Veterans United is the nation’s largest VA lender. Its top 10 list showcases the metros that are committed to their veteran communities and the democratic process – two of the most patriotic qualities an American can demonstrate, company officials said today in a news release.
“The markets we’ve highlighted as the top patriotic cities in the U.S. stand out for the support they provide veterans on a daily basis as well as for their community’s strong commitment to the democratic process,” Chris Birk, vice president of mortgage insight at Columbia, Missouri-based Veterans United, said. “These are truly special places to live that showcase the best of what our nation offers, not just to the broader community but especially to the veterans and service members who’ve served and sacrificed to safeguard our freedoms.”
The most patriotic cities were identified based on veteran population, the presence of VA health facilities and veteran-owned businesses, voter turnout rate and the number of online searches related to Veterans Day.
The top 10 cities/metropolitan statistical areas in rank order are:
- Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin
- Spokane, Washington
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Columbia, South Carolina
- Springfield, Missouri
- Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Pennsylvania/New Jersey
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota/Wisconsin
- Columbus, Georgia/Alabama.
The Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin area ranks first on the patriotic cities list, largely due to its strong veteran population presence, with 17.6% of the population being veterans.
“It’s home to Eglin Air Force Base, one of the largest military bases in the U.S.,” Veterans United officials said in the news release. “The base offers a number of veterans services, such as financial counseling, transition assistance and employment workshops offered by the base’s Airman and Family Readiness Center, making it a good place for veterans to call home.”
Officials also said, “Veteran-owned businesses thrive here, with more than 700 veteran-owned businesses contributing to the area’s economy, according to Census data. The Crestview area scored lower for VA health facilities, which are a bit limited for the large veteran population. The community also turns out in large numbers for local and national elections, with a voter turnout score of 78% in 2020, significantly larger than the 66% national turnout for the 2020 election.
“Additionally, the area hosts the annual Veterans Day parade in Fort Walton Beach, along with a wreath-laying ceremony at Beal Memorial Cemetery, which honors fallen service members and brings the community together in a tribute to their sacrifices.” (Editor’s note: The city of Crestview also has an annual Veterans Day parade and ceremony.)