Military

This State Is Home to the Most Army Personnel per Capita

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24/7 Wall St. Staff
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The United States Army has over 460,000 active members, making it the largest branch of the military. As the country’s primary offense and defense against any threat, it has stations at home and abroad. The military has bases in all 50 states and at least 80 countries and territories around the world. Maintaining bases allows for a logistical advantage and quick intervention should conflict break out. Many US bases were constructed following the Second World War when America established its place as a global leader and peacekeeper.

The number of active duty military varies by region in the US, but there is at least one base in each of the 50 states. To identify which state is home to the most Army personnel, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed records from the Department of Defense Personnel, Workforce Reports & Publications. We analyzed the most recently updated unclassified military personnel data (from Sept. 30, 2022), considering the number of active-duty Army personnel serving in each state, adjusted per 100,000 residents per state.

Why We’re Covering This

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Almost every state in the U.S. maintains at least one military base with numerous Army personnel. Large concentrations of military personnel can affect the state’s economy through increased housing needs, new job opportunities, and a unique cultural identity with surrounding communities.

Here are the states boasting the highest number of Army personnel.

50. Minnesota

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 2.7 per 100,000 (Total: 154)
  • No. of Army sites: 8 — 11th highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Fort Snelling
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 47.2 per 100,000 — 24th lowest

49. Connecticut

Christian Horz / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 2.8 per 100,000 (Total: 103)
  • No. of Army sites: 3 — 15th lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 34.3 per 100,000 — 9th lowest

48. New Hampshire

Mario Tama / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 3.1 per 100,000 (Total: 43)
  • No. of Army sites: 1 — 4th lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 61.7 per 100,000 — 14th Highest

47. Oregon

GarysFRP / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 3.2 per 100,000 (Total: 136)
  • No. of Army sites: 8 — 11th highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 10.3 per 100,000 — the lowest

46. Iowa

Smith Collection/Gado / Archive Photos via Getty Images
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 3.3 per 100,000 (Total: 105)
  • No. of Army sites: 2 — 9th lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 60.3 per 100,000 — 15th Highest

45. West Virginia

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  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 3.5 per 100,000 (Total: 63)
  • No. of Army sites: 5 — 23rd highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 78.8 per 100,000 — 6th Highest

44. Ohio

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 3.8 per 100,000 (Total: 443)
  • No. of Army sites: 8 — 11th highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Columbus Def Depot
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 43.6 per 100,000 — 18th lowest

43. Idaho

Becky Vanshur / Wikimedia Commons
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 3.9 per 100,000 (Total: 75)
  • No. of Army sites: 3 — 15th lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 32.2 per 100,000 — 8th lowest

42. Michigan

Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 4.2 per 100,000 (Total: 422)
  • No. of Army sites: 6 — 20th highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Detroit Arsenal
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 25.3 per 100,000 — 5th lowest

41. Arkansas

DVIDSHUB / Wikimedia Commons
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 4.5 per 100,000 (Total: 136)
  • No. of Army sites: 3 — 15th lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 48.3 per 100,000 — 26th Highest

40. North Dakota

thenationalguard / Flickr
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 4.5 per 100,000 (Total: 35)
  • No. of Army sites: 2 — 9th lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 25.7 per 100,000 — 6th lowest

39. Montana

dvids / Flickr
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 4.6 per 100,000 (Total: 52)
  • No. of Army sites: 3 — 15th lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 54.5 per 100,000 — 20th Highest

38. Wyoming

thenationalguard / Flickr
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 4.6 per 100,000 (Total: 27)
  • No. of Army sites: 1 — 4th lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 12.6 per 100,000 — 2nd lowest

37. Maine

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 4.9 per 100,000 (Total: 68)
  • No. of Army sites: 4 — 22nd lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 22.7 per 100,000 — 4th lowest

36. Tennessee

soldiersmediacenter / Flickr
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 5.0 per 100,000 (Total: 351)
  • No. of Army sites: 8 — 11th highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 47.7 per 100,000 — 25th lowest

35. Massachusetts

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 5.1 per 100,000 (Total: 355)
  • No. of Army sites: 5 — 23rd highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 37.9 per 100,000 — 13th lowest

34. Nevada

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 5.1 per 100,000 (Total: 163)
  • No. of Army sites: 3 — 15th lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 43.7 per 100,000 — 20th lowest

33. South Dakota

thenationalguard / CC BY 2.0 / Flickr
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 5.3 per 100,000 (Total: 48)
  • No. of Army sites: 4 — 22nd lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 38.6 per 100,000 — 14th lowest

32. Delaware

thenationalguard / Public Domain / Flickr
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 5.3 per 100,000 (Total: 54)
  • No. of Army sites: 2 — 9th lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 50.3 per 100,000 — 24th Highest

31. Utah

George Frey / Getty Images
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 5.5 per 100,000 (Total: 185)
  • No. of Army sites: 6 — 20th highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Dugway Proving Ground
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 77.5 per 100,000 — 7th Highest

30. Vermont

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  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 5.6 per 100,000 (Total: 36)
  • No. of Army sites: 4 — 22nd lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 17.0 per 100,000 — 3rd lowest

29. New Jersey

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  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 6.5 per 100,000 (Total: 598)
  • No. of Army sites: 4 — 22nd lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Fort Dix
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 42.8 per 100,000 — 17th lowest

28. Wisconsin

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  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 7.1 per 100,000 (Total: 419)
  • No. of Army sites: 4 — 22nd lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Fort McCoy
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 60.1 per 100,000 — 16th Highest

27. Pennsylvania

soldiersmediacenter / Flickr
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 7.6 per 100,000 (Total: 992)
  • No. of Army sites: 11 — 6th highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Carlisle Barracks
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 50.5 per 100,000 — 23rd highest

26. Illinois

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  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 7.8 per 100,000 (Total: 976)
  • No. of Army sites: 7 — 17th highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 43.6 per 100,000 — 19th lowest

25. Nebraska

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 8.1 per 100,000 (Total: 159)
  • No. of Army sites: 6 — 20th highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 53.3 per 100,000 — 21st highest

24. Indiana

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  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 9.0 per 100,000 (Total: 614)
  • No. of Army sites: 8 — 11th highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 35.4 per 100,000 — 11th lowest

23. Rhode Island

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  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 9.5 per 100,000 (Total: 104)
  • No. of Army sites: 1 — 4th lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 48.5 per 100,000 — 25th Highest

22. Mississippi

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  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 14.6 per 100,000 (Total: 428)
  • No. of Army sites: 3 — 15th lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: N/A
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 51.2 per 100,000 — 22nd highest

21. New Mexico

JannHuizenga / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 16.1 per 100,000 (Total: 340)
  • No. of Army sites: 5 — 23rd highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: White Sands Missile Range
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 30.3 per 100,000 — 7th lowest

20. California

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  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 17.8 per 100,000 (Total: 6,948)
  • No. of Army sites: 10 — 8th highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Presidio of Monterey
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 39.6 per 100,000 — 15th lowest

19. Florida

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 26.2 per 100,000 (Total: 5,818)
  • No. of Army sites: 2 — 9th lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: U.S. Southern Command
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 44.6 per 100,000 — 22nd lowest

18. Arizona

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  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 46.5 per 100,000 (Total: 3,422)
  • No. of Army sites: 8 — 11th highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Fort Huachuca
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 44.7 per 100,000 — 23rd lowest

17. Alabama

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  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 80.7 per 100,000 (Total: 4,096)
  • No. of Army sites: 22 — the highest
  • Notable Army base: Fort Rucker
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 82.8 per 100,000 — 4th Highest

16. New York

thenationalguard / Flickr
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 84.6 per 100,000 (Total: 16,645)
  • No. of Army sites: 7 — 17th highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Fort Drum
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 34.6 per 100,000 — 10th lowest

15. Maryland

coastalpics / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 132.3 per 100,000 (Total: 8,156)
  • No. of Army sites: 10 — 8th highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Fort George G. Meade
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 92.2 per 100,000 — 2nd Highest

14. Missouri

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  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 138.2 per 100,000 (Total: 8,536)
  • No. of Army sites: 9 — 10th Highest
  • Notable Army base: Fort Leonard Wood
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 66.7 per 100,000 — 11th Highest

13. Louisiana

joeynick / iStock via Getty Images
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 163.5 per 100,000 (Total: 7,506)
  • No. of Army sites: 11 — 6th highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Fort Polk
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 36.5 per 100,000 — 12th lowest

12. South Carolina

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  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 194.4 per 100,000 (Total: 10,270)
  • No. of Army sites: 2 — 9th lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Fort Jackson
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 70.3 per 100,000 — 9th Highest

11. Texas

RonBailey / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 229.1 per 100,000 (Total: 68,792)
  • No. of Army sites: 16 — 3rd Highest
  • Notable Army base: Fort Hood
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 59.6 per 100,000 — 18th Highest

10. Virginia

thenationalguard / Flickr
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 274.0 per 100,000 (Total: 1,841)
  • No. of Army sites: 1 — 4th lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Fort Belvoir
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 61.9 per 100,000 — 13th Highest

9. Oklahoma

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 293.8 per 100,000 (Total: 11,809)
  • No. of Army sites: 7 — 17th highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Fort Sill
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 42.3 per 100,000 — 16th lowest

8. Washington

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 351.4 per 100,000 (Total: 27,356)
  • No. of Army sites: 5 — 23rd highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Fort Lewis
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 59.7 per 100,000 — 17th Highest

7. North Carolina

pavdw / CC BY 2.0 / Flickr
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 422.7 per 100,000 (Total: 45,223)
  • No. of Army sites: 5 — 23rd highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Fort Bragg
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 57.7 per 100,000 — 19th Highest

6. Georgia

ganatlguard / Flickr
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 429.6 per 100,000 (Total: 46,877)
  • No. of Army sites: 12 — 4th highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Fort Benning
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 67.1 per 100,000 — 10th Highest

5. Colorado

chapin31 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 460.0 per 100,000 (Total: 26,865)
  • No. of Army sites: 4 — 22nd lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Fort Carson
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 64.4 per 100,000 — 12th Highest

4. Kansas

wellesenterprises / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 589.6 per 100,000 (Total: 17,317)
  • No. of Army sites: 4 — 22nd lowest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Fort Riley
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 72.7 per 100,000 — 8th Highest

3. Kentucky

JillianCain / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 755.4 per 100,000 (Total: 34,085)
  • No. of Army sites: 5 — 23rd highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Fort Campbell
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 85.7 per 100,000 — 3rd Highest

2. Hawaii

NNehring / iStock via Getty Images
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 1,071.2 per 100,000 (Total: 15,428)
  • No. of Army sites: 20 — 2nd Highest
  • Notable Army base: Schofield Barracks
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 165.0 per 100,000 — the highest

1. Alaska

thenationalguard / Flickr
  • Active-duty personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 1,332.8 per 100,000 (Total: 9,777)
  • No. of Army sites: 5 — 23rd highest (tied)
  • Notable Army base: Fort Jonathan Wainwright
  • Army reserve personnel (as of Sept. 30, 2022): 44.6 per 100,000 — 21st lowest

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