State rankings
Darkest States in the US
Utah has the highest # of IDA Certified Sites (19), followed by Arizona (9) and New Mexico (8). Montana has the lowest (1).
25 of 51 states
# of IDA Certified Sites
Darker means higher. Click a place to highlight it.
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All 25 ranked
Highest first.
Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →
Each dot is one state; the lines mark the median and the middle half.
Median
2
Middle half 1 – 3
Average
3.4
25 states
Highest
19
Utah
Lowest
1
Montana
Data
Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.
25 states · # = rank by # of IDA Certified Sites
| # | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Utah | 19 | Antelope Island SP, Arches NP, Bryce Canyon NP, Canyonlands NP, Capitol Reef NP, Cedar Breaks NM, Dead Horse Point SP, East Canyon SP, Fremont Indian SP, Goblin Valley SP, Goosenecks SP, Hovenweep NM, Jordanelle SP, Kodachrome Basin SP, Natural Bridges NM, North Fork SP, Rainb… |
| 2 |  Arizona | 9 | Chiricahua NM, Flagstaff Area NM, Grand Canyon NP, Kartchner Caverns SP, Oracle SP, Petrified Forest NP, Pipe Spring NM, Tonto Monument NM, Tumacacori NP |
| 3 |  New Mexico | 8 | Capulin Volcano NM, Chaco Culture NP, Clayton Lake SP, Cosmic Campground, El Morro NM, Fort Union NM, Salinas Pueblo Missions NM, Valle de Oro NWR |
| 4 |  Texas | 7 | Big Bend NP, Big Bend Ranch SP, Copper Breaks SP, Devil's River SNA, Enchanted Rock SNA, South Llano River SP, UBarU Camp & Retreat |
| 4 |  Colorado | 7 | Dinosaur NM, Florissant Fossil Beds NM, Great Sand Dunes NP, Jackson Lake SP, Kelso Dunes NP, Mesa Verde NP, Slumgullion Center CP, |
| 6 |  Virginia | 5 | James River SP, Natural Bridge SP, Rappahannock CP, Sky Meadow SP, Staunton River SP |
| 7 |  California | 3 | Anza-Borrego Desert SP, Death Valley NP Joshua Tree NP |
| 7 |  Connecticut | 3 | Beckley Furnace SP, Campbell Falls SP, Dennis Hill SP |
| 9 |  Florida | 2 | Big Cypress Preserve NP, Kissimmee Prairie SP |
| 9 |  North Carolina | 2 | Mayland Earth to Sky SP Pisgah SP |
| 9 |  Michigan | 2 | Dr. T.K. Lawless CP, Headlands SP |
| 9 |  Tennessee | 2 | Obed Wild & Scenic River NR Pickett CCC Memorial SP |
| 9 |  Minnesota | 2 | Boundary Waters Canoe NWR, Voyageurs NP |
| 9 |  Nevada | 2 | Great Basin NP Massacre Rim WSA |
| 9 |  Idaho | 2 | Craters of the Moon NM, Central Idaho Dark Sky NR |
| 16 |  Pennsylvania | 1 | Cherry Springs SP |
| 16 |  Illinois | 1 | Middle Fork River SF |
| 16 |  Ohio | 1 | Geauga SP |
| 16 |  Georgia | 1 | Stephen C. Foster SP |
| 16 |  Washington | 1 | Rockport SP |
| 16 |  Wisconsin | 1 | Newport SP |
| 16 |  Oregon | 1 | Prineville Reservoir SP |
| 16 |  Arkansas | 1 | Buffalo National River NR |
| 16 |  Maine | 1 | Katahdin Woods & Waters NM |
| 16 |  Montana | 1 | Medicine Rocks SP |
What correlates with # of IDA Certified Sites?
Pearson r against 2,122 other state metrics sharing at least 15 states. Correlation is not causation.
Higher together
Places that have a higher # of IDA Certified Sites tend to score higher on these
Opposite directions
Places that have a higher # of IDA Certified Sites tend to score lower on these
Quick answers
- Which state has the highest # of IDA Certified Sites?
- Utah has the highest # of IDA Certified Sites, at 19, followed by Arizona (9) and New Mexico (8).
- Which state has the lowest # of IDA Certified Sites?
- Montana has the lowest # of IDA Certified Sites, at 1.
- What is the median # of IDA Certified Sites across US states?
- The median is 2 across the 25 US states with data.
- Where does this darkest states in the us data come from?
- Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: International Dark Sky Association; US dark sky site list; Find a Dark Sky Place.