Bookstores in America, 2013: A State-by-State Guide


According to this report by Publishers Weekly (@PublishersWkly), Montana is the state with the most bookstores per capita (one store for every 15,705 people). “PW collected figures on the number of bookstores in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, a total that includes every branch of bookselling: chain stores, big-box stores, independents, and the Association of Christian Retailers’ CBA stores.”

Here are the top 20:

1. Montana (64 total stores)

2. Wyoming (35)

3. Vermont (38)

4. Alabama (286)

5. Tennessee (369)

6. Nebraska (105)

7. Arkansas (165)

8. Colorado (288)

9. Kansas (160)

10. Missouri (330)

11. Alaska (40)

12. Iowa (168)

13. Minnesota (293)

14. Washington, DC (34)

15. South Carolina (251)

16. Mississippi (157)

17. West Virginia (97)

18. Georgia (508)

19. Indiana (333)

20. North Carolina (486)

Read this in full.