1997 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament
First and second rounds
Table:
Region

Rnd

Host

Venue

City

State

East

1&2

University of North Carolina

Carmichael Auditorium

Chapel Hill

North Carolina

East

1&2

University of Texas

Frank Erwin Center

Austin

Texas

East

1&2

University of Alabama

Coleman Coliseum

Tuscaloosa

Alabama

East

1&2

George Washington University

Charles E. Smith Athletic Center

Washington

District of Columbia

Mideast

1&2

Louisiana State University

LSU Assembly Center (Pete Maravich Assembly Center)

Baton Rouge

Louisiana

Mideast

1&2

Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University Fieldhouse

Norfolk

Virginia

Mideast

1&2

Louisiana Tech University

Thomas Assembly Center

Ruston

Louisiana

Mideast

1&2

University of Florida

O'Connell Center

Gainesville

Florida

Midwest

1&2

University of Tennessee

Thompson–Boling Arena

Knoxville

Tennessee

Midwest

1&2

University of Colorado

CU Events Center (Coors Events Center)

Boulder

Colorado

Midwest

1&2

University of Connecticut

Harry A. Gampel Pavilion

Storrs

Connecticut

Midwest

1&2

University of Illinois

Assembly Hall (Champaign)

Champaign

Illinois

West

1&2

University of Georgia

Georgia Coliseum (Stegeman Coliseum)

Athens

Georgia

West

1&2

University of Virginia

University Hall (University of Virginia)

Charlottesville

Virginia

West

1&2

Stanford University

Maples Pavilion

Stanford

California

West

1&2

University of Kansas

Allen Field House

Lawrence

Kansas

Drawing on the following table as well as the article excerpts provided at the end.

Provide an answer to this question: Which parish is Thomas Assembly Center located in ? Respond with the correct answer (omit explanations) in JSON format as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Avoid adding external knowledge.

The University of North Carolina is a multi-campus public university system composed of all 16 of North Carolina 's public universities , as well as the NC School of Science and Mathematics , the nation 's first public residential high school for gifted students . Commonly referred to as the University of North Carolina System or the UNC System to differentiate it from the original campus in Chapel Hill , the university has a total enrollment of over 239,987 students [ when ? ] and in 2008 conferred over 75% of all baccalaureate degrees in North Carolina . UNC campuses conferred 43,686 degrees in 2008-2009 , the bulk of which were at the bachelor 's level , with 31,055 degrees awarded .
William Donald Carmichael , Jr . Arena is a multi-purpose arena in on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill , North Carolina , United States . It is home to four Tar Heels athletic teams : women 's basketball , women 's volleyball , women 's gymnastics , and wrestling . The arena opened in 1965 as Carmichael Auditorium and is named for William Donald Carmichael , Jr. , a popular former school vice-president and brother of All-America basketball player Cartwright Carmichael . Although it was apparent by the early 1960s that the men 's basketball team needed a new home to replace 27-year-old Woollen Gymnasium , the state refused to fund a completely new arena . As a result , Carmichael was built as an annex to Woollen ; it shares the older facility 's eastern wall . It originally seated just over 8,800 people , but expansions over the years brought its final capacity to 10,180 by the time the men left for the Dean Smith Center in 1986 . In 1976 , the capacity was increased from 8,800 to 10,000 . In their last game at Carmichael , the North Carolina Tar Heels beat the North Carolina State Wolfpack 90-79 , to finish with a record of 169-20 at Carmichael . After a remodeling project completed in 2009 , capacity is 8,010 . Carmichael was known as one of the loudest arenas in the country while the Tar Heel men played there , largely because of a low roof and a student section that ringed the court . During a 1982 game against the Virginia Cavaliers , it was so loud that the Virginia players could not even hear their own names being announced prior to the start of the game .
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange , Chatham , and Durham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina . Its population was 57,233 in the 2010 census , making Chapel Hill the 15th-largest city in the state . Chapel Hill , Durham , and the state capital , Raleigh , make up the corners of the Research Triangle ( officially the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill combined statistical area ) , with a total population of 1,998,808 . The town was founded in 1793 and is centered on Franklin Street , covering 21.3 square miles ( 55 km2 ) . It contains several districts and buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care are a major part of the economy and town influence . Local artists have created many murals .
North Carolina ( /ˌkærəˈlaɪnə/ ( listen ) ) is a U.S. state located in the southeastern region of the United States . North Carolina is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the 50 United States . It is bordered by Virginia to the north , the Atlantic Ocean to the east , Georgia and South Carolina to the south , and Tennessee to the west . Raleigh is the state 's capital and Charlotte is its largest city . The Charlotte metropolitan area , with an estimated population of 2,569,213 in 2018 , is the most populous metropolitan area in North Carolina , the 23rd-most populous in the United States , and the largest banking center in the nation after New York City . The Raleigh metropolitan area is the second-largest metropolitan area in the state , with an estimated population of 1,362,540 in 2018 , and is home to the largest research park in the United States , Research Triangle Park . North Carolina was established as a royal colony in 1729 and is one of the original Thirteen Colonies . North Carolina is named in honor of King Charles I of England who first formed the English colony , with Carolus being Latin for Charles . On November 21 , 1789 , North Carolina became the 12th state to ratify the United States Constitution . In the run-up to the American Civil War , North Carolina declared its secession from the Union on May 20 , 1861 , becoming the last of eleven states to join the Confederate States . Following the Civil War , the state was restored to the Union on June 25 , 1868 . On December 17 , 1903 , Orville and Wilbur Wright successfully piloted the world 's first controlled , sustained flight of a powered , heavier-than-air aircraft at Kill Devil Hills in North Carolina 's Outer Banks .
The University of Texas at Austin ( UT Austin ) is a public research university in Austin , Texas . It was founded in 1883 and is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System . The University of Texas was inducted into the Association of American Universities in 1929 , becoming only the third university in the American South to be elected . The institution has the nation 's eighth-largest single-campus enrollment , with over 50,000 undergraduate and graduate students and over 24,000 faculty and staff . A Public Ivy , it is a major center for academic research , with research expenditures exceeding $ 615 million for the 2016-2017 school year . The university houses seven museums and seventeen libraries , including the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum and the Blanton Museum of Art , and operates various auxiliary research facilities , such as the J. J. Pickle Research Campus and the McDonald Observatory . Among university faculty are recipients of the Nobel Prize , the Pulitzer Prize , the Wolf Prize , the Primetime Emmy Award , the Abel Prize , the Turing Award , and the National Medal of Science , as well as many other awards . As of October 2019 , 12 Nobel Prize winners , two Turing Award winners and two Fields medalists have been affiliated with the school as alumni , faculty members or researchers . Student athletes compete as the Texas Longhorns and are members of the Big 12 Conference . Its Longhorn Network is the only sports network featuring the college sports of a single university . The Longhorns have won four NCAA Division I National Football Championships , six NCAA Division I National Baseball Championships , thirteen NCAA Division I National Men 's Swimming and Diving Championships , and has claimed more titles in men 's and women 's sports than any other school in the Big 12 since the league was founded in 1996 .
The Frank C. Erwin Jr. Center ( commonly known as Frank Erwin Center or UT Erwin Center and originally Special Events Center ) is a multi-purpose arena located on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin in Austin , Texas . It is also sometimes referred to as The Drum or The Superdrum , owing to its round , drum-like appearance from outside ( not to be confused with Big Bertha , the large bass drum used by the University of Texas marching band ) . The multi-purpose facility hosts entertainment events and is the home court for the UT men 's and women 's basketball programs . The Erwin Center is located at the southeastern corner of the UT central campus and is bounded on the east by Interstate 35 .
Austin ( UK : /ˈɒstɪn , ˈɔːstɪn/ , US : /ˈɔːstən/ ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas , as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County , with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties . It is the 11th-most populous city in the United States , the fourth-most-populous city in Texas , and the second-most-populous state capital city ( after Phoenix , Arizona ) . It is also the fastest growing large city in the United States and the southernmost state capital in the contiguous United States . As of the U.S. Census Bureau 's July 1 , 2018 estimate , Austin had a population of 964,254 , up from 790,491 at the 2010 census . The city is the cultural and economic center of the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan statistical area , which had an estimated population of 2,168,316 as of July 1 , 2018 [ update ] . Located in Central Texas within the greater Texas Hill Country , it is home to numerous lakes , rivers , and waterways , including Lady Bird Lake and Lake Travis on the Colorado River , Barton Springs , McKinney Falls , and Lake Walter E. Long . U.S. News & World Report named Austin the No . 1 place to live in the U.S. for 2017 and 2018 . In 2016 , Forbes ranked Austin No . 1 on its Cities of the Future list , then in 2017 placed the city at that same position on its list for the Next Biggest Boom Town in the U.S. Also in 2017 , Forbes awarded the South River City neighborhood of Austin its # 2 ranking for Best Cities and Neighborhoods for Millennials . WalletHub named Austin the # 6 best place in the country to live for 2017 . The FBI ranked Austin as the # 2 safest major city in the U.S. for 2012 .
Texas ( /ˈtɛksəs/ , locally /ˈtɛksɪz/ ; Spanish : Texas or Tejas , pronounced [ ˈtexas ] ( listen ) ) is the second largest state in the United States by area ( after Alaska ) and population ( after California ) . Located in the South Central region , Texas shares borders with the states of Louisiana to the east , Arkansas to the northeast , Oklahoma to the north , New Mexico to the west , and the Mexican states of Chihuahua , Coahuila , Nuevo León , and Tamaulipas to the southwest , and has a coastline with the Gulf of Mexico to the southeast . Houston is the most populous city in Texas and the fourth largest in the U.S. , while San Antonio is the second-most populous in the state and seventh largest in the U.S. Dallas-Fort Worth and Greater Houston are the fourth and fifth largest metropolitan statistical areas in the country , respectively . Other major cities include Austin , the second-most populous state capital in the U.S. , and El Paso . Texas is nicknamed the Lone Star State for its former status as an independent republic , and as a reminder of the state 's struggle for independence from Mexico . The Lone Star can be found on the Texas state flag and on the Texas state seal . The origin of Texas 's name is from the word taysha , which means friends in the Caddo language . Due to its size and geologic features such as the Balcones Fault , Texas contains diverse landscapes common to both the U.S. Southern and Southwestern regions . Although Texas is popularly associated with the U.S. southwestern deserts , less than 10% of Texas 's land area is desert . Most of the population centers are in areas of former prairies , grasslands , forests , and the coastline . Traveling from east to west , one can observe terrain that ranges from coastal swamps and piney woods , to rolling plains and rugged hills , and finally the desert and mountains of the Big Bend . The term six flags over Texas [ note 1 ] refers to several nations that have ruled over the territory .
The University of Alabama ( Alabama or UA ) is a public research university in Tuscaloosa , Alabama . Established in 1820 , the University of Alabama is the oldest and largest of the public universities in Alabama as well as the flagship of the University of Alabama System . The university offers programs of study in 13 academic divisions leading to bachelor 's , master 's , education specialist , and doctoral degrees . The only publicly supported law school in the state is at UA . Other academic programs unavailable elsewhere in Alabama include doctoral programs in anthropology , communication and information sciences , metallurgical engineering , music , Romance languages , and social work . As one of the first public universities established in the early 19th century southwestern frontier of the United States , the University of Alabama has left a cultural imprint on the state , region and nation over the past two centuries . The school was a center of activity during the American Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement . The University of Alabama varsity football program ( nicknamed the Crimson Tide ) , which was inaugurated in 1892 , ranks as one of the ten most winningest programs in US history . In a 1913 speech then-president George H. Denny extolled the university as the capstone of the public school system in the state [ of Alabama ] , lending the university its current nickname , The Capstone . In addition , The University of Alabama has produced a total of 56 Goldwater Scholars , 15 Rhodes Scholars , 16 Truman Scholars , 33 Hollings Scholars and 11 Boren Scholars .
Coleman Coliseum is a 15,383-seat multi-purpose arena in Tuscaloosa , Alabama , on the campus of the University of Alabama . It is the current home of the Alabama Crimson Tide men 's and women 's basketball and women 's gymnastics teams , and previously served as the home of the women 's volleyball program . Opened in 1968 as Memorial Coliseum as a replacement for Foster Auditorium ( the current name was adopted in 1988 ) , the coliseum is located at the center of the University of Alabama 's athletic complex , which also includes Sewell-Thomas Stadium , Sam Bailey Track & Field Stadium , the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility , the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility and the football building and practice fields . In addition to its primary duties as an athletic facility , the coliseum has on numerous occasions served as a venue for artistic performances , musical concerts , and presidential appearances .
Tuscaloosa ( /tʌskəˈluːsə/ TUS-kə-LOO-sə ) is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama ( in the southeastern United States ) . Located on the Black Warrior River at the Atlantic Seaboard fall line of the Piedmont , it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama , with an estimated population of 100,287 in 2017 . The city was originally known as Tuskaloosa until the early 20th century . Incorporated as a town on December 13 , 1819 , it was named after Tuskaloosa , the chief of a band of Muskogean-speaking people . They battled and were defeated by forces of Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in 1540 in the Battle of Mabila , thought to have been located in what is now central Alabama . Tuscaloosa served as Alabama 's capital city from 1826 to 1846 . Tuscaloosa is the regional center of industry , commerce , healthcare , and education for the area of west-central Alabama known as West Alabama . It is the principal city of the Tuscaloosa Metropolitan Statistical Area , which includes Tuscaloosa , Hale and Pickens counties . In 2013 its estimated metro population was 235,628 . Tuscaloosa is also the home of The University of Alabama , Stillman College and Shelton State Community College . While the city attracted international attention when Mercedes-Benz announced it would build its first automotive assembly plant in North America in Tuscaloosa County , the University of Alabama remains the dominant economic and cultural engine in the city , making it a college town . Tuscaloosa has been traditionally known as the Druid City because of the numerous water oaks planted in its downtown streets since the 1840s .
Alabama ( /ˌæləˈbæmə/ ) is a state in the southeastern region of the United States . It is bordered by Tennessee to the north , Georgia to the east , Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south , and Mississippi to the west . Alabama is the 30th largest by area and the 24th-most populous of the U.S. states . With a total of 1,500 miles ( 2,400 km ) of inland waterways , Alabama has among the most of any state . Alabama is nicknamed the Yellowhammer State , after the state bird . Alabama is also known as the Heart of Dixie and the Cotton State . The state tree is the longleaf pine , and the state flower is the camellia . Alabama 's capital is Montgomery . The largest city by population is Birmingham , which has long been the most industrialized city ; the largest city by land area is Huntsville . The oldest city is Mobile , founded by French colonists in 1702 as the capital of French Louisiana . The Greater Birmingham metropolitan area is Alabama 's most populous urban area . From the American Civil War until World War II , Alabama , like many states in the southern U.S. , suffered economic hardship , in part because of its continued dependence on agriculture .
George Washington University ( GW or GWU ) is a private research university in Washington , D.C . It was chartered in 1821 by an act of the United States Congress . The university is organized into 14 colleges and schools , including the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences , the Elliott School of International Affairs , the GW School of Business , the School of Media and Public Affairs , the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration , the GW Law School and the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design . George Washington 's main Foggy Bottom Campus is located in the heart of Washington , D.C. , with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank located on campus and the White House and the U.S. Department of State within blocks of campus . GWU hosts numerous research centers and institutes , including the National Security Archive and the Institute for International Economic Policy . GWU has two satellite campuses : the Mount Vernon Campus , located in D.C. 's Foxhall neighborhood and the Virginia Science and Technology Campus . It is the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia . George Washington , the first President of the United States , advocated the establishment of a national university in the U.S. capital in his first State of the Union address in 1790 and continued to promote this idea throughout his career and until his death . In his will , Washington left shares in the Potomac Company to endow the university . However , due to the company 's financial difficulties , funds were raised independently . On February 9 , 1821 , the university was founded by an Act of Congress , making it one of only five universities in the United States with a Congressional charter . George Washington offers degree programs in seventy-one disciplines , enrolling an average of 11,000 undergraduate and 15,500 post-graduate students from more than 130 countries .
The Charles E. Smith Center is a 5,000-seat multipurpose arena in the United States ' capital , Washington , D.C . It is home to the George Washington University Colonials men 's and women 's basketball teams , as well as the university 's swimming , water polo , gymnastics , and volleyball teams . From 2014 to 2018 , it was the home of the Washington Kastles of World TeamTennis . Smith Center also became the temporary home of the Washington Mystics as they made a run at a WNBA Championship in 2018 . Smith Center is located on the main George Washington campus in Foggy Bottom , on the block bounded by 22nd and 23rd and F and G Streets NW . The arena also has hosted concerts and includes practice courts , a swimming pool , a weight room , and athletic department offices . The building was named for Charles E. Smith , who was a university trustee and Chairman of the Committee on University Development . A $ 43 million update and expansion of the Smith Center began in February 2008 , due in part to a $ 10 million gift from the family of Charles E. Smith . Renovations were finished before the start of the 2010-2011 Basketball season . Improvements include :
Washington , D.C. , ( /ˈwɑːʃɪŋtən ˌdiːˈsiː/ ) formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as D.C. , Washington , or The District , is the capital of the United States . Founded after the American Revolution as the seat of government of the newly independent country , Washington was named after George Washington , the first president of the United States and a Founding Father . As the seat of the United States federal government and several international organizations , Washington is an important world political capital . The city , located on the Potomac River bordering Maryland and Virginia , is one of the most visited cities in the world , with more than 20 million tourists annually . The signing of the Residence Act on July 16 , 1790 , approved the creation of a capital district located along the Potomac River on the country 's East Coast . The U.S. Constitution provided for a federal district under the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress , and the District is therefore not a part of any U.S. state . The states of Maryland and Virginia each donated land to form the federal district , which included the pre-existing settlements of Georgetown and Alexandria . The City of Washington was founded in 1791 to serve as the new national capital . In 1846 , Congress returned the land originally ceded by Virginia , including the city of Alexandria ; in 1871 , it created a single municipal government for the remaining portion of the District . Washington had an estimated population of 702,455 as of July 2018 [ update ] , making it the 20th most populous city in the United States . Commuters from the surrounding Maryland and Virginia suburbs raise the city 's daytime population to more than one million during the workweek . Washington 's metropolitan area , the country 's sixth largest ( including parts of Maryland , Virginia and West Virginia ) , had a 2017 estimated population of 6.2 million residents .
Washington , D.C. , ( /ˈwɑːʃɪŋtən ˌdiːˈsiː/ ) formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as D.C. , Washington , or The District , is the capital of the United States . Founded after the American Revolution as the seat of government of the newly independent country , Washington was named after George Washington , the first president of the United States and a Founding Father . As the seat of the United States federal government and several international organizations , Washington is an important world political capital . The city , located on the Potomac River bordering Maryland and Virginia , is one of the most visited cities in the world , with more than 20 million tourists annually . The signing of the Residence Act on July 16 , 1790 , approved the creation of a capital district located along the Potomac River on the country 's East Coast . The U.S. Constitution provided for a federal district under the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress , and the District is therefore not a part of any U.S. state . The states of Maryland and Virginia each donated land to form the federal district , which included the pre-existing settlements of Georgetown and Alexandria . The City of Washington was founded in 1791 to serve as the new national capital . In 1846 , Congress returned the land originally ceded by Virginia , including the city of Alexandria ; in 1871 , it created a single municipal government for the remaining portion of the District . Washington had an estimated population of 702,455 as of July 2018 [ update ] , making it the 20th most populous city in the United States . Commuters from the surrounding Maryland and Virginia suburbs raise the city 's daytime population to more than one million during the workweek . Washington 's metropolitan area , the country 's sixth largest ( including parts of Maryland , Virginia and West Virginia ) , had a 2017 estimated population of 6.2 million residents .
Louisiana State University ( officially Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College , commonly referred to as LSU ) is a public research university in Baton Rouge , Louisiana . The university was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville , Louisiana , under the name Louisiana State Seminary of Learning & Military Academy . The current LSU main campus was dedicated in 1926 , consists of more than 250 buildings constructed in the style of Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio , and the main campus historic district occupies a 650-acre ( 2.6 km² ) plateau on the banks of the Mississippi River . LSU is the flagship school of the state of Louisiana , as well the flagship institution of the Louisiana State University System , and is the most comprehensive university in Louisiana . In 2017 , the university enrolled over 25,000 undergraduate and over 5,000 graduate students in 14 schools and colleges . Several of LSU 's graduate schools , such as the E. J. Ourso College of Business and the Paul M. Hebert Law Center , have received national recognition in their respective fields of study . Designated as a land-grant , sea-grant and space-grant institution , LSU is also noted for its extensive research facilities , operating some 800 sponsored research projects funded by agencies such as the National Institutes of Health , the National Science Foundation , the National Endowment for the Humanities , and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration . LSU is one of eight universities in the United States with dental , law , veterinary , medical , and Master of Business Administration programs . The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is one of only 30 veterinary schools in the country and the only one in Louisiana . LSU 's athletics department fields teams in 21 varsity sports ( 9 men 's , 12 women 's ) , and is a member of the NCAA ( National Collegiate Athletic Association ) and the SEC ( Southeastern Conference ) . The university is represented by its mascot , Mike the Tiger .
The Pete Maravich Assembly Center is a 13,215-seat multi-purpose arena in Baton Rouge , Louisiana . The arena opened in 1972 . It is home to the Louisiana State University Tigers and Lady Tigers basketball teams , the LSU Tigers women 's gymnastics team and the LSU Tigers women 's volleyball team . It was originally known as the LSU Assembly Center , but was renamed in honor of Pete Maravich , a Tiger basketball legend , shortly after his death in 1988 . Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer signed an act to rename the building in Maravich 's honor ( under Louisiana law , no LSU or state owned building may be named after a living person ) . Maravich never played in the arena as a collegian but played in it as a member of the Atlanta Hawks in a preseason game . But his exploits while at LSU led the University to build a larger home for the basketball team , which languished for decades in the shadow of the school 's football program . The Maravich Center is known to locals as The PMAC or Pete 's Palace , or by its more nationally known nickname , The Deaf Dome , coined by Dick Vitale . The Maravich Center 's neighbor , Tiger Stadium is known as Death Valley . The slightly oval building is located directly to the north of Tiger Stadium , and its bright-white roof can be seen in many telecasts of that stadium . The arena concourse is divided into four quadrants : Pete Maravich Pass , The Walk of Champions , Heroes Hall and Midway of Memories . The quadrants highlight former LSU Tiger athletes , individual and team awards and memorabilia pertaining to the history of LSU basketball , gymnastics and volleyball .
Baton Rouge ( /ˌbætən ˈruːʒ/ BAT-ən ROOZH ; from French , meaning 'red stick ' ) is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana . Located on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River , it is the parish seat of East Baton Rouge Parish , the most populous parish in Louisiana . It is the 99th most populous city in the United States , and second-largest city in Louisiana after New Orleans . It is also the 16th most populous state capital . As of the U.S. Census Bureau 's July 2018 estimate , Baton Rouge had a population of 221,599 , down from 229,493 at the 2010 census . Baton Rouge is the center of Greater Baton Rouge , the second-largest metropolitan area in Louisiana , with a population of 834,159 as of 2017 , up from 802,484 in 2010 and 829,719 in 2015 . The city of Baton Rouge is a major industrial , petrochemical , medical , research , motion picture , and growing technology center of the American South . It is the location of Louisiana State University , the LSU System 's flagship university and the largest institution of higher education in the state . It is also the location of Southern University , the flagship institution of the Southern University System , the only historically black college system in the nation . The Port of Greater Baton Rouge is the 10th-largest in the United States in terms of tonnage shipped , and is the farthest upstream Mississippi River port capable of handling Panamax ships . This , as well as its status as a major port city , is largely due to the Huey P. Long - O.K . Allen Bridge , which was intentionally constructed under the governorship of Huey Long at a low height , preventing big tankers from making their way up-river , past Baton Rouge .
Louisiana ( /luˌiːziˈænə/ ( listen ) , /ˌluːzi-/ ( listen ) ) [ a ] is a state in the Deep South region of the South Central United States . It is the 31st most extensive and the 25th most populous of the 50 United States . Louisiana is bordered by the state of Texas to the west , Arkansas to the north , Mississippi to the east , and the Gulf of Mexico to the south . A large part of its eastern boundary is demarcated by the Mississippi River . Louisiana is the only U.S. state with political subdivisions termed parishes , which are equivalent to counties . The state 's capital is Baton Rouge , and its largest city is New Orleans . Much of the state 's lands were formed from sediment washed down the Mississippi River , leaving enormous deltas and vast areas of coastal marsh and swamp . [ self-published source ] These contain a rich southern biota ; typical examples include birds such as ibis and egrets . There are also many species of tree frogs , and fish such as sturgeon and paddlefish . In more elevated areas , fire is a natural process in the landscape and has produced extensive areas of longleaf pine forest and wet savannas . These support an exceptionally large number of plant species , including many species of terrestrial orchids and carnivorous plants . Louisiana has more Native American tribes than any other southern state , including four that are federally recognized , ten that are state recognized , and four that have not received recognition .
Old Dominion University ( ODU ) is a public research university in Norfolk , Virginia . It was established in 1930 as the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary and is now one of the largest universities in Virginia with an enrollment of 24,176 students for the 2019 academic year . Old Dominion University is also home to over 700 international students from 89 different countries . Its main campus covers over 251 acres ( 1.02 km2 ) straddling the city neighborhoods of Larchmont , Highland Park , and Lambert 's Point , approximately five miles ( 8.0 km ) from Downtown Norfolk . Old Dominion University is classified among Doctoral Universities : Higher Research Activity and provides nearly $ 2 billion annually to the regional economy . The university offers 168 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to over 24,000 students and is one of the nation 's largest providers of online distance learning courses . Old Dominion University has approximately 124,000 alumni in all 50 states and 67 countries . Old Dominion University derives its name from one of Virginia 's state nicknames , The Old Dominion , given to the state by King Charles II of England for remaining loyal to the crown during the English Civil War .
Old Dominion University Fieldhouse was a 5,200-seat multi-purpose arena located on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk , Virginia . Opened in 1970 , it was home to the Old Dominion Monarchs and Lady Monarchs college basketball teams until the 2002-03 season , when the Ted Constant Convocation Center opened . The fieldhouse was demolished in 2006 .
Norfolk ( /ˈnɔːrfʊk/ ( listen ) NOR-fuuk ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States . At the 2010 census , the population was 242,803 ; in 2018 , the population was estimated to be 244,076 making it the second-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Beach and the 91st largest city in the nation . Norfolk is located at the core of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area , named for the large natural harbor of the same name located at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay . It is one of nine cities and seven counties that constitute the Hampton Roads metro area , officially known as the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News , VA-NC MSA . The city is bordered to the west by the Elizabeth River and to the north by the Chesapeake Bay . It also shares land borders with the independent cities of Chesapeake to its south and Virginia Beach to its east . Norfolk is one of the oldest cities in Hampton Roads , and is considered to be the historic , urban , financial , and cultural center of the region . The city has a long history as a strategic military and transportation point . The largest naval base in the world , Naval Station Norfolk , is located in Norfolk along with one of NATO 's two Strategic Command headquarters . The city also has the corporate headquarters of Norfolk Southern Railway , one of North America 's principal Class I railroads , however the company is currently in the process of relocating their headquarters to Atlanta , Georgia . Norfolk is also home to Maersk Line , Limited , which manages the world 's largest fleet of US-flag vessels . As the city is bordered by multiple bodies of water , Norfolk has many miles of riverfront and bayfront property , including beaches on the Chesapeake Bay .
Virginia ( /vərˈdʒɪniə/ ( listen ) ) , officially the Commonwealth of Virginia , is a state in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States located between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains . The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are shaped by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay , which provide habitat for much of its flora and fauna . The capital of the Commonwealth is Richmond ; Virginia Beach is the most populous city , and Fairfax County is the most populous political subdivision . The Commonwealth 's estimated population as of 2018 [ update ] is over 8.5 million . The area 's history begins with several indigenous groups , including the Powhatan . In 1607 the London Company established the Colony of Virginia as the first permanent English colony in the New World . Virginia 's state nickname , the Old Dominion , is a reference to this status . Slave labor and the land acquired from displaced Native American tribes each played a significant role in the colony 's early politics and plantation economy . Virginia was one of the 13 Colonies in the American Revolution . In the American Civil War , Virginia 's Secession Convention resolved to join the Confederacy , and Virginia 's First Wheeling Convention resolved to remain in the Union ; that led to the creation of West Virginia . Although the Commonwealth was under one-party rule for nearly a century following Reconstruction , both major national parties are competitive in modern Virginia . The Virginia General Assembly is the oldest continuous law-making body in the New World .
Louisiana Tech University , colloquially referred to as Louisiana Tech , La . Tech , or simply Tech is a public research university in Ruston , Louisiana . It is a space grant college , member of the Southeastern Universities Research Association , member of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities , and Carnegie Doctoral University with high research activity ( R2 ) . It is a member of the University of Louisiana System . Louisiana Tech conducts research with ongoing projects funded by agencies such as National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA ) , the National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) , the National Science Foundation ( NSF ) , the Department of Defense ( DoD ) , and the Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ) . Louisiana Tech is one of fewer than 50 comprehensive research universities in the nation and the only university in Louisiana to be designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education and Research and a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education and Research by the National Security Agency ( NSA ) and the United States Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) . Also , the FAA named Louisiana Tech to the National Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems . The university is known for its engineering and science programs . Louisiana Tech opened as the Industrial Institute and College of Louisiana in 1894 during the Second Industrial Revolution . The original mission of the college was for the education of students in the arts and sciences for the purpose of developing an industrial economy in post-Reconstruction Louisiana . Four years later in 1898 , the state constitution changed the school 's name to Louisiana Industrial Institute . In 1921 , the college changed its name to Louisiana Polytechnic Institute to reflect its development as a larger institute of technology .
The Samuel M. Thomas Assembly Center is an 8,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Ruston , Louisiana . The arena , named for its benefactor and businessman Samuel M. Thomas , is home to the Division I NCAA Louisiana Tech University Bulldogs ( men ) and Lady Techsters ( women ) basketball teams . The arena also hosts concerts and events . The arena opened in November 1982 just west of Joe Aillet Stadium , and replaced the then-30-year-old Memorial Gymnasium on the corner of Tech Drive and Railroad Avenue . The men 's basketball team hosted the Southland Conference tournament in the TAC in 1985 and 1987 , and four NIT games , one in 1986 , two games in 2002 , and one in 2015 . The women 's team has hosted the first , second and regional rounds of the NCAA Women 's Basketball tournament nineteen times , most recently in 2003 . The TAC also serves as the home of the Louisiana Tech Women 's Volleyball team since the program 's inception in 1987 . NBA greats including Karl Malone , P.J . Brown , Randy White and Paul Millsap have called the Thomas Assembly Center home during their collegiate careers .
Ruston is a small city and the parish seat of Lincoln Parish , Louisiana , United States . It is the largest city in the Eastern Ark-La-Tex region . As of the 2010 United States Census , the population was 21,859 , reflecting an increase of 6.4 percent from the count of 20,546 counted in the 2000 Census . Ruston is near the eastern border of the Ark-La-Tex region and is the home of Louisiana Tech University . Its economy is therefore based on its college population . Ruston hosts the annual Peach Festival . Ruston is the principal city of the Ruston Micropolitan Statistical Area , which includes all of Lincoln Parish .
The University of Florida ( Florida or UF ) is a public land-grant , sea-grant , and space-grant research university in Gainesville , Florida . It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida and traces its origins to 1853 and has operated continuously on its Gainesville campus since September 1906 . The University of Florida is the only member of the Association of American Universities in Florida . The university is classified among R1 : Doctoral Universities - Very high research activity . After the Florida state legislature 's creation of performance standards in 2013 , the Florida Board of Governors designated the University of Florida as one of the three preeminent universities among the twelve universities of the State University System of Florida . For 2020 , U.S. News & World Report ranked Florida as the seventh ( tied ) best public university in the United States . The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools ( SACS ) . It is the third largest Florida university by student population , and is the eighth largest single-campus university in the United States with 54,906 students enrolled for the fall 2018 semester . The University of Florida is home to 16 academic colleges and more than 150 research centers and institutes . It offers multiple graduate professional programs - including business administration , engineering , law , dentistry , medicine , pharmacy and veterinary medicine - on one contiguous campus , and administers 123 master 's degree programs and 76 doctoral degree programs in eighty-seven schools and departments . The university 's seal is also the seal of the state of Florida , which is on the state flag . The University of Florida 's intercollegiate sports teams , commonly known as the Florida Gators , compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) Division I and the Southeastern Conference ( SEC ) .
The Stephen C. O'Connell Center , also known as the O'Dome , is a 10,133-seat multi-purpose arena located on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville , Florida . The facility is named for the sixth president of the university , Stephen C. O'Connell , who served from 1967 to 1973 . The facility is located on the northern side of the university 's campus , between its football field , Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field , and its baseball field , McKethan Stadium . The entire facility was known as the O'Connell Center from 1980 until 2016 . The building underwent a major $ 64.5 million renovation / reconstruction during that year , and Exactech , a Gainesville medical firm , signed a $ 5.9 million , 10-year naming rights deal for the main arena , which was officially renamed the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center .
Gainesville is the county seat of , and the largest city in , Alachua County , Florida , and is both the principal city of the Gainesville , Florida , metropolitan statistical area and the largest city in North Central Florida . In 2018 the US Census Bureau estimated Gainesville 's population at 133,857 , a 7.4% increase from 2010 , and the metropolitan statistical area 's population at 288,212 . Gainesville is home to the University of Florida , the fifth-largest university campus by enrollment in the United States .
Florida ( /ˈflɒrɪdə/ ( listen ) , Spanish pronunciation : [ floˈɾiða ] ) is the southernmost contiguous state in the United States . The state is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico , to the northwest by Alabama , to the north by Georgia , to the east by the Atlantic Ocean , and to the south by the Straits of Florida . Florida is the 22nd-most extensive ( 65,755 sq mi or 170,300 km2 ) , the 3rd-most populous ( 21,477,737 inhabitants ) , and the 8th-most densely populated ( 384.3/sq mi or 148.4/km2 ) of the U.S. states . Jacksonville is the most populous municipality in the state and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States . The Miami metropolitan area is Florida 's most populous urban area , with its capital being Tallahassee . Florida 's $ 1.0 trillion economy is the fourth largest in the United States . If it were a country , Florida would be the 16th largest economy in the world , and the 58th most populous as of 2018 [ update ] . In 2017 , Florida 's per capita personal income was $ 47,684 , ranking 26th in the nation . The unemployment rate in September 2018 was 3.5% and ranked as the 18th in the United States . Florida exports nearly $ 55 billion in goods made in the state , the 8th highest among all states . The Miami Metropolitan Area is by far the largest urban economy in Florida and the 12th largest in the United States with a GDP of $ 345 billion as of 2017 [ update ] . This is more than twice the number of the next metro area , the Tampa Bay Area , which has a GDP of $ 145 billion .
The University of Tennessee ( The University of Tennessee , Knoxville ; UT Knoxville ; UTK ; or UT ) is a public research university in Knoxville , Tennessee . Founded in 1794 , two years before Tennessee became the 16th state , it is the flagship campus of the University of Tennessee system , with ten undergraduate colleges and eleven graduate colleges . It hosts almost 28,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 foreign countries . In its 2020 universities ranking , U.S. News & World Report ranked UT 104th among all national universities and 44th among public institutions of higher learning . Seven of its alumni have been selected as Rhodes Scholars . James M. Buchanan , M.S . '41 , received the 1986 Nobel Prize in Economics . UT 's ties to nearby Oak Ridge National Laboratory , established under UT President Andrew Holt and continued under the UT-Battelle partnership , allow for considerable research opportunities for faculty and students . Also affiliated with the university are the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy , the University of Tennessee Anthropological Research Facility , and the University of Tennessee Arboretum , which occupies 250 acres ( 100 ha ) of nearby Oak Ridge and features hundreds of species of plants indigenous to the region . The university is a direct partner of the University of Tennessee Medical Center , which is one of two Level I trauma centers in East Tennessee . The University of Tennessee is the only university in the nation to have three presidential papers editing projects . The university holds collections of the papers of all three U.S. presidents from Tennessee - Andrew Jackson , James K. Polk , and Andrew Johnson .
Thompson-Boling Arena is a multi-purpose arena on the campus of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville , Tennessee . The arena opened in 1987 . It is home to the Tennessee Volunteers ( men ) and Lady Vols ( women ) basketball teams . Since 2008 , it has been home to the Lady Vols volleyball team . It is named after B. Ray Thompson and former university president Dr. Edward J. Boling . The basketball court is named The Summitt after the late Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt . It replaced the Stokely Athletic Center . The mammoth octagonal building lies just northwest of the Tennessee River , and just southwest of Neyland Stadium . As an echo of its neighbor and a tribute to the brick-and-mortar pattern atop Ayres Hall , the baselines of the court are painted in the familiar orange-and-white checkerboard pattern .
Knoxville is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee , and the county seat of Knox County . As of the 2010 census , the city has a population of 178,874 , and is Tennessee 's third largest city after Nashville and Memphis . Knoxville is the principal city of the Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area , which was 868,546 in 2015 . First settled in 1786 , Knoxville was the first capital of Tennessee . The city struggled with geographic isolation throughout the early 19th century . The arrival of the railroad in 1855 led to an economic boom . During the Civil War , the city was bitterly divided over the secession issue , and was occupied alternately by both Confederate and Union armies . Following the war , Knoxville grew rapidly as a major wholesaling and manufacturing center . The city 's economy stagnated after the 1920s as the manufacturing sector collapsed , the downtown area declined and city leaders became entrenched in highly partisan political fights . Hosting the 1982 World 's Fair helped reinvigorate the city , and revitalization initiatives by city leaders and private developers have had major successes in spurring growth in the city , especially the downtown area . Knoxville is the home of the flagship campus of the University of Tennessee , whose sports teams , the Tennessee Volunteers , are popular in the surrounding area . Knoxville is also home to the headquarters of the Tennessee Valley Authority , the Tennessee Supreme Court 's courthouse for East Tennessee , and the corporate headquarters of several national and regional companies .
Tennessee ( /ˌtɛnəˈsiː/ ( listen ) , locally /ˈtɛnəsi/ ; Cherokee : ᏔᎾᏏ , romanized : Tanasi ) is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States . Tennessee is the 36th largest and the 16th most populous of the 50 United States . Tennessee is bordered by eight states , with Kentucky to the north , Virginia to the northeast , North Carolina to the east , Georgia , Alabama , and Mississippi to the south , Arkansas to the west , and Missouri to the northwest . The Appalachian Mountains dominate the eastern part of the state , and the Mississippi River forms the state 's western border . Nashville is the state 's capital and largest city , with a 2017 population of 667,560 and a 2017 metro population of 1,903,045 . Tennessee 's second largest city is Memphis , which had a population of 652,236 in 2017 . The state of Tennessee is rooted in the Watauga Association , a 1772 frontier pact generally regarded as the first constitutional government west of the Appalachians . What is now Tennessee was initially part of North Carolina , and later part of the Southwest Territory . Tennessee was admitted to the Union as the 16th state on June 1 , 1796 . Tennessee was the last state to leave the Union and join the Confederacy at the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861 . Occupied by Union forces from 1862 , it was the first state to be readmitted to the Union at the end of the war . Tennessee furnished more soldiers for the Confederate Army than any other state besides Virginia , and more soldiers for the Union Army than the rest of the Confederacy combined .
The University of Colorado ( CU ) is a system of public universities in Colorado consisting of four campuses : University of Colorado Boulder , University of Colorado Colorado Springs , University of Colorado Denver in downtown Denver and at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora . It is governed by the elected , nine-member Board of Regents of the University of Colorado .
The CU Events Center is an 11,064-seat multi-purpose arena in the western United States , on the main campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder , Colorado . Opened 40 years ago in 1979 , it is home to the Colorado Buffaloes men 's and women 's basketball teams and women 's volleyball of the Pac-12 Conference . The building is an eight-sided concrete structure , with three levels : arena floor , service level , and the concourse level . Single-tiered inside , it replaced the Balch Fieldhouse , the current home of the indoor track and field team located directly adjacent to Folsom Field . The approximate elevation at street level is 5,370 feet ( 1,640 m ) above sea level .
Boulder ( /ˈboʊldər/ ) is the home rule municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Boulder County , Colorado , United States . It is the state 's 11th-most-populous municipality ; Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 5,430 feet ( 1,655 m ) above sea level . The city is 25 miles ( 40 km ) northwest of Denver . The population of the City of Boulder was 97,385 people at the 2010 U.S. Census , while the population of the Boulder , CO Metropolitan Statistical Area was 294,567 . Boulder is known for its association with gold seekers and for being the home of the main campus of the University of Colorado , the state 's largest university . The city frequently receives high rankings in art , health , well-being , quality of life , and education .
Colorado ( /ˌkɒləˈrædoʊ , -ˈrɑːdoʊ/ ( listen ) , other variants ) is a state of the Western United States encompassing most of the southern Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains . It is the 8th most extensive and 21st most populous U.S. state . The estimated population of Colorado is 5,770,545 as of 2019 , an increase of 14.7% since the 2010 United States Census . The state was named for the Colorado River , which early Spanish explorers named the Río Colorado ( Red River ) for the ruddy silt the river carried from the mountains . The Territory of Colorado was organized on February 28 , 1861 , and on August 1 , 1876 , U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant signed Proclamation 230 admitting Colorado to the Union as the 38th state . Colorado is nicknamed the Centennial State because it became a state one century after the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence . Colorado is bordered by Wyoming to the north , Nebraska to the northeast , Kansas to the east , Oklahoma to the southeast , New Mexico to the south , Utah to the west , and touches Arizona to the southwest at the Four Corners . Colorado is noted for its vivid landscape of mountains , forests , high plains , mesas , canyons , plateaus , rivers and desert lands . Colorado is part of the western and southwestern United States and is one of the Mountain States . Denver is the capital and most populous city of Colorado . Residents of the state are known as Coloradans , although the antiquated term Coloradoan is occasionally used .
The University of Connecticut ( UConn ) is a public land grant , National Sea Grant and National Space Grant research university in Storrs , Connecticut . It was founded in 1881 . The primary 4,400-acre ( 17.8 km2 ) campus is in Storrs , Connecticut , approximately a half hour 's drive from Hartford and 90 minutes from Boston . It is a flagship university that is ranked as tied for the best public national university in New England and is tied for 24th in top public schools and tied for 64th best national university in the 2020 U.S. News & World Report rankings . UConn has been ranked by Money Magazine and Princeton Review top 18th in value . The university is designated R-1 : Doctoral Universities - Highest Research Activity with the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education classifying the student body as More Selective , its most selective admissions category . The university has been recognized as a Public Ivy , defined as a select group of publicly funded universities considered to provide a quality of education comparable to those of the Ivy League . UConn is one of the founding institutions of the Hartford , Connecticut/Springfield , Massachusetts regional economic and cultural partnership alliance known as New England 's Knowledge Corridor . UConn was the second U.S. university invited into Universitas 21 , an elite international network of 24 research-intensive universities , who work together to foster global citizenship . UConn is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges . UConn was founded in 1881 as the Storrs Agricultural School , named after two brothers who donated the land for the school . In 1893 , the school became a land grant college .
Harry A. Gampel Pavilion is a 10,167-seat multi-purpose arena in Storrs , Connecticut , United States , on the campus of the University of Connecticut . The arena opened on January 21 , 1990 , and is the largest on-campus arena in New England . It was named after industrialist and 1943 UConn graduate Harry A. Gampel , a philanthropist who walked with Martin Luther King Jr. , and who donated $ 1 million for the construction of the arena . It is about 216,000 sq ft ( 20,100 m2 ) . Gampel Pavilion is the primary home to the Connecticut Huskies men 's basketball , women 's basketball , and women 's volleyball teams . For most of the time since the late 1990s , the men 's basketball team has played most of their more important games at the XL Center in Hartford . During the 2011-12 season , the men 's basketball team played 11 home games in Hartford and only eight at Gampel . The pavilion is the centerpiece of the UConn Sports Center , which also includes Wolff-Zackin Natatorium .
Storrs is a village and census-designated place ( CDP ) in the town of Mansfield within eastern Tolland County , Connecticut , United States . The population was 15,344 at the 2010 census . It is dominated economically and demographically by the presence of the main campus of the University of Connecticut and the associated Connecticut Repertory Theatre . Storrs was named after Charles and Augustus Storrs , two brothers who founded the University of Connecticut ( originally called the Storrs Agricultural College ) by giving the land ( 170 acres ( 0.69 km2 ) ) and $ 6,000 in 1881 . In the aftermath of September 2005 's Hurricane Katrina , Storrs was named by Slate as America 's Best Place to Avoid Death Due to Natural Disaster .
Connecticut ( /kəˈnɛtɪkət/ ( listen ) ) is the southernmost state in the New England region of the northeastern United States . As of the 2010 Census , it has the highest per-capita income , Human Development Index ( 0.962 ) , and median household income in the United States . It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east , Massachusetts to the north , New York to the west , and Long Island Sound to the south . Its capital is Hartford and its most populous city is Bridgeport . It is part of New England , although portions of it are often grouped with New York and New Jersey as the tri-state area . The state is named for the Connecticut River which approximately bisects the state . The word Connecticut is derived from various anglicized spellings of an Algonquian word for long tidal river . Connecticut 's first European settlers were Dutchmen who established a small , short-lived settlement called Fort Hoop in Hartford at the confluence of the Park and Connecticut Rivers . Half of Connecticut was initially part of the Dutch colony New Netherland , which included much of the land between the Connecticut and Delaware Rivers , although the first major settlements were established in the 1630s by the English . Thomas Hooker led a band of followers from the Massachusetts Bay Colony and founded the Connecticut Colony ; other settlers from Massachusetts founded the Saybrook Colony and the New Haven Colony . The Connecticut and New Haven colonies established documents of Fundamental Orders , considered the first constitutions in America . In 1662 , the three colonies were merged under a royal charter , making Connecticut a crown colony .
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ( U of I , Illinois , UIllinois , or colloquially the University of Illinois or UIUC ) is a public land-grant research university in Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana . It is the flagship institution of the University of Illinois system and was founded in 1867 . The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a member of the Association of American Universities and is classified as a R1 Doctoral Research University under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education , which denotes the highest research activity . In fiscal year 2017 , research expenditures at Illinois totaled $ 642 million . The campus library system possesses the second-largest university library in the United States by holdings after Harvard University . The university also hosts the National Center for Supercomputing Applications ( NCSA ) and is home to the fastest supercomputer on a university campus . The university contains 16 schools and colleges and offers more than 150 undergraduate and over 100 graduate programs of study . The university holds 651 buildings on 6,370 acres ( 2,578 ha ) and its annual operating budget in 2016 was over $ 2 billion . The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign also operates a Research Park home to innovation centers for over 90 start-up companies and multinational corporations , including Abbott , AbbVie , Caterpillar , Capital One , Dow , State Farm , and Yahoo , among others . As of October 2018 [ update ] , 30 Nobel laureates , 2 Turing Award winners , and 1 Fields medalist have been affiliated with the university as alumni , faculty members , or researchers .
State Farm Center , stylized as StateFarm Center , is a large dome-shaped 15,544-seat indoor arena located in Champaign , Illinois , owned and operated by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign . The arena hosts games for the Illinois Fighting Illini men 's basketball and women 's basketball teams . It also doubles as a performance and event center , and is one of the largest venues between Chicago and St. Louis . It opened in 1963 and was known until 2013 as Assembly Hall until State Farm Insurance acquired naming rights as part of a major renovation project .
Champaign ( English : /ˌʃæmˈpeɪn/ ) is a city in Champaign County , Illinois , United States . The city is 135 miles ( 217 km ) south of Chicago , 124 miles ( 200 km ) west of Indianapolis , Indiana , and 178 mi ( 286 km ) northeast of St. Louis , Missouri . The United States Census Bureau estimates the city was home to 87,432 people as of July 1 , 2017 . Champaign is the tenth-most populous city in Illinois , and the state 's fourth-most populous city outside the Chicago metropolitan area . It is included in the Champaign-Urbana metropolitan area . Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with its sister city of Urbana . Champaign is also home to Parkland College which serves about 18,000 students during the academic year . Due to the university and a number of well known technology startup companies , it is often referred to as the hub , or a significant landmark , of the Silicon Prairie . Champaign houses offices for the Fortune 500 companies Abbott , Archer Daniels Midland ( ADM ) , Caterpillar , John Deere , Dow Chemical Company , IBM , and State Farm .
Illinois ( /ˌɪləˈnɔɪ/ ( listen ) IL-ə-NOY ) is a state in the Midwestern and Great Lakes Regions of the United States . It has the fifth largest gross domestic product ( GDP ) , the sixth largest population , and the 25th largest land area of all U.S. states . Illinois has been noted as a microcosm of the entire United States . With Chicago in northeastern Illinois , small industrial cities and immense agricultural productivity in the north and center of the state , and natural resources such as coal , timber , and petroleum in the south , Illinois has a diverse economic base , and is a major transportation hub . Chicagoland , Chicago 's metropolitan area , encompasses over 65% of the state 's population . The Port of Chicago connects the state to international ports via two main routes : from the Great Lakes , via the Saint Lawrence Seaway , to the Atlantic Ocean and from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River , via the Illinois Waterway to the Illinois River . The Mississippi River , the Ohio River , and the Wabash River form parts of the boundaries of Illinois . For decades , Chicago 's O'Hare International Airport has been ranked as one of the world 's busiest airports . Illinois has long had a reputation as a bellwether both in social and cultural terms and , through the 1980s , in politics . The capital of Illinois is Springfield , which is located in the central part of the state . Although today Illinois 's largest population center is in its northeast , the state 's European population grew first in the west as the French settled lands near the Mississippi River , when the region was known as Illinois Country and was part of New France . Following the American Revolutionary War , American settlers began arriving from Kentucky in the 1780s via the Ohio River , and the population grew from south to north .
The University of Georgia ( UGA or Georgia ) is a public research university with its main campus in Athens , Georgia . Founded in 1785 , it is one of the oldest public universities in the United States . The university is classified among R1 : Doctoral Universities - Very high research activity , and as having more selective undergraduate admissions , its most selective admissions category , while the ACT Assessment Student Report places UGA admissions in the Highly Selective category , the highest classification . In keeping with the teaching portion of its motto , the university has a student-to-faculty ratio of 17 students per faculty member , and 46 percent of its classes have fewer than 20 students . In its 2020 rankings , U.S. News & World Report ranked the university tied for 50th among all U.S. public and private national universities and 16th among all public ones . In addition to the main campuses in Athens with their approximately 470 buildings , the university has two smaller campuses located in Tifton and Griffin . The university has two satellite campuses located in Atlanta and Lawrenceville . The university operates several service and outreach stations spread across the state . The total acreage of the university in 30 Georgia counties is 41,539 acres ( 168.10 km2 ) . The university also owns a residential education and research center in Washington , DC , as well as three international residential and research centers located at Oxford University in Oxford , England , at Cortona , Italy , and at Monteverde , Costa Rica . Student life includes more than 700 student organizations . The University of Georgia 's intercollegiate sports teams , commonly known by their Georgia Bulldogs nickname , compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) Division I and the Southeastern Conference ( SEC ) .
Stegeman Coliseum is a 10,523-seat multi-purpose arena in Athens , Georgia , United States . The arena opened in 1964 . It is home to the University of Georgia Bulldogs basketball and gymnastics teams . It was also the venue of the rhythmic gymnastics and preliminary indoor volleyball matches during the 1996 Summer Olympics , as well as the 1989 , 1995 , and 2008 NCAA gymnastics championships . As a multi-purpose facility , the Coliseum also hosted a variety of other kinds of events , including many large indoor rock concerts during its early history , as well as the university 's Graduate School commencement exercises . At its opening it replaced Woodruff Hall , a 3,000-seat field house built in 1923 .
Athens , officially Athens-Clarke County , is a consolidated city-county and college town in the U.S. state of Georgia . Athens lies about 70 mi ( 113 km ) northeast of downtown Atlanta , a global city . The University of Georgia , the state 's flagship public university and an R1 research institution , is in Athens and contributed to its initial growth . In 1991 , after a vote the preceding year , the original City of Athens abandoned its charter to form a unified government with Clarke County , referred to jointly as Athens-Clarke County . As of 2017 [ update ] , the U.S. Census Bureau 's estimated population of the consolidated city-county ( all of Clarke County except Winterville and a portion of Bogart ) was 125,691 ; the entire county including Winterville and Bogart had a population of 127,064 . Athens is the sixth-largest city in Georgia , and the principal city of the Athens metropolitan area , which had a 2017 estimated population of 209,271 , according to the U.S. Census Bureau . Metropolitan Athens is a component of the larger Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs Combined Statistical Area , a trading area . The city is dominated by a pervasive student culture and music scene centered on downtown Athens , next to the University of Georgia 's North Campus . Major music acts associated with Athens include numerous alternative rock bands such as R.E.M. , the B-52 's , Widespread Panic , and Neutral Milk Hotel . The city is also known as a recording site for such groups as the Atlanta-based Indigo Girls .
Georgia ( /ˈdʒɔːrdʒə/ ) is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States . Georgia is the 24th largest in area and 8th-most populous of the 50 United States . Georgia is bordered to the north by Tennessee and North Carolina , to the northeast by South Carolina , to the southeast by the Atlantic Ocean , to the south by Florida , and to the west by Alabama . Its 2019 estimated population was 10,617,423 , according to the U.S. Census Bureau . Atlanta , a beta ( + ) global city , is both the state 's capital and its largest city . The Atlanta metropolitan area , with an estimated population of 5.9 million people in 2018 , is the 9th most populous metropolitan area in the United States and contains about 56% of the entire state population . Founded in 1733 as a British colony , Georgia was the last and southernmost of the original Thirteen Colonies to be established . Named after King George II of Great Britain , the Colony of Georgia covered the area from South Carolina south to Spanish Florida and west to French Louisiana at the Mississippi River . On January 2 , 1788 , Georgia became the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution . From 1802 to 1804 , western Georgia was split to form the Mississippi Territory , which later was admitted as the U.S. states of Alabama and Mississippi . Georgia declared its secession from the Union on January 19 , 1861 , and was one of the original seven Confederate States . Following the Civil War , it was the last state to be restored to the Union , on July 15 , 1870 .
The University of Virginia ( U.Va . or UVA ) is a public research university in Charlottesville , Virginia . It was founded in 1819 by Declaration of Independence author Thomas Jefferson . It is the flagship university of Virginia and home to Jefferson 's Academical Village , a UNESCO World Heritage Site . UVA is known for its historic foundations , student-run honor code and secret societies . The original governing Board of Visitors included Jefferson , James Madison , and James Monroe . Monroe was the sitting President of the United States at the time of its foundation and earlier Presidents Jefferson and Madison were UVA 's first two rectors . Jefferson conceived and designed the original courses of study and original architecture . UVA was the first university of the American South elected to the research-driven Association of American Universities in 1904 . More than a century later , the journal Science credited UVA faculty with two of the top ten global scientific breakthroughs of 2015 . The University of Virginia offers 121 majors across the eight undergraduate and three professional schools . Its alumni have founded many companies , such as Reddit and CNET , which together produce more than $ 1.6 trillion in annual revenue and have created 2.3 million jobs .
University Hall was an 8,457-seat multi-purpose arena on the University of Virginia Grounds in Charlottesville , Virginia . The arena opened in 1965 as a replacement for Memorial Gym ; it was demolished on May 25 , 2019 , with Ralph Sampson leading the demolition . Like many arenas built at the time , the arena was circular , with a ribbed concrete roof and blue and orange seats ( the orange seats arranged in a V near the top of each section ) that surrounded the arena . Unlike many other facilities , however , the floor was never lowered for additional seating around the court , which left large areas behind press row , the team benches , and the announcer 's table empty during games . University Hall was replaced by the John Paul Jones Arena as the home to the men 's and women 's basketball teams in 2006 . UVa 's athletic department held final game ceremonies for University Hall in connection with the men 's basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins on March 5 , 2006 , which Maryland won 71-70 . UVA legend Ralph Sampson sank ceremonial last baskets at U-Hall , dunking twice during postgame festivities . However , the women 's basketball team made the Women 's National Invitational Tournament and played and won two WNIT games in University Hall .
Charlottesville , colloquially known as C'ville and officially named the City of Charlottesville , is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia . It is the county seat of Albemarle County , which surrounds the city , though the two are separate legal entities . It is named after the British Queen consort ( and Electress of Hanover ) Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz , who as the wife of George III was Virginia 's last Queen . In 2018 , an estimated 48,117 people lived within the city limits . The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the City of Charlottesville with Albemarle County for statistical purposes , bringing its population to approximately 150,000 . Charlottesville is the heart of the Charlottesville metropolitan area , which includes Albemarle , Buckingham , Fluvanna , Greene , and Nelson counties . Charlottesville was the home of two Presidents , Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe . During their terms as Governor of Virginia , they lived in Charlottesville , and traveled to and from Richmond , along the 71-mile ( 114 km ) historic Three Notch 'd Road . Orange , located 26 miles ( 42 km ) northeast of the city , was the hometown of President James Madison . The University of Virginia , founded by Jefferson and one of the original Public Ivies , straddles the city 's southwestern border . Monticello , 3 miles ( 4.8 km ) southeast of the city , is , along with the University of Virginia , a UNESCO World Heritage Site , attracting thousands of tourists every year .
Stanford University , officially Leland Stanford Junior University , is a private research university in Stanford , California . Stanford is known for its academic achievements , wealth , close proximity to Silicon Valley , and selectivity ; it ranks as one of the world 's top universities . The university was founded in 1885 by Leland and Jane Stanford in memory of their only child , Leland Stanford Jr. , who had died of typhoid fever at age 15 the previous year . Stanford was a U.S . Senator and former Governor of California who made his fortune as a railroad tycoon . The school admitted its first students on October 1 , 1891 , as a coeducational and non-denominational institution . Stanford University struggled financially after the death of Leland Stanford in 1893 and again after much of the campus was damaged by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake . Following World War II , Provost Frederick Terman supported faculty and graduates ' entrepreneurialism to build self-sufficient local industry in what would later be known as Silicon Valley . The university is also one of the top fundraising institutions in the country , becoming the first school to raise more than a billion dollars in a year . The university is organized around three traditional schools consisting of 40 academic departments at the undergraduate and graduate level and four professional schools that focus on graduate programs in law , medicine , education , and business . Students compete in 36 varsity sports , and the university is one of two private institutions in the Division I FBS Pac-12 Conference . It has gained 126 NCAA team championships , and Stanford has won the NACDA Directors ' Cup for 24 consecutive years , beginning in 1994-1995 .
Maples Pavilion is a 7,392-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of Stanford University in Stanford , California . Opened 51 years ago in early 1969 , Maples underwent a $ 30 million renovation in March 2004 and reopened ahead of schedule , in time for conference play that December . It was named after its principal donor , Roscoe Maples . Maples was an Oregon lumber magnate Upon his death in 1963 , Maples bequeathed most of his $ 2 million estate to the university . A member of the class of 1904 , he left school before graduating to support his parents , and later went on to success in the lumber business . Prior to 1969 , Stanford played at the Old Pavilion , opened in 1922 . Maples is home to multiple Stanford Cardinal athletics teams , including men 's and women 's basketball , men 's and women 's gymnastics and women 's volleyball . The raucous student section that roots for the men 's basketball team is called the 6th Man and it is located in several rows along courtside . Prior to the renovation , the original floor at Maples had a very springy feel to it . Designed by Stanford graduate John Carl Warnecke ( 1919-2010 ) , it was installed when the Pavilion opened in 1969 . Nine inches ( 23 cm ) of crosshatched wood and air was supposed to create a coil-spring effect preventing injuries , but often had the opposite effect . It caused a Missed Stair Effect , a phenomenon that occurs when the body senses where the floor should be upon landing after a jump .
Stanford University , officially Leland Stanford Junior University , is a private research university in Stanford , California . Stanford is known for its academic achievements , wealth , close proximity to Silicon Valley , and selectivity ; it ranks as one of the world 's top universities . The university was founded in 1885 by Leland and Jane Stanford in memory of their only child , Leland Stanford Jr. , who had died of typhoid fever at age 15 the previous year . Stanford was a U.S . Senator and former Governor of California who made his fortune as a railroad tycoon . The school admitted its first students on October 1 , 1891 , as a coeducational and non-denominational institution . Stanford University struggled financially after the death of Leland Stanford in 1893 and again after much of the campus was damaged by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake . Following World War II , Provost Frederick Terman supported faculty and graduates ' entrepreneurialism to build self-sufficient local industry in what would later be known as Silicon Valley . The university is also one of the top fundraising institutions in the country , becoming the first school to raise more than a billion dollars in a year . The university is organized around three traditional schools consisting of 40 academic departments at the undergraduate and graduate level and four professional schools that focus on graduate programs in law , medicine , education , and business . Students compete in 36 varsity sports , and the university is one of two private institutions in the Division I FBS Pac-12 Conference . It has gained 126 NCAA team championships , and Stanford has won the NACDA Directors ' Cup for 24 consecutive years , beginning in 1994-1995 .
California is a state in the Pacific Region of the United States . With 39.5 million residents across a total area of about 163,696 square miles ( 423,970 km2 ) , California is the most populous U.S. state and the third-largest by area . The state capital is Sacramento . The Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation 's second- and fifth-most populous urban regions , with 18.7 million and 9.7 million residents respectively . Los Angeles is California 's most populous city , and the country 's second-most populous , after New York City . California also has the nation 's most populous county , Los Angeles County , and its largest county by area , San Bernardino County . The City and County of San Francisco is both the country 's second most densely populated major city after New York City and the fifth most densely populated county , behind only four of the five New York City boroughs . California 's economy , with a gross state product of $ 3.0 trillion , is the largest sub-national economy in the world . If it were a country , California would be the fifth-largest economy in the world ( larger than the United Kingdom , France , or India ) , and the 36th-most populous as of 2017 [ update ] . The Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation 's second- and third-largest urban economies ( $ 1.3 trillion and $ 1.0 trillion respectively as of 2018 [ update ] ) , after the New York metropolitan area . The San Francisco Bay Area PSA had the nation 's highest gross domestic product per capita in 2018 ( $ 106,757 ) among large primary statistical areas , and is home to three of the world 's ten largest companies by market capitalization and three of the world 's ten richest people . California culture is considered a global trendsetter in popular culture , communication , information , innovation , environmentalism , economics , politics , and entertainment .
The University of Kansas ( KU ) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence , Kansas , and several satellite campuses , research and educational centers , medical centers , and classes across the state of Kansas . Two branch campuses are in the Kansas City metropolitan area on the Kansas side : the university 's medical school and hospital in Kansas City , the Edwards Campus in Overland Park , and a hospital and research center in the state 's capital of Topeka . There are also educational and research sites in Garden City , Hays , Leavenworth , Parsons , and Topeka , and branches of the medical school in Salina and Wichita . The university is a member of the Association of American Universities . Founded March 21 , 1865 , the university was opened in 1866 , under a charter granted by the Kansas State Legislature in 1864 and legislation passed in 1863 under the State Constitution , which was adopted two years after the 1861 admission of the former Kansas Territory as the 34th state into the Union . Disputes over Kansas ' establishment as a free or slaveholding state prior to admission to the union prompted an internal civil war known as Bleeding Kansas during the 1850s . Enrollment at the Lawrence and Edwards campuses was 28,401 students in 2016 ; an additional 3,383 students were enrolled at the KU Medical Center for an enrollment of 28,091 students across the three campuses . The university overall employed 2,814 faculty members in fall 2015 . Kansas 's athletic teams compete in NCAA Division I sports as the Jayhawks , as members of the Big 12 Conference . They field 16 varsity sports , as well as club-level sports for ice hockey , rugby , and men 's volleyball .
Allen Fieldhouse is an on the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence , Kansas . It is home of the Kansas Jayhawks men 's and women 's basketball teams . The arena is named after Dr. Forrest C. Phog Allen , a former player and head coach for the Jayhawks whose tenure lasted 39 years . Allen Fieldhouse is one of college basketball 's most historically significant and prestigious buildings . 37 National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) Tournament games having been hosted at the center . The actual playing surface has been named James Naismith Court , in honor of basketball 's inventor , who established Kansas 's basketball program and served as the Jayhawks ' first coach from 1898 to 1907 . Allen Fieldhouse has also hosted several NCAA tournament regionals , an NBA exhibition game , and occasional concerts such as The Beach Boys , Elton John , James Taylor , Sonny and Cher , Leon Russell , Alice Cooper , ZZ Top , Tina Turner , Harry Belafonte , Henry Mancini , The Doobie Brothers , Kansas , and Bob Hope , as well as speakers , including former President Bill Clinton in 2004 , Senator Robert F. Kennedy ( which drew over 20,000 ) in March 1968 , and anarchist Abbie Hoffman in 1970 . ESPN The Magazine named Allen Fieldhouse the loudest college basketball arena in the country . The arena broke the Guinness World Record for loudest roar on February 13 , 2017 , against West Virginia at 130.4 dB . The prior record of 126.4 dB at Lexington 's Rupp Arena which lasted less than three weeks also had many Kansas fans present as the Jayhawks beat the # 4 Wildcats 79-73 in the Big 12/SEC Challenge . Allen Fieldhouse is often considered one of the best home court advantages in men 's college basketball . The Jayhawks have won over 70 percent of their games in Allen Fieldhouse , losing only a little over 100 games in its over 60-year history .
Lawrence is the county seat of Douglas County and sixth-largest city in Kansas . It is in the northeastern sector of the state , astride Interstate 70 , between the Kansas and Wakarusa Rivers . As of the 2010 census , the city 's population was 87,643 ; by 2017 the estimated population had risen to 96,892 . Lawrence is a college town and the home to both the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University . Lawrence was founded by the New England Emigrant Aid Company ( NEEAC ) , and was named for Amos Adams Lawrence , a Republican abolitionist originally from Massachusetts , who offered financial aid and support for the settlement . Lawrence was central to the Bleeding Kansas period ( 1854-61 ) , and the site of the Wakarusa War ( 1855 ) and the Sacking of Lawrence ( 1856 ) . During the American Civil War it was also the site of the Lawrence massacre ( 1863 ) . Lawrence began as a center of free-state politics . Its economy diversified into many industries , including agriculture , manufacturing , and education , beginning with the founding of the University of Kansas in 1865 and Haskell Indian Nations University in 1884 .
Kansas /ˈkænzəs/ ( listen ) is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States . Its capital is Topeka and its largest city is Wichita , with its most populated county and largest employment center being Johnson County . Kansas is bordered by Nebraska on the north ; Missouri on the east ; Oklahoma on the south ; and Colorado on the west . Kansas is named after the Kansas River , which in turn was named after the Kansa Native Americans who lived along its banks . The tribe 's name ( natively kką : ze ) is often said to mean people of the ( south ) wind although this was probably not the term 's original meaning . For thousands of years , what is now Kansas was home to numerous and diverse Native American tribes . Tribes in the eastern part of the state generally lived in villages along the river valleys . Tribes in the western part of the state were semi-nomadic and hunted large herds of bison . Kansas was first settled by Americans in 1827 with the establishment of Fort Leavenworth . The pace of settlement accelerated in the 1850s , in the midst of political wars over the slavery debate . When it was officially opened to settlement by the U.S. government in 1854 with the Kansas-Nebraska Act , abolitionist Free-Staters from New England and pro-slavery settlers from neighboring Missouri rushed to the territory to determine whether Kansas would become a free state or a slave state . Thus , the area was a hotbed of violence and chaos in its early days as these forces collided , and was known as Bleeding Kansas .