DAILY DIRT: Illinois No. 1 among ‘most hated states’

July 19, 2025 | By Steve Eighinger Muddy River News Minister of Culture and Doctor of Love

Daily Dirt for Saturday, July 19, 2025

I’m not sure, but I think my feelings were hurt by this ranking … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,347 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Being No. 1 is not always a good thing.

World Population Review’s 2025 rankings for the “Most Hated States” lists Illinois No. 1.

Yikes.

World Population Review reports Illinois is one of the fastest-shrinking states in the U.S. in terms of population, and has experienced a 0.54 percent (more than half a percent) decrease in population in recent years.

And it gets worse.

Roughly 25 percent of Illinoisans say their state is the worst in the nation. This negativity could be partially attributed to animosity between politically liberal Chicago and the heavily conservative rural portions that make up the rest of the state.

The “Most Hated” rankings were determined by compiling three indicators:

The percentage of each state’s own residents who believe their state is the worst.
The number of other states that hate each state the most.
Each state’s population decline, the logic being that population decline reflects the flow of residents moving to another state.

Here’s the World Population Review top 10 most hated states:

1. Illinois
2. New Jersey
3. New York
4. West Virginia
5. California
6. Massachusetts
7. Michigan
8. Mississippi
9. Connecticut
10. Kentucky

Other states of interest

23. Missouri

30. Iowa

2. Did you know (Part 430)

That, on a positive note, Illinois has four of the best Christmas tree farms across the country, according to a Yelp ranking.
That Chicago has the second-best Thanksgiving parade in the U.S., according to a ranking by Time Out, just behind the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York City.
That Chicago is No.8 among the “most fun cities” in America, according to a WalletHub ranking.
That Pere Marquette State Park, just north of Alton and a relatively short drive from Quincy, is the eighth-best place in the U.S. to see crispy, warmed-toned leaves throughout the fall season, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.
That four former U.S. presidents have roots in Illinois: Ronald Reagan was born in Illinois; Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant both moved to Illinois; and Barack Obama lived in Chicago for most of his life and served as an Illinois senator.

3. Here are five of the most famous rock bands who are still touring and performing, but have no original members remaining:

Lynyrd Skynyrd
Quiet Riot
Molly Hatchet
Blood Sweat and Tears (this famous band has undergone more than 150 lineup changes since its 1967 debut)
Grass Roots

Steve Thought O’ The Day — The Grass Roots will always be one of the most underappreciated groups in rock history. The band had 29 charted singles — 13 of which went gold — in addition to two gold albums and one platinum album. There is no reason they are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rob Grill and Warren Entner shared lead vocals during the band’s glory years. Grill was 67 when he died in 2011. Entner, now 81, remains active in the music industry.