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Which state had the most Eagle Scouts in 2017? (And what happens when you adjust for population?)

Utah is our nation’s 45th state, but when it comes to Eagle Scouts, it’s No. 1.

In 2017, no state gave us more Eagle Scouts than Utah. It tops the list for at least the ninth year in a row — every year since 2009, the first year for which detailed Eagle Scout statistics were made available to me.

California, Texas, Pennsylvania and New York round out the top 5. That’s the same top 5 as 2016, with one exception: New York has bumped out North Carolina.

Combined, these five states account for 19,834 of 2017’s 55,494 Eagle Scouts. That’s roughly 36 percent.

Keep reading for the complete rankings.

Below that you’ll find the population-adjusted rankings, which even things out quite a bit. After all, it’s not fair to compare the number of Eagle Scouts in the state with the fewest young men under 18 (Vermont) to the state with the most (California).

2017 state-by-state rankings

Here are the 2017 state-by-state rankings, as well as the rank change from 2016 to 2017.

Example: The +2 for New York means that state’s rank jumped up two spots: from No. 7 in 2016 to No. 5 in 2017.

RankState Eagle Scouts Change
1Utah 5,879
2California 5,028
3Texas 4,231
4Pennsylvania 2,456
5New York 2,240+2
6Virginia 2,099
7North Carolina 1,998-2
8Ohio 1,928
9Illinois 1,877+1
10Florida 1,695-1
11Arizona 1,601+1
12Georgia 1,547-1
13New Jersey 1,510
14Missouri 1,439
15Idaho 1,327
16Washington 1,232
17Michigan 1,127
18Massachusetts 1,103+1
19Maryland 1,085-1
20Colorado 1,023+1
21Minnesota 1,011-1
22Indiana 943
23Tennessee 932+1
24Wisconsin 907-1
25Connecticut 730
26Kansas 674
27South Carolina 662
28Alabama 607
29Nevada 570+1
30Oregon 563-1
31Iowa 539
32Oklahoma 503
33Kentucky 466
34Louisiana 398+2
35Nebraska 394-1
36Mississippi 341-1
37Arkansas 285+1
38Hawaii 267-1
39Rhode Island 245+1
40West Virginia 226+4
41New Mexico 212+1
42New Hampshire 203-3
43Montana 185-2
44Maine 162-1
45Wyoming 150
46North Dakota 112+3
47Delaware 105+1
48Alaska 101-2
49South Dakota 96-2
50Vermont 82

2017 state-by-state rankings (population-adjusted)

I used the data available here to find the number of under-18 boys in each state, as of 2016 (the most recent year available).

That allowed me to create the following population-adjusted list.

Notice that Utah remains No. 1, but less-populous states like Idaho, Rhode Island and Wyoming jumped into the top 10.

Higher-population states like Texas and California are in the bottom half of this list.

RankState 2017 Eagles  Under-18 Boys PercentUnadj. Rank
1Utah 5,879 473,2081.242%1
2Idaho 1,327 223,5990.593%15
3Rhode Island 245 106,6300.230%39
4Virginia 2,099 954,7750.220%6
5Wyoming 150 71,4990.210%45
6Missouri 1,439 709,5580.203%14
7Arizona 1,601 831,6710.193%11
8Connecticut 730 385,3570.189%25
9Kansas 674 365,9490.184%26
10Pennsylvania 2,456 1,369,4520.179%4
11North Carolina 1,998 1,170,9740.171%7
12Hawaii 267 158,3060.169%38
13Nevada 570 346,3530.165%29
14Nebraska 394 242,4230.163%35
15Colorado 1,023 645,4660.158%20
16Montana 185 116,7500.158%43
17Maryland 1,085 687,3410.158%19
18Massachusetts 1,103 703,7570.157%18
19Minnesota 1,011 658,3030.154%21
20New Hampshire 203 133,2450.152%42
21New Jersey 1,510 1,013,2020.149%13
22Washington 1,232 832,9850.148%16
23Ohio 1,928 1,335,3700.144%8
24Iowa 539 373,9850.144%31
25Wisconsin 907 658,7890.138%24
26Vermont 82 61,1780.134%50
27Oregon 563 444,4670.127%30
28Illinois 1,877 1,493,5240.126%9
29North Dakota 112 90,3900.124%46
30Maine 162 130,8920.124%44
31Tennessee 932 765,9880.122%23
32Georgia 1,547 1,278,7040.121%12
33South Carolina 662 557,8880.119%27
34West Virginia 226 192,0050.118%40
35Indiana 943 806,0230.117%22
36Texas 4,231 3,717,8750.114%3
37Alabama 607 558,6280.109%28
38California 5,028 4,643,4220.108%2
39Alaska 101 96,2710.105%48
40New York 2,240 2,136,4020.105%5
41Oklahoma 503 491,6520.102%32
42Delaware 105 103,6630.101%47
43Michigan 1,127 1,120,6430.101%17
44Mississippi 341 367,6770.093%36
45Kentucky 466 517,4390.090%33
46South Dakota 96 109,6390.088%49
47New Mexico 212 250,1400.085%41
48Florida 1,695 2,116,4420.080%10
49Arkansas 285 360,7930.079%37
50Louisiana 398 567,7370.070%34

What about Eagle Scouts who don’t live in one of the 50 states?

Not all Eagle Scouts live in one of the 50 states. Here’s the breakdown of Eagle Scouts living elsewhere.

  • Transatlantic Council: Serves Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia
  • Far East Council: Serves western Pacific countries
  • Direct Service: Serves Scouts living outside the U.S. in a country not covered by the Transatlantic or Far East councils
20162017
Transatlantic180133
Puerto Rico189128
Far East9576
Washington, D.C.1931
Direct Service71
Virgin Islands11

What are the council-by-council numbers?

Some Scouters asked for this, so here it is. There are two sorted lists. The first is sorted by council number (find yours here); the second is sorted by number of Eagle Scouts.

Keep this in mind: There are small councils and large councils, so this list doesn’t tell the whole story.

Sorted by council number

20162017
1     Greater Alabama390377
3     Alabama – Florida4338
4     Mobile Area6655
5     Tukabatchee Area6168
6     Black Warrior3541
10   Grand Canyon12851421
11   Catalina170159
13   De Soto Area107
16   Westark Area102115
18   Quapaw Area155145
22   Alameda1922
23   Mount Diablo – Silverado347342
27   Sequoia138121
28   San Francisco Bay Area200205
30   Southern Sierra6066
31   Pacific Skyline187226
32   Long Beach Area6168
33   Greater Los Angeles Area575547
35   Marin4343
39   Orange County697728
41   Redwood Empire7758
42   Piedmont1318
45   California Inland Empire480458
47   Golden Empire525537
49   San Diego – Imperial456453
51  Western Los Angeles Area307278
53   Los Padres9995
55   Santa Clara County (25 & 55 merged)343378
57   Ventura County169147
58   Verdugo Hills8583
59   Greater Yosemite139130
60   Pikes Peak199218
61   Denver Area520524
62   Longs Peak223212
63   Rocky Mountain2645
64   Western Colorado4151
66   Connecticut Rivers424393
67   Greenwich1814
69   Housatonic2527
70   Old North State298252
72   Connecticut Yankee296288
81   Del – Mar – Va201167
82   National Capital Area (VI merged into 82 in 2013)15381589
83   Central Florida407459
84   South Florida228212
85   Gulf Stream169160
87   North Florida267258
88   Southwest Florida141121
89   West Central Florida370309
91   Chattahoochee6578
92   Atlanta Area713676
93   Georgia – Carolina8474
95   Flint River161138
96   Central Georgia9178
98   Alapaha Area4556
99   Coastal ( Empire) Georgia – 3/1/1493105
100 Northwest Georgia5640
101 Northeast Georgia295304
102 Maui County2233
104 Aloha266241
106 Ore – Ida457454
107 Grand Teton606669
111 Snake River169140
117 Prairielands4247
121 Lincoln Trails3052
127 Three Fires379386
129 Northeast Illinois208225
133 Illowa10379
138 W. D. Boyce121138
141 Mississippi Valley6052
144 Abraham Lincoln6356
145 Hoosier Trails9879
156 Buffalo Trace9796
157 Anthony Wayne Area87104
160 Crossroads of America392411
162 Sagamore6881
165 La Salle94107
172 Hawkeye Area96103
173 Winnebago6269
177 Mid – Iowa178188
178 Northeast Iowa4632
192 Coronado Area5846
194 Santa Fe Trail1522
197 Jayhawk Area6156
198 Quivira150133
204 Blue Grass132129
205 Lincoln Heritage356323
209 Calcasieu Area1724
211 Istrouma Area132122
212 Evangeline Area4546
213 Louisiana Purchase4652
214 Southeast Louisiana84118
215 Norwela3736
216 Katahdin Area5442
218 Pine Tree125120
220 Baltimore Area516517
221 Mason – Dixon6967
224 Cape Cod and Islands2644
227 The Spirit of Adventure292328
230 Nashua Valley11670
234 Western Massachusetts8390
244 Knox Trail1540
249 Old Colony2220
250 Northern Star773770
251 Mayflower393
254 Mohegan6094
272 Great Lakes (merged into 784)525406
283 Twin Valley4750
286 Voyageurs Area5845
296 Central Minnesota6163
299 Gamehaven5063
302 Choctaw Area1421
303 Andrew Jackson160160
304 Pine Burr8476
306 Ozark Trails138158
307 Heart of America757934
311 Pony Express8785
312 Greater St. Louis Area652744
315 Montana197181
322 Overland Trails7467
324 Cornhusker10294
326 Mid – America316307
328 Las Vegas Area424463
329 Nevada Area128122
330 Daniel Webster214203
333 Northern New Jersey316331
341 Jersey Shore110126
347 Monmouth237227
358 Partriots’ Path403433
364 Twin Rivers182201
368 Baden – Powell7772
373 Longhouse105122
374 Hudson Valley200247
375 Five Rivers6142
376 Iroquois Trail6352
380 Greater Niagara Frontier186146
382 Allegheny Highlands3542
386 Theodore Roosevelt191289
388 Westchester – Putnam171176
397 Seneca Waterways264260
400 Leatherstocking7174
404 Suffolk County295336
405 Rip Van Winkle2626
412 Great Southwest158170
413 Conquistador1720
414 Daniel Boone11693
415 Mecklenburg County269268
416 Central North Carolina147158
420 Piedmont248228
421 Occoneechee561478
424 Tuscarora9792
425 Cape Fear115114
426 East Carolina198157
427 Old Hickory160143
429 Northern Lights145156
433 Great Trail157259
436 Buckeye131151
438 Dan Beard348388
439 Tecumseh7287
440 Lake Erie (was Greater Cleveland)160301
441 Simon Kenton327319
444 Miami Valley133137
449 Black Swamp Area124143
456 Pathway to Adventure (merged cncls 118, 147, 152, 751 in 2015)432521
460 Erie Shores131130
467 Muskingum Valley3435
468 Arbuckle Area2743
469 Cherokee Area2024
474 Cimarron3739
480 Last Frontier201198
488 Indian Nations185185
491 Crater Lake7695
492 Cascade Pacific531501
497 Juniata Valley5254
500 Moraine Trails6355
501 Northeastern Pennsylvania100103
502 Minsi Trails208239
504 Columbia – Montour2125
509 Bucktail2840
512 Westmoreland – Fayette131119
524 Pennsylvania Dutch129118
525 Cradle of Liberty363322
527 Laurel Highlands422407
528 Hawk Mountain132144
532 French Creek106108
533 Susquehanna6261
538 Chief Cornplanter1711
539 Chester County190223
544 New Birth of Freedom257233
546 Narragansett299338
549 Palmetto110117
550 Coastal Carolina119130
551 Blue Ridge162172
552 Pee Dee Area5057
553 Indian Waters171165
556 Cherokee Area5369
557 Great Smokey Mountain163178
558 Chickasaw194175
559 West Tennessee Area8979
560 Middle Tennessee382410
561 Texas Trails3025
562 Golden Spread4249
564 Capitol Area448436
567 Buffalo Trail3130
571 Circle Ten1007985
573 Yucca8692
574 Bay Area137166
576 Sam Houston Area11551137
577 South Texas11089
578 Three Rivers7455
580 NeTseO Trails320
583 Alamo Area368374
584 Caddo Area3547
585 East Texas Area9688
587 Northwest Texas1833
589 Trapper Trails14381576
590 Great Salt Lake20052068
591 Utah National Parks23412345
595 Colonial Virginia177157
596 Tidewater212178
598 Shenandoah Area7082
599 Blue Ridge Mountains183193
602 Heart of Virginia261297
604 Blue Mountain12093
606 Mount Baker172159
609 Chief Seattle442455
610 Great Alaska11585
611 Inland Northwest241190
612 Pacific Harbors238224
614 Grand Columbia7167
615 Mountaineer Area2622
617 Buckskin98118
618 Allohak5554
619 Ohio River Valley2631
620 Glacier’s Edge160118
624 Gateway Area3337
627 Samoset7676
635 Bay – Lakes281308
636 Three Harbors136157
637 Chippewa Valley3148
638 Central Wyoming4952
640 Greater New York Councils182191
651 Potawatomi Area132154
653 Great Rivers133104
660 Blackhawk Area145166
661 Puerto Rico188128
662 Longhorn584540
664 Suwannee River Area7369
690 Burlington County200186
691 Pushmataha Area2314
694 South Plains3641
695 Black Hills Area3019
696 Midnight Sun2516
697 Oregon Trail7080
702 Rainbow9775
713 Sequoyah9095
733 Sioux115101
741 Texas Southwest2339
748 Yocona Area5754
763 Stonewall Jackson Area113106
773 Gulf Coast99130
775 Rio Grande4566
777 Washington Crossing (was Bucks County)303359
781 President Gerald R. Ford FSC243224
782 Water and Woods FSC247232
783 Southern Shores FSC223227
800 Direct Service71
802 Transatlantic180133
803 Far East9576

Sorted by number of 2017 Eagles

RankCouncil20162017
1591 Utah National Parks          2,341          2,345
2590 Great Salt Lake          2,005          2,068
382   National Capital Area (VI merged into 82 in 2013)          1,538          1,589
4589 Trapper Trails          1,438          1,576
510   Grand Canyon          1,285          1,421
6576 Sam Houston Area          1,155          1,137
7571 Circle Ten          1,007               985
8307 Heart of America               757               934
9250 Northern Star               773               770
10312 Greater St. Louis Area               652               744
1139   Orange County               697               728
1292   Atlanta Area               713               676
13107 Grand Teton               606               669
1433   Greater Los Angeles Area               575               547
15662 Longhorn               584               540
1647   Golden Empire               525               537
1761   Denver Area               520               524
18456 Pathway to Adventure (merged cncls 118, 147, 152, 751 in 2015)               432               521
19220 Baltimore Area               516               517
20492 Cascade Pacific               531               501
21421 Occoneechee               561               478
22328 Las Vegas Area               424               463
2383   Central Florida               407               459
2445   California Inland Empire               480               458
25609 Chief Seattle               442               455
26106 Ore – Ida               457               454
2749   San Diego – Imperial               456               453
28564 Capitol Area               448               436
29358 Partriots’ Path               403               433
30160 Crossroads of America               392               411
31560 Middle Tennessee               382               410
32527 Laurel Highlands               422               407
33272 Great Lakes (merged into 784)               525               406
3466   Connecticut Rivers               424               393
35251 Mayflower               393
36438 Dan Beard               348               388
37127 Three Fires               379               386
3855   Santa Clara County (25 & 55 merged)               343               378
391     Greater Alabama               390               377
40583 Alamo Area               368               374
41777 Washington Crossing (was Bucks County)               303               359
4223   Mount Diablo – Silverado               347               342
43546 Narragansett               299               338
44404 Suffolk County               295               336
45333 Northern New Jersey               316               331
46227 The Spirit of Adventure               292               328
47205 Lincoln Heritage               356               323
48525 Cradle of Liberty               363               322
49441 Simon Kenton               327               319
5089   West Central Florida               370               309
51635 Bay – Lakes               281               308
52326 Mid – America               316               307
53101 Northeast Georgia               295               304
54440 Lake Erie (was Greater Cleveland)               160               301
55602 Heart of Virginia               261               297
56386 Theodore Roosevelt               191               289
5772   Connecticut Yankee               296               288
5851  Western Los Angeles Area               307               278
59415 Mecklenburg County               269               268
60397 Seneca Waterways               264               260
61433 Great Trail               157               259
6287   North Florida               267               258
6370   Old North State               298               252
64374 Hudson Valley               200               247
65104 Aloha               266               241
66502 Minsi Trails               208               239
67544 New Birth of Freedom               257               233
68782 Water and Woods FSC               247               232
69420 Piedmont               248               228
70347 Monmouth               237               227
71783 Southern Shores FSC               223               227
7231   Pacific Skyline               187               226
73129 Northeast Illinois               208               225
74612 Pacific Harbors               238               224
75781 President Gerald R. Ford FSC               243               224
76539 Chester County               190               223
7760   Pikes Peak               199               218
7862   Longs Peak               223               212
7984   South Florida               228               212
8028   San Francisco Bay Area               200               205
81330 Daniel Webster               214               203
82364 Twin Rivers               182               201
83480 Last Frontier               201               198
84599 Blue Ridge Mountains               183               193
85640 Greater New York Councils               182               191
86611 Inland Northwest               241               190
87177 Mid – Iowa               178               188
88690 Burlington County               200               186
89488 Indian Nations               185               185
90315 Montana               197               181
91557 Great Smokey Mountain               163               178
92596 Tidewater               212               178
93388 Westchester – Putnam               171               176
94558 Chickasaw               194               175
95551 Blue Ridge               162               172
96412 Great Southwest               158               170
9781   Del – Mar – Va               201               167
98574 Bay Area               137               166
99660 Blackhawk Area               145               166
100553 Indian Waters               171               165
10185   Gulf Stream               169               160
102303 Andrew Jackson               160               160
10311   Catalina               170               159
104606 Mount Baker               172               159
105306 Ozark Trails               138               158
106416 Central North Carolina               147               158
107426 East Carolina               198               157
108595 Colonial Virginia               177               157
109636 Three Harbors               136               157
110429 Northern Lights               145               156
111651 Potawatomi Area               132               154
112436 Buckeye               131               151
11357   Ventura County               169               147
114380 Greater Niagara Frontier               186               146
11518   Quapaw Area               155               145
116528 Hawk Mountain               132               144
117427 Old Hickory               160               143
118449 Black Swamp Area               124               143
119111 Snake River               169               140
12095   Flint River               161               138
121138 W. D. Boyce               121               138
122444 Miami Valley               133               137
123198 Quivira               150               133
124802 Transatlantic               180               133
12559   Greater Yosemite               139               130
126460 Erie Shores               131               130
127550 Coastal Carolina               119               130
128773 Gulf Coast                  99               130
129204 Blue Grass               132               129
130661 Puerto Rico               188               128
131341 Jersey Shore               110               126
132211 Istrouma Area               132               122
133329 Nevada Area               128               122
134373 Longhouse               105               122
13527   Sequoia               138               121
13688   Southwest Florida               141               121
137218 Pine Tree               125               120
138512 Westmoreland – Fayette               131               119
139214 Southeast Louisiana                  84               118
140524 Pennsylvania Dutch               129               118
141617 Buckskin                  98               118
142620 Glacier’s Edge               160               118
143549 Palmetto               110               117
14416   Westark Area               102               115
145425 Cape Fear               115               114
146532 French Creek               106               108
147165 La Salle                  94               107
148763 Stonewall Jackson Area               113               106
14999   Coastal ( Empire) Georgia – 3/1/14                  93               105
150157 Anthony Wayne Area                  87               104
151653 Great Rivers               133               104
152172 Hawkeye Area                  96               103
153501 Northeastern Pennsylvania               100               103
154733 Sioux               115               101
155156 Buffalo Trace                  97                  96
15653   Los Padres                  99                  95
157491 Crater Lake                  76                  95
158713 Sequoyah                  90                  95
159254 Mohegan                  60                  94
160324 Cornhusker               102                  94
161414 Daniel Boone               116                  93
162604 Blue Mountain               120                  93
163424 Tuscarora                  97                  92
164573 Yucca                  86                  92
165234 Western Massachusetts                  83                  90
166577 South Texas               110                  89
167585 East Texas Area                  96                  88
168439 Tecumseh                  72                  87
169311 Pony Express                  87                  85
170610 Great Alaska               115                  85
17158   Verdugo Hills                  85                  83
172598 Shenandoah Area                  70                  82
173162 Sagamore                  68                  81
174697 Oregon Trail                  70                  80
175133 Illowa               103                  79
176145 Hoosier Trails                  98                  79
177559 West Tennessee Area                  89                  79
17891   Chattahoochee                  65                  78
17996   Central Georgia                  91                  78
180304 Pine Burr                  84                  76
181627 Samoset                  76                  76
182803 Far East                  95                  76
183702 Rainbow                  97                  75
18493   Georgia – Carolina                  84                  74
185400 Leatherstocking                  71                  74
186368 Baden – Powell                  77                  72
187230 Nashua Valley               116                  70
188173 Winnebago                  62                  69
189556 Cherokee Area                  53                  69
190664 Suwannee River Area                  73                  69
1915     Tukabatchee Area                  61                  68
19232   Long Beach Area                  61                  68
193221 Mason – Dixon                  69                  67
194322 Overland Trails                  74                  67
195614 Grand Columbia                  71                  67
19630   Southern Sierra                  60                  66
197775 Rio Grande                  45                  66
198296 Central Minnesota                  61                  63
199299 Gamehaven                  50                  63
200533 Susquehanna                  62                  61
20141   Redwood Empire                  77                  58
202552 Pee Dee Area                  50                  57
20398   Alapaha Area                  45                  56
204144 Abraham Lincoln                  63                  56
205197 Jayhawk Area                  61                  56
2064     Mobile Area                  66                  55
207500 Moraine Trails                  63                  55
208578 Three Rivers                  74                  55
209497 Juniata Valley                  52                  54
210618 Allohak                  55                  54
211748 Yocona Area                  57                  54
212121 Lincoln Trails                  30                  52
213141 Mississippi Valley                  60                  52
214213 Louisiana Purchase                  46                  52
215376 Iroquois Trail                  63                  52
216638 Central Wyoming                  49                  52
21764   Western Colorado                  41                  51
218283 Twin Valley                  47                  50
219562 Golden Spread                  42                  49
220637 Chippewa Valley                  31                  48
221117 Prairielands                  42                  47
222584 Caddo Area                  35                  47
223192 Coronado Area                  58                  46
224212 Evangeline Area                  45                  46
22563   Rocky Mountain                  26                  45
226286 Voyageurs Area                  58                  45
227224 Cape Cod and Islands                  26                  44
22835   Marin                  43                  43
229468 Arbuckle Area                  27                  43
230216 Katahdin Area                  54                  42
231375 Five Rivers                  61                  42
232382 Allegheny Highlands                  35                  42
2336     Black Warrior                  35                  41
234694 South Plains                  36                  41
235100 Northwest Georgia                  56                  40
236509 Bucktail                  28                  40
237474 Cimarron                  37                  39
238741 Texas Southwest                  23                  39
2393     Alabama – Florida                  43                  38
240624 Gateway Area                  33                  37
241215 Norwela                  37                  36
242467 Muskingum Valley                  34                  35
243102 Maui County                  22                  33
244587 Northwest Texas                  18                  33
245178 Northeast Iowa                  46                  32
246619 Ohio River Valley                  26                  31
247567 Buffalo Trail                  31                  30
24869   Housatonic                  25                  27
249405 Rip Van Winkle                  26                  26
250504 Columbia – Montour                  21                  25
251561 Texas Trails                  30                  25
252209 Calcasieu Area                  17                  24
253469 Cherokee Area                  20                  24
25422   Alameda                  19                  22
255194 Santa Fe Trail                  15                  22
256615 Mountaineer Area                  26                  22
257302 Choctaw Area                  14                  21
258413 Conquistador                  17                  20
259695 Black Hills Area                  30                  19
26042   Piedmont                  13                  18
261696 Midnight Sun                  25                  16
26267   Greenwich                  18                  14
263691 Pushmataha Area                  23                  14
264538 Chief Cornplanter                  17                  11
26513   De Soto Area                  10                     7
266800 Direct Service                     7                     1

For more Eagle Scout stats, click here.


Hat tip: Thanks to the BSA’s Mike Lo Vecchio for the data.

Which state had the most Eagle Scouts in 2017? (And what happens when you adjust for population?)

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