Newport International Group Projects Company: Don’t hate Texas (or any state) before you visit

Quick: What's your least favorite U.S. state?

I recently asked a couple dozen people that question, as curious about the states they'd mention as to whether they'd name a state at all. Most answered. The leading vote getter was little surprise: Texas.

The antipathy for the largest state in the Lower 48 seems obvious, but evidence is ample. For instance, in a poll of 1,603 people last year by Business Insider, Texas easily took the top spot (or bottom, if you prefer) in response to the questions, "Which state is your least favorite?" and "Which state would you like to see kicked out of America?"