Since the days of Prohibition, Americans have loved ice cream. Like, really loved ice cream — according to the United States Census Bureau, the average American eats roughly 20 pounds of the stuff per year. This widespread affection for the frozen dessert has manifested through an abundance of ice cream shops across the country, both large and small. But of all of the parlors in the U.S. — of which there are over 16,000 — it’s hard to think of one more ubiquitous than Dairy Queen.
The very first Dairy Queen was opened in 1940 in Joliet, Ill., along Route 66 by local entrepreneur J.F. McCullough and his son, Alex. The father-son duo had developed the recipe for what would become Dairy Queen’s iconic soft-serve two years prior, debuting the product at an ice cream shop in Kankakee, Ill., during an “All You Can Eat for 10 Cents Sale.” After more than 1,600 people came to try their soft-serve, the pair believed they could run a successful shop of their own — and they were right.
By 1950, the number of Dairy Queens in the U.S. had skyrocketed to over 3,000, and by 1953, the ice cream chain had expanded to Canada. Today, Dairy Queen boasts 5,700 locations across 30 countries, with over 4,300 establishments in the U.S. alone. In fact, Vermont remains the only state without a Dairy Queen. (Its only two former locations have since closed, likely due to residents’ preference for local juggernaut Ben & Jerry’s.)
Much of the chain’s success is due to its continued innovation: The brand has introduced now-signature treats like the chocolate fudge, peanut, and ice cream-layered Buster Bar; added hotdogs, hamburgers, and other hot foods to its menu; and, of course, created the best-selling Blizzard. Launched in 1985, the Blizzard combines uber-thick custard with chopped-up candy or fruit — or both — and is served with an obligatory “flip” by the employee who made it to show off the dessert’s dense, luscious texture. The Blizzard proved to be an instant success for the chain, which sold over 175 million in its first year alone, and remains a beloved menu item offered in more than two dozen flavors.
Craving a Blizzard of your own and curious to see how many Dairy Queens are in your neck of the woods? Check out our map below to discover how many outposts are in your home state.
The Number of Dairy Queens by State
State
Number of Dairy Queens
Texas
584
Ohio
256
Illinois
250
Minnesota
222
Georgia
208
Indiana
203
Pennsylvania
180
Michigan
155
Florida
154
Kentucky
137
Wisconsin
125
Arizona
110
Missouri
105
Iowa
102
Washington
98
Oregon
96
North Carolina
88
Virginia
87
Tennessee
82
Colorado
79
California
76
New Jersey
73
West Virginia
70
Alabama
65
Kansas
63
Nebraska
53
New York
43
South Dakota
42
North Dakota
41
Connecticut
39
Arkansas
36
Montana
35
Louisiana
34
New Mexico
34
Massachusetts
32
Maryland
28
Mississippi
27
Utah
27
Idaho
25
South Carolina
25
Maine
22
Oklahoma
19
Nevada
18
Delaware
13
New Hampshire
12
Wyoming
10
Hawaii
6
Alaska
5
Rhode Island
2
Vermont
0
Washington D.C.
0
*Image retrieved from: jetcityimage – stock.adobe.com
The article The Number of Dairy Queens in Every State [MAP] appeared first on VinePair.