John Leeder and Gnu make excellent points about the disproportionate amounts of knowledge that Canadians have about the U.S. Population distribution and mass media do play a powerful role. The same is true for popular culture. If someone admires the pop culture of another society, it often stimulates them to learn about that society in general. So, I daresay that the "typical" Canadian in Ontario probably knows the capital of New York, the name of our top politicians, and where Elvis is buried. But on the other hand i doubt that they know the capital of Illinois or who is buried in Grant's tomb.