Reported sightings of unidentified flying objects (U̳F̳O̳s) 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 U̳F̳O̳ sightings per capita, based on data provided by Cheryl Costa and Linda Miller, authors of “U̳F̳O̳ Sightings Desk Reference: United States of America 2001-2020.”
The data shows the relative likelihood of county residents reporting U̳F̳O̳ 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.
R̳e̳p̳o̳r̳t̳i̳n̳g̳ 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.
The top ten list is as follows:
1. 844 – Horry County, South Carolina (254.1 sightings per 100k)
2. 515 – Yavapai County, Arizona (225.8 sightings per 100k
3. 403 – Mohave County, Arizona (194 sightings per 100k)
4. 339 – Whatcom County, Washington (153.5 sightings per 100k)
5. 448 – Lane County, Oregon (120 sightings per 100k)
6. 511 – Ada County, Idaho (111.9 sightings per 100k)
7. 476 – Pinal County, Arizona (110 sightings per 100k)
8. 379 – Larimer County, Colorado (109.9 sightings per 100k)
9. 348 – Boulder County, Colorado (107.9 sightings per 100k)
10. 328 – St Louis City County, Missouri (106.4 sightings per 100k)
