Reported sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) have increased in recent years, and some parts of the country have proven to be particularly hospitable to strange things in the sky — or at least to those who see them.
24/7 Tempo has identified the counties with the most UFO sightings per capita, based on data provided by Cheryl Costa and Linda Miller, authors of “UFO Sightings Desk Reference: United States of America 2001-2020.” The data shows the relative likelihood of county residents reporting UFO sightings. (Population figures come from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.)
A number of factors influence the number of sightings, including population, geography, climate, and weather. Reporting is facilitated by access to broadband, and media reports may create a feedback loop: high-profile incidents, such as when airline pilots report being buzzed by fast-moving objects, are often followed by a rash of sightings. (Here is why scientists think there is life on other planets.)
Horry County, South Carolina leads the country in UFO sightings, with 254.1 per 100,000 residents. That makes sense as it’s home to Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, the cities with the most per capita sightings.
The No. 2 and No. 3 spots are claimed by Yavapai and Mohave counties in Arizona. The state has three more counties farther down the list: Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal. That may have something to do with the state’s clear skies and with the fact that Arizona is a leisure destination — another factor that drives sightings. (These are the states with the most UFO sightings.)
Click here to see the counties with the most UFO sightings
There are also seven counties each in Florida and Washington, six in Colorado, five in California, and four in Oregon. If there’s a surprise inclusion, it’s New York County — better known as Manhattan — with 65.3 sightings per 100,000 residents. Though the city’s tall buildings and bright lights are hardly conducive to sightings, it is, after all, a magnet for visitors — and maybe extraterrestrials figure if they can make it there, they can make it anywhere.
50. Providence County, Rhode Island
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 53.5
> Total sightings: 340 — #88 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 635,737
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49. Palm Beach County, Florida
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 53.6
> Total sightings: 785 — #19 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 1,465,027
48. Monmouth County, New Jersey
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 54.5
> Total sightings: 339 — #89 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 621,659
47. San Diego County, California
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 54.7
> Total sightings: 1,814 — #4 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 3,316,073
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46. Riverside County, California
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 55.7
> Total sightings: 1,342 — #7 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 2,411,439
45. Hartford County, Connecticut
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 56
> Total sightings: 500 — #47 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 893,561
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44. Montgomery County, Ohio
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 56.8
> Total sightings: 302 — #99 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 531,670
43. Salt Lake County, Utah
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 58.4
> Total sightings: 662 — #26 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 1,133,646
42. Washington County, Oregon
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 59
> Total sightings: 348 — #84 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 589,481
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41. Tulsa County, Oklahoma
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 60.2
> Total sightings: 389 — #72 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 646,419
40. Ocean County, New Jersey
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 60.2
> Total sightings: 359 — #82 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 596,415
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39. Clark County, Nevada
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 61.5
> Total sightings: 1,342 — #7 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 2,182,004
38. New Haven County, Connecticut
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 61.8
> Total sightings: 530 — #41 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 857,513
37. Pasco County, Florida
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 63.3
> Total sightings: 332 — #92 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 524,602
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36. Lee County, Florida
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 63.5
> Total sightings: 468 — #54 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 737,468
35. Ventura County, California
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 63.5
> Total sightings: 538 — #40 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 847,263
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34. Jefferson County, Colorado
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 63.8
> Total sightings: 367 — #79 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 574,798
33. Volusia County, Florida
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 64.3
> Total sightings: 345 — #86 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 536,487
32. New York County, New York
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 65.3
> Total sightings: 1,065 — #10 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 1,631,993
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31. Pinellas County, Florida
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 65.5
> Total sightings: 632 — #30 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 964,666
30. Spokane County, Washington
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 73.4
> Total sightings: 371 — #78 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 505,505
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29. El Paso County, Colorado
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 74
> Total sightings: 517 — #43 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 698,974
28. Arapahoe County, Colorado
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 74.3
> Total sightings: 479 — #50 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 644,560
27. Pierce County, Washington
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 74.3
> Total sightings: 652 — #28 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 877,013
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26. Maricopa County, Arizona
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 77.2
> Total sightings: 3,343 — #2 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 4,328,810
25. Denver County, Colorado
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 79.9
> Total sightings: 564 — #36 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 705,576
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24. King County, Washington
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 80.6
> Total sightings: 1,770 — #5 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 2,195,502
23. Pima County, Arizona
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 81.8
> Total sightings: 840 — #13 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 1,027,207
22. Bernalillo County, New Mexico
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 82
> Total sightings: 556 — #38 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 677,858
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21. Washoe County, Nevada
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 82.5
> Total sightings: 377 — #75 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 456,936
20. Brevard County, Florida
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 83
> Total sightings: 486 — #48 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 585,507
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19. Sonoma County, California
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 87
> Total sightings: 435 — #61 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 499,772
18. Bucks County, Pennsylvania
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 87.3
> Total sightings: 547 — #39 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 626,806
17. Stanislaus County, California
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 88
> Total sightings: 478 — #51 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 543,194
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16. Marion County, Oregon
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 89.5
> Total sightings: 304 — #98 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 339,641
15. Clark County, Washington
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 92.3
> Total sightings: 437 — #59 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 473,252
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14. Sarasota County, Florida
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 97
> Total sightings: 407 — #65 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 419,496
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13. Snohomish County, Washington
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 100.9
> Total sightings: 806 — #15 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 798,808
12. Jackson County, Missouri
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 104
> Total sightings: 724 — #21 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 696,216
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11. Multnomah County, Oregon
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 104.3
> Total sightings: 839 — #14 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 804,606
10. St Louis City County, Missouri
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 106.4
> Total sightings: 328 — #93 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 308,174
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9. Boulder County, Colorado
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 107.9
> Total sightings: 348 — #84 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 322,510
8. Larimer County, Colorado
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 109.9
> Total sightings: 379 — #74 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 344,786
7. Pinal County, Arizona
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 110
> Total sightings: 476 — #52 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 432,793
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6. Ada County, Idaho
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 111.9
> Total sightings: 511 — #45 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 456,849
5. Lane County, Oregon
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 120
> Total sightings: 448 — #57 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 373,340
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4. Whatcom County, Washington
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 153.5
> Total sightings: 339 — #89 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 220,821
3. Mohave County, Arizona
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 194
> Total sightings: 403 — #68 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 207,695
2. Yavapai County, Arizona
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 225.8
> Total sightings: 515 — #44 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 228,067
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1. Horry County, South Carolina
> 2001-2020 sightings per 100K: 254.1
> Total sightings: 844 — #12 out of 100 cities
> Population 2019: 332,172
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