Let your heart swell with state pride and please ignore whatever is going on with the Morrison Bridge, because according to a new list from U.S. News and World Report, Oregon has the best infrastructure of any state in the union.

The ranking, which judges every state on a variety of categories and subcategories, gave Oregon an overall ranking of 19, which seems wrong (have they ever even been to Mt. Hood or Cape Perpetua?) but we'll go with it.

While Oregon received middle or low-ish marks in the categories of health care, education, crime and corrections, government and opportunity, let's focus on the positives: infrastructure!

Oh, you don't think infrastructure is cool or fun? How'd you get to work this morning? How are you getting electricity to keep your precious phone lit up? How do you like that constant internet access?

The U.S. News and World Report ranking breaks down Oregon's infrastructure prowess, saying our transportation is third best in the nation, energy is number one -- mainly because of our impressive renewable energy usage -- and our internet access is number nine. So, there's always room for improvement.

According to U.S. News and World Report, the state ranking "is powered by a Leading States Index developed by McKinsey & Company."

"What we've helped do is collect a wide range of data -- a lot of data from publicly available sources," McKinsey's Andre Dua told U.S. News and World Report. "But we've also created our own proprietary data, particularly into how citizens view the performance of governments."

So you got number one? Massachusetts. And who got last? Louisiana.

-- Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052

lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker