Radio broadcasting across the United States was shaped by a variety of early stations that began transmitting over a hundred years ago. Each state had its own first station, often marked by experimental beginnings, which in some cases transformed into lasting institutions in American broadcasting.
In Alabama, WAPI, originally WMAV, began operations in 1922 in Auburn before relocating to Birmingham. Alaska saw its first radio, KFQD in Anchorage, on air by 1924. Arizona’s first, initially known as KFAD and now KTAR, began in Phoenix in 1922.
Arkansas started broadcasting with WOK in Pine Bluff in 1920, while in California, David Herrold’s experimental station launched as early as 1909 in San Jose and went on to become KCBS, one of the state’s most prominent stations. Colorado’s first official station was KFKA in Greeley, beginning in 1921.
Connecticut welcomed its first radio, WDRC, in Hartford in 1922. In Delaware, WDEL initiated broadcasting in Wilmington in 1922. Florida’s first station, WQAM, began in Miami in 1921.
Notably, Georgia’s WSB, which started in 1922, became the first in the South to air nightly programs. In Hawaii, both KDYX and KGU started in 1922, marking the beginning of radio in the Pacific state. Idaho launched KFAU (now KIDO) in Boise in 1922, while Illinois saw WDZ start in Tuscola the same year.
The South Bend Tribune brought Indiana’s first station, WSBT, on air in 1921. Iowa was home to WSUI, starting in 1919 at the University of Iowa, with commercial station WOC following in 1922. In Kansas, KFH began broadcasting from Wichita in 1922, and Kentucky saw WHAS air in Louisville the same year.
In Louisiana, WWL and KEEL started broadcasting in 1922, while Maine’s first station, WABI, began in Bangor in 1924. Maryland’s first broadcasters, WCAO and WFBR, opened in Baltimore in 1922, and Massachusetts launched WGI in Medford in 1920.
Michigan’s WWJ, beginning in 1920, and Pennsylvania’s KDKA, were among the nation’s first commercial radio stations. Minnesota’s first licensed radio station, WLB, began in 1922. Missouri started with WEW in St. Louis in 1921, while Montana saw KFBB launch in Great Falls in 1922.
Nebraska Wesleyan University introduced Nebraska’s first station, WCAJ, in 1921, with commercial station WOW following in 1923. Nevada’s first station, KOH in Reno, launched in 1928, and New Hampshire opened WLNH in Laconia in 1922.
WJZ in Newark marked the first station in New Jersey in 1921, later relocating to New York. New Mexico’s first, KOB in Albuquerque, aired in 1922, while New York’s General Electric-backed WGY began in Schenectady in the same year.
North Carolina’s oldest station, WBT, began broadcasting from Charlotte in 1922. North Dakota introduced WDAY in Fargo in 1922, while Ohio’s WHK began in Cleveland that year as well.
Oklahoma’s WKY in Oklahoma City aired in 1921, and Oregon’s first commercial station, KGW, opened in Portland in 1922. In Rhode Island, WEAN and WJAR began in Providence in 1922. South Carolina’s WSPA, broadcasting from Spartanburg in 1930, became the first in the state.
South Dakota’s first, WCAT, opened in 1922 in Rapid City, while Tennessee’s WNAV began in Knoxville that year. Texas’ WRR, started in Dallas in 1920, was one of the first in the Southwest. Utah’s KZN (now KSL) began in Salt Lake City in 1922, while Vermont’s WSYB started in Rutland in 1930.
In Virginia, WTAR in Norfolk started in 1923, and Washington had KFBL (now KRKO) broadcasting from Everett in 1920. West Virginia started WSAZ in Huntington in 1923, while Wisconsin’s WHA, initially 9XM, began as early as 1909 through experiments by University of Wisconsin scientists, becoming WHA by 1922.
Finally, Wyoming saw its first station, KDFN (now KTWO), begin in Casper in 1930.
These stations laid the groundwork for radio broadcasting in each state, representing a pioneering moment in American communications.