Shifting Winds

By now it's axiomatic that book superstores are in practically every cranny of America. B&N and Borders have provided more bookselling space—and conducted more research—than any bookseller in history. Where there's a store, there are good reasons for it. And where there isn't, there's a good reason, too.

With this in mind, we analyzed Borders and B&N stores per capita, measuring the bookselling climate.

We found plenty of surprises. Book retailing is actually strongest in the Southwest. New Jersey, Florida and much of New England are healthy, but some places along the Eastern seaboard aren't raining books. Maine's sparse. And one of the drier spots? New York—26 states have a better record.

1) Montana (1 store per 129,000 people)

2) Colorado (1:153,000)

3) New Hampshire (1:154,000)

4) Utah (1:159,000)

5) Hawaii (1:173,000)

46) Alabama (1:634,000)

47) Louisiana (1:637,000)

48) Arkansas (1:667,000)

49) Mississippi (1:946,000)

50) West Virginia (1:1,800,000)