There are people who are proud to be American, and then there are cities that bust out the red, white, and blue like it's nobody's business.
To celebrate the Fourth of July, we found the most patriotic cities in the US.
We based this list of several criteria, including the percentage of people who are veterans — according to the 2012 American Community Survey— and the percentage of residents 18 and over who voted in the 2012 presidential election. Personal finance site Wallet Hub releases an annual ranking of the best places to celebrate the Fourth, which we also considered.
Melissa Stanger contributed reporting to a previous version of this article.
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Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia is for lovers, veterans, and government employees — with more than 150,000 people working for the government in some capacity. On the national holiday, residents of Virginia Beach head to the shoreline to enjoy a concert from the Quantico Marine Corps Band's Concert Band and Rock Band, food, and fireworks.
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis bills its annual Fourth of July festivities as "America's Biggest Birthday Party"— and it's only a slight exaggeration. Forest Park, the grounds that once hosted the 1905 World Fair, host a music festival — which this year features Akon, 3 Doors Down, and country superstar Jake Owen — as well as fireworks displays and air shows.
Omaha, Nebraska
Fireworks enthusiasts flock to Omaha each year for the seven fireworks displays spread between July 1 and 4. This year, the largest city in Nebraska hosts Kool & the Gang for its concert and fireworks spectacular at Memorial Park. Locals can also catch a historical reenactment at the 19th-century military fort or partake in patriotic-themed activities at the Omaha Children's Museum.
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