List of dry communities by U.S. state
Encyclopedia
The following list of dry communities by U.S. state details all of the counties and municipalities in the United States of America that ban the sale of alcohol.
For more background information, see: Dry county
and Prohibition in the United States
.
, Mississippi
, and Tennessee
, are entirely dry by default: counties specifically must authorize the sale of alcohol in order for it to be legal and subject to state liquor control laws.
, 3 are completely dry, 23 are partially dry or "moist" (these counties contain cities that have voted to allow alcohol sales), and 41 are completely wet. Within those 23 "moist" counties, 41 city governments have legalized alcohol sales inside their city limits.
Three terms describing Alaskan Villages in common usage:
There is wide variation of restrictions placed on the possession and movement of alcohol in the "damp" Villages, some villages permit residents to order alcohol from stores out side the ban area and have it shipped in, while other villages require the person owning the alcohol to personally bring the alcohol into their jurisdiction.
:
On August 16, 2011 Suwannee County
voted by a margin of 7489 for becoming wet to 3612 for remaining dry, and by 7576 for sales by the package and drink to 2079 for sales by the package only.
had prohibition longer than any other state (except Mississippi), from 1881 to 1948, and continued to prohibit bars selling liquor by the drink until 1987. Both the 1948 amendment to the Kansas Constitution
which ended prohibition and the 1986 amendment which allowed for open saloons provided that the amendments only would be in effect in counties which had approved the respective amendments, either during the election over the amendment itself or subsequently.
All counties in Kansas have approved the 1948 amendment, but 29 dry counties never approved the 1986 amendment and therefore continue to prohibit any and all sale of liquor by the drink. Public bars (so-called "open saloons") are illegal in these dry counties. Another 59 counties (including Johnson County
, the largest county in Kansas and the largest Kansas portion of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area
) approved the 1986 amendment but with a requirement that to sell liquor by the drink, an establishment must receive 30% of its gross revenues from food sales. Only 17 counties in Kansas approved the 1986 amendment without any limitation, allowing liquor to be sold by the drink without any food sales requirement.
, 43 are completely dry, 45 are considered partially dry or "moist", 32 are entirely wet, and one is classified as wet but is actually closer to "moist."
's 254 counties, 25 are completely dry, 183 are partially dry or "moist", and 46 are entirely wet. The vast majority of entirely wet counties are in southern border regions of Texas near Mexico, or in the south central part of the state. The patchwork of laws can be confusing, even to residents. In some counties, only 4% beer is legal. In others, beverages that are 14% or less alcohol are legal. In some "dry" areas, a customer can get a mixed drink by paying to join a "private club," and in some "wet" areas a customer needs a club membership to purchase liquor by-the-drink, reports the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
.
The newspaper demonstrates how variable the alcohol laws can be, even within small geographic areas. "...Move to Burleson
, which has alcohol sales in the Tarrant County
portion of the city but not in the Johnson County
side of town."
Texas prohibits off-premises sale of liquor on Sundays, until after 12:01pm (Beer/Wine only).
For more background information, see: Dry county
Dry county
A dry county is a county in the United States whose government forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Hundreds of dry counties exist across the United States, almost all of them in the South...
and Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
.
States that permit localities to go dry
33 states have laws which allow localities to prohibit the sale (and in some cases, consumption and possession) of liquor. Still, many of these states have no dry communities. Three states, KansasKansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, and Tennessee
Alcohol laws of Tennessee
The Alcohol laws of Tennessee are unique in that they vary considerably by county.Local government jurisdictions in Tennessee by default are dry and do not allow the sales of liquor or wine. These governments must amend the laws to allow for liquor-by-the-drink sales and retail package stores. In...
, are entirely dry by default: counties specifically must authorize the sale of alcohol in order for it to be legal and subject to state liquor control laws.
- AlabamaAlabamaAlabama is a state located 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 ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
specifically allows cities and counties to elect to go dry by public referendum. - AlaskaAlaskaAlaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
specifically allows local jurisdictions to elect to go dry by public referendum. - ArkansasArkansasArkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
specifically allows local jurisdictions to elect to go dry by public referendum. - CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
specifically allows local jurisdictions to enact liquor laws which are stricter than state law. - ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
specifically allows cities and counties to exercise a local optionLocal OptionLocal Option is a term used to describe the freedom whereby local political jurisdictions, typically counties or municipalities, can decide by popular vote certain controversial issues within their borders. In practice, it usually relates to the issue of alcoholic beverage sales...
by public referendum whether to go dry. - ConnecticutConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
specifically allows towns to exercise a local optionLocal OptionLocal Option is a term used to describe the freedom whereby local political jurisdictions, typically counties or municipalities, can decide by popular vote certain controversial issues within their borders. In practice, it usually relates to the issue of alcoholic beverage sales...
by public referendum whether to go dry. - DelawareDelawareDelaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
's state constitution allows specifically defined local districts to elect to go dry by public referendum. - FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
specifically allows counties to elect to go dry by public referendum. - GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
specifically allows any local jurisdiction to go dry, without limitation on how that decision is made. - IdahoIdahoIdaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
allows local jurisdictions to prohibit sale of liquor by the drink by public referendum, but because all retail package sales are controlled by the state, no local jurisdiction may prohibit package liquor sales for consumption off-premises. - KansasKansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
is dry by default; counties have to choose to allow liquor sales in order for liquor to be sold at all in the county. (see Alcohol laws of KansasAlcohol laws of KansasThe alcohol laws of Kansas are among the strictest in the United States, in sharp contrast to its neighboring state of Missouri , and similar to its other neighboring state of Oklahoma...
) - KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
specifically allows local jurisdictions to elect to go dry by public referendum. The Kentucky Constitution implies that the default wet/dry status of any local subdivision reflects the state of its local laws at the time that statewide prohibition ended. - LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
specifically allows local jurisdictions to go dry, without limitation on how that decision is made. - MaineMaineMaine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
specifically allows local jurisdictions to elect to go dry by public referendum. - MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
requires that a series of questions of whether to go dry be placed on each municipality's local ballot every two years, unless the municipality has voted to allow or prohibit liquor sales in three such consecutive elections. - MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
allows any city, village, or township in which there are no retail liquor licenses to prohibit the retail sale of alcoholic liquor within its borders by passage of an ordinance. - MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
allows any local jurisdiction to enact laws which are stricter than state liquor law, including completely prohibiting the sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic beverages. - MississippiMississippiMississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
is dry by default; local jurisdictions have to choose to allow liquor sales in order for liquor to be sold at all in the county. - New HampshireNew HampshireNew Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
specifically allows local jurisdictions to elect to go dry by public referendum. - New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
specifically allows local jurisdictions to exercise full control over alcoholic beverages, including completely prohibiting all alcohol. - New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
is wet by default, however dry on Sundays until Noon. It is however allowed for local jurisdictions to elect to go dry by public referendum. - New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
specifically allows cities and counties to exercise a local optionLocal OptionLocal Option is a term used to describe the freedom whereby local political jurisdictions, typically counties or municipalities, can decide by popular vote certain controversial issues within their borders. In practice, it usually relates to the issue of alcoholic beverage sales...
by public referendum whether to go dry. (see Alcohol laws of New YorkAlcohol laws of New YorkThe alcohol laws of New York are among the most lenient of any state in the Atlantic Northeast of the United States, but they remain considerably more restrictive than those of Louisiana, Missouri , Nevada, Illinois, New Mexico, and Arizona.-State Liquor Authority:The serving of alcohol in the...
) - North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
allows certain classes of local jurisdictions to exercise a local optionLocal OptionLocal Option is a term used to describe the freedom whereby local political jurisdictions, typically counties or municipalities, can decide by popular vote certain controversial issues within their borders. In practice, it usually relates to the issue of alcoholic beverage sales...
by public referendum whether to go dry. - OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
state law allows local jurisdictions to exercise a local optionLocal OptionLocal Option is a term used to describe the freedom whereby local political jurisdictions, typically counties or municipalities, can decide by popular vote certain controversial issues within their borders. In practice, it usually relates to the issue of alcoholic beverage sales...
by public referendum whether to prohibit the sale of liquor. - Rhode IslandRhode IslandThe state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
state law allows local jurisdictions to exercise a local optionLocal OptionLocal Option is a term used to describe the freedom whereby local political jurisdictions, typically counties or municipalities, can decide by popular vote certain controversial issues within their borders. In practice, it usually relates to the issue of alcoholic beverage sales...
by public referendum whether to prohibit the sale of liquor. - South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
allows certain classes of local jurisdictions to exercise a local optionLocal OptionLocal Option is a term used to describe the freedom whereby local political jurisdictions, typically counties or municipalities, can decide by popular vote certain controversial issues within their borders. In practice, it usually relates to the issue of alcoholic beverage sales...
by public referendum whether to prohibit the on-premises sale of liquor. - TennesseeAlcohol laws of TennesseeThe Alcohol laws of Tennessee are unique in that they vary considerably by county.Local government jurisdictions in Tennessee by default are dry and do not allow the sales of liquor or wine. These governments must amend the laws to allow for liquor-by-the-drink sales and retail package stores. In...
is dry by default; local jurisdictions must choose whether to allow liquor sales in order for liquor to be sold. (see Alcohol laws of TennesseeAlcohol laws of TennesseeThe Alcohol laws of Tennessee are unique in that they vary considerably by county.Local government jurisdictions in Tennessee by default are dry and do not allow the sales of liquor or wine. These governments must amend the laws to allow for liquor-by-the-drink sales and retail package stores. In...
) - TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
allows local jurisdictions to exercise a local optionLocal OptionLocal Option is a term used to describe the freedom whereby local political jurisdictions, typically counties or municipalities, can decide by popular vote certain controversial issues within their borders. In practice, it usually relates to the issue of alcoholic beverage sales...
to decide whether it is "wet" or "dry," and does not limit how that decision shall be made. - VermontVermontVermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
allows municipalities to exercise a local optionLocal OptionLocal Option is a term used to describe the freedom whereby local political jurisdictions, typically counties or municipalities, can decide by popular vote certain controversial issues within their borders. In practice, it usually relates to the issue of alcoholic beverage sales...
by public referendum whether to prohibit the sale of liquor. - VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
allows local jurisdictions to exercise a local optionLocal OptionLocal Option is a term used to describe the freedom whereby local political jurisdictions, typically counties or municipalities, can decide by popular vote certain controversial issues within their borders. In practice, it usually relates to the issue of alcoholic beverage sales...
by public referendum whether to prohibit the sale of liquor. - Washington allows local jurisdictions to exercise a local optionLocal OptionLocal Option is a term used to describe the freedom whereby local political jurisdictions, typically counties or municipalities, can decide by popular vote certain controversial issues within their borders. In practice, it usually relates to the issue of alcoholic beverage sales...
by public referendum whether to prohibit the sale of liquor. - West VirginiaWest VirginiaWest Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
allows local jurisdictions to exercise a local optionLocal OptionLocal Option is a term used to describe the freedom whereby local political jurisdictions, typically counties or municipalities, can decide by popular vote certain controversial issues within their borders. In practice, it usually relates to the issue of alcoholic beverage sales...
by public referendum whether to prohibit the sale of liquor. - WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
allows local jurisdictions to exercise a local optionLocal OptionLocal Option is a term used to describe the freedom whereby local political jurisdictions, typically counties or municipalities, can decide by popular vote certain controversial issues within their borders. In practice, it usually relates to the issue of alcoholic beverage sales...
by public referendum whether to prohibit the sale of liquor.
States that preclude dry communities
Seventeen states have laws which preclude the existence of any dry counties whatsoever:- ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
prohibits local jurisdictions from enacting any alcohol laws stricter than state law. As a result, no dry communities can exist in Arizona. - HawaiiHawaiiHawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
does not allow for any local control of liquor beyond licensing of manufacture and sale. - IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
only allows for local control as to the "number, kind and classification of licenses, for sale at retail of alcoholic liquor," but such local control cannot supersede state law, thereby preventing any local jurisdiction from going dry. - IndianaIndianaIndiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
's comprehensive state alcohol laws only allow local liquor boards to issue liquor licenses for sale and manufacture; all other regulation of alcohol is an operation of state law. - IowaIowaIowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
state law specifically requires each county's liquor board to allow liquor licenses and follow the provisions of state liquor law. As a result, there can be no dry cities or counties in Iowa. - MarylandMarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
prohibits local jurisdictions from imposing restrictions on licensing which are stricter than state law. - MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
state law specifically prohibits any counties, or unincorporated city or town from banning the retail sale of liquor, but only allows incorporated cities to ban the sale of liquor by the drink by public referendum. No incorporated Missouri cities have ever chosen to hold a referendum banning alcohol sales. In addition, Missouri state law specifically supersedes any local laws that restrict the sale of alcohol. (see Alcohol laws of MissouriAlcohol laws of MissouriThe alcohol laws of Missouri are among the most permissive in the United States when compared to other U.S. states, though Nevada's and Louisiana's are similar...
) - MontanaMontanaMontana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
state law vests control of alcoholic beverages solely in the power of the state, although county voters may, by initiative, prohibit alcohol sales. - NebraskaNebraskaNebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
only grants local governing bodies authority to approve applications and deny licenses pursuant to state law. - NevadaNevadaNevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
state law specifically requires each county's board of county commissioners to allow liquor licenses and follow the provisions of state liquor law. As a result, there can be no dry cities or counties in Nevada, except that a few rural jurisdictions are grandfatheredGrandfather clauseGrandfather clause is a legal term used to describe a situation in which an old rule continues to apply to some existing situations, while a new rule will apply to all future situations. It is often used as a verb: to grandfather means to grant such an exemption...
into the ability to still be partially or totally dry. - North DakotaNorth DakotaNorth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
state law provides that each local jurisdiction's liquor board must allow liquor licenses, and sets the range of allowable fees. - OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
state law requires the liquor ordinances of municipalities and counties to conform to the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, and prohibits local jurisdictions from enacting penalties more severe than those of the state law. As a result, there can be no dry cities or counties in Oklahoma. (see Alcohol laws of OklahomaAlcohol laws of OklahomaThe alcohol laws of Oklahoma comprehensively limit and regulate the sale of alcohol in Oklahoma. Much like its neighboring state of Kansas , Oklahoma's approach to alcohol is quite strict....
) - OregonOregonOregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
's Liquor Control Act, which is "designed to operate uniformly throughout the state," specifically replaces and supersedes "any and all municipal charter enactments or local ordinances inconsistent with it," thereby precluding dry communities in Oregon. - PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
state law vests control of alcoholic beverages solely in the power of the Commonwealth. - South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
state law vests control of alcoholic beverages exclusively in the power of the state, although counties are permitted to restrict the hours of operation of locations that sell alcohol. - UtahUtahUtah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
state law provides that local jurisdictions only may enact alcohol control legislation which does not conflict with state law, thereby precluding the ability of communities to go dry. - WyomingWyomingWyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
state law provides that each local jurisdiction's liquor board must allow liquor licenses.
Alabama
Of the 67 counties in AlabamaAlabama
Alabama is a state located 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 ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, 3 are completely dry, 23 are partially dry or "moist" (these counties contain cities that have voted to allow alcohol sales), and 41 are completely wet. Within those 23 "moist" counties, 41 city governments have legalized alcohol sales inside their city limits.
- In order for an Alabama city or county to hold a wet-dry vote, 25% of the voters in the preceding general election must sign a petition requesting a vote. A city must have a population in excess of 1,000 residents in order to have a referrendum to go wet. Petitions can be made to go from dry to wet or wet to dry.
- In dry counties, it is illegal to transport more than one case of beer and three quarts of liquor.
Alaska
- State law allows each village to decide on restrictions, and some boroughs may prohibit it altogether.
Three terms describing Alaskan Villages in common usage:
- A "Dry Village" bans both the sale and possession of alcohol.
- A "Wet Village" permits both the sale and possession of alcohol.
- A "Damp Village" permits possession of alcohol but bans the sale of it.
There is wide variation of restrictions placed on the possession and movement of alcohol in the "damp" Villages, some villages permit residents to order alcohol from stores out side the ban area and have it shipped in, while other villages require the person owning the alcohol to personally bring the alcohol into their jurisdiction.
Arkansas
- ArkansasArkansasArkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
has 75 counties, of which more than half are dry, and all alcohol sales are forbidden statewide on Sundays. The issue is more complex than that, however, since any local jurisdiction (county, municipal, etc.) can exercise control over alcohol laws via public referendum. For this reason, some cities like JacksonvilleJacksonville, ArkansasJacksonville is a city in Pulaski County, Arkansas, United States, and a suburb of Little Rock. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city was 28,364. It is part of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, are dry despite being located in a "wet" county. In nearby North Little RockNorth Little Rock, Arkansasthe city was 62.55% White, 33.98% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.18% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races...
, the distinction of areas is even more specific, with a single townshipTownshipThe word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
inside the city designated as a dry area. In Fort SmithFort Smith, ArkansasFort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
the same situation exists but with a wet city existing in an otherwise dry county. A city or municipality can elect to go dry in a wet county, but a city or municipality cannot elect to go wet in a dry county. Occasionally, in counties with two county seats, one district may be wet and the other dry, such as Sebastian and LoganLogan County, ArkansasLogan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 22,353. There are two county seats: Booneville and Paris.-History :...
Counties. - Dry counties (with county seat(s) in parentheses): Ashley (HamburgHamburg, ArkansasHamburg is a city in Ashley County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 3,039 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Ashley County.-Geography:...
), BentonBenton, ArkansasBenton is a city in and the county seat of Saline County, Arkansas, United States and a suburb of Little Rock. It was established in 1837. According to a 2006 Special Census conducted at the request of the city government, the population of the city is 27,717, ranking it as the state's 16th largest...
(BentonvilleBentonville, ArkansasBentonville, Arkansas is a city in Northwest Bahamas, and county seat of Benton County, Arkansas, United States The population was 35,301 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area...
), BradleyBradley, ArkansasBradley is a city in Lafayette County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 563 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bradley is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
(WarrenWarren, ArkansasWarren is a city in and the county seat of Bradley County, Arkansas, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimated population in 2006 was 6,219....
), ClayClay County, ArkansasClay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 16,083. The county has two county seats, Corning and Piggott...
(CorningCorning, ArkansasCorning is a city in Clay County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 3,679 at the 2000 census. It is one of the two county seats of Clay County, along with Piggott.-Geography:Corning is located at ....
/PiggottPiggott, ArkansasPiggott, Arkansas is a city in Clay County, Arkansas, one of that county's two seats . It is also the northern terminus of the Arkansas segment of Crowley's Ridge Parkway. As of the 2000 census, Piggott's population was 3,894. The town was founded by William N...
), Cleburne (Heber Springs), CraigheadCraighead County, ArkansasCraighead County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 96,443. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area. Craighead County is Arkansas's 58th county, formed on February 19, 1859, and named for state Senator Thomas...
(JonesboroJonesboro, ArkansasJonesboro is a city in and one of the two county seats of Craighead County, Arkansas, United States. According to the 2010 US Census, the population of the city was 67,263. A college town, Jonesboro is the largest city in northeastern Arkansas and the fifth most populous city in the state...
), ColumbiaColumbia County, ArkansasColumbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 24,552. The county seat is Magnolia. Columbia County was formed on December 17, 1852, and was named for Christopher Columbus...
(MagnoliaMagnolia, ArkansasMagnolia is a city in Columbia County, Arkansas, United States, that was founded in 1853. At the time of its incorporation in 1858, the city had a population of about 1,950. The city grew slowly as an agricultural and regional cotton market until the discovery of oil just east of the city in March,...
), Crawford (Van BurenVan Buren, ArkansasVan Buren is the second largest city in the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area and the county seat of Crawford County, Arkansas, United States. The city is located directly northeast of Fort Smith at the Interstate 40 - Interstate 540 junction...
), Faulkner (ConwayConway, ArkansasConway is the county seat of Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 58,908 at the 2010 census, making Conway the seventh most populous city in Arkansas. It is a principal city of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area which had...
), Fulton (SalemSalem, Fulton County, ArkansasSalem is a city in Fulton County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2000 census the population stood at 1,591. Salem was first incorporated in 1900.-Geography:Salem is located at ....
), Grant (SheridanSheridan, ArkansasSheridan is the largest city and county seat in Grant County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 3,872 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area. .-History:Robert W...
), Hempstead (HopeHope, ArkansasHope is a small city in Hempstead County, Arkansas, United States. According to 2008 United States Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 10,378...
), Hot Spring (MalvernMalvern, ArkansasMalvern is the county seat of Hot Spring County, Arkansas. The city had a population of 10,318 at the time of the 2010 census and is also called the "Brick Capital of the World" because of the three Acme Brick plants in the area...
), HowardHoward County, ArkansasHoward County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 13,789. The county seat is Nashville. Howard County is Arkansas's 74th county, formed on April 17, 1873, and named for James Howard, a state senator...
(NashvilleNashville, ArkansasNashville is a city in Howard County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 4,878 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Howard County....
), Independence (BatesvilleBatesville, ArkansasBatesville is the county seat and largest city of Independence County, Arkansas, United States, 80 miles northeast of Little Rock, the state capital. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 9,556...
), Izard (MelbourneMelbourne, ArkansasMelbourne is a city in Izard County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,673 at the 2000 census. The town is the county seat of Izard County, and home to the main campus of Ozarka College.-Geography:Melbourne is located at ....
), Johnson (ClarksvilleClarksville, ArkansasClarksville is a city in Johnson County, Arkansas, United States. The population was approximately 9,300 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Johnson County.. Clarksville is nestled between the Arkansas River and the foot hills of the Ozark Mountains and Interstate 40 and US Hwy 64...
), Lafayette (LewisvilleLewisville, ArkansasLewisville is a city in Lafayette County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,285 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Lafayette County.-Geography:Lewisville is located at ....
), Lawrence (Walnut Ridge/PowhatanPowhatan, ArkansasPowhatan is a town in Lawrence County, Arkansas, United States, along the Black River. The population was 50 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Powhatan is located at ....
), LincolnLincoln County, ArkansasLincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas and is included in the Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population is 14,134. The county seat is Star City. Lincoln County is Arkansas's 65th county, formed on March 28, 1871, and named for Abraham Lincoln,...
(Star CityStar City, ArkansasStar City is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,471 at the 2000 census. It is included in the 'Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area'.-Geography:...
), Little RiverLittle River County, ArkansasLittle River County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 13,171. The county seat is Ashdown. Little River County is Arkansas's 59th county, formed from Sevier County on March 5, 1867, and named for the Little River...
(AshdownAshdown, ArkansasAshdown is a city in Little River County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 4,781 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Little River County.-Geography:Ashdown is located at ....
), Southern LoganLogan County, ArkansasLogan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 22,353. There are two county seats: Booneville and Paris.-History :...
(BoonevilleBooneville, ArkansasBooneville is a city in Logan County, Arkansas, United States, and the county seat of its southern district. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 4,082....
), Lonoke (Lonoke), MadisonMadison County, ArkansasMadison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 15,717. The county seat is Huntsville. The county was formed on September 30, 1836, and named for James Madison, President of the United States...
(HuntsvilleHuntsville, ArkansasHuntsville is a city in mountainous Madison County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,046 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Madison County. During the American Civil War it was the site of what became known as the Huntsville Massacre...
), MontgomeryMontgomery County, ArkansasMontgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 9,487. The county seat is Mount Ida. Montgomery County is Arkansas's 45th county, formed on December 9, 1842, and named after Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War...
(Mt. IdaMount Ida, ArkansasMount Ida is a city in Montgomery County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 981 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is known as the quartz crystal capital of the U.S...
), NewtonNewton County, ArkansasNewton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population is 8,330. The county seat is Jasper. Newton County is Arkansas's 46th county, formed on December 14, 1842, and named for Thomas W. Newton, an Arkansas Congressman...
(JasperJasper, ArkansasJasper is a city in Newton County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 498 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Newton County.Jasper is part of the Harrison Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
), Perry (PerryvillePerryville, ArkansasPerryville is a city in and the county seat of Perry County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,458 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
), PikePike County, ArkansasPike County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 11,291. The county seat is Murfreesboro. Pike County is Arkansas's 25th county, formed on November 1, 1833, and named for Lieutenant Zebulon Pike, the explorer who discovered Pikes Peak...
(MurfreesboroMurfreesboro, ArkansasMurfreesboro is a city in Pike County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,764 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Pike County....
), Polk (MenaMena, ArkansasMena is a city in Polk County, Arkansas, United States. It is also the county seat of Polk County.It was founded by Arthur Edward Stilwell during the building of the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad . It was Stilwell who decided Mena would be the name of this new town along the route to...
), Pope (RussellvilleRussellville, ArkansasRussellville is the county seat and largest city in Pope County, Arkansas, United States, with a population of 27,920, according to the 2010 Census. It is home to Arkansas Tech University and Arkansas Nuclear One, Arkansas' only nuclear power plant...
), Randolph (PocahontasPocahontas, ArkansasPocahontas is a city in Randolph County, Arkansas, United States, along the Black River. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, its population of the city is 6,765. The city is the county seat of Randolph County....
), Saline (BentonBenton, ArkansasBenton is a city in and the county seat of Saline County, Arkansas, United States and a suburb of Little Rock. It was established in 1837. According to a 2006 Special Census conducted at the request of the city government, the population of the city is 27,717, ranking it as the state's 16th largest...
), Scott (WaldronWaldron, ArkansasWaldron is a city in Scott County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 3,508 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Scott County.-Geography:Waldron is located at ....
), Searcy (MarshallMarshall, ArkansasMarshall is a city in Searcy County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,313 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Searcy County. Marshall was incorporated in 1884.-Geography:Marshall is located at ....
), Southern Sebastian (GreenwoodGreenwood, ArkansasGreenwood is a city in and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States, perhaps best known locally for its Arkansas high school football...
), Sevier (De QueenDe Queen, ArkansasDe Queen is a city and the county seat of Sevier County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 5,765 at the 2000 census.-Geography:De Queen is located at ....
), SharpSharp County, Arkansas-External links:*...
(HardyHardy, ArkansasHardy is a city in Sharp and Fulton counties in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The population was 578 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hardy is located at .The Spring River, which begins in Mammoth Spring, flows through Hardy...
/Evening ShadeEvening Shade, ArkansasEvening Shade is a town in Sharp County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 465 at the 2000 census. The town was fictionalized in a television situation comedy starring Burt Reynolds and entitled Evening Shade in the U.S.-Geography:...
), Stone (Mountain ViewMountain View, ArkansasMountain View is the largest city in and the county seat of Stone County in the north-central region of the U.S. state of Arkansas. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 2,998. The town's name comes from its location in a valley surrounded by the eastern Ozark...
), Van Buren (ClintonClinton, ArkansasClinton is the county seat of Van Buren County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,283 at the 2000 census. The city was named for DeWitt Clinton, the New York governor who built the Erie Canal; he previously was also a U.S. Senator from New York. Clinton is located at...
), WhiteWhite County, ArkansasWhite County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 77,076. The county seat is Searcy. White County is Arkansas's 31st county, formed on October 23, 1835, from portions of Independence, Jackson, and Pulaski counties and named for Hugh Lawson White, a...
(SearcySearcy, ArkansasSearcy is the largest city and county seat of White County, Arkansas, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 20,663. It is the principal city of the Searcy, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of White County...
), and YellYell County, ArkansasYell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 22,185. The county has two county seats, Dardanelle and Danville...
(Dardanelle/DanvilleDanville, ArkansasDanville is a city in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,392 at the 2000 census. Along with Dardanelle, it is one of two county seats for Yell County.Danville is part of the Russellville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
). - Wet counties (with county seat(s) in parentheses): Arkansas (De Witt/Stuttgart), Baxter (Mountain Home), Boone (Harrison), Carroll (Berryville/Eureka Springs), Chicot (Lake Village), Clark (Arkadelphia), Cleveland (Rison), Conway (Morrillton), Crittenden (Marion), Cross (Wynne), Desha (Arkansas City), Dallas (Fordyce), Drew (Monticello), Franklin (Ozark/Charleston), Garland (Hot Springs), Greene (Paragould), Jackson (Newport), Jefferson (Pine Bluff), northern Logan (Paris), Marion (Yellville), Miller (Texarkana), Mississippi (Osceola/Blytheville), Monroe (Clarendon), Ouachita (Camden), Phillips (Helena), Poinsett (Harrisburg), Prairie (Des Arc/De Valls Bluff), Pulaski (Little Rock), St. Francis (Forrest City), northern Sebastian (Fort Smith), Union (El Dorado), Washington (Fayetteville), and Woodruff (Augusta).
Connecticut
- BridgewaterBridgewater, ConnecticutBridgewater is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,824 at the 2000 census. It is the only remaining dry town in Connecticut.-Geography:...
is the last remaining "dry town" in the state. - While not legally "dry", alcoholic beverages are also not sold anywhere in EastonEaston, ConnecticutEaston is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 7,490 at the 2010 census. Easton contains the historic district of Aspetuck....
. - Connecticut does not allow sales of liquor, beer, or wine from 9pm to 8am from a package store, nor on Sundays and on certain holidays. An exception is made if a national holiday falls on a Monday or a Saturday. However, there are discussions on whether to legalize this sale.
Florida
There are four dry counties in FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
:
- Lafayette CountyLafayette County, FloridaLafayette County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 7,022. It is the second least populated county in the state, having one more resident, according to the 2000 census, than Liberty County, Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is...
- Liberty CountyLiberty County, FloridaLiberty County is a county located in the state of Florida. Its population was estimated in 2005 as 7,733. Its most populous incorporated area and county seat is Bristol....
- Madison CountyMadison County, FloridaMadison County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 18,733. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 19,902. Its county seat is Madison, Florida. Madison County is one of Florida's five dry counties....
- Washington CountyWashington County, FloridaWashington County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 20,973. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 22,299. Its county seat is Chipley, Florida...
On August 16, 2011 Suwannee County
Suwannee County, Florida
Suwannee County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 34,844. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 38,624 . Its county seat is Live Oak, Florida. Suwannee County was a dry county until August, 2011.....
voted by a margin of 7489 for becoming wet to 3612 for remaining dry, and by 7576 for sales by the package and drink to 2079 for sales by the package only.
Georgia
Georgia prohibits the sale of alcohol on Sundays at retail locations, and has limits on the sale of alcohol at bars and restaurants.- Brooks CountyBrooks County, GeorgiaBrooks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 16,243. The county seat is Quitman...
prohibits the sale of alcohol except beer and wine, with no sales on Sunday. The city of QuitmanQuitman, GeorgiaThis article is about the Georgia city. For the county in the same state see Quitman County, Georgia.Quitman is a city in Brooks County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,638 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Brooks County....
, within Brooks CountyBrooks County, GeorgiaBrooks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 16,243. The county seat is Quitman...
, has allowed the sale of alcohol other than beer and wine in restaurants only since 2005. The new law was passed by Quitman voters despite fierce opposition from local religious and community leaders. - Bulloch CountyBulloch County, GeorgiaBulloch County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 8, 1796. Bulloch County has undergone rapid growth in recent years. As of 2000, the population was 55,983. The 2009 Census Estimate showed a population of 69,213. The county seat is Statesboro.In...
was previously a partially dry county, but a referendum in 1998 removed the ban on alcoholic beverages. - Butts County, GeorgiaButts County, GeorgiaButts County is a county located in the northern half of the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 24, 1825. As of 2000, the population was 19,522. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 23,759...
prohibits the sale of Liquor . Sells only Beer and Wine - Coweta CountyCoweta County, GeorgiaCoweta County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 89,215. The 2009 Census Estimate placed the population at 131,936...
is a partially dry county. - Dawson CountyDawson County, GeorgiaDawson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 3, 1857 from Gilmer and Lumpkin counties. As of 2000, the population is 15,999. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 21,484...
, was historically noted for being a heavy MoonshineMoonshineMoonshine is an illegally produced distilled beverage...
county but was a dry county until recently with the first package store opening on July 27, 2007. - Dodge CountyDodge County, GeorgiaDodge County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 19,171. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 20,042. The county seat is Eastman. Dodge County lies in the Historic South region of Georgia, an area that has architectural wonders and shows the...
is a partially dry county. - Effingham CountyEffingham County, GeorgiaEffingham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. In the United States Census of 2000, the population was 37,535. The Census Bureau's 2008 estimate estimates that this figure has grown to 52,060. The seat of Effingham County is Springfield....
, near Savannah, GeorgiaSavannah, GeorgiaSavannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, is a partially dry county. Sale of liquor is prohibited, but the sale of beer and wine is allowed. - Fannin CountyFannin County, GeorgiaFannin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on January 21, 1854. As of 2000, the population was 19,798. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 22,580...
is a partially dry county, allowing for the sale of beer in restaurants only. - Franklin CountyFranklin County, GeorgiaFranklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It became Georgia's ninth county, incorporating on February 25, 1784, and was named in honor of patriot Benjamin Franklin...
is a dry county, though several towns within the county are not. - Murray CountyMurray County, GeorgiaMurray County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 36,506. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 40,664. The county seat is Chatsworth.It is part of the Dalton, Georgia, Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, in northwest GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, is a dry county, although the city of EtonEton, GeorgiaEton is a town in Murray County, Georgia, United States. It is part of the Dalton, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 319 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Eton is located at ....
allows the sale of liquor at a local level. - Hart CountyHart County, GeorgiaHart County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created December 7, 1853. As of 2000, the population was 22,997. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 24,240. The county seat is Hartwell....
in northeast Georgia is currently a dry county which prohibits the sale of liquor, yet a referendum was voted on in the general election on November 6, 2007 to allow the sale of liquor by the drink. - Upson CountyUpson County, GeorgiaUpson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is a part of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area . It was created on December 15, 1824. As of 2000, the population was 27,597. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 27,562...
is a dry county. - White CountyWhite County, GeorgiaWhite County is a county located in the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 22, 1857, from part of Habersham County. The county was named for Newton County Representative David T. White, who helped a Habersham representative successfully attain passage of an...
, in northeast GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, is a dry county except in the city limits of Helen, GeorgiaHelen, GeorgiaHelen is a city located on the Chattahoochee River in White County in the north of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the city's population was 420.-History:...
and beer and wine outside of the city limits of Cleveland, Georgia (effective January 1, 2009).
Illinois
- The village of South Holland, IllinoisSouth Holland, IllinoisSouth Holland is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States and serves as the seat of Thornton Township. The population was 22,147 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, has been a dry municipality since it was founded by Dutch ReformedDutch Reformed ChurchThe Dutch Reformed Church was a Reformed Christian denomination in the Netherlands. It existed from the 1570s to 2004, the year it merged with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands to form the Protestant Church in the...
immigrants in 1894. It is likely that IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
state law, which requires all communities to abide by the state liquor law, supersedes this law (see overview).
Kansas
KansasKansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
had prohibition longer than any other state (except Mississippi), from 1881 to 1948, and continued to prohibit bars selling liquor by the drink until 1987. Both the 1948 amendment to the Kansas Constitution
Wyandotte Constitution
The present Constitution of the State of Kansas was originally known as the Wyandotte Constitution to distinguish it from three proposed constitutions that preceded it...
which ended prohibition and the 1986 amendment which allowed for open saloons provided that the amendments only would be in effect in counties which had approved the respective amendments, either during the election over the amendment itself or subsequently.
All counties in Kansas have approved the 1948 amendment, but 29 dry counties never approved the 1986 amendment and therefore continue to prohibit any and all sale of liquor by the drink. Public bars (so-called "open saloons") are illegal in these dry counties. Another 59 counties (including Johnson County
Johnson County, Kansas
Johnson County is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the central United States. The county is largely suburban, being part of the Kansas City metropolitan area, and containing many of its affluent southwestern suburbs. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 544,179. Its county...
, the largest county in Kansas and the largest Kansas portion of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area
Kansas City Metropolitan Area
The Kansas City Metropolitan Area is a fifteen-county metropolitan area that is anchored by Kansas City, Missouri and is bisected by the border between the states of Missouri and Kansas. As of the 2010 Census, the metropolitan area has a population of 2,035,334. The metropolitan area is the...
) approved the 1986 amendment but with a requirement that to sell liquor by the drink, an establishment must receive 30% of its gross revenues from food sales. Only 17 counties in Kansas approved the 1986 amendment without any limitation, allowing liquor to be sold by the drink without any food sales requirement.
Kentucky
Of the 120 counties in KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, 43 are completely dry, 45 are considered partially dry or "moist", 32 are entirely wet, and one is classified as wet but is actually closer to "moist."
Massachusetts
- The following towns in Massachusetts are dry, as of 10 October 2011: AlfordAlford, MassachusettsAlford is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 494 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, ChilmarkChilmark, MassachusettsChilmark is a town located on Martha's Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 843 at the 2000 census. The fishing village of Menemsha is located on the northern end of town along its border with the neighboring town of Aquinnah...
, DunstableDunstable, MassachusettsDunstable is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,179 at the 2010 census.-Etymology:Dunstable was named after its sister town Dunstable, UK....
, GosnoldGosnold, MassachusettsGosnold is a town that encompasses the Elizabeth Islands in Dukes County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 75, making it the least populous town in Massachusetts...
, HawleyHawley, MassachusettsHawley is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 337 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, MontgomeryMontgomery, MassachusettsMontgomery is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 838 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, Mt WashingtonMount Washington, MassachusettsMount Washington is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 130 at the 2000 census, making it the smallest town in Berkshire County and, after Gosnold and Monroe, the third smallest in...
, West TisburyWest Tisbury, MassachusettsWest Tisbury is a town located on Martha's Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,467 at the 2000 census. Along with Chilmark and Aquinnah, West Tisbury forms "Up-Island" Martha's Vineyard.- History :...
, and WesthamptonWesthampton, MassachusettsWesthampton is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,607 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
. - RockportRockport, MassachusettsRockport is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,952 at the 2010 census. Rockport is located approximately 25 miles northeast of Boston at the tip of the Cape Ann peninsula...
is a formerly dry town which became moist three years ago. The town now issues liquor licenses to full service restaurants. Alcohol may only be served to patrons who are consuming a full meal, and there are no bars in the town. There are also no stores which sell beer wine or liquor in the town of Rockport, as the town still prohibits retail of all alcoholic beverages.
- TisburyTisbury, MassachusettsTisbury is a town located on Martha's Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,755 at the 2000 census.Vineyard Haven is the main village/town center of Tisbury. The two names are used interchangeably...
is also a formerly dry town which became moist after voters passed a motion at the Tisbury town election on April 27, 2010. Like in Rockport, alcoholic beverages may only be served to patrons who are consuming a full meal.
Michigan
- HudsonvilleHudsonville, MichiganHudsonville is a city in Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 7,160.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,160 people, 2,514 households, and 1,920 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,729.1 per square mile...
voted to allow alcohol sales on November 6, 2007, ending its run as the last dry city in Michigan. Hudsonville's vote follows the precedent of voters in both ZeelandZeeland, MichiganZeeland is a city in Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,805 at the 2000 census. The city is located at the western edge of Zeeland Charter Township which is politically independent. Its name is derived from the Dutch province of Zeeland...
, and Allendale Charter TownshipAllendale Charter Township, MichiganAllendale Charter Township is a charter township of Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 20,708...
, choosing to overturn their bans on alcohol sales to adults age 21 and older in recent years.
Minnesota
- LakesideLakeside - Lester Park (Duluth)Lakeside – Lester Park is a neighborhood in Duluth, Minnesota, United States.London Road, Superior Street, and Glenwood Street serve as main arterial routes in the community.Lester Park also refers to a large park within the neighborhood...
, a neighborhood within DuluthDuluth, MinnesotaDuluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
, MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, prohibits the sale of alcohol even though it is part of a larger municipality. This was part of its charter when it was incorporated into Duluth in 1893. An advisory referendum to overturn the prohibition failed by one vote (2858 to 2857) in November 2008. - MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
prohibits the sale of liquor in liquor stores (off-sale) on Sundays, however, bars and restaurants may sell liquor on Sundays for on-premises consumption. However, 3.2% alcohol beer is allowed for sale on Sundays in convenience and grocery stores. - No alcohol is sold on the Red Lake Indian ReservationRed Lake Indian ReservationThe Red Lake Indian Reservation covers 1,258.62 sq mi in parts of nine counties in northern Minnesota, United States. It is divided into many pieces, although the largest piece is centered about Red Lake, in north-central Minnesota, the largest lake entirely within that state. This section lies...
Nevada
- The town of Panaca, NevadaPanaca, NevadaPanaca is a town in eastern Lincoln County, Nevada, on State Route 319, about 1 mile east of U.S. Route 93, near the border with Utah. Its elevation is 4,729 feet .-History:...
, was southern NevadaNevadaNevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
's first permanent settlement, founded as a MormonMormonThe term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
colony in 1864. It originally was part of Washington County, UtahWashington County, UtahAs of the census of 2000, there were 90,354 people, 29,939 households, and 23,442 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile . There were 36,478 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
, but the Congressional redrawing of boundaries in 1866 shifted Panaca into NevadaNevadaNevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. It remains Nevada's only dry municipality, only because it is grandfathered into state law.
New Jersey
- Ocean CityOcean City, New JerseyOcean City is a city in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is the principal city of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Cape May County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 11,701...
, a major beach-side resort, is dry, and uses this fact to promote itself to tourists as family-friendly. Wildwood CrestWildwood Crest, New JerseyWildwood Crest is a borough in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 United States Census, the borough population was 3,980....
is also dry, although WildwoodWildwood, New JerseyWildwood is a city in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area and is a popular summer resort destination. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's year-round population was 5,325...
itself is not. - There are several other dry communities in the southern part of the state, mostly a result of Quaker influence, including CollingswoodCollingswood, New JerseyCollingswood is a borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 13,926....
, HaddonfieldHaddonfield, New JerseyHaddonfield is a borough located in Camden County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough had a total population of 11,593....
, Haddon HeightsHaddon Heights, New JerseyHaddon Heights is a borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population is 7,473....
and Island HeightsIsland Heights, New JerseyIsland Heights is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 1,673....
. Moorestown was completely dry until 2011, when it voted to allow liquor sales only at the Moorestown MallMoorestown MallThe Moorestown Mall is a shopping mall in Moorestown Township, New Jersey, owned by Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust.Originally opened for business in 1963, Moorestown Mall underwent a partial renovation in 1986 and was totally renovated in 1993 and 1994 after a fire in the northeast...
.
New York
- In 2007, referendums were placed on the ballots of two dry and two moist towns, asking the voters to allow the towns to become "wet". PotterPotter, New YorkPotter is a town in Yates County, New York, in the United States. The Town of Potter is located in the northwest part of the county and is south of Canandaigua, NY. The population was 1,830 at the 2000 census.- History :...
, which was previously dry, voted to go wet. MinaMina, New YorkMina is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, USA. The population was 1,176 at the 2000 census.The Town of Mina is at the western county border. The town is best known as a summer resort area...
, which was moist, voted to go wet. BovinaBovina, New YorkBovina is a town in Delaware County, New York, USA. The population was 664 at the 2000 census. The town name is derived from the traditional bovine dairy economy. Bovina is an interior town in the eastern part of the county.- History :...
, which was previously dry, voted to become moist. FranklinFranklin, New YorkFranklin, New York may refer to:* Franklin, Franklin County, New York* Franklin , New York, in Delaware County* Franklin , New York, in Delaware County's town of Franklin...
, which was moist, voted to stay moist. - After this latest vote, there remain ten towns in New York state that are completely dry, including NeversinkNeversink, New YorkNeversink is a town in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 3,553 at the 2000 census.The Town of Neversink is in the northeast corner of the county...
, established 1798, in Sullivan County. - The other "dry" towns in the state are: CaneadeaCaneadea, New YorkCaneadea is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 2,694 at the 2000 census. The name is from the natives and means "where the heavens rest on earth."The Town of Caneadea is in the northwest quadrant of the county....
in Allegany County, ClymerClymer, New YorkClymer is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 1,501 at the 2000 census. The town is named for George Clymer, a signer of the Declaration of Independence....
and HarmonyHarmony, New YorkHarmony is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 2,339 at the 2000 census.The Town of Harmony is on the south border of the county and southwest of Jamestown, New York.- History :First settlement began around 1809....
in Chautauqua County, LapeerLapeer, New YorkLapeer is a town in Cortland County, New York, United States. The population was 686 at the 2000 census.The Town of Lapeer is on the south border of Cortland County and is south of the City of Cortland.- History :...
in Cortland County, OrwellOrwell, New YorkOrwell is a town in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 1,254 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Orwell, Vermont.The Town of Orwell is in the north-central part of the county.- History :...
in Oswego County, FremontFremont, Steuben County, New YorkFremont is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 964 at the 2000 census. The town is named after General John Fremont.The Town of Fremont is in the western part of Steuben County, northeast of Hornell, New York....
and JasperJasper, New YorkJasper is a town located in Steuben County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,270. The name is that of a military hero at Fort Moultrie, William Jasper....
in Steuben County, BerkshireBerkshire, New YorkBerkshire is a town in Tioga County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, it had a population of 1,366. The town is named after Berkshire County, Massachusetts....
in Tioga County and ArgyleArgyle, New YorkArgyle, New York, refers to one of the following two locations in New York State:*Argyle , New York, which includes*Argyle , New York...
in Washington County. - The town of West Almond, New YorkWest Almond, New YorkWest Almond is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 353 at the 2000 census.The Town of West Almond is centrally located in the eastern part of the county and is west of Hornell, New York.- History :...
does not allow off-premises consumption, while the towns of FreedomFreedom, New YorkFreedom is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 2,493 at the 2000 census.The Town of Freedom is in the northeast corner of the Cattaraugus County.- History :The first settlers arrived around 1811....
, HartfordHarford, New YorkHarford is a town in Cortland County, New York, United States. The population was 920 at the 2000 census.The Town of Harford is in the southwest part of Cortland County and is south of the City of Cortland.- History :...
, FranklinFranklin, New YorkFranklin, New York may refer to:* Franklin, Franklin County, New York* Franklin , New York, in Delaware County* Franklin , New York, in Delaware County's town of Franklin...
, SenecaSeneca, New YorkSeneca is a town in Ontario County, New York, United States. United States. The population was 2,731 at the 2000 census. The town is named after a group of local natives....
, CatonCaton, New YorkCaton is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 2,097 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Richard Caton.The Town of Caton is in the southeast part of the county, south of Corning, New York.- History :...
, RathboneRathbone, New YorkRathbone is a town in Steuben County, New York, in the United States. The population was 1,080 at the 2000 census. The name comes from early settler, General Ransom Rathbone....
, Newark ValleyNewark Valley, New YorkNewark Valley may refer to:* Newark Valley , New York* Newark Valley , New York* Newark Valley...
, ButlerButler, New YorkButler is a town in Wayne County, New York, United States. The population was 2,277 at the 2000 census.The Town of Butler is on the east border of the county and is west of Syracuse, New York.- History :Settlement began in 1803....
, RoseRose, New YorkRose is a town in Wayne County, New York, United States. The population was 2,442 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Robert S. Rose, an early landowner of the town....
, PikePike, New YorkPike, New York is the name of two locations in Wyoming County, New York:*Pike , New York*Pike , New York...
, WethersfieldWethersfield, New YorkWethersfield is a town in Wyoming County, New York, United States. The population was 891 at the 2000 census.The Town of Wethersfield is centrally located in the county.- History :...
and MiddlesexMiddlesex, New YorkMiddlesex is a town in Yates County, New York, USA. The population was 1,345 at the 2000 census. The name comes from a location in England.The Town of Middlesex is on the northwest corner of the county and is south of Canandaigua, NY.- History :...
do not allow on-premises consumption. - The towns of EssexEssex, New YorkEssex is a town in Essex County, New York, United States overlooking Lake Champlain. The population was 713 at the 2000 census. The town is named after locations in England.The Town of Essex is on the eastern edge of the county...
, BovinaBovina, New YorkBovina is a town in Delaware County, New York, USA. The population was 664 at the 2000 census. The town name is derived from the traditional bovine dairy economy. Bovina is an interior town in the eastern part of the county.- History :...
, GorhamGorham, New YorkGorham is a town in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 3,776 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Nathaniel Gorham.The Town of Gorham is at the south border of the county, southeast of Canandaigua, NY.- History :...
, RichfordRichford, New YorkRichford is a town in Tioga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,170 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Ezekial Rich, an early settler and benefactor of the town....
, OrangevilleOrangeville, New YorkOrangeville is a town in Wyoming County, New York, United States. The population was 1,301 at the 2000 census.The Town of Orangeville is centrally located in the county. U.S. Route 20A passes across the town.- History :...
, and BarringtonBarrington, New YorkBarrington is a town in Yates County, New York, United States. The population was 1,396 at the 2000 census.The Town of Barrington is located in the south part of the county and is south of Geneva, New York.- History :...
do not allow on-premises consumption except in year-round hotels.
North Carolina
- North Carolina does not allow alcohol sales between 2am and 7am Monday through Saturday or before noon on Sundays.
- One of North Carolina's 100 counties is "dry." However, individual towns may pass ordinances (via referendum) that may allow alcohol sales in one form or another even if the county itself is dry. Most counties, such as WakeWake County, North CarolinaWake County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 900,993 making it North Carolina's second most populated county...
and MecklenburgMecklenburg County, North Carolina-Air:The county's primary commercial aviation airport is Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte.- Intercity rail :With twenty-five freight trains a day, Mecklenburg is a freight railroad transportation center, largely due to its place on the NS main line between Washington and Atlanta...
, allow alcohol sales of any type anywhere in the county, eliminating the potential need for any town or city within its boundary to do so. - Town and city ordinances concerning alcohol sales may be more liberal than the county's, but may not be more restrictive.
- The only county where alcohol sales are not permitted at all (even in town) is Graham CountyGraham County, North Carolina-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,993 people, 3,354 households, and 2,411 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile . There were 5,084 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
.
Ohio
- The city of WestervilleWesterville, OhioWesterville, once known as "The Dry Capital of the World", is a city in Franklin and Delaware counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 35,318 at the 2000 census.-Early history:...
, OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, was dry for more than a century. Once the home of the Anti-Saloon LeagueAnti-Saloon LeagueThe Anti-Saloon League was the leading organization lobbying for prohibition in the United States in the early 20th century. It was a key component of the Progressive Era, and was strongest in the South and rural North, drawing heavy support from pietistic Protestant ministers and their...
and called the "dry capital of the world", the first legal drink in recent times was served in 2006. - The village of BethelBethel, OhioBethel is a village in Clermont County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,637 at the 2000 census.Bethel was founded in 1798 by Obed Denham, in what was then the Northwest Territory....
in Clermont CountyClermont County, OhioClermont County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States, just east of Cincinnati. As of 2010, the population was 197,363. Its county seat is Batavia...
has been dry since the repeal of prohibition. But recently, through use of the single precinct vote system, precincts A and C can now sell (but not serve) alcohol. Business must first be put onto the ballot and voted into permitation. - Lawrence CountyLawrence County, OhioAs of the census of 2000, there were 62,319 people, 24,732 households, and 17,807 families residing in the county. The population density was 137 people per square mile . There were 27,189 housing units at an average density of 60 per square mile...
is dry but individual towns can choose to allow sales of alcohol. - Hartville, OhioHartville, OhioHartville is a village in Stark County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,174 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Canton–Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, is a dry city. - Albany, OhioAlbany, OhioAlbany is a village in Athens County, Ohio, United States. The population was 808 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Albany is located at ....
is a dry town. - Adams CountyAdams County, OhioAs of the census of 2000, there were 27,330 people, 10,501 households, and 7,613 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 11,822 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
besides ManchesterManchester, OhioManchester is a village in Adams County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 2,043....
and GreenGreen, OhioGreen is a suburban city in Summit County, Ohio, United States. The population was 25,699 at the 2010 census. It is located almost exactly midway between the cities of Akron and Canton, although it is part of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
Townships are dry. But recently, through use of the single precinct vote system, a precinct in SeamanSeaman, OhioSeaman is a village in Adams County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,039 at the 2000 census.Seaman is served by North Adams High School, the Adams County/Ohio Valley School District, and the North Adams Public Library, a branch of the Adams County Public Library...
and PeeblesPeebles, OhioPeebles is a village in Adams County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,739 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
can now sell (but not serve) alcohol.
Oregon
- The city of Monmouth, OregonMonmouth, Oregon- History :Monmouth was settled in 1853 by a group of pioneers who made a point of allocating to build both a city and a "college under the auspices of the Christian Church" and proceeds from the sale of these lands were used to found Monmouth University. By the early 1880s the college fell on...
, was the last dry municipality on the Pacific coast outside of AlaskaAlaskaAlaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
until it repealed its prohibition on January 10, 2003. OregonOregonOregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
state law now prohibits any dry community from existing (see below). - Throughout the state of Oregon, beer, wine, wine coolers, malt liquorMalt liquorMalt liquor is a North American term referring to a type of beer with high alcohol content. In legal statutes, the term often includes any alcoholic beverage above or equal to 5% alcohol by volume made with malted barley. In common parlance, however, it is used for high-alcohol beers made with...
and similar beverages may be purchased in a convenience store, grocery store and similar outlets. However, sales of "hard" liquor are restricted to state-controlled outlets, as well as bars, or restaurants that include a bar. As such, there are relatively few stand-alone liquor stores in Oregon (for example, as of March 18, 2008, there were only 35 stand-alone liquor stores in the city of Portland, OregonPortland, OregonPortland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, which had a 2000 population of 529,000 residents). Oregon also has taverns that sell beer and wine only. All outlets selling "hard" liquor are subject to the rules and regulations of the state-run Oregon Liquor Control CommissionOregon Liquor Control CommissionThe Oregon Liquor Control Commission is a government agency of the U.S. state of Oregon. The OLCC was created by an act of the Oregon Legislative Assembly in 1933, days after the repeal of prohibition, as a means of providing control over the distribution, sales and consumption of alcoholic...
(OLCC). By law, any establishment wishing to sell any alcoholic beverage in the state of Oregon must also offer food for sale, including bars, taverns, music venues, fairs and festivals, and so-called strip clubStrip clubA strip club is an adult entertainment venue in which striptease or other erotic or exotic dance is regularly performed. Strip clubs typically adopt a nightclub or bar style, but can also adopt a theatre or cabaret-style....
s. Oregon is one of 18 states that directly control the sales of alcohol beverages in the U.S.
Pennsylvania
- The state has a number of dry municipalities, but no dry counties.
- In PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, sales of alcoholic beverages are prohibited in grocery and convenience stores. Non-alcoholic beer can be bought in these stores, but even then, purchasers must be at least 21 years of age. - Beer, wine and spirits are available for on-premises consumption at bars, taverns and restaurants; no single bottles or cans can be sold to drink off premises. Every bar, tavern and restaurant must purchase a state-issued "liquor license" to be legally permitted to serve alcohol.
- Unopened six-packs of beer can be sold "to-go" by bars, taverns, and certain restaurants.
- Bottles of wine and spirits are only available in state owned/operated liquor stores. See the Pennsylvania Liquor Control BoardPennsylvania Liquor Control BoardThe Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is an independent government agency that manages the beverage alcohol industry in Pennsylvania. It is responsible for licensing the possession, sale, storage, transportation, importation, and manufacture of wine, spirits, and malt or brewed beverages in the...
. - Cases and kegs of beer are sold only by state-licensed independent beer distributors.
South Carolina
- South Carolina does not allow the sale of alcohol on Sundays. However, counties and cities can permit beer and wine sales if the citizens vote for them in a referendum. Seven counties currently allow Sunday beer and wine sales: Richland, Lexington, Georgetown, Charleston, Beaufort, Horry, and York. Cities and towns that have passed laws allowing Sunday beer and wine sales include Columbia, Spartanburg, Greenville, Aiken, Rock Hill, Summerville, Santee, Daniel Island and Tega Cay.
South Dakota
- Shannon CountyShannon County, South DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 12,466 people, 2,785 households, and 2,353 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile . There were 3,123 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
which is located entirely within the Pine Ridge Indian ReservationPine Ridge Indian ReservationThe Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is an Oglala Sioux Native American reservation located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Originally included within the territory of the Great Sioux Reservation, Pine Ridge was established in 1889 in the southwest corner of South Dakota on the Nebraska border...
is a dry county, taxes on alcohol consumed within the county go to other counties.
Tennessee
- The consolidated city-countyConsolidated city-countyIn United States local government, a consolidated city–county is a city and county that have been merged into one unified jurisdiction. As such it is simultaneously a city, which is a municipal corporation, and a county, which is an administrative division of a state...
government of LynchburgLynchburg, TennesseeLynchburg is a city in the south-central region of the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is governed by a consolidated city-county government unit whose boundaries coincide with those of Moore County. Lynchburg is best known as the location of the Jack Daniel's distillery, whose famous whiskey is...
and Moore County, TennesseeTennesseeTennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, is a dry county, notwithstanding that it is home to the Jack Daniel'sJack Daniel'sJack Daniel's is a brand of sour mash Tennessee whiskey that is among the world's best-selling liquors. It is known for its square bottles and black label. As of November, 2007, one blogger was claiming that it was the best-selling whiskey in the world. It is produced in Lynchburg, Tennessee by...
distillery. (A special state law allows the distillery to sell small, commemorative bottles of Jack Daniel's whiskey to tourists, but not on Sundays.) Mountain CityMountain City, TennesseeMountain City is a town in Johnson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 2,383 at the 2000 census. It is the northeasternmost county seat in Tennessee; Mountain City is the county seat of Johnson County.-History:...
is also considered a dry city. - CampbellCampbell County, TennesseeCampbell County is a U.S. county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 40,716. Its county seat is Jacksboro. The Census Bureau has identified the county as a Micropolitan Statistical Area, designated the LaFollette Micropolitan Statistical Area for the largest...
, BlountBlount County, TennesseeBlount County is a U.S. county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. Its population was 123,010 at the United States Census, 2010. The county seat is at Maryville, which is also the county's largest city....
, Crockett, CarterCarter County, TennesseeCarter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 57,424. Its county seat is Elizabethton.Carter County is part of the Johnson City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined...
, Hancock, SevierSevier County, TennesseeSevier County is a county of the state of Tennessee, United States. Its population was 71,170 at the 2000 United States Census. It is included in the Sevierville, Tennessee, Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Knoxville-Sevierville-La Follette, TN Combined Statistical Area. The...
, Stewart, WhiteWhite County, TennesseeWhite County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 23,102. Its county seat is Sparta.-History:...
, and Weakley are also dry counties. - Tennessee: Municipalities and Counties allowing Liquor-by-the-Drink & retail package stores.
Texas
Of TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
's 254 counties, 25 are completely dry, 183 are partially dry or "moist", and 46 are entirely wet. The vast majority of entirely wet counties are in southern border regions of Texas near Mexico, or in the south central part of the state. The patchwork of laws can be confusing, even to residents. In some counties, only 4% beer is legal. In others, beverages that are 14% or less alcohol are legal. In some "dry" areas, a customer can get a mixed drink by paying to join a "private club," and in some "wet" areas a customer needs a club membership to purchase liquor by-the-drink, reports the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram is a major U.S. daily newspaper serving Fort Worth and the western half of the North Texas area known as the Metroplex. Its area of domination is checked by its main rival, The Dallas Morning News, which is published from the eastern half of the Metroplex. It is owned...
.
The newspaper demonstrates how variable the alcohol laws can be, even within small geographic areas. "...Move to Burleson
Burleson, Texas
Burleson is a city in Johnson and Tarrant counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is considered a suburb of Fort Worth and is located in the rapidly growing suburban expanse just south of the city. As of the 2010 census, the population was 36,690, having increased from the 20,976 residents counted...
, which has alcohol sales in the Tarrant County
Tarrant County, Texas
Tarrant County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, it had a population of 1,809,034. Its county seat is Fort Worth. Tarrant County is the sixteenth most populous county in the United States and the third most populous in Texas. The county is named in honor...
portion of the city but not in the Johnson County
Johnson County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 126,811 people, 43,636 households, and 34,428 families residing in the county. The population density was 174 people per square mile . There were 46,269 housing units at an average density of 63 per square mile...
side of town."
Texas prohibits off-premises sale of liquor on Sundays, until after 12:01pm (Beer/Wine only).
Wisconsin
- The village of Ephraim, WisconsinEphraim, Wisconsin-Events:The city's main festival is Fyr Bal, a Scandinavian celebration held near the solstice in mid-June to drive out the wicked winter witch. Bonfires burn along the shoreline as residents and visitors gather to celebrate the beginning of summer....
, is the only dry municipality in WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
; it has been dry since its founding in 1853, and its anti-liquor laws were upheld in 1934 and 1992 referenda. Richland CenterRichland Center, WisconsinRichland Center is a city in Richland County, Wisconsin, United States, which also serves as the county seat. The population was 5,184 at the 2010 census.-History:Richland Center was founded in 1851 by Ira Sherwin Hazeltine, a native of Andover, Vermont...
and Port EdwardsPort Edwards, WisconsinPort Edwards is a village in Wood County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,944 at the 2000 census. The village is located northeast and adjacent to the Town of Port Edwards.- Geography :...
were dry for decades, but bars opened in both communities in 1994 after changes to local ordinances. - The city of Sparta, WisconsinSparta, WisconsinSparta is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County, Wisconsin, United States, along the La Crosse River. The population was 9,522 at the 2010 census.-Notable people:*William Hawley Atwell, U.S. District Court Judge in Texas*Larry Baumel, NASCAR...
is the largest community in Wisconsin that restricts beer and liquor sales to taverns and restaurants that have an on-premise consumption license. Grocery and convenience stores cannot sell beer and liquor there. The community abolished Class A licenses for retail sales in 1966 through referendum, when a local liquor store owner in the city objected to a grocery store's application for a class A license. Referendums were defeated in 1982, 1986, 1992, 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011 for class A licenses. Opposition to Class A licenses in the community is widely believed to be from the liquor store owner(s), who locate on the border of the city in neighboring towns that allow Class A licenses. Local opposition from these liquor stores is also widely believed to be a monopolistic motivation to protect their business trade by restricting it in Sparta. On April 7, 2009, in the Wisconsin 2009 spring general election, voters defeated the referendum questions about changing restrictions on the beer and liquor sales in Sparta, for the sixth time. In the April 5, 2011 Wisconsin spring election, Sparta voted for the seventh time not to change restrictions on the sale of beer and liquor in the city.