The Most Famous TV Shows Set In Each State
America produces some excellent television—from gripping dramas to sweet romances, the American television landscape has it all. While most American TV shows are filmed in large studios in states like California, sometimes they're set in the deserts of Arizona or the wilderness of Alaska. Let's explore the most famous TV shows from every state.
Alabama: Looking For Alaska
A teenage drama to kick off our list. Josh Schwartz's Looking For Alaska (2016), based on the eponymous novel by John Green, sees a young teenager named Miles Halter enroll in Culver Creek Academy in Alabama. Once there, he falls in love with a girl named Alaska. A teenage drama full of the lessons we learned about love and life during those years, Looking For Alaska received a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Paramount, Looking for Alaska (2019)
Alaska
While many reality TV series have been set in Alaska, the drama Northern Exposure (1995) gets the spot on our list. The five-season series, which aired between 1995 and 2000, tells the story of Joel Fleischman, a New York City doctor who must adjust to life in a small Alaskan town where he's been assigned to practice medicine. Northern Exposure won 29 awards, including an Emmy, and received 89 nominations.
Universal, Northern Exposure (1995)
Arizona
Many Western TV series have been set in Arizona (for obvious reasons), but the supernatural thriller Medium from 2005 stands out. A psychic medium for the Phoenix District Attorney's office, Allison DuBois (Patricia Arquette) must balance her professional obligations with raising three daughters in Phoenix. The show aired for seven seasons and received 33 Emmy award nominations.
Picturemaker Productions, Medium (2005)
Arkansas
Lovers of fisticuffs and gunfights will love Reacher (2014), set in Arkansas. Based on Lee Childs' Jack Reacher book series, this action-packed spy drama sees Alan Ritchson as the eponymous Jack Reacher and his investigations as a drifting member of various law enforcement agencies after retiring from the Military Police. Action, intrigue, and trouble follow Reacher around Arkansas and beyond. The third series of Reacher is scheduled to premiere on February 20, 2025.
Amazon Studios, Reacher (2022)
California
Some of the world's biggest production studios are based in California, so choosing one from the list was tough, but we picked the rough-and-tumble biker drama Sons Of Anarchy (2008). Showcasing a mixture of action, violence, and a surprising amount of emotional depth, Sons of Anarchy follows Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam) as a single father trying to get his life back on track following a release from prison, balancing his allegiances to family and setting a better example for his child.
SutterInk, Sons of Anarchy (2008-2014)
Colorado
Described by The Atlantic as the "weekly satire of the sitcom genre," Community (2009) was set in the fictional town of Greendale, Colorado. Detailing the adventures and misadventures of a former lawyer, Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), who finds out his degree has been revoked, Community garnered a cult following during its 110-episode run.
Krasnoff Foster Productions, Community (2009)
Connecticut
Is there a greater cult classic among young teenage girls in the early 2000s than Gilmore Girls (2000)? Following the lives of Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) and her daughter Lorelai "Rory" Gilmore, the pair move to a fictional Connecticut town named Stars Hollow. Although Stars Hollow was fictional, Gilmore Girls drew inspiration from real towns like Litchfield.
Hofflund/Polone, Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)
Delaware
Delaware is adjacent to the nation's capital and thus has plenty of government-centric shows set in the state. But our pick for the most famous show set in Delaware is The Pretender (1996), starring Michael T Weiss as Jarod, a young man who can quickly master the skills necessary to impersonate almost any high-level profession. Running for four seasons on NBC, the series was remade later as a movie.
Twentieth Century, The Pretender (1996)
Washington, DC
So many shows feature replicas of the White House that we could write a whole list on it. But almost none are more iconic than The West Wing (1999), Aaron Sorkin's brilliant political drama starring Martin Sheen as President Bartlett, dealing with the machinations of governance. While Washington, DC, has always been the focal point for political shows in the US, The West Wing is one of the best.
John Wells Productions, The West Wing (1999)
Florida
With its sunny beaches and tropical weather, it's no wonder Florida gets high acclaim among TV location scouts. Miami has been the site of many iconic shows, such as Miami Vice (1984). But our selection is The Golden Girls—also set in Miami. Starring the amazing Betty White, Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, and Bea Arthur, the show is widely considered one of the greatest TV shows ever.
Michael Mann Productions, Miami Vice (1984)
Georgia
The Resident (2018), set in a fictional hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, follows a third-year medical resident, Dr Theodore Hawkins (Matt Czuchry), and a first-year resident, Dr Devon Pravesh, as they navigate the world of patients, doctors and the unassailable bureaucracy of the medical-industrial complex.
3 Arts Entertainment, The Resident (2018)
Hawaii
While many great TV shows have been set on the island of Hawaii, the Aloha State is inseparable from Hawaii Five-O (1968), the police procedural drama that experienced a reboot in 2010. The rebooted series ran for 10 seasons, concluding in 2020, and had crossover episodes with NCIS: Los Angeles and MacGyver.
K/O Paper Products, Hawaii Five-0 (2010-2020)
Idaho
While Idaho has only had a few TV shows set there, Napoleon Dynamite's reboot TV series is the most notable. Based on the eponymous movie that became a cult classic, set in rural Idaho, Napoleon Dynamite (2012) follows the misadventures of the quirky teenager in this slapstick comedy that ran for six episodes on FOX.
Twentieth Century, Napoleon Dynamite (2012)
Illinois
The One Chicago universe occupies primetime TV spots on NBC, with Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago PD set in the Windy City of Chicago, Illinois. Other great shows include Roseanne (1988) and Days Of Our Lives (1965).
Indiana
Indiana's TV sets are a rich blend. The state has hosted the teenage supernatural thriller Stranger Things (2016), which achieved almost immediate cult status. Set in Hawkins, Indiana, Stranger Things uses a riveting mix of teenage sleuthery to solve the disappearance of a young boy and the mysterious supernatural forces that the US Government wants to keep under wraps.
21 Laps Entertainment, Stranger Things (2016-2025)
Iowa
Mindhunter (2017), which ran for three seasons before being interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, is a fictional series about FBI agents working in the Behavioral Science Unit. It is based on the book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit, and its first episode took place partly in Iowa.
Denver and Delilah Productions, Mindhunter (2017)
Kansas
Smallville (2001) is a teenage superhero drama set in the fictional town of Smallville, Kansas. The series follows the coming-of-age adventures of Clark Kent. The first four seasons feature Superman's high school life, while the last six seasons focus on his post-school and early adult years. The series stars Tom Welling, Kristin Kreuk, and Michael Rosenbaum.
Tollin, Smallville (2001-2017)
Kentucky
Kentucky's Appalachian mountain regions are prominently featured in Justified (2010). This neo-noir Western crime drama stars Timothy Olyphant as a US Marshal with his brand of justice, visited upon the criminals and people he encounters throughout the series. Airing for six seasons, cities like Lexington are prominently featured alongside the main setting of Harlan County.
FX Productions, Justified (2010-2015)
Louisiana
The vampires were out and about in Louisiana in 2008. At least, that's what True Blood (2008) would have you believe. The fantasy-horror series created by Alan Ball lasted for seven seasons, depicting the love story of oddball late-teenage Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) and Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), a 173-year-old vampire.
Maine
Have you ever wanted to step inside a real-life fairytale? Where do your favorite Disney characters come to life? Well, that happened in Once Upon A Time (2011), as Jennifer Morrison's character, Emma Swan, accidentally finds out about Storybrooke, Maine, where Disney's greatest fairytale characters come to life.
Kitsis/Horowitz, Once Upon A Time (2011-2018)
Maryland
One of the greatest crime dramas of all time, The Wire (2002), starred Idris Elba, Lance Reddick, and Dominic West, among others. This multifaceted drama examined the illegal narcotics trade in Baltimore, Maryland. One of the first TV shows to examine narcotics from the perspectives of both law enforcement and narcotic dealers, The Wire is widely considered one of the greatest TV shows in American history.
Massachusetts
Calista Flockhart is the actor behind Ally McBeal, who plays a lawyer at a large firm in Boston, Massachusetts. The series was pivotal in discussions of feminism in the late 1990s and even featured a very young Robert Downey Jr, Portia De Rossi, and Lucy Liu.
David E. Kelley Productions, Ally McBeal (1997-2002)
Michigan
Set in Metro Detroit, Home Improvement (1991) launched the career of Tim Allen, one of Hollywood's most beloved comedians and actors. It also helped launch the career of Pamela Anderson. The sitcom centered around a home improvement store and the misadventures of Tim Allen as a father of three.
Touchstone, Home Improvement (1991-1999)
Missouri
Set in the Lake of the Ozarks in central Missouri, Ozark (2017) stars Jason Bateman and Laura Linney as a pair of money launderers for a Mexican drug cartel who try and balance family life in a new location with their "work" as financial advisors turned money launderers for the cartel.
Aggregate Films, Ozark (2017-2022)
Montana
Set in the foothills of Yellowstone National Park, the Western drama Yellowstone (2018) stars Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, and Kelly Reilly as a family of ranchers following their conflicts with other ranchers, the Native American tribespeople, and the Government over land rights, land management, and more. Yellowstone was nominated for many awards and has spurred two spin-offs, 1883 (2021) and 1923 (2022).
Paramount, Yellowstone (2018–2024)
Nebraska
Nebraska has an unshakeable connection to the Midwestern lifestyle, particularly when it comes to TV. The Young Riders (1989) was a three-series Western that told the story of the Pony Express riders of the late 19th century. These horse riders traveled hundreds of miles to deliver mail in the West. The series introduced a young Josh Brolin to American television.
Pendragon Entertainment, Young Riders (1989-1992)
New Hampshire
From 2016 to 2019, ABC was all-in on the supernatural/zombie apocalypse craze that gripped American television. Set in the fictional town of Willard's Mill in New Hampshire, Stan Against Evil saw a former sheriff take the fight to the undead in another zombie apocalypse-themed TV series.
RadicalMedia, Stan Against Evil (2016-2018)
Nevada
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000), starring Jorja Fox, William Petersen, and George Eads, was set in Las Vegas for 15 seasons. The series focused on the personal and professional lives of a team of scientists at the Las Vegas Police Department's crime lab. It became one of the most popular shows in America.
Alliance Atlantis, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000-2015)
New Jersey
Do you remember that House (2004) was set in New Jersey? Maybe not. That's okay; it first aired over 20 years ago. The fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital is the setting, and Hugh Laurie plays the ever-cynical but always brilliant Dr Gregory House. House quickly became one of America's most popular medical dramas.
Heel & Toe Films, House (2004-2012)
New Mexico
After a high school chemistry teacher in New Mexico discovers he has terminal cancer, there's only one possible thing he could do: become a narcotics kingpin, of course. At least, that's the plot of Breaking Bad (2008), which stars Bryan Cranston as Walter White and Aaron Paul as Jesse, White's sidekick. Breaking Bad won many awards, including 12 Primetime Emmys and two Golden Globes.
High Bridge Productions, Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
New York
So many great TV shows have been set in New York that choosing just one is tough. However, when discussing the most famous shows, there can only be one: Friends (1994). For 10 years, Friends followed the shenanigans of a group of 20-something-year-old friends that dealt with work, love, loss, and all of the other challenges that come with life in your early 20s. One of America's greatest sitcoms couldn't have been set anywhere except The Big Apple.
Warner Bros., Friends (1994-2004)
North Carolina
As two estranged half-brothers build a relationship across nine seasons, North Carolina plays host to Tree Hill. One Tree Hill (2003) is considered one of the best teen dramas of the early 2000s. It was mostly shot in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Warner Bros., One Tree Hill (2003-2012)
North Dakota
Following a huge oil discovery in the fictitious town of Rock Springs, North Dakota, Cody Lefever's young family moves there, and intrigue deepens as the ties of blood and oil mix in this oil-rich town.
Flame Ventures, Blood & Oil (2015)
Ohio
No other contender for the best TV series set in Ohio exists other than Glee (2009). The musical comedy series follows the lives of high school students, centered around the premise of a Glee club, where musical talents and no one is left out. Glee was set in Lima, Ohio.
Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision, Glee (2009-2015)
Oklahoma
When given a second chance at life by a guardian angel after drunkenly hitting a pedestrian with her car, Grace Hanadarko must put her life back together and continue solving crimes. Set in Oklahoma City, Saving Grace (2007) ran for three seasons.
Fox Television Studios, Saving Grace (2007-2010)
Oregon
Bates Motel (2013) is a chilling, modern precursor to the horror classic Psycho (1960). Set in the fictional White Pine Bay, Oregon, it explores the relationship between Freddie Highmore's young Norman Bates and his mother, Norma (Vera Farmiga). Highmore's excellent performance as a young Bates earned him great acclaim.
American Genre Film Archive, Bates Motel (2013-2017)
Pennsylvania
Scranton, Pennsylvania, is famous for being the site of the Steamtown National Historic Site and the Scranton Iron Furnaces, both harkening back to Scranton's Industrial Revolution roots. But it's also the setting of a show you may have heard of called The Office (2005). Starring John Krasinski, Steve Carrell, and Jenna Fischer, The Office is one of America's greatest-ever sitcoms.
NBC Universal Television, The Office (2005-2013)
Rhode Island
We'll give you three guesses where Providence (1999) is set, and the first two don't count. Did you guess correctly? Providence follows Dr Sydney Hansen, played by Melina Kanakaredes, who leaves her cushy Hollywood practice to return to her hometown of Providence, Rhode Island.
NBC Studio, Providence (1999-2002)
South Carolina
South Carolina was the setting of three seasons of Sweet Magnolias (2020), which followed three South Carolina women who have been friends since childhood and have endured life's challenges together.
Daniel L. Paulson Productions, Sweet Magnolias 2020-
South Dakota
Before Timothy Olyphant was dishing out his brand of justice in Justified, he was the sheriff of Deadwood in the eponymous TV series. Lasting just two seasons, a follow-up movie to Deadwood (2004) was released in 2019 entitled Deadwood: The Movie.
Tennessee
Starring Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere, Tennessee's capital city is the setting for Nashville (2012), a six-season drama wherein a failing country star is forced to shepherd a rising star to save her career. Egos and voices collide in Nashville.
ABC Signature, Nashville (2012-2015)
Texas
Named after one of Texas's largest cities, Dallas (1978) followed two wealthy families—the Barnes and Ewing families—who feud over almost everything. A season 3 episode entitled "Who Shot JR?" Became one of the most-watched TV series episodes of all time.
Utah
Starring Bill Paxton, Big Love (2006) was a five-season family romance about a Mormon patriarch (Paxton) and his three wives and seven children. Depicting the family life inside their Mormon faith, as well as outside of the fundamentalist Mormon sphere, Big Love was a huge success for HBO.
Anima Sola Productions, Big Love (2006-2011)
Vermont
One of American cinema's most iconic TV shows was set in Vermont. Of course. We're referring to the 1997 remake of Lassie, following the adventures of a Sheltie pup named Lassie and her close ties with a family in Vermont. Despite lasting only two seasons, the remake of the 1954 series of the same name was hugely popular.
Polygram Filmed Entertainment, Lassie 1997-
Virginia
What do you do when you've got a serial killer with a particularly twisted mind that you can't crack? You call the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI. This unit was the premise of Criminal Minds (2005), which spent 17 seasons on the air, ending in 2022.
Touchstone, Criminal Minds 2005-
Washington
There's no more fitting entry for a TV show set in Washington state than Grey's Anatomy (2005). Tugging on American heartstrings and keeping us glued to our screens during the pandemic, Grey's Anatomy follows the personal and professional lives of a team of doctors at the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in Seattle, WA.
Shondaland, Grey's Anatomy 2005-
West Virginia
The Hatfields and McCoys were two real-life families with a real-life feud dating back to 1863. In 2012, the History Channel decided to make a miniseries based on the feud, entitled Hatfields & McCoys. The three-part miniseries depicted the feud from the Civil War to the Reconstruction Era, starring Kevin Costner, Bill Paxton, and Tom Berenger.
Thinkfactory Media, Hatfields & McCoys (2012)
Wisconsin
"HELLO WISCONSIN!" Of course, that's the iconic last line of the That 70's Show (1998) sitcom, one of the most popular sitcoms in American history. Set in the fictitious Point Place, That 70s Show follows six teenagers and their families through the challenges of teenage life in 1970s America.
Twentieth Century, That 70's Show (1998-2006)
Wyoming
Longmire (2012) is set in Absaroka County, Wyoming, and follows the crime-fighting escapades of the tough sheriff Walter Longmire. Returning to work after his wife's death, the grisly, gruff sheriff must put an end to the lawlessness that has sprung up while he's been gone.
Two Boomerang, Longmire (2012-2017)
What TV Shows Were Set In Your State?
What TV shows were set in your state? Were any filmed in your town? Let us know in the comments below!
