Delaware

Population: 885,000 (approx.)

Largest city: Wilmington

Famous people: Joe Biden, Tom Verlain, the Du Pont family

Top universities: University of Delaware;

The US' second-smallest state, Delaware may nowadays keep a pretty low profile, but that wasn't always the case. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution of the United States, meaning its place at the centre of US history is assured. Though it may lack some of the obvious attractions of the more well-known US states, Delaware is pleasant and picturesque, with plenty of sandy beaches along the Atlantic Coast. The University of Delaware - located in the small city of Newark (not to be confused with its larger namesake in New Jersey) - is ranked as one of the global top 500 in the 2009 QS World University Rankings.

Study abroad in West Virginia, D.C if you like: US history, politics and beaches

If you like the sound of West Virginia, D.C, check out: Rhode Island, California, Florida