California is officially one of America’s most haunted states, according to a new study released just in time for Halloween. The Golden State ranks sixth nationwide, earning a haunt score of 69 out of 100.
But California actually holds more spooky records than any other state, including the highest number of reportedly haunted locations, UFO reports, abandoned asylums, and creepy place names.
The ranking comes from Answer Socrates, a search-data company that analyzed paranormal reports, historical records, and Google search trends across all 50 states.
California has more than 1,000 reportedly haunted places
California has 1,070 reportedly haunted locations, the most of any state in the U.S. Los Angeles leads the way with 61, followed by San Diego and San Francisco, which each have 27.
The state also has 7,312 reported ghost sightings, the second-highest total in the country.
More UFO sightings than any other state
The Golden State also leads the country with 11,472 reported UFO sightings. Plus, it ranks second for Bigfoot reports with 417 total.
California is also home to around 1,300 ghost towns, the second-highest number in the country.
From abandoned asylums to bloody place names
California has 52 closed asylums and sanatoriums, more than any other state. Some examples include the former Camarillo State Hospital and Ahwahnee Sanatorium.
It also has 440 spooky place names which is another national record. Some of the creepiest include Bloody Island, Bloody Camp, and Bloody Nose Creek.
Is California really that haunted?
Despite all these spooky records, Californians don’t seem particularly obsessed with the paranormal. The state ranks 46th for Google searches related to ghosts, cryptids, and haunted houses.
Maybe residents of the Golden State are more focused on watching scary movies than experiencing a haunting in real life!
