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A search-data story · October 2026

Is your state haunted?

What Google assumes, and what America actually searches

Type “why is” and a state’s name into Google, then “so haunted”, and the search box finishes the sentence for 39 of the 50 states. Nobody has to believe it. Enough people just have to have asked.

So we wondered whether the states Google assumes are haunted are the states that go looking for ghosts. They are not. Using Google Trends we ranked all fifty states and DC on how much of their searching is for haunted places. The 10 states that do it least are Massachusetts, Texas, Georgia, Hawaii, California, Florida, Maryland, New York, New Jersey and Vermont. Google asks why every one is so haunted. Washington DC, which is not a state, searches for them least of all, and Google does not ask why it is so haunted.

Meanwhile Wyoming searches for haunted places more than any other state, and nobody asks why Wyoming, Montana and Idaho are so haunted. The famous haunted states and the states that hunt ghosts are different places. Let’s look at the data…

What Google assumes

States where Google completes “why is [state] so haunted”.

What America searches

Each state’s share of searches for “haunted places”, last 12 months.

Top ten: Wyoming, West Virginia, Kentucky, Kansas, Montana, Indiana, Iowa, Idaho, Utah and Arkansas. Bottom ten: Massachusetts, Texas, Georgia, Hawaii, California, Florida, Maryland, New York, New Jersey and Vermont. Google asks why 10 of the bottom 10 are haunted, and why 7 of the top 10 are.

What America searches most

Every spooky search in this story on one scale, most searched first, with the states that search each one hardest.

  1. 1Bigfoot100Washington, Montana, Oregon
  2. 2Skinwalkers41.5Utah, Wyoming, Montana
  3. 3Mothman27.2West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky
  4. 4The chupacabra19.7New Mexico, Texas, Arizona
  5. 5Haunted places14.6Wyoming, West Virginia, Kentucky
  6. 6Ouija boards14.6South Dakota, West Virginia, Kentucky
  7. 7Cryptids14.5West Virginia, Maine, Wyoming
  8. 8Ghost hunting10.2Wyoming, West Virginia, Kentucky
  9. 9Urban legends8.9Wyoming, Kansas, Oklahoma
  10. 10The Jersey Devil8.2New Jersey, Wyoming, Delaware
  11. 11The rougarou3.3Louisiana, Colorado, Mississippi
  12. 12The Goatman3Kentucky, Maryland, West Virginia

Google Trends, United States, 2025-10-26 to 2026-10-21. Bigfoot = 100; the rest are compared with it in batches and averaged over two pulls. Dogman is left out: its searches are mostly the Dog Man books. The states are each topic’s highest share of searches.

Ask Google about Bigfoot

Bigfoot is searched hardest in Washington, Montana, Oregon. Google even asks why Bigfoot is so popular in Idaho, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington. Here is what America wants to know.

Is it...

  • Is bigfoot real?
  • Is bigfoot and sasquatch the same thing?
  • Is bigfoot real or fake?
  • Is bigfoot still alive?
  • Is bigfoot fake?
  • Is bigfoot a cryptid?
  • Is bigfoot dangerous?
  • Is bigfoot actually real?

Can it...

  • Can bigfoot swim?
  • Can bigfoot be real?
  • Can bigfoot kill you?
  • Can bigfoot talk?
  • Can bigfoot teleport?
  • Can bigfoot kill people?
  • Can bigfoot exist?
  • Can bigfoot disappear?

Why does it...

  • Why does bigfoot exist?
  • Why does bigfoot throw rocks?
  • Why does bigfoot kill people?
  • Why does bigfoot make tree structures?
  • Why does bigfoot knock on trees?
  • Why does bigfoot hide?
  • Why does bigfoot not exist?

Why is it...

  • Why is bigfoot so popular?
  • Why is bigfoot so popular in oregon?
  • Why is bigfoot called sasquatch?
  • Why is bigfoot called bigfoot?
  • Why is bigfoot popular in seattle?
  • Why is bigfoot real?
  • Why is bigfoot so popular in tennessee?
  • Why is bigfoot so elusive?

What does it...

  • What does bigfoot look like?
  • What does bigfoot eat?
  • What does bigfoot sound like?
  • What does bigfoot smell like?
  • What does bigfoot do?
  • What does bigfoot represent?
  • What does bigfoot like?
  • What does bigfoot poop look like?

Where does it...

  • Where does bigfoot live?
  • Where does bigfoot come from?
  • Where does bigfoot supposedly live?
  • Where does bigfoot sleep?
  • Where does bigfoot live map?
  • Where does bigfoot reside?
  • Where does bigfoot allegedly live?
  • Where does bigfoot live in the us?

Then type a state and “bigfoot”. Sightings come up in almost every state; this is what else Google offers, and in how many states. A Bigfoot law comes up in California, Oregon, Texas, Washington.

  • sighting49
  • sighting map36
  • festival30
  • conference22
  • name18
  • video17
  • museum16
  • map9
  • research9
  • story8
  • shirt7
  • society7
  • town7
  • convention6
  • photo6
  • research organization5
  • sticker5
  • conference schedule4
  • law4
  • organization4
  • license plate3
  • movie3
  • project3
  • statue3
  • trail cam3

America’s other monsters

Every region has its own. Here is what people ask Google about each, and whether its home state is the one searching for it.

  • Skinwalkers

    Home: Utah, Arizona, New Mexico

    Searched most in Utah, Wyoming, Montana. Arizona ranks 10th. New Mexico ranks 4th.

    • Is a skinwalker and a wendigo the same thing?
    • Is a skinwalker a cryptid?
    • Can a skinwalker kill you?
    • Can a skinwalker be killed?
    • Why is a skinwalker called a skinwalker?
    • Why is a skinwalker dangerous?
    • What does a skinwalker look like?
    • What does a skinwalker do to you?

    Skinwalkers come from Navajo (Diné) tradition, and many Navajo people do not talk about them. Google’s own suggestions include “why is skinwalker a bad term”. These are searches; we make no claim about the tradition.

  • Mothman

    Home: West Virginia

    Searched most in West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky.

    • Is mothman real?
    • Is mothman evil?
    • Can mothman fly?
    • Can mothman kill you?
    • Why does mothman appear?
    • Why does mothman exist?
    • Why is mothman called mothman?
    • Why is mothman scary?

  • The chupacabra

    Home: Texas

    Searched most in New Mexico, Texas, Arizona. Texas ranks 2nd.

    • Is the chupacabra real?
    • Is the chupacabra a real animal?
    • Can the chupacabra shapeshift?
    • Can the chupacabra fly?
    • Why does the chupacabra exist?
    • Why is the chupacabra scary?
    • Why is the chupacabra important?
    • What does the chupacabra look like?

  • The Jersey Devil

    Home: New Jersey

    Searched most in New Jersey, Wyoming, Delaware.

    • Is the jersey devil real?
    • Is the jersey devil evil?
    • Can the jersey devil fly?
    • Can the jersey devil breathe fire?
    • Why is the jersey devil scary?
    • Why is the jersey devil dangerous?
    • What does the jersey devil look like?
    • What does the jersey devil do?

  • The rougarou

    Home: Louisiana

    Searched most in Louisiana, Colorado, Mississippi.

    • Is the rougarou real?
    • Is the rougarou a werewolf?
    • What does the rougarou look like?
    • What does the rougarou sound like?
    • Where does the rougarou live?
    • Where does the rougarou legend come from?

  • The Goatman

    Home: Maryland, Texas

    Searched most in Kentucky, Maryland, West Virginia. Maryland ranks 2nd. Texas ranks 4th.

    • Is the goatman real?
    • Is the goatman bridge real?
    • Can the goatman mimic voices?
    • Can the goatman shapeshift?
    • What does the goatman look like?
    • What does the goatman do?
    • Where does the goatman live?
    • Where does the goatman originate from?

  • The Lizard Man

    Home: South Carolina

    • Is the lizard man real?
    • Is the lizard man still alive?
    • What does the lizard man look like?
    • Where does the lizard man live?
    • Where does the lizard man come from?

  • The Loveland Frog

    Home: Ohio

    • Is the loveland frog real?
    • Is the loveland frog dangerous?
    • What does the loveland frog do?
    • What does the loveland frog eat?
    • Where does the loveland frog live?

  • The Flatwoods Monster

    Home: West Virginia

    • Is the flatwoods monster real?
    • Is the flatwoods monster a girl?
    • Why is the flatwoods monster popular in japan?
    • What does the flatwoods monster do?
    • What does the flatwoods monster look like?
    • Where does the flatwoods monster live?
    • Where does the flatwoods monster come from?

The town Google asks about first

Type “is” and a state into Google, then “haunted”. Here is the place it offers first.

  • AlabamaMobile, Alabama
  • AlaskaJuneau, Alaska
  • ArizonaPhoenix, Arizona
  • ArkansasRush, Arkansas
  • CaliforniaBodie, California
  • ColoradoColorado Springs
  • ConnecticutMystic, Connecticut
  • DelawareFort Delaware
  • FloridaCassadaga, Florida
  • GeorgiaSavannah, Georgia
  • IdahoIdaho Falls
  • IllinoisAlton, Illinois
  • IndianaGary, Indiana
  • IowaDubuque, Iowa
  • KansasKansas City
  • KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky
  • LouisianaLafayette, Louisiana
  • MainePortland, Maine
  • MarylandBaltimore, Maryland
  • MassachusettsSalem, Massachusetts
  • MichiganMonroe, Michigan
  • MinnesotaAnoka, Minnesota
  • MississippiRodney, Mississippi
  • MissouriBranson, Missouri
  • MontanaBillings, Montana
  • NebraskaOmaha, Nebraska
  • NevadaReno, Nevada
  • New HampshirePortsmouth, New Hampshire
  • New JerseyClinton Road, New Jersey
  • New MexicoTaos, New Mexico
  • New YorkNew York City
  • North CarolinaCharlotte, North Carolina
  • OhioOhio University
  • OklahomaTulsa, Oklahoma
  • OregonSalem, Oregon
  • PennsylvaniaGettysburg, Pennsylvania
  • Rhode IslandNewport, Rhode Island
  • South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina
  • South DakotaDeadwood, South Dakota
  • TennesseeGatlinburg, Tennessee
  • TexasGalveston, Texas
  • UtahOgden, Utah
  • VermontStowe, Vermont
  • VirginiaVirginia Beach
  • WashingtonSpokane, Washington
  • West VirginiaShepherdstown, West Virginia
  • WisconsinWisconsin Dells
  • WyomingCasper, Wyoming
  • Washington DCWhite House

The towns people ask “why?” about

Some places do not wait for a state to be asked about.

  • Why is jerome arizona so haunted? Arizona
  • Why is savannah georgia so haunted? Georgia
  • Why is alton illinois so haunted? Illinois
  • Why is galena illinois haunted? Illinois
  • Why is alton illinois haunted? Illinois
  • Why is harvey illinois scary? Illinois
  • Why is gary indiana so haunted? Indiana
  • Why is gary indiana so scary? Indiana
  • Why is atchison kansas so haunted? Kansas
  • Why is kansas state university haunted? Kansas
  • Why is salem massachusetts so haunted? Massachusetts
  • Why is saginaw michigan so haunted? Michigan
  • Why is michigan state university haunted? Michigan
  • Why is athens ohio so haunted? Ohio
  • Why is charleston south carolina so haunted? South Carolina
  • Why is jefferson texas so haunted? Texas
  • Why is galveston texas so haunted? Texas

America’s haunted inventory

Type a state, then “haunted”, and Google suggests what is haunted there. Here is how many states each thing comes up in.

  • hotel38
  • corn maze23
  • asylum22
  • mansion20
  • prison20
  • trail20
  • forest19
  • bridge18
  • hayride17
  • hospital16
  • road trip14
  • road13
  • town13
  • cemetery9
  • highway9
  • museum8
  • lighthouse7
  • maze6
  • castle5
  • cave5
  • car wash3
  • island3
  • swamp3
  • farm2
  • jail2
  • lake2
  • mountain2
  • penitentiary2
  • restaurant2
  • river2
  • school2
  • train ride2
  • triangle2
  • tunnel2

Then type the town

Take the town Google offers first for each state and add “haunted”. Leaving out the tours and ghost stories every town gets, this is what people look for there.

  • Mobile, Alabama

    haunted hotel

  • Juneau, Alaska

    haunted hotel

  • Phoenix, Arizona

    haunted hotel · ghost town

  • Rush, Arkansas

    ghost town · ghost town map

  • Bodie, California

    ghost town · curse · ghost town history · ghost adventures · ghost town pictures

  • Colorado Springs

    haunted hotel · haunted mines · haunted cave tour · haunted car wash · haunted corn maze

  • Mystic, Connecticut

    haunted bookshop · haunted bookstore

  • Fort Delaware

    paranormal tour · paranormal · paranormal investigation · paranormal tour tickets · paranormal adventure

  • Cassadaga, Florida

    haunted hotel · haunted museum

  • Savannah, Georgia

    haunted pub crawl · haunted hotels · haunted stories · haunted museum · haunted bar crawl

  • Idaho Falls

    haunted history tour · haunted river · haunted hospital · haunted car wash · haunted mill

  • Alton, Illinois

    haunted hotel · haunted town · haunted mansion · haunted school · ghost adventures

  • Gary, Indiana

    haunted house movie · haunted house documentary · haunted house movie netflix · haunted house address · haunted movie

  • Dubuque, Iowa

    haunted hotel

  • Kansas City

    haunted houses edge of hell · haunted pub crawl · haunted hotel · haunted houses the beast · haunted winery

  • Louisville, Kentucky

    haunted hotel · haunted hospital · haunted asylum · haunted sanatorium · ghost walk

  • Portland, Maine

    haunted hotel · haunted walk · haunted pub crawl · haunted walking tour · haunted lighthouse

  • Baltimore, Maryland

    haunted hotel

  • Salem, Massachusetts

    haunted happenings · haunted hotels · haunted museum · haunted airbnb · haunted bed and breakfast

  • Monroe, Michigan

    haunted museum · haunted walking tour

  • Rodney, Mississippi

    ghost town · ghost town pictures · ghost town murders

  • Branson, Missouri

    haunted hotel · ghost town · titanic museum haunted

  • Billings, Montana

    haunted hotel

  • Omaha, Nebraska

    haunted museum · haunted hotel

  • Reno, Nevada

    ghost town · ghost 911 call

  • Clinton Road, New Jersey

    ghost truck · ghost boy · haunted road

  • Taos, New Mexico

    ghost ranch · haunted ranch · paranormal

  • New York City

    haunted hotel · ghost tour of greenwich village · ghost apartments · ghost strain · ghost cars

  • Ohio University

    haunted dorm · haunted asylum · haunted story · haunted room · haunted dorm room

  • Salem, Oregon

    haunted prison · haunted corn maze · prison haunted house · fairgrounds haunted house

  • Charleston, South Carolina

    haunted jail · haunted hotel

  • Deadwood, South Dakota

    haunted hotel

  • Gatlinburg, Tennessee

    haunted mansion · ripley's haunted adventure

  • Galveston, Texas

    haunted hotel · haunted walmart · ghost wolves

  • Ogden, Utah

    haunted hotel · ghost adventures · ghost hunters

  • Stowe, Vermont

    haunted bridge

  • Virginia Beach

    haunted mansion · haunted hotel · haunted car wash · haunted farm · haunted escape room

  • Spokane, Washington

    haunted apartment · haunted apartment garrett · ghost town

  • Wisconsin Dells

    haunted boat tour · haunted mansion · haunted duck ride · haunted trolley · haunted trolley tour

  • Casper, Wyoming

    ghost adventures · ghost town

  • White House

    haunted by abraham lincoln · haunted reddit · haunted movie · ghost photo · ghost abigail

For journalists

Pick a state in the bar at the top of the page for its full data and a paste-ready line, and link straight to it with ?state=XX. Every state in one spreadsheet: download the CSV. Free to use with a link back to this page. Questions or a different cut of the data: [email protected].

About the data

What Google assumes. We typed eleven spooky templates into Google Suggest for each of the fifty states and Washington DC, with the state name in lower case, English, US requester: “is [state] haunted”, “most haunted place in [state]”, “creepiest place in [state]”, “[state] cryptid”, “[state] urban legend”, “[state] ghost”, “[state] haunted”, “[state] bigfoot” and “why is [state] so haunted, creepy or scary”, then “[town] [state] haunted” for the first town shown for each state. We kept every completion in the order Google offered it: 12,501 completions across 2 passes on 2026-10-21. Autocomplete reflects what people type, not what is true, and its order is not a volume. Raw captures with the exact query and position are archived. For the creatures we typed “is”, “can”, “why does”, “why is”, “what does” and “where does” before each name, and the bare name, the same way and on the same day.

Cleaning. A place counts only when the completion names a town or landmark of that state (“athens ohio”, “ohio university”). We dropped hotels, ships, regions, abbreviations, other states that share a name, and lines that are not about the state. A place is shown only when it appeared in both passes. Two passes on the same day are a thinner check than weekly sweeps, so treat a single town as what Google offered, not as the state’s most haunted place.

What America searches. Google Trends interest by state, United States, 2025-10-26 to 2026-10-21, for haunted places, ghost hunting, cryptids, bigfoot, urban legends, ouija board, mothman, jersey devil, chupacabra, rougarou, goatman, skinwalker. Each value is a state’s share of its own searches, scaled so the top state is 100, not a count of searches, and every Trends response is a sample, so we averaged 2 pulls. Small states can top a share table on modest volume. Searching about ghosts is not the same as believing in them, and the autocomplete half is national, not per state.

Maps and data by Answer Socrates. Run the same kind of question on anything at answersocrates.com.