These 10 States Are Dinosaur Gold Mines

Dinosaur fossils have been found on all of Earth’s seven continents, and 51 countries have named dinosaur species. However, due to their varied geography and sheer size, the most dinosaur fossils have been found in China and the United States. Paleontologists have found dinosaur fossils in almost every U.S. state. But which state is home to the most dinosaur fossils?

10. Virginia

In Virginia, 280 fossils have been found. Most are prehistoric birds from the Late Pleistocene Age (126,000 to 11,700 years ago), like the Miocephhus mcclungi. Virginia is also home to dinosaur footprints and bones from prehistoric sharks, whales, and mastodons.

9. Massachusetts

There have been 319 fossils found in Massachusetts, and nearly all are from the Hettangian age (201 to 199 million years ago) – so quite a bit older than our feathered friends from Virginia. Massachusetts was also home to the first dinosaur tracks ever found, in South Hadley.

8. Texas

Nearly 500 - 496, to be exact - fossils have been found in Texas, with 128 of them being from the Middle Campanian Age (83.6 to 72.1 million years ago). The most common species of fossils in Texas, Richardoestesia gilmorei, are the serrated teeth of a bipedal carnivorous dinosaur that would have roamed the Earth around 75 million years ago.

7. Colorado

In Colorado, 583 fossils have been discovered, 150 of which are from the Kimmeridgian Age (157 to 152 million years ago). The most common species of dinosaur found in Colorado, the Cretaceous-era herbivore Hadrosauropodus leonardii, is actually identified by its footprints, not its bones.

6. Utah

The Beehive State has been home to 776 discovered fossils, many of which date back to the Pliensbachian Age (190 to 183 million years ago). The most common fossil in Utah is not found anywhere else on the planet; a dozen duck-billed Eolambia caroljonesa fossils have been found in Utah and nowhere else!

5. Florida

There have been 894 fossils found in Florida, with 393 dating to the Pleistocene Age (126,000 to 11,700 years ago). The most common prehistoric fossil found in Florida is the pied-billed grebe, a bird that still exists to this day!

4. New Mexico

A whopping 935 fossils have been found in New Mexico, most of which date to the Late Campanian Age (76 to 74 million years ago). New Mexico is home to some of the classic favorites like the Triceratops and Alamosaurus, the largest known dinosaur found in North America.

3. Montana

Barely surpassing New Mexico, 939 fossils have been found in Montana. Many of Montana’s fossils are from the Lancian Age (71 to 66 million years ago). Montana claims over 80 unique species - the most of any other U.S. state.

2. Wyoming

In second place, 1,135 fossils have been found in the Cowboy State. Wyoming houses some seriously old fossils, with 360 coming from the Kimmeridgian Age (157 to 152 million years ago). Some of the most recognizable dinosaur species have been found in Wyoming, including Stegosaurus, Triceratops, and everyone’s favorite: Tyrannosaurus Rex.

1. California

California lays claim to the most fossils of any US state with 1,992. A plurality of them, 752, come from the Late Pleistocene Age (126,000 to 11,700 years ago). Like Florida and Virginia, most of the fossils found in California are birds and not what we typically think of as dinosaurs. Some of the most common fossils found in California are ducks, puffins, and geese – many of which still exist today!

References: Where Dinosaurs Roamed | The States With the Most Dinosaur Discoveries