shih-tzu.jpgGoverning and its readers love 50-state rankings that enable us to make meaningful comparisons among governments. Bucking the tradition of providing useful information, I've assembled some data that have no apparent value to public-sector officials -- unless they are dog lovers.
In honor of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
finals tonight, I've compiled a chart that ranks each state by its number of entries and compares that to its population rank. As you would expect, the number of canine competitors generally corresponds with each state's population.
There are some notable exceptions, however. Connecticut, Delaware and New Hampshire have far more entrants than might be expected, given their size, and Illinois has far fewer. Make of this what you will...and enjoy the show.
Rankings after the jump.
UPDATE: The best of show winner is Diamond Jim, an English Springer Spaniel from Fairfax Station, Virginia.
Show
Entries
Population
State
Entries
Rank
Rank
Ala.
14
31
23
Alaska
1
47
47
Ariz.
36
20
16
Ark.
11
35
32
Calif.
283
1
1
Colo.
46
17
22
Conn.
120
7
29
Del.
14
31
45
Fla.
135
5
4
Ga.
57
16
9
Hawaii
7
39
42
Idaho
4
45
39
Ill.
58
15
5
Ind.
35
21
15
Iowa
15
29
30
Kan.
6
41
33
Ky.
26
27
26
La.
24
28
25
Maine
14
31
40
Mass.
102
8
13
Md.
71
12
19
Mich.
70
13
8
Minn.
33
22
21
Miss.
7
39
31
Mo.
37
19
18
Mont.
3
46
44
N.C.
61
14
10
N.D.
0
49
48
N.H.
33
22
41
N.J.
179
4
11
N.M.
11
35
36
N.Y.
253
2
3
Neb.
6
41
38
Nev.
5
43
35
Ohio
78
10
7
Okla.
15
29
28
Ore.
29
25
27
Pa.
198
3
6
R.I.
12
34
43
S.C.
27
26
24
S.D.
1
47
46
Tenn.
30
24
17
Texas
132
6
2
Utah
5
43
34
Va.
84
9
12
Vt.
10
37
49
W.Va.
8
38
37
Wash.
72
11
14
Wis.
42
18
20
Wyo.
0
49
50
Anne Jordan was a contributing editor to GOVERNING.
