Samuel Willard Crompton is a native of Massachusetts who has visited about 30 of the 50 states. During a break from his literary endeavors he took a 30-day train trip around the entire perimeter of the country, and he's never been the same since. Some of the highlights were the Four Mile Bridge at Astoria and Cut Bank, Montana. Crompton is the author or editor of many books, including The Illustrated Atlas of Native American History and Visible Ink Press' The Handy Civil War Answer Book. He is a specialist in the French and Indian Wars and has served as a talking head for the Military Channel on its First Command program. Crompton teaches history at Holyoke Community College in Massachusetts, where he has seen his students move from the analog to digital ages.

“This accessible book covers interesting trivia for each state. Information includes the state’s early history, settlement details, and contemporary history. What sets this apart from a typical state-facts resource is the browsable nature of the Q&A format ...” —Booklist“Rather than just dry facts and mundane historical information, the author includes questions to pique the reader’s interest … Consider this an important addition that should be added to libraries as a source for credible information, but also suggested for readers that have an interest in our country’s structure by state.” —VOYA“... builds an appreciation for how all fifty states are alike while pointing out how each is different and how the differences enrich us as a nation.” —Children's Literature“... the perfect book to browse ...” —Bookworm Sez“… answers questions about each state's signs and symbols, size, weather, unique characteristics, people, events, and history, settlement, and colonization, as well as providing information on its nickname, capital, and date of statehood.” —Book News