The recent riots in Baltimore and Ferguson, MO, have triggered a national discussion on race. As disturbing as the scenes may seem on television, a new study published in the Washington Post suggests that, here in Montana, racism is far less prevalent than it is in other parts of the country.

The results of the study Association Between an Internet-Based Measure of Area Racism and Black Mortality are derived from Google search data, specifically the percentage of people using the “N-word” and other slurs in online searches. According to their research, google searches for racist terminology are far below the national average in Montana and throughout the West.

Interestingly enough, the areas with the highest rates of “internet based racism” are primarily concentrated in the Northeast and upper Midwest, not in the South and Southeast. The results are strikingly similar to another study conducted by Humboldt State University, which analyzed the number of racist and homophobic tweets posted by Twitter user across the country.

Check out the Washington Post’s map of the Most Racist Places in America here.

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