Cities with the most veterans in every state
More than 20 million veterans live in the United States, . While some are living lives of retirement, others remain active in the armed forces or work civilian jobs in their local communities. But where do our veterans live?
Using data from the provided by the U.S. Census, Âé¶¹Ô´´ created a list of 50 cities with the highest concentration of veterans in each state. Each state's top city was determined by the percentage of veterans compared to the adult civilian population. This list also contains current estimates of veteran populations dating back to World War II. Cities must have a civilian population of at least 10,000 people over the age of 18 to qualify for the list.
Read on to find out which city in your state has the highest percentage of veterans. The list is in alphabetical order, starting from Alabama and ending with Wyoming.
RELATED: to see which states have the most veterans.
Alabama: Enterprise
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 19,709
Estimated total veterans: 4,004 (20.3% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 1,426
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 1,887
- Vietnam War: 1,349
- Korean War: 206
- World War II: 84
One in five adults living in Enterprise, Alabama, is a veteran. The city is located near Fort Rucker, which is the headquarters of the. Nearly are military youth.
Alaska: Badger
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 13,792
Estimated total veterans: 3,436 (24.9% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 1,461
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 1,532
- Vietnam War: 904
- Korean War: 102
- World War II: 32
Badger, Alaska, is located in the middle of the state and is home to a large population of veterans who served in the Gulf wars. The city and has strong mining, tourism, and forest industries.
Arizona: Sierra Vista
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 29,042
Estimated total veterans: 8,041 (27.7% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 2,672
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 3,077
- Vietnam War: 2,670
- Korean War: 616
- World War II: 205
Sierra Vista is situated several miles from the United States-Mexico border in southeast Arizona. More than a quarter of the city’s 29,000-person population are veterans. The city is near, which was.
Arkansas: Hot Springs Village
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 12,709
Estimated total veterans: 2,481 (19.5% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 128
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 221
- Vietnam War: 1,091
- Korean War: 495
- World War II: 235
Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, has a large Vietnam War population. The city is located in the central part of the state. Veterans there are active in a.
California: Twentynine Palms
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 12,860
Estimated total veterans: 2,664 (20.7% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 1,333
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 699
- Vietnam War: 587
- Korean War: 105
- World War II: 70
Twentynine Palms, California, is home to the. The base serves as a military training ground for new recruits. The surrounding area is a popular spot for veterans of the second Gulf War.
Colorado: Fountain
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 16,926
Estimated total veterans: 4,576 (27.0% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 2,669
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 2,101
- Vietnam War: 661
- Korean War: 53
- World War II: 17
Fountain, Colorado, sits just outside of Colorado Springs and is several miles from. , and the city is a popular place among young veterans.
Connecticut: Norwich
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 30,845
Estimated total veterans: 3,100 (10.1% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 618
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 732
- Vietnam War: 841
- Korean War: 259
- World War II: 130
The city of Norwich is in eastern Connecticut, near the Atlantic Ocean. Just over 10% of the population of 30,845 people are veterans.
Delaware: Dover
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 28,295
Estimated total veterans: 3,546 (12.5% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 1,096
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 990
- Vietnam War: 1,015
- Korean War: 327
- World War II: 146
Dover, Delaware, is home to, which houses more than 9,000 active soldiers. The base was. Personnel from the base have also taken part in missions in Afghanistan, Haiti, and Nepal.
Florida: Crestview
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 15,827
Estimated total veterans: 4,190 (26.5% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 2,156
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 2,154
- Vietnam War: 911
- Korean War: 58
- World War II: 25
Crestview, located in Okaloosa County, Florida, is home to a large population of Gulf War veterans. The city of 15,827 people is a short drive to the beaches of Western Florida.
Georgia: Hinesville
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 22,061
Estimated total veterans: 5,686 (25.8% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 3,214
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 2,323
- Vietnam War: 1,152
- Korean War: 38
- World War II: 0
Hinesville, Georgia, is a town of just over 22,000 people and encompasses. The army base is the largest in the eastern part of the United States. Fort Stewart was before it was turned into a military outpost by the British.
Hawaii: Waimalu
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 10,112
Estimated total veterans: 1,762 (17.4% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 558
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 492
- Vietnam War: 434
- Korean War: 80
- World War II: 59
Waimalu, Hawaii, is located in the central part of Oahu Island. The city of just over 10,000 people sits back from Pearl Harbor, the military site attacked by the Japanese in World War II.
Idaho: Lewiston
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 25,734
Estimated total veterans: 2,878 (11.2% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 333
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 608
- Vietnam War: 991
- Korean War: 365
- World War II: 233
Lewiston, Idaho, sits in the northwest part of the state. The city was, which was
Illinois: O'Fallon
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 20,259
Estimated total veterans: 3,927 (19.4% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 1,758
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 2,253
- Vietnam War: 1,206
- Korean War: 166
- World War II: 27
Scott Air Force Base is and sits near O’Fallon, Illinois. The city of O’Fallon is home to a large population of veterans from the two Gulf Wars.
Indiana: Clarksville
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 17,374
Estimated total veterans: 1,985 (11.4% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 278
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 300
- Vietnam War: 759
- Korean War: 184
- World War II: 87
Clarksville, Indiana, which is located north of the Ohio River and across from Louisville, Kentucky, is home to 1,985 veterans — many of whom served during the Vietnam War. The city is also, which employed 27,500 people in manufacturing ammunition for World War II.
Iowa: Clinton
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 20,508
Estimated total veterans: 2,309 (11.3% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 308
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 424
- Vietnam War: 742
- Korean War: 306
- World War II: 110
Around 11% of the population of Clinton, Iowa, are veterans. The city is located in the eastern part of the state, along the Mississippi River.
Kansas: Junction City
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 14,829
Estimated total veterans: 3,168 (21.4% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 1,684
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 1,170
- Vietnam War: 633
- Korean War: 114
- World War II: 60
Just six miles north of Junction City, Kansas, is a U.S. Army base. Veterans represent a fifth of the population in this northeast Kansas town.
Kentucky: Radcliff
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 15,955
Estimated total veterans: 4,220 (26.4% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 1,636
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 2,067
- Vietnam War: 1,249
- Korean War: 314
- World War II: 42
Radcliff, Kentucky, is home to a large population of Gulf War veterans, specifically veterans from the first Gulf War. The city is just south of, a 100-year-old Army training facility.
Louisiana: Bossier City
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 46,719
Estimated total veterans: 6,811 (14.6% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 1,834
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 1,756
- Vietnam War: 2,282
- Korean War: 584
- World War II: 279
Bossier City, Louisiana, is home to. The base, built in 1931, employs more than 15,000 active duty service members. The nearby Bossier City has a large population of Vietnam War veterans.
Maine: Sanford
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 16,032
Estimated total veterans: 1,956 (12.2% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 224
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 342
- Vietnam War: 586
- Korean War: 198
- World War II: 135
Sanford, Maine, is near the. About 12% of the city’s population are veterans.
Maryland: Fort Washington
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 19,855
Estimated total veterans: 3,297 (16.6% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 676
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 851
- Vietnam War: 1,308
- Korean War: 235
- World War II: 64
Fort Washington is located in southern Maryland, across from Alexandria, Virginia. The fort in the area was built to guard the river running north to Washington D.C. Today,.
Massachusetts: Gardner
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 16,097
Estimated total veterans: 1,650 (10.3% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 209
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 297
- Vietnam War: 531
- Korean War: 191
- World War II: 116
Gardner, Massachusetts, is located in the central part of the state, about 55 miles west of Boston. The area surrounding the city includes several parks and ski resorts.
Michigan: Battle Creek
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 38,516
Estimated total veterans: 4,068 (10.6% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 416
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 678
- Vietnam War: 1,458
- Korean War: 459
- World War II: 291
The 38,516-person city of Battle Creek, Michigan, is home to an and Fort Custer is a training ground for the National Guard and several other branches of service throughout the Midwest. The facility was originally opened to train U.S. soldiers for World War I.
Minnesota: Hibbing
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 12,324
Estimated total veterans: 1,345 (10.9% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 131
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 90
- Vietnam War: 617
- Korean War: 134
- World War II: 85
Hibbing, Minnesota, located in the northern part of the state, is near Chisholm Armoy. The armory serves as a transportation and re-supply unit for the military. The majority of the veterans in Hibbing served in the Vietnam War.
Mississippi: Long Beach
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 11,196
Estimated total veterans: 2,041 (18.2% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 611
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 544
- Vietnam War: 501
- Korean War: 148
- World War II: 31
Long Beach, Mississippi, is home to. Construction of military materials began in the area in World War II. The city is also, which are on display.
Missouri: Warrensburg
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 15,816
Estimated total veterans: 1,938 (12.3% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 884
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 550
- Vietnam War: 373
- Korean War: 94
- World War II: 133
is 10 miles east of Warrensburg, Missouri. The base in western Missouri has.
Montana: Great Falls
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 45,492
Estimated total veterans: 6,510 (14.3% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 1,798
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 1,498
- Vietnam War: 1,930
- Korean War: 656
- World War II: 276
Located in Cascade County, Great Falls, Montana, is home to. The base.
Nebraska: Bellevue
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 38,729
Estimated total veterans: 6,982 (18.0% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 2,296
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 2,798
- Vietnam War: 2,416
- Korean War: 488
- World War II: 146
employs more than 12,000 people near Bellevue, Nebraska. The nearby town of 38,729 people sits on the state’s northeast border with Iowa.
Nevada: Pahrump
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 30,019
Estimated total veterans: 5,439 (18.1% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 335
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 641
- Vietnam War: 2,479
- Korean War: 796
- World War II: 199
Veterans represent nearly a fifth of the population in Pahrump, Nevada. The majority of veterans living in Pahrump served in the Vietnam War. The city is 63 miles west of Las Vegas and sits along the state’s border with California.
New Hampshire: Rochester
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 24,244
Estimated total veterans: 3,301 (13.6% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 669
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 619
- Vietnam War: 1,182
- Korean War: 339
- World War II: 119
The largest population of military veterans in New Hampshire live in Rochester, located in the southeast part of the state. The city, which is a regional hiking area, is home to many veterans who served in the Vietnam War.
New Jersey: Holiday City-Berkeley
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 11,774
Estimated total veterans: 2,289 (19.4% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 63
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 75
- Vietnam War: 627
- Korean War: 616
- World War II: 450
Holiday City-Berkeley, New Jersey, is a small city in the eastern part of the state and just several miles from the Atlantic Ocean. The city is near, which serves multiple U.S. military branches.
New Mexico: Alamogordo
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 23,102
Estimated total veterans: 4,678 (20.2% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 1,045
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 1,380
- Vietnam War: 2,005
- Korean War: 373
- World War II: 102
Alamogordo, New Mexico, is historically tied to the U.S. missile tests that would eventually lead to the atomic bomb. The nearby commemorates the world’s first atomic bomb detonation, and the.
New York: Watertown
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 19,357
Estimated total veterans: 2,455 (12.7% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 1,058
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 479
- Vietnam War: 445
- Korean War: 189
- World War II: 156
Located just a few miles from Fort Drum, Watertown has a population just north of 25,000 people, and claims to be the birthplace of the safety pin. A large portion of its citizens fought in the Gulf Wars, with over 1,500 vets from those two wars alone living in Watertown.
North Carolina: Havelock
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 10,153
Estimated total veterans: 2,762 (27.2% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 1,704
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 954
- Vietnam War: 644
- Korean War: 95
- World War II: 8
Havelock, North Carolina, is home to. The Marine base was opened in World War II. Today, a large population of Gulf War veterans live in Havelock.
North Dakota: Minot
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 35,668
Estimated total veterans: 4,336 (12.2% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 1,613
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 1,194
- Vietnam War: 901
- Korean War: 356
- World War II: 95
sits 13 miles north of Minot in North Dakota, near the United States-Canada border. Nearly work on the base.
Ohio: Beavercreek
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 35,888
Estimated total veterans: 6,006 (16.7% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 2,155
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 2,383
- Vietnam War: 1,937
- Korean War: 437
- World War II: 154
Beavercreek, Ohio, is about nine miles south of. The base, located in the western part of the state, has.
Oklahoma: Lawton
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 64,724
Estimated total veterans: 12,146 (18.8% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 5,062
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 4,107
- Vietnam War: 3,520
- Korean War: 721
- World War II: 301
Near Lawton, Oklahoma, is, an army base for training soldiers. Lawton is home to more than 12,000 military veterans, 5,000 of whom served in the second Gulf War.
Oregon: Roseburg
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 17,748
Estimated total veterans: 2,898 (16.3% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 561
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 582
- Vietnam War: 903
- Korean War: 377
- World War II: 198
Situated near the Pacific Ocean on the western edge of Oregon is Roseburg, which has a veteran population of 2,898. The city is home to the which serves veterans and was established in 1897.
Pennsylvania: Hermitage
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 13,225
Estimated total veterans: 1,698 (12.8% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 121
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 211
- Vietnam War: 538
- Korean War: 170
- World War II: 274
Hermitage, Pennsylvania, is a city on the western side of the state, near the Ohio border. The nearby is a flood control project run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Rhode Island: Newport
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 19,185
Estimated total veterans: 1,965 (10.2% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 471
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 376
- Vietnam War: 675
- Korean War: 242
- World War II: 33
The U.S. Navy base is set in the Rhode Island city of Newport. Besides the Navy, the base also serves the Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Army Reserve. The Navy remains a major economic driver for Rhode Island.
South Carolina: Goose Creek
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 27,523
Estimated total veterans: 4,905 (17.8% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 1,833
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 1,809
- Vietnam War: 1,521
- Korean War: 244
- World War II: 69
Goose Creek is a small city north of Charleston, South Carolina. The city is near, which has a force of more than 90,000 service members from various branches.
South Dakota: Rapid City
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 54,837
Estimated total veterans: 7,574 (13.8% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 1,725
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 2,067
- Vietnam War: 2,478
- Korean War: 851
- World War II: 355
Just east of Rapid City, South Dakota, is, which was established to support the country’s World War II efforts. The base is near the of South Dakota.
Tennessee: Clarksville
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 95,060
Estimated total veterans: 19,571 (20.6% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 9,468
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 7,639
- Vietnam War: 4,298
- Korean War: 425
- World War II: 54
The residents of Clarksville, Tennessee, live near, an Army base along the Tennessee-Kentucky border. The base houses an air division of the Army and was built in 1941. More than 20% of the Clarksville residents are veterans.
Texas: Killeen
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 86,995
Estimated total veterans: 25,544 (29.4% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 15,872
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 11,495
- Vietnam War: 3,710
- Korean War: 371
- World War II: 236
Killeen, Texas, is known for being the location of, which rests on the north side of the city. Fort Hood is the only base big enough to hold and train two Armored Divisions. Nearly a third of the people living in Killeen are veterans, the majority of whom served in one of the two Gulf Wars.
Utah: Clearfield
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 19,522
Estimated total veterans: 2,324 (11.9% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 909
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 746
- Vietnam War: 585
- Korean War: 82
- World War II: 34
neighbors the city of Clearfield in northern Utah. This is the second-largest Air Force base in the country and provides $3 billion annually in economic impact to the state.
Vermont: Rutland
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 12,987
Estimated total veterans: 1,040 (8.0% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 85
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 63
- Vietnam War: 349
- Korean War: 139
- World War II: 135
Rutland, Vermont, is a small city in central Vermont. The area is known for its and local skiing slopes.
Virginia: Montclair
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 14,379
Estimated total veterans: 2,888 (20.1% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 883
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 1,427
- Vietnam War: 947
- Korean War: 109
- World War II: 26
Montclair, Virginia, is home to, an army base built on a former Virginia plantation. Montclair is near Prince William Forest Park and the Potomac River.
Washington: Oak Harbor
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 14,583
Estimated total veterans: 3,745 (25.7% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 1,934
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 1,341
- Vietnam War: 775
- Korean War: 228
- World War II: 145
is located near Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island. The leading naval base of the Northwest boasts the
West Virginia: Weirton
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 15,941
Estimated total veterans: 1,799 (11.3% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 167
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 275
- Vietnam War: 501
- Korean War: 220
- World War II: 207
Weirton, West Virginia, is located in the northern tip of the state, near the Pennsylvania border. Many veterans living in the city served in the Vietnam War.
Wisconsin: Chippewa Falls
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 10,825
Estimated total veterans: 1,371 (12.7% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 265
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 218
- Vietnam War: 390
- Korean War: 152
- World War II: 139
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, is located near Lake Wisconsin in the northern part of the state. The city is home to the
Wyoming: Cheyenne
Estimated civilian population 18+ years: 47,090
Estimated total veterans: 6,862 (14.6% of civilian population)
- Gulf War II (Sep '01 or later): 2,113
- Gulf War I (Aug '90 - Aug '01): 2,498
- Vietnam War: 2,047
- Korean War: 449
- World War II: 188
Cheyenne, Wyoming, is home to the, which is the oldest active Air Force base. Many of the veterans living in Cheyenne served in one of the Gulf Wars.