Q 01/05

Which state held the first U.S. state fair, back in 1841?

A) Pennsylvania

B) Virginia

C) Ohio

D) New York

Answer · why

D) New York

That first fair drew crowds for two days in September and has been held annually ever since. It still ends on Labor Day.

Q 02/05

In which upstate city was that first 1841 state fair held?

A) Albany

B) Rochester

C) Buffalo

D) Syracuse

Answer · why

D) Syracuse

The fair moved around for decades before a land company donated a 100-acre tract next door in Geddes in 1890.

Q 03/05

State fairs were originally created in the 1800s to promote what?

A) Railroad travel

B) Statehood campaigns

C) Agriculture

D) Public schooling

Answer · why

C) Agriculture

The early fairs were competitive livestock exhibitions and farm-product displays; the rides, concerts and fried food came much later.

Q 04/05

Which state's fair drew the largest total attendance in the U.S., more than 2.5 million people in 2019?

A) Texas

B) Iowa

C) Minnesota

D) Ohio

Answer · why

A) Texas

The fair runs 24 days in Dallas, which helps it rack up the biggest overall gate even though a smaller fair beats it on average daily crowds.

Q 05/05

Which state fair has the highest average attendance per day, at just under 200,000 people?

A) Wisconsin

B) New York

C) Minnesota

D) Illinois

Answer · why

C) Minnesota

The fair in Falcon Heights crams its crowds into twelve days ending on Labor Day, which is why its daily average tops everyone else.