Fast food capitals of America, ranked

In case you haven't noticed (and you have) it's an election year. And if there's one thing a political candidate loves, it seems, it's a local fast-food joint. In that sense, politicians are just like the rest of us. We're a fast-food nation, though some cities are more burger-packed than others... by a lot.

If you live in one of the 50 cities on this list, congrats: Yours is one of the densest when it comes to fast-food options. Using the Census Bureau's count of limited-service restaurants across the country and population estimates from the same year, we've calculated the fast food density in every major metropolitan area in the United States. And then we ranked them.

The Census Bureau's limited-service restaurant category is more broad than some might expect. In addition to your standard McDonald's, Burger King and Taco Bell franchises, this data also includes fast-casual establishments like Chipotle, Lemonade and other counter-service eateries.

One city you won't find on this list: Arlington, Virginia, where then-President Barack Obama lunched with his vice president, 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden, at Ray's Hell Burger in 2009 (pictured here).

50. Hot Springs, Arkansas

There are 89.5 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Hot Springs. The city has traditional fast food options such as McDonald's, Burger King and Chick-fil-A, but it also has local spots such as burger and biscuit restaurant Andy's. 

49. Jacksonville, Alabama

There are 89.8 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Jacksonville. The city is home to one of the only 10 Cook Out locations in the state. The popular regional restaurant is known for its extensive milkshake menu, which includes flavors like peach cobbler, banana fudge and Oreo mint. 

48. Auburn-Opelika metro area, Alabama

There are 89.8 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in the Auburn-Opelika metro area. While you can order burgers from McDonald's and shakes from Sonic, local fast food spot Uncle Charley'z offers meal deals, including 10-pieces of fried chicken gizzards, or livers served with fries and toast. 

47. Virginia Beach-Norfolk metro area, Virginia

There are 90 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in the Virginia Beach-Norfolk metro area. Local restaurant Seafood Kitchen serves fried and fresh fish, shrimp, crab cakes and po'boy sandwiches.

46. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area

There are 90.1 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area. Fast food chains that first debuted in the area include In-N-Out, Panda Express, Carl's Jr. and Taco Bell.

Here, then-gubernatorial candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger lunches at a Merced, California In-N-Out with state Assemblyman Abe Maldonado during a campaign tour in 2003.

45. Brunswick, Georgia

There are 90.1 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Brunswick. You can find many fast food restaurants there, including local delights such as Willie's Wee-Nee Wagon. They serve wieners, fried pork chops, sweet tea and more.  

44. Lima, Ohio

There are 90.2 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Lima. The city has a Skyline Chili restaurant, which serves a regional dish called a 3-Way. Not familiar with it? It's spaghetti covered in chili, topped with cheddar cheese. 

43. Huntington metro area, West Virginia/Kentucky/Ohio

There are 90.3 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in the Huntington-Ashland metro area. In addition to Chick-fil-A, Arby's and Rally's, Huntington is home to a Frostop Drive-In. The regional chain is known for its root beer floats. 

42. Wichita, Kansas

There are 90.8 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Wichita. The Kansas chain restaurant Spangles is based in the city. Wichita has 14 Spangles locations — more than anywhere else in the state. 

41. Lexington-Fayette metro area, Kentucky

There are 90.9 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in the Lexington-Fayette metro area. Lexington was the original test market for the fast food chain Long John Silver's. It is also the headquarters of A&W restaurants.  

40. Kingsport-Bristol metro area, Tennessee/Virginia

There are 91 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in the Kingsport-Bristol metro area. Fast food chain Pal's Sudden Service is headquartered in Kingsport. It is the first restaurant chain in America to receive the Malcolm Baldrige award, a presidential honor for outstanding quality management.

39. Columbus, Georgia

There are 91.2 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Columbus. The city has many national and regional food chains, such as Zaxby's. Georgia has more Zaxby's locations than any other state.

38. Corpus Christi, Texas

There are 91.3 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Corpus Christi. The Texas-based Whataburger chain was founded on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi in 1950. 

37. Greenville, North Carolina

There are 91.3 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Greenville. Before North Carolina-based burger chain Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries expanded locations, it used to be called Andy's Cheesesteaks and Cheeseburgers. The chain changed its name after trademark issues in other states. 

36. Lawrence, Kansas

There are 91.5 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Lawrence. This location makes it a sweet spot for overlapping regional chains typically found throughout the Midwest, such as Culver's and Runza. 

35. Panama City, Florida

There are 91.5 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Panama City. If you can't stomach another McNugget, local fast food eatery Tally-Ho Drive In serves fried gizzards, sour cream logs and Cuban sandwiches.

34. Abilene, Texas

There are 91.5 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Abilene. The Taco Bueno chain was founded in the city in 1967. 

33. Lincoln, Nebraska

There are 91.5 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Lincoln. Sub and burger restaurant Runza is headquartered here. 

32. Jackson, Mississippi

There are 91.8 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Jackson. Mississippi-wide chain Bumpers Drive-In was founded in Brookhaven, 55 miles south of the state capital, in 1983. 

31. Burlington-South Burlington metro area, Vermont

There are 91.9 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in the Burlington-South Burlington metro area. 

Many of their popular fast food establishments are food trucks, such as Beansie's Bus. Beansie's is known for its specialty items. They serve a "Michigan," a steamed hot dog with hamburger meat sauce, a "Virginia," a steamed hot dog wrapped in bacon, and a "Georgia," a bacon cheeseburger on a glazed doughnut. 

30. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise metro area

There are 92 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in the Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise metro area. If you're looking for more than McDonald's and Panda Express, head to the Las Vegas Strip. Chef Gordon Ramsay is competing with traditional fast food restaurants with his Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips.

29. Lubbock, Texas

There are 92.1 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Lubbock. Local spot Pete's Drive-In is known for burgers. Customers can also order chicken fried steak, steak fingers and catfish. 

28. Boulder, Colorado

There are 93 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Boulder. One popular spot to grab a hot dog is Ed's Best Edibles, a stand inside of a Lowe's Home Improvement store. 

27. Springfield, Illinois

There are 93.1 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Springfield. Midwestern "loose meat" sandwich chain Maid-Rite was founded in Springfield in 1926. The first-ever Maid-Rite restaurant is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

26. Wilmington, North Carolina

There are 93.3 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Wilmington. Local eatery Kohl's Frozen Custard serves burgers, soft-serve custard and a custard and candy concoction called a "Hurricane." The item is described on its website as, "like a blizzard at that other place, but better...because it's frozen custard."

25. Tyler, Texas

There are 93.3 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Tyler. Residents enjoy flavors from the Midwest at area eatery DoeBoy's Taste Of Chicago. DoeBoy's serves Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, gyros and more. 

24. Akron, Ohio

There are 93.3 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Akron. Regional fast food chain Swensons Drive-In was founded in the city in 1934. 

23. Carson City, Nevada

There are 93.5 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Carson City. There are three In-N-Out restaurants in the area. The next closest In-N-Out restaurant within state lines is a nearly seven-hour drive away, outside Las Vegas. 

22. Parkersburg-Vienna metro area, West Virginia

There are 93.6 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in the Parkersburg-Vienna metro area. 

21. New York-Newark metro area

There are 94 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area. Shake Shack was founded in New York City in 2004.

21. New York-Newark metro area

There are 94 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area. Shake Shack was founded in New York City in 2004.

Here, future President Donald Trump shares a Domino's pizza with recent "Apprentice" contestant Stephanie Myers at his New York office in 2005.

20. San Luis Obispo metro area, California

There are 94.9 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande metro area. 

San Luis Obispo fast food spot Frank's Famous Hot Dogs has an extensive menu. The eatery serves all-day breakfast, burgers and many specialty hot dog creations, including a deep-fried bacon-wrapped hot dog covered in cheese, pico de gallo and fried jalapeño coins. 

19. Kokomo, Indiana

There are 94.9 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Kokomo. Pictured here, former President Barack Obama enjoys lunch with the Kokomo Fire Department in 2010. 

18. Sioux City metro area, Iowa/Nebraska/South Dakota

There are 95 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in the Sioux City metro area. Sioux City, Iowa, is home to Tastee Inn & Out, the city's first-ever drive-thru fast food restaurant. 

17. Myrtle Beach metro area, the Carolinas

There are 95.4 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach metro area. While there are no shortage of Wendy's and Sonics, it is also dotted with local burger and ice cream places, such as Freeze Restaurant and Burky's Grill. 

Savannah, Georgia

There are 96 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Savannah. 

15. Birmingham metro area, Alabama

There are 96.1 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in the Birmingham-Hoover metro area. Regional chain Milo's Hamburgers was founded in Birmingham in 1946.

14. Flagstaff, Arizona

There are 96.5 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Flagstaff. One popular Flagstaff spot to grab burgers and fries is Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers.

13. Shreveport-Bossier City metro area, Louisiana

There are 96.5 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in the Shreveport-Bossier City metro area. You'll find Wendy's and Chick-fil-A, but also fast food with a southern flair. Regional chain Southern Classic Chicken offers sweet corn grits, red beans and rice and gravy as sides. 

12. Baltimore metro area, Maryland

There are 96.7 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area. Inside Oriole Park at Camden Yards, there are multiple fast food options, including Boardwalk Fries, Old Bay Seafood and hot dog eatery Stuggy's. 

11. Macon, Georgia

There are 96.9 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Macon. Singer James Brown was the co-founder of a short-lived Macon-area fast food franchise called Gold Platter Restaurants. 

10. Bloomington, Illinois

There are 97.2 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Bloomington. Burger chain Steak 'n Shake was founded in the Bloomington suburb Normal in 1934. 

9. Great Falls, Montana

There are 98 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Great Falls. The Taco Treat chain was founded in the city in 1958.

8. Dothan, Alabama

There are 98.7 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Dothan. Their fast food density is reflected in the high number of McDonald's per capita; there are seven outposts of the Golden Arches. 

That means there's one McDonald's restaurant for every 21,125 people — a lot of french fries for one community!

7. Warner Robins, Georgia

There are 99.9 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Warner Robins. 

6. Honolulu, Hawaii

There are 100 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Honolulu. Occasionally, Hawaiian McDonald's locations have offered items unavailable in the contiguous 48, including a breakfast plate with spam, rice and eggs, and taro-and-coconut pudding-filled pies. 

5. Morgantown, West Virginia

There are 101 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Morgantown. Besides a menu for humans, local fast food restaurant Sandwich University has offerings specifically for cats and dogs. 

4. Barnstable Town, Massachusetts

There are 101.6 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Barnstable Town.

3. Kalamazoo metro area, Michigan

There are 103 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in the Kalamazoo-Portage metro area. 

Coney Island is a famous New York tourist destination, but in Michigan, the term means something totally different: There, Coney Island is a type of restaurant that serves "coney dogs," also known as chili dogs. Kalamazoo is home to a Coney Island that claims to have been serving the city since 1915.

2. Ocean City, New Jersey

There are 190.1 fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in Ocean City. Popular local pizza spot Manco & Manco serves slices as well as whole pizzas in specialty flavors such as Philly cheesesteak and bacon, and chicken and ranch.

1. Charleston metro area, South Carolina

There are 217.6  fast food restaurants per 100,000 residents in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area.