Ahead of National McDonald's Day on Saturday, recent research reveals just what menu items are keeping Americans loyal to the Golden Arches in each state.
The data, compiled by Illinoisbet.com, analyzed the number of searches for McDonald's in each state, while also measuring the number of searches per 1,000 people recorded in each state for the last 12 months.
On top of search data relevant to people looking for McDonald's, the research released by Illinoisbet.com also looked into the top 10 meals from each state based on local search data.
It may or not be the high prices for food in Las Vegas, but no state searched for McDonald's quite as much as those in Nevada, where 1,365 searches per 1,000 residents were recorded over the past year.
Illinois joined Nevada as one of the 14 states that recorded more searches than there were residents, with Indiana, Michigan and Ohio also among the Midwestern states with more McDonald's searches than residents.
Across the country, the Big Mac reigned supreme as the top choice in 31 states, including Illinois, where the iconic sandwich topped the Happy Meal and the McChicken to close out the state's top three.
Perhaps another interesting trend was the widespread desire for discontinued or limited-time menu items, with many states searching for "McDonald's Snack Wraps" and the McRib en masse.
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The defunct snack wraps were the most-searched menu item in seven states, including Michigan, Ohio and New York.
Below is a full look at the search data and top meals in each state:
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| State | McDonald’s Searches (last 12 months) | per 1000 people | #1 Order | #2 Order | #3 Order |
| Alabama | 3,779,280 | 741 | Big Mac | McRib | McGriddle |
| Alaska | 497,760 | 679 | Big Mac | McRib | McChicken |
| Arizona | 7,896,360 | 1,059 | Big Mac | McGriddle | McNuggets |
| Arkansas | 2,418,600 | 790 | Big Mac | Happy Meal | McRib |
| California | 40,245,960 | 1,034 | Happy Meal | Big Mac | McGriddle |
| Colorado | 6,311,760 | 1,076 | Big Mac | McRib | Happy Meal |
| Connecticut | 3,280,680 | 904 | McDonalds Snack Wraps | Big Mac | Happy Meal |
| Delaware | 939,840 | 911 | McNuggets | Big Mac | Happy Meal |
| Florida | 25,743,120 | 1,136 | Big Mac | McRib | Happy Meal |
| Georgia | 10,635,120 | 964 | Big Mac | McRib | McGriddle |
| Hawaii | 1,578,240 | 1,101 | Happy Meal | Big Mac | McRib |
| Idaho | 1,372,560 | 695 | Big Mac | Happy Meal | McRib |
| Illinois | 15,450,120 | 1,238 | Big Mac | Happy Meal | McChicken |
| Indiana | 6,994,200 | 1,021 | McRib | Big Mac | McDonalds Snack Wraps |
| Iowa | 2,527,680 | 789 | Big Mac | McRib | Happy Meal |
| Kansas | 2,603,040 | 886 | Big Mac | McRib | happy meal |
| Kentucky | 3,960,240 | 877 | McDonalds Snack Wraps | Big Mac | Happy Meal |
| Louisiana | 3,680,880 | 808 | Big Mac | McRib | McGriddle |
| Maine | 969,840 | 696 | Big Mac | McDonalds Snack Wraps | Happy meal |
| Maryland | 6,715,080 | 1,091 | Big Mac | McRib | McDonalds Snack Wraps |
| Massachusetts | 6,730,200 | 965 | Big Mac | McDonalds Snack Wraps | Happy meal |
| Michigan | 10,582,440 | 1,055 | McDonalds Snack Wraps | Big Mac | Happy Meal |
| Minnesota | 5,582,640 | 975 | Big Mac | Happy Meal | McRib |
| Mississippi | 1,807,320 | 617 | Big Mac | McGriddle | McRib |
| Missouri | 5,672,400 | 917 | McRib | Big Mac | Happy Meal |
| Montana | 716,520 | 629 | Big Mac | McRib | Happy Meal |
| Nebraska | 888,000 | 450 | McRib | Big Mac | happy meal |
| Nevada | 4,380,000 | 1,365 | Happy Meal | McRib | Big Mac |
| New Hampshire | 594,000 | 423 | Big Mac | McDonalds Snack Wraps | McNuggets |
| New Jersey | 8,015,400 | 866 | McDonalds Snack Wraps | Big Mac | McNuggets |
| New Mexico | 1,086,600 | 515 | Happy Meal | McRib | Big Mac |
| New York | 20,713,200 | 1,062 | McDonalds Snack Wraps | Big Mac | Happy Meal |
| North Carolina | 10,314,360 | 952 | McRib | Big Mac | McChicken |
| North Dakota | 325,200 | 417 | Big Mac | McRib | McDonalds Snack Wraps |
| Ohio | 12,892,440 | 1,097 | McDonalds Snack Wraps | Big Mac | Happy Meal |
| Oklahoma | 1,625,760 | 402 | Big Mac | McRib | Happy Meal |
| Oregon | 4,176,600 | 989 | Big Mac | Happy Meal | McRib |
| Pennsylvania | 10,713,600 | 828 | McRib | Big Mac | McDonalds Snack Wraps |
| Rhode Island | 486,000 | 446 | Big Mac | McDonalds Snack Wraps | Happy meal |
| South Carolina | 3,362,160 | 626 | Big Mac | McRib | happy meal |
| South Dakota | 325,200 | 352 | Big Mac | McNuggets | Happy Meal |
| Tennessee | 2,952,000 | 414 | Big Mac | McRib | Happy Meal |
| Texas | 32,121,840 | 1,053 | Big Mac | McRib | McNuggets |
| Utah | 1,620,000 | 473 | McRib | Big Mac | McNuggets |
| Vermont | 217,200 | 336 | Big Mac | McDonalds Snack Wraps | McNuggets |
| Virginia | 8,385,120 | 963 | McRib | Big Mac | Happy Meal |
| Washington | 7,927,320 | 1,012 | Big Mac | McRib | Happy Meal |
| West Virginia | 594,000 | 337 | McDonalds Snack Wraps | Big Mac | McRib |
| Wisconsin | 2,952,000 | 950 | Big Mac | Happy Meal | McRib |
| Wyoming | 225,000 | 386 | Big Mac | McRib | Happy Meal |
Additionally, Illinois ranks among the top 5 states in number of McDonald's restaurants, with the state's 647 locations only trailing New York, Florida, Texas and California.
North Dakota has the fewest McDonald's restaurants of any state, with just 22 locations. Wyoming has only 24 locations, while there are 27 McDonald's restaurants in Alaska.
| # | State | Number of McDonalds |
| 1 | California | 1,165 |
| 2 | Texas | 834 |
| 3 | Florida | 728 |
| 4 | New York | 655 |
| 5 | Illinois | 647 |
| 6 | Ohio | 616 |
| 7 | Michigan | 545 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 498 |
| 9 | Virginia | 382 |
| 10 | North Carolina | 374 |
