which state in the US has the most flashlight users ?

[flashfan]

Good one, Capolini!

Regarding asking random people in a supermarket if they use a flashlight, the term "often" is the qualifier that would probably elicit a negative response. However, if the question is simply, "Do you use a flashlight?" I think the majority would say yes.

Then again, I can relate a specific experience regarding a colleague. He had been living in LA for a few years when the 1994 Northridge earthquake struck at about 4:30 am. He had NO flashlight, NO candle, NO matches, nor any type of illumination. This was also before cell phones became ubiquitous, so no help there either. He said he just had to sit in his house until the sun came up. It was a sobering experience. I gave him a flashlight for a future episode...which has yet to occur.

But I digress. Getting back to the topic, I don't know which state has the most flashlight users, but I would hazard a guess that California might be the state with the most flashaholics...?!? It would be interesting if CPF had a breakdown of membership locations.

 

[StorminMatt]

It would be interesting if CPF had a breakdown of membership locations.

Some of us do show where we live by state. But I have to admit I've never bothered to do any kind of poll or even really notice too much. On the other hand, when it comes to going specific places to hike, camp, etc, I would say you see more California locations than locations in any other state.

 

[Monocrom]

Don't know. But I'd say New York is definitely a top contender. Lots of CPFers based in New York.

 

[ElectronGuru]

My numbers are thrown off a bit by E cig users, but based a sample size of 10k+:

California	23.12%
Texas	7.07%
New York	5.97%
Florida	5.77%
Washington	3.64%
Virginia	3.27%
Pennsylvania	3.14%
Georgia	2.72%
Illinois	2.52%
New Jersey	2.46%
Arizona	2.43%
Ohio	2.43%
Hawaii	2.39%
North Carolina	2.37%
Massachusetts	2.26%
Michigan	1.91%
Maryland	1.76%
Kentucky	1.64%
Indiana	1.61%
Alabama	1.57%
Tennessee	1.56%
Colorado	1.53%
Connecticut	1.50%
Missouri	1.50%
Minnesota	1.48%
Wisconsin	1.28%
Oklahoma	1.24%
Alaska	1.19%
Kansas	1.03%
Louisiana	0.95%
Nevada	0.69%
South Carolina	0.66%
Rhode Island	0.56%
Iowa	0.55%
West Virginia	0.48%
Arkansas	0.47%
New Mexico	0.46%
Mississippi	0.42%
New Hampshire	0.41%
Maine	0.37%
Idaho	0.35%
Nebraska	0.31%
Montana	0.26%
Utah	0.22%
Vermont	0.12%
Wyoming	0.12%
South Dakota	0.10%
North Dakota	0.09%
Delaware	0.04%

 

[Poppy]

Regarding asking random people in a supermarket if they use a flashlight, the term "often" is the qualifier that would probably elicit a negative response. However, if the question is simply, "Do you use a flashlight?" I think the majority would say yes.

Very Nicely Put! :thumbsup:

 

[jabe1]

I wonder how close those numbers correlate to state by state population.

 

[MBentz]

My numbers are thrown off a bit by E cig users, but based a sample size of 10k+:

California	23.12%
Texas	7.07%
New York	5.97%

In my first reply I guessed this in order. What do I win?

 

[StarHalo]

That's kind of disappointing that the storm-prone, rural Dakotas and Wyoming are at the bottom of the list, below Alaska. I think there are a disproportionate number of Californians on the internet in general though; I remember back in the AOL days, it seemed like you ran into far more Cali folk than from any other state, by a huge margin.

In my first reply I guessed this in order. What do I win?

A trip to the lovely rolling El Dorado hills of California..

 

[StorminMatt]

That's kind of disappointing that the storm-prone, rural Dakotas and Wyoming are at the bottom of the list, below Alaska. I think there are a disproportionate number of Californians on the internet in general though; I remember back in the AOL days, it seemed like you ran into far more Cali folk than from any other state, by a huge margin.



A trip to the lovely rolling El Dorado hills of California..

Remember that we are talking about the percentage of CPF members from given states, NOT the number of people who use flashlights. It could be that people in places like the Dakotas or Wyoming use flashlights ALOT, but generally don't feel the need to have the latest and greatest (like SO many gadget-crazed Californians). Maybe for lots of these folks, a D cell Mag with alkaline batteries is enough. Also, as is said above, maybe fewer people in these states go online. Or maybe fewer of them feel the need to talk about flashlights online. Anything is possible.

 

[cland72]

My numbers are thrown off a bit by E cig users, but based a sample size of 10k+:

What is the origin of these numbers? What do they represent?

 

[ElectronGuru]

I wonder how close those numbers correlate to state by state population.

That's kind of disappointing that the storm-prone, rural Dakotas and Wyoming are at the bottom of the list, below Alaska. I think there are a disproportionate number of Californians on the internet in general though; I remember back in the AOL days, it seemed like you ran into far more Cali folk than from any other state, by a huge margin.

What is the origin of these numbers? What do they represent?

These are raw Oveready sales transactions. Participants are self selecting, and all orders count the same (not weighted to value). A single customer with 5 orders is counted 5 times. So this is a proxy for 'overall custom flashlight activity.'

Here are the numbers again, with a new column for "flashaholic ratio". The smaller the ratio value, the higher the orders per person (capita). So a big ratio value means low activity, relative to population.

State​	Percent​	Ratio​
California	23.12%	17.66
Texas	7.07%	38.99
New York	5.97%	35.56
Florida	5.77%	35.74
Washington	3.64%	20.25
Virginia	3.27%	26.85
Pennsylvania	3.14%	44.41
Georgia	2.72%	39.06
Illinois	2.52%	55.79
New Jersey	2.46%	39.25
Arizona	2.43%	28.79
Ohio	2.43%	51.97
Hawaii	2.39%	6.24
North Carolina	2.37%	44.15
Massachusetts	2.26%	31.78
Michigan	1.91%	56.80
Maryland	1.76%	35.86
Kentucky	1.64%	28.93
Indiana	1.61%	44.11
Alabama	1.57%	33.42
Tennessee	1.56%	44.69
Colorado	1.53%	35.92
Connecticut	1.50%	26.09
Missouri	1.50%	43.71
Minnesota	1.48%	39.29
Wisconsin	1.28%	48.61
Oklahoma	1.24%	33.20
Alaska	1.19%	6.52
Kansas	1.03%	30.35
Louisiana	0.95%	52.11
Nevada	0.69%	42.87
South Carolina	0.66%	77.09
Rhode Island	0.56%	20.64
Iowa	0.55%	60.93
West Virginia	0.48%	42.11
Arkansas	0.47%	67.81
New Mexico	0.46%	49.03
Mississippi	0.42%	78.09
New Hampshire	0.41%	35.58
Maine	0.37%	39.07
Idaho	0.35%	48.99
Nebraska	0.31%	65.23
Montana	0.26%	41.23
Utah	0.22%	138.19
Vermont	0.12%	56.89
Wyoming	0.12%	51.24
South Dakota	0.10%	90.46
North Dakota	0.09%	84.07
Delaware	0.04%	224.48

 

[Monocrom]

Bit surprised to see Rhode Island beating out some larger states.

 

[StarHalo]

Eh, with Oveready, the numbers are just going to be internet use + income; no real reflection at all of how many flashlights are being sold in local stores. The California argument is still pretty solid though..

 

[Aahhyes68]

Kali and NY won't be up there for much longer...

I'm sure there will be lumen bans/restrictions put in place before long and the price on pre-ban lights will go through the roof.

 

[MBentz]

Kali and NY won't be up there for much longer...

I'm sure there will be lumen bans/restrictions put in place before long and the price on pre-ban lights will go through the roof.

Weird, I didn't think Detroit still had internet access.

 

[Aahhyes68]

Weird, I didn't think Detroit still had internet access.

I'm stealing it from my neighbor..

 

[Monocrom]

Kali and NY won't be up there for much longer...

I'm sure there will be lumen bans/restrictions put in place before long and the price on pre-ban lights will go through the roof.

That would be funnier if it weren't true.

 

[ericjohn]

I have several theories:

Alaska, because of the long periods of darkness.

Louisiana (where I am from) because of our frequent visits from hurricanes and all of our outdoor and industrial activity.

California, because of the frequent earthquakes.

The Midwest and Plains states, because of all the tornadoes (also have plenty ownerships and availability of Weather Radios.)

I cannot think of any state that would have low flashlight ownership, because every state either is disaster prone in some way or another, indrustialized, has plenty of outdoor activities i.e. hunting, fishing, hiking, etc, or a shortage of daylight in the winter months. The there are the frequent blackouts.

Also; if you think about it, the US should be known for its flashlight production as there are plenty of flashlight makers who have flashlight factories here. Bright Star, Pelican, Sure Fire, some of Streamlight, some of Eveready, Fulton, Maglite and others. If we are known for producing flashlights, then wouldn't we naturally own flashlights?

 

[smokinbasser]

I'm of the mind that if you are considering opening a brick and mortar flashlight emporium you'd like to know which state has the highest concentration of flashlight purchasers.

 

[Monocrom]

Also; if you think about it, the US should be known for its flashlight production as there are plenty of flashlight makers who have flashlight factories here. Bright Star, Pelican, SureFire, some of Streamlight, some of Eveready, Fulton, Maglite and others. If we are known for producing flashlights, then wouldn't we naturally own flashlights?

Yeah, but as you mentioned, quite a few of those companies see nothing wrong with taking cheaply made lights from No-name companies in China and slapping their own brand name on those models. While Streamlight is likely the biggest offender, Pelican does that nonsense too. In fact nearly all of them do. If you listed the ones that didn't, you could count those companies on one hand.... and still have fingers left over.