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The Most Scooby-Doo-Obsessed U.S. States

Scooby-Doo has been entertaining kids (and their parents) for over 50 years. But where around the country are Scooby and the gang most loved? Find out today!

A header image for a blog about the U.S. states that like Scooby-Doo the most.
Published on: 8/22/2022

First airing in 1969, Scooby-Doo has been a favorite of children and their parents for over 50 years. Although the series, movies, and (voice) actors change, the crime-fighting Great Dane is still recognizable as one of the most popular cartoon characters ever.

With the upcoming release of Velma, an adult animated Scooby-Doo spin-off series from HBO, the team here at Cree Lighting started thinking back on our adoration of the time-tested franchise, and, more importantly, just how many of their mysteries could’ve been solved quicker with effective lighting solutions. Ghouls, ghosts, and even just villains wearing masks are a lot less scary in the light, after all. So, we took a deep dive into the series and found out which states still love Scoob and the gang even after all these years. We used Google’s search interest metric to determine the characters, shows, movies, and other Scooby-Doo-related keywords that are searched most often.

Methodology

To determine the most Scooby-Doo-obsessed states, we used the Google Trends search interest scores for 97 Scooby-Doo-related keywords in every state from June 2021 to June 2022. We created our list of keywords from sites like Scoobypedia (a popular fan-driven Scooby-Doo website) and IMDb. The search terms were broken up into four categories (characters & related terms, TV shows, movies, and actors) so we could get a holistic view of Scooby-Doo-obsession across the U.S.

Google Trends gives each state a search interest score of 0-100 for search terms. This number is based on search interest for a topic as a proportion of all searches in the state for a given time period. To determine the states with the biggest Scooby-Doo fans, we summed the total search interest of each of our 97 Scooby-Doo search terms to find out which states search Scooby-Doo-related topics more often than the rest. We also found the most searched term for each category in every state.

The Most Popular Scooby-Doo Characters & Related Terms in Every U.S. State

We began our analysis by taking a look at the search popularity of some of the most recognizable characters in the series. For the purposes of this study, we grouped search terms like the gang’s iconic van, the ‘Mystery Machine,’ and their crime-fighting enterprise, ‘Mystery Incorporated,’ into the characters category. Let’s take a look at where these meddling kids are popping up in search boxes across the country.

In what should come as a surprise to no one, the spotted crime-fighter himself, Scooby-Doo, is the most popular Scooby-Doo character in the country, being the most frequently searched in 19 different states. Following not too closely behind is his mellow, chronically frightened best friend Norville ‘Shaggy’ Rogers. Shaggy came in as the most popular character in an impressive 11 states. Scooby’s headstrong nephew who has made several appearances in TV shows and movies throughout the years, Scrappy-Doo, is the top-searched in 6 states. Scrappy just edged out the stoic, ascot-loving leader of Mystery Incorporated, Fred Jones, who is most popular in 4 states. 

Oddly enough, the female leads of the series, danger-prone fashionista Daphne Blake and the brains of the operation Velma Dinkley ranked behind the others, coming in as the most popular characters in only 2 states each (Daphne: Alabama and Wyoming. Velma: Oklahoma and Texas). The gang’s van, the Mystery Machine, and their company, Mystery Incorporated, are the most popular searches in 2 states, as well. The Mystery Machine is the most popular in Indiana and Michigan, and Mystery Incorporated is the most popular in Iowa and North Dakota. Scooby-Doo’s all-time favorite food, Scooby Snacks, is the most popular Scooby-Doo term in 2 states, New Mexico and Oregon.

The final noteworthy search in our analysis of this search term category came in the form of the eco-goth rock band, the Hex Girls. First appearing as key characters in the plot of Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost (1999), the Hex Girls were popular enough to become recurring characters in other TV shows and movies. They were the most popular characters in 1 state, Nebraska. 

The Most Popular Scooby-Doo Characters & Related Terms in Every U.S. State

A television show sticking around for half a century isn’t all too common, but Scooby-Doo has found a way to remain relevant throughout decades in a way that few others can match. The franchise has both grown with its audience and created spin-offs to keep Scooby and the gang interesting for younger generations.

We took all of this into account when creating our list of search terms to analyze. From characters and their (voice) actors through the years to both old and new TV shows and movies, we found the most popular Scooby-Doo searches in every state. Use the interactive map below to find out the Scooby-Doo-related searches your state is conducting most often. The higher the search interest, the more a state is obsessed with Scooby-Doo.

The Top-Searched Scooby-Doo Terms Overall

When it comes to overall popularity, there is a clear favorite among Scooby-Doo characters, TV shows, and movies. As we’ve discussed, Scooby-Doo himself is the franchise’s most popular character as he’s the top-searched in 19 states. The biggest surprise in the character category is likely the relative popularity of Scrappy-Doo, Scooby’s lesser-known nephew compared to a few of the gang’s primary members - Freddie, Daphne, and Velma. Scrappy may be best known for his brief role as the primary antagonist in the franchise’s first live-action film, Scooby-Doo (2002). Even as the bad guy, it seems as though there’s something about a talking dog, no matter how headstrong or annoying, that is more interesting to Americans than the more peripheral characters of Mystery, Inc.

As we take a closer look at Scooby-Doo TV shows, it’s evident which one America is searching for most regularly: Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010). The spin-off series is the most popular in 14 states and was the 11th incarnation of the original show, running for two seasons in 2010. It featured familiar voices including Matthew Lillard, who played Shaggy in both original live-action Scooby-Doo movies, and Frank Welker who was the first voice of Freddie Jones in the original Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1969). Speaking of the original show, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1969) is the third most popular show based on Google searches, being top-searched in 6 states, just behind Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue! (2008) which is the most popular in 8 states.

When it comes to Scooby-Doo movies, one is clearly still a favorite. Scooby-Doo (2002) was the first live-action undertaking from the franchise. The film, based on a screenplay by James Gunn and featuring a star-studded cast, is the most popular Scooby-Doo movie in 12 states, far outpacing the others. Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School (1988) is the second-most popular movie, coming in with 4 states. The made-for-TV film didn’t include the whole gang but featured Scooby, Shaggy, and Scrappy. The sequel to the first live-action film, Scooby-Doo 2: Monster’s Unleashed (2004), leads a group of movies for third, being the most popular movie in 3 states.

The Most Scooby-Doo-Obsessed States

While it’s clear that Scooby-Doo has his fans spread across the U.S., there are a few parts of the country that take that love to the next level. Based on total relative search interest in the keywords we analyzed, we found the five states that truly are the most Scooby-Doo-obsessed. The total relative search interest metric is determined by the sum total of search interest for each of the 97 Scooby-Doo-related keywords we analyzed.

Coming in at number one as the most Scooby-Doo-obsessed state is Ohio! One possible reason for this could be that the gang’s primary location in several Scooby-Doo works is Coolsville, which is said to be located in Erie County, Ohio. Regardless of the reason, it’s clear residents of the Buckeye State are big fans. The state’s favorite character is Shaggy and its favorite TV show is Scooby-Doo & Guess Who? (2019) while Nicole Jaffe, the original voice of Velma, is its top-searched Scooby-Doo actor.

The state that is second-most-obsessed with Scooby-Doo is Michigan. The Great Lake State is truly a place for Scooby-Doo lovers since its most popular searches span decades. Its most popular term is the gang’s primary mode of transportation, the Mystery Machine, its most popular TV show is A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (1988) and its most popular movie is Scooby-Doo! and the Legend of the Vampire (2003), which is one of two direct-to-DVD movies that reunite the original voice cast of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!

Pennsylvania comes in third in terms of Scooby-Doo obsession and is the site of two of the mysteries the gang has solved throughout the years. The first, Scooby-Doo! Frankencreepy, has the crew head out to fictional Transylvania, PA with Velma, and the other takes place during an episode of Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? on a historic Civil War battlefield in the Keystone State. Pennsylvania’s most popular character is the show’s namesake, Scooby-Doo, and its most popular actor associated with the franchise is Amanda Seyfried, who voiced Daphne in Scoob! (2020) and is originally from Allentown, PA.

Coming in fourth place in our top-five states based on Scooby-Doo obsession is Virginia. While the only real-life connection point may be the roller coaster formerly known as the Scooby-Doo Ghoster Coaster at Kings Dominion in Doswell, VA, the Old Dominion is still a hotbed for Scooby-Doo fandom. The most popular character in the state is Scooby-Doo himself and the most popular TV show is A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (1988). The state’s top-searched actor is nonother than Don Messick, the original voice of Scooby-Doo back in 1969.

Missouri rounds out our top five most Scooby-Doo-obsessed states. In an episode of The New Scooby-Doo Movies (1972), the gang finds themselves in what Daphne calls “Mark Twain Country,” which we can assume is in the Show-Me State. When it comes to popular Scooby-Doo-related searches, Missouri errs on the more recent releases, with its favorite TV show being Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! (2015) and its favorite movie is Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire (2011).

The next time you’re watching Scooby-Doo, make sure to keep an eye out for hints of other states that have been featured in the franchise’s over 50-year run!

Ranking the Originals: The Most Popular Scooby-Doo! Where Are You Monsters

From the infamous Creeper to Charlie the Funland Robot, any Scooby-Doo fan will tell you that some of the most iconic parts of the franchise come in the form of the monsters and villains Scooby and the gang have investigated. So, to round out our study on the popularity of the Mystery, Inc. gang today, we hopped in the way back machine to where it all started on Saturday mornings 53 years ago, with the debut of Scooby-Doo! Where Are You. We spent some time on IMDb to find the highest-rated episodes (and, therefore, monsters) from the original run of Scooby-Doo.

Scroll through the graphic below to see the top 5 monsters from Scooby-Doo! Where Are You, according to reviews!

Closing Thoughts

Whether it’s a dusty old mansion or a creepy museum after hours, Scooby and his gang of meddling kids often find themselves in some dark, dreary locations.  Who's to say how many of these issues could have been avoided with proper indoor lighting solutions, like those from Cree Lighting?

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