the Mississippi River on the east and the Missouri River and the Big Sioux River on the west. Iowa is a strong Republican state with Constitutional Carry. Masks have never been mandatory and Iowa was never locked down.
18 Minnesota Minnesota is a state in the Midwestern United States. Minnesota was admitted as the 32nd state on May 11, 1858, created from the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory.

Been doing pretty damn good the last several years. Economy's alright and were slowly getting more recognition. Besides, if we can handle those rough winters, we're probably doing well.

19 South Carolina South Carolina is a state in the southeastern region of the United States. The state is bordered to the north by North Carolina, to the south and west by Georgia across the Savannah River, and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean.
20 New Hampshire
21 Tennessee Tennessee is a state located in the southeastern United States. Tennessee is the 36th largest and the 17th most populous of the 50 United States.

I think the state could stay afloat but not thrive based off its tobacco and alcoholic sales and or trade. Tourism would play a key role in the states sunk or swim economy as well.

22 Georgia Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies.

With lots of farmland, transportation infrastructure and access to international trade, Georgia would have a fighting chance to make it on the outside.

23 Arizona Arizona is a U.S. state in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the Western and the Mountain states.

Arizona has plenty of food (one of the largest veggie producers), is a large copper producer, has a large retirement community. It also grows a significant amount of corn and cotton. It is very capable of being self sufficient. It also has it share of the Colorado river, a vital resource for all Southwestern states.

24 Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state located in the South Atlantic region of the United States.

Virginia has a HUGE farming communities, 2 international trade hubs/ports, one of the best funded national guards, and many national/international cooperate headquarters. We also have an international airport. The taxes are fair and could be raised in the event of secession. If only providing food for ourselves, our farming, food manufacturing, and seafood industries could sustain us. We also have tons of untapped potential in coal energy and steel production. In reality, Virginia is as capable as any of the top states for self-sufficiency. We also do t have the mountains of debt that the top states do.

Virginia has a large and growing population, however, it isn't to large that it's not sustainable. It also has a strong national guard, a healthy rich population (in the north) and a managable homeless population that has been seeing a large decrease several steps ahead of the national average. It also has a large tourist and shipping sector along the coast, and one of the largest US navy bases in norfolk. Richmond, Fairfax, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Georgetown are all examples of how the state has built healthy communities. In addition it features a large agricultural industry to feed itself. As a small bonus it also has the mountains to the west which would act as a natural barrier to invasion.

It has large ports in Norfolk, strong agricultural, defense, and extraction industries, multiple nuclear power plants, and a large future in wind powe.

25 Missouri Missouri is a state located in the Midwestern United States. It is the 21st most extensive, and the 18th most populous of the fifty states.

If the states were to separate, Missouri would do just fine. We have an extensive agriculture base, and enough access to the raw materials for our industry to prosper. As for oil...we'll steal it from Oklahoma and Arkansas.

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