​The 10 Most Patriotic Cities in the U.S.

Patriotism in the United States takes many forms, from civic engagement to supporting the Veterans who have served in the military.

We’ve identified the most patriotic metropolitan areas across the country, using five core data points representing American patriotism to rank 100 cities. The cities on this list appreciate and are committed to their Veteran communities and to the democratic process — two of the most patriotic things an American can demonstrate. These factors include the Veteran population, the presence of VA health facilities and Veteran-owned businesses, Google search interest for Veterans Day, and the voter turnout rate.

See the methodology for more details on how we scored each metro.

Here are the nation’s 10 most patriotic cities:

1. Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL

The Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin area ranks first on our patriotic cities list, largely due to its strong Veteran population presence, with 17.6% of the population being Veterans. It's home to Eglin Air Force Base, one of the largest military bases in the U.S.

Veteran-owned businesses thrive here, with more than 700 Veteran-owned businesses contributing to the area’s economy, according to Census data. The Crestview area scored lower for VA health facilities, which are a bit limited for the large Veteran population.

The community also turns out in large numbers for local and national elections, with a voter turnout score of 78% in 2020, significantly larger than the 66% national turnout for the 2020 election.

Additionally, the area hosts the annual Veterans Day parade in Fort Walton Beach, along with a wreath-laying ceremony at Beal Memorial Cemetery, which honors fallen service members and brings the community together in a tribute to their sacrifices.

2. Spokane, WA

Spokane ranks second on our patriotic cities list, standing out for its high number of Veteran-owned businesses. The Spokane metro area has an especially high proportion of Veteran-owned businesses when compared to the Veteran population, with more than 1,850 Veteran-owned businesses in the area.

The area is also known for the nearby Fairchild Air Force Base, a major part of Spokane’s economy and a central hub for military families. The metro’s voter turnout was impressive during the 2020 elections, with a participation rate of 81.82% for the county.

Spokane also scores well on VA health care availability, with numerous VA facilities, including the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center. However, its engagement with Veterans Day searches and trends was lower. Spokane hosts several Veteran appreciation events for Veterans Day, including benefit shows and races for charity.

The city exemplifies year-round patriotism, particularly through events like the Armed Forces Torchlight Parade at the Lilac Festival, which honors military personnel and draws huge crowds in celebration of Spokane's military heritage.

3. Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado Springs ranks third on the patriotic cities list. The city has strong ties to the military community, being home to several major military installations, including the Air Force Academy, Fort Carson and Peterson Space Force Base.

Veterans and active service members make up about 17% of the population in the Colorado Springs area. Many Veterans and service members transition to different military installations away from Colorado Springs, but of the several hundred military separations per month, many Veterans choose to stay in Colorado Springs or return later.

The city is known for its large number of Veteran-owned businesses, with more than 1,700 Veteran entrepreneurs driving the local economy. Additionally, Colorado Springs is well-served by VA health facilities, including the PFC Floyd K. Lindstrom VA Clinic, which ensures that Veterans have access to necessary healthcare services.

The Colorado Springs community has a deep sense of patriotism, as the public outcry from the cancellation of the 2024 Veterans Day Parade inspired Colorado International Events to step up to put on the In Their Honor Veterans Day Parade in its place.

4. Madison, WI

Madison ranks fourth on the patriotic cities list, noted for its high voter turnout and commitment to civic participation. Dane County had a voter turnout percentage of 89.3% in 2020, which significantly exceeds national averages. This high turnout isn’t surprising, given Wisconsin’s status as a vital swing state.

Veterans account for 4.8% of the population, and while the area doesn't have a large number of military bases, it is home to the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, which honors the state's rich military history.

Madison also performs well in supporting Veteran-owned businesses, with more than 780 Veteran-owned enterprises contributing to the local economy. Given there are fewer Veterans in Madison, the proportion of Veteran-owned businesses is surprisingly high.

The city’s health care for Veterans is bolstered by facilities such as the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, which offers comprehensive services to the Veteran community. There are about eight VA health facilities in the metro area, and like the Veteran-owned businesses, this number is high proportionately to the lower Veteran population.

5. Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake City ranks fifth on the patriotic cities list, driven by strong Veteran-owned business activity and a high level of community engagement.

Like Madison, Salt Lake City has a relatively small Veteran population, but the services and community support for those Veterans are proportionately high. With more than 1,280 Veteran-owned businesses, the city demonstrates a robust entrepreneurial spirit among its Veterans, and the community gives their support.

The area is home to the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center, which provides critical health care services to its Veteran population, though the number of facilities per Veteran is slightly lower than in some other metros.

The entire state of Utah had a fantastic voter turnout in 2020, with a state record of 90.1% active voter turnout. High levels of voting gave the Salt Lake City metro area a boost in its score in our ranking.

The city's patriotism is also reflected in several Veterans Day events, such as the annual Veterans Day Parade, galas, and ceremonies.

6. Columbia, SC

The Columbia area ranks sixth on the patriotic cities list, driven by its deep military connections and high civic engagement.

Home to Fort Jackson, the Army’s largest training facility, Columbia has a strong military presence that influences its economy and culture. The base trains about 50% of all incoming soldiers entering the Army each year. There are about 55,000 Veterans in the entire metro and surrounding area, and the city also boasts a thriving Veteran-owned business community, with 1,193 Veteran owners supporting the local economy.

The area’s Veterans are supported by the Dorn VA Medical Center, which offers a wide range of healthcare services. Beyond these metrics, Columbia’s patriotism is exemplified in its annual Veterans Day Parade, which is one of the largest Veterans celebrations in the Southeast.

7. Springfield, MO

Springfield ranks seventh on the patriotic cities list, bolstered by its strong VA health building presence relative to the Veteran population and high voter turnout.

Veterans make up about 7.7% of the population, and the Springfield area boasts more than 360 Veteran-owned businesses. Springfield is also home to a robust network of VA health services, including the Gene Taylor VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic, so the availability of healthcare is especially high for Springfield Veterans.

Springfield’s Greene County set a new record for voter turnout in 2020 with 83% of registered voters casting a ballot.

Beyond these metrics, the community shows a passion for patriotism—after six years of not having a Veterans Day Parade, the people have made their voices heard, and the parade is coming back for Veterans Day 2024.

8. Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ

The Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metro area ranks eighth on the patriotic cities list, with a strong focus on civic engagement and a high number of businesses and health facilities proportionate to the Veteran community.

Veterans make up a little over 5% of the population, and the metro area is home to more than 875 Veteran-owned businesses.

The area's voter turnout has a participation rate of about 70%. Though VA health facilities are somewhat limited in the region, there is a solid number relative to the Veteran population specifically. This includes the Allentown VA Clinic.

Beyond the numbers, the metro area honors its Veterans with several Veterans Day events, including ceremonies, memorials, panel discussions, tributes and more on the days leading up to and including Veterans Day.

9. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington ranks ninth on the patriotic cities list due to its high voter participation and proportionately high number of Veteran-owned businesses. Estimates show that Veterans make up 5% of the population, and the metro area is home to more than 3,500 Veteran-owned businesses.

With around 150,000 Veterans, this makes the Minneapolis metro one of the biggest supporters of Veteran businesses in the top 10 proportionate to the population. It’s also home to the most Veteran-owned businesses in the Top 10.

Minneapolis-St. Paul also boasts a significant number of VA health facilities, including the Minneapolis VA Health Care System.

The area excels in voter turnout, with a voter turnout of 81.3% in Minneapolis. This rate gave a big boost to the metro’s patriotism score. The region honors its military history and Veterans year-round, with events like the Veterans Day On the Hill taking place in April and not just on Veterans Day in November.

10. Columbus, GA-AL

The Columbus metro area ranks 10th on our patriotic cities list, largely due to its strong military presence, support for Veterans and search trends for Veterans Day terms.

Home to Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning), one of the largest military installations in the country, Columbus has a long-standing connection to the Armed Forces. Veterans make up roughly 13% of the population, which is remarkably high. The metro area supports more than 300 Veteran-owned businesses.

Veterans in the area benefit from healthcare services provided by the nearby Fort Moore VA Clinic, which ensures comprehensive support for the Veteran community.

Beyond these statistics, Columbus honors its military heritage through the National Infantry Museum, events like the Tri-City Veterans Day Parade, and initiatives such as the "Veterans on Veterans" panel series, where Veterans share their stories and connect with the community in the nearby Uptown district.

The passion for Veteran appreciation led to a particularly high Veterans Day search trend score.

Methodology

We analyzed the 100 metros with the largest Veteran populations to ensure consistent data availability and to reflect the attractiveness of these areas for Veterans seeking to live and thrive in a patriotic community.

The metros on this list were ranked based on several key factors, each weighted to reflect different aspects of patriotism in the area:

Veteran population per capita

• Weight: Medium (20)
• This metric compares the Veteran population to the overall population to score the metros based on the concentration of Veterans who choose to live in the area. It helps balance the influence of larger metros and highlights areas where Veterans thrive.

Veterans Day search trend

• Weight: Small (10)
• We scored this category based on the Google search trend for ‘Veterans Day’ terms in each area to reflect the population’s passion for honoring Veterans.

Voter rate

• Weight: High (30)
• We evaluated voter turnout for the 2020 National Election to measure civic engagement relative to the entire MSA population. The score reflects how actively residents participate in democracy.

Veteran-owned businesses

• Weight: High (30)
• This category is based on the proportion of Veterans to Veteran-owned businesses to measure business success for local Veterans and avoid over-weighting for the largest metros. A higher proportion suggests that not only are Veterans thriving as entrepreneurs, but that the community is actively supporting these businesses.

Presence of VA health facilities

• Weight: Small (10)
• This category is based on the number of VA health buildings in the area proportionate to the Veteran population to judge if there’s infrastructure in place to support local Veterans. This category was weighted low, as the ordinary citizen has little influence over this category.

When a specific data point wasn't available, we used the median across the 100 MSAs to minimize over or under-scoring the metro. Min-max scaling was applied to each variable as a standardization method before applying the weights to each score, which were then summed to create an overall patriotism score.

Data sources: The U.S. Census Bureau and Current Population Survey (CPS), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Google Trends, and the MIT Election Data and Science Lab (MEDSL).