What does this named lakes ranking show?

It orders states by Named lakes and ponds per 100 square miles. It is a comparison of this one published measure, not an overall ranking of where to live.

Where do these figures come from?

U.S. Geological Survey National Hydrography Dataset supplies this measure. States without a comparable published value are shown as not ranked rather than estimated.

How should I use this ranking?

Use it to narrow a search, then open a state or county profile for the underlying figures, source dates and caveats. A statewide number may not describe every neighbourhood.

Lowest named lakes by state

Named lakes and ponds per 100 square miles.

This measure has no better end. The order describes the states, it does not rank them — see the other direction.

Named USGS NHD Lake/Pond features at least 40 acres, excluding Reservoir features, per 100 square miles of land. A lake that crosses a county boundary is assigned once by its representative point, rather than double-counted. The map shows these qualifying waterbodies; county details identify the nearest and largest where present.

How to read this ranking

District of Columbia has the lowest published named lakes in this comparison, at 0.00. The next states shown are Arizona (0.07) and West Virginia (0.10).

The table orders 51 states by named lakes and ponds per 100 square miles. It describes one published measure, not an overall judgment about where to live.

Use the result as a starting point, then compare the underlying source, dates, and local county figures before making a decision. Named USGS NHD Lake/Pond features at least 40 acres, excluding Reservoir features, per 100 square miles of land. A lake that crosses a county boundary is assigned once by its representative point, rather than double-counted. The map shows these qualifying waterbodies; county details identify the nearest and largest where present.

1District of Columbia0.00
2Arizona0.07
3West Virginia0.10
4New Mexico0.10
5Nevada0.17
6Iowa0.35
7Kentucky0.36
8Wyoming0.37
9Idaho0.38
10Kansas0.39
11Utah0.41
12Oklahoma0.45
13Tennessee0.48
14North Carolina0.50
15Ohio0.52
16Missouri0.55
17Montana0.56
18Maryland0.56
19Alabama0.57
20California0.60
21Oregon0.61
22South Carolina0.67
23Pennsylvania0.69
24Mississippi0.69
25North Dakota0.71
26Texas0.74
27Hawaii0.76
28South Dakota0.85
29Georgia0.91
30Alaska0.92
31Arkansas0.94
32Indiana0.96
33Virginia1.06
34Nebraska1.17
35Colorado1.35
36Illinois1.55
37Louisiana1.60
38Vermont1.71
39Delaware1.73
40Washington1.96
41New York2.02
42New Jersey2.29
43Wisconsin2.33
44Florida3.43
45Michigan4.16
46Maine4.64
47Connecticut4.65
48New Hampshire4.93
49Massachusetts7.23
50Rhode Island9.48
51Minnesota10.21

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Frequently asked questions

What does this ranking show?: It orders states by Named lakes and ponds per 100 square miles. It is one measure, not an overall verdict on where to live.
Where do the figures come from?: U.S. Geological Survey National Hydrography Dataset. States without a comparable published figure are listed as not ranked rather than estimated.
How should I use it?: Use it to narrow your search, then open a state or county profile for the source date, caveats and local context.

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<iframe src="https://movermath.com/embed/named-lakes" width="100%" height="420" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Named lakes and ponds per 100 square miles by state"></iframe>

Source: U.S. Geological Survey National Hydrography Dataset. · How this is built

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