West Virginia ghost sightings have helped put the Mountain State at the top of America’s spookiest destinations just days before Halloween, according to a new nationwide study that ranks where people are most likely to encounter a ghost.
With October 31 approaching, some Americans are preparing their costumes, planning parties and figuring out which haunted houses are worth the admission price. Meanwhile, a new analysis suggests certain states have enough spooky activity to make you reconsider that late-night road trip.
According to research published by ActionNetwork.com on October 28, West Virginia claimed first place in a ranking of the country’s most ghost-friendly states. South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa and Montana rounded out the top five.
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The company examined 67,979 reported ghost sightings, 431,117 cemeteries, 2,795 haunted locations and 4,812 ghost towns nationwide. Researchers also analyzed monthly Google searches involving paranormal activity, including phrases like “haunted house near me” and “how to get rid of ghosts.”
Apparently, somebody has been Googling how to evict an unwanted roommate who doesn’t pay rent or exist in the physical world.
West Virginia secured 209 out of 255 possible points, largely thanks to its massive cemetery count. The state has approximately 1,124.4 cemeteries per 100,000 residents, the highest rate in the country.
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It also ranks eighth for reported ghost sightings, with 35 per 100,000 residents, and seventh for ghost towns, with 5.88 per 100,000.
Between its old burial grounds, abandoned communities and decades of paranormal folklore, West Virginia has plenty of material for anyone interested in a supernatural adventure.
South Dakota grabbed second place, bringing a different kind of spooky energy.
The state leads the nation in ghost towns, with 27.7 per 100,000 residents. It also ranks fourth for reported ghost sightings, with 48.2 per 100,000 people.
Imagine pulling up to a nearly abandoned town, realizing the nearest gas station is miles away and hearing something move inside an empty building. Suddenly, that weekend getaway isn’t sounding quite so relaxing.
North Dakota landed in third place, boasting the second-highest rate of reported ghost sightings nationwide at 52.6 per 100,000 residents. It also ranks sixth for ghost towns.
Iowa followed in fourth place, fueled by an especially active interest in the supernatural. The state ranks fifth for ghost-related Google searches, recording 421 monthly searches per 100,000 residents. It also placed ninth for reported sightings, at 33.5 per 100,000.
Clearly, plenty of people in Iowa have questions for the spirit world.
Montana completed the top five, ranking second nationwide for identified haunted locations at 3.21 per 100,000 residents and fifth for ghost towns at 9.89.
Here’s the twist: Despite Montana’s impressive collection of reportedly haunted places, the state finished dead last for ghost-related Google searches.
Maybe residents aren’t curious. Maybe they already know enough.
The Action Network spokesperson explained how the rankings were determined:
“Ahead of Halloween, The Action Network set out to find where in the U.S. you are most likely to spot a ghost, ranking all the states on five haunting factors: reported ghost sightings, number of cemeteries, haunted locations, ghost towns, and ghost-related Google searches. Every factor was measured per 100,000 residents, so states of different sizes could be compared fairly, then ranked and scored, with the points added up to produce the final ranking.
West Virginia came out on top as the state where you are most likely to spot a ghost, backed by the highest cemetery rate in the country at 1,124.4 per 100,000 residents, and top 10 rankings for both ghost sightings and ghost towns. South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa and Montana followed in the top 5, in that order, while New Jersey ranked last as the least likely ghost spotting location.”
While West Virginia took the overall crown, other states dominated individual categories.
Maine recorded the highest rate of reported ghost sightings, with 58.1 per 100,000 residents. North Dakota followed with 52.6, while Oklahoma placed third with 49.
Ohio earned a different distinction: Americans there appear especially curious about ghosts online. The state recorded 470 monthly ghost-related searches per 100,000 residents, narrowly beating Illinois at 467 and Washington, D.C., at 446.
Somewhere in Ohio, someone could be searching “how to get rid of ghosts” while another person is trying to find one. The internet really does bring everybody together.
Vermont topped the list for identified haunted locations, recording 3.41 per 100,000 residents. Montana followed with 3.21, while Alaska registered 2.86.
Kentucky also deserves a mention for its cemeteries, placing second nationally with 1,036.8 per 100,000 residents.
But what about the people who would rather enjoy Halloween without a surprise visitor from the afterlife?
New Jersey finished last among all 50 states and Washington, D.C., making it the least ghost-friendly state under the study’s scoring system.
The Garden State ranked 49th for ghost towns and 46th for reported sightings. Florida, California, New York and Connecticut completed the bottom five.
Yes, Florida somehow landed near the bottom of a bizarre-activity ranking. Make of that what you will.
The researchers also assigned playful implied probabilities to the five highest-ranking states. West Virginia received 5%, followed by South Dakota at 4.56%, North Dakota at 3.94%, Iowa at 3.17% and Montana at 3.11%.
Those percentages are illustrative figures based on the rankings, not verified probabilities that someone will actually see a spirit. Likewise, reported encounters and allegedly haunted locations are not scientific evidence of paranormal activity.
The study used information from Find a Grave, Ghosts of America, FrightFind, Wikipedia’s ghost-town listings, and Google’s Keyword Planner. Each category was adjusted for population size before researchers combined the scores.
So whether your Halloween plans involve a haunted attraction, a scary movie marathon, or staying home with every light on, the new rankings provide plenty of inspiration.
And if you’re traveling through West Virginia this weekend and something unfamiliar knocks on your hotel door at 3 a.m., checking the peephole first probably isn’t a bad idea.