Random State Generator
- Alabama
The random state generator draws from all 50 United States, one to ten at a time, with no repeats inside a draw. The list is the 50 states only. It excludes Washington DC, Puerto Rico and the other territories, which is the distinction that trips people up when the count does not match what they expected.
How it works
Every state has exactly a 1 in 50 chance on a single draw. There is no weighting by population or area, so Wyoming is as likely as California.
- The list holds the 50 states admitted to the Union, in alphabetical order internally.
- Washington DC is not included: it is a federal district, not a state.
- Territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam and the US Virgin Islands are not included either.
- A draw of ten returns ten different states; drawing again may repeat them.
Examples
A single state
How many
1
Result
Vermont
One draw from 50 with equal probability. Useful for picking a topic or assigning a research subject without arguing about it.
Ten states
How many
10
Result
Ten distinct states, in the order drawn
Ten of 50 leaves 40 unseen, so consecutive draws of ten usually overlap by only one or two.
Frequently asked questions
Does the random state generator include Washington DC?
No. The list is the 50 states, and DC is a federal district rather than a state. Territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam are excluded on the same basis. If your use needs all 56 jurisdictions, this list is not it.
Are larger states more likely to be drawn?
No. Every state has the same 1 in 50 chance regardless of population or area, so Wyoming and California are equally likely. Weighting by population would be a different tool with a different purpose.
Can the same state appear twice?
Not within a single draw. Ten states means ten different states. Across separate draws, repeats are expected and common.