Personally, I think climate has a lot to do with it. Texas overcomes their climate because of oil, but look at the bottom 10 GDP states compared to the top 10:
Top 10:
California
Texas
New York
Florida
Illinois
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Georgia
Washington
New Jersey
You’re going to boil your ass working in Texas, Florida, and Georgia. Oil makes it worth it in Texas. Agriculture, aerospace and defense in Georgia, apparently. Tourism in Florida.
Bottom 10:
West Virginia
Delaware
Maine
Rhode Island
Montana
North Dakota
South Dakota
Alaska
Wyoming
Vermont
1/2 of this list is known for brutal cold. I think all Rhode Island produces is commuters to New York. LOL.
Personally, I think climate has a lot to do with it. Texas overcomes their climate because of oil, but look at the bottom 10 GDP states compared to the top 10:
Top 10:
California
Texas
New York
Florida
Illinois
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Georgia
Washington
New Jersey
You’re going to boil your ass working in Texas, Florida, and Georgia. Oil makes it worth it in Texas. Agriculture, aerospace and defense in Georgia, apparently. Tourism in Florida.
Bottom 10:
West Virginia
Delaware
Maine
Rhode Island
Montana
North Dakota
South Dakota
Alaska
Wyoming
Vermont
1/2 of this list is known for brutal cold. I think all Rhode Island produces is commuters to New York. LOL.