Update: Google has some websites that say this post is true, but this data is according to actual associations.
11,100 Starbucks (in 2012)
14,157 McDonald's
17,500 museums
Well the mid-western states are generally less populated than states in the east. You're less likely to find a popular food chain like Starbucks in a not so populated area. Even though I live generally on the east side of the country, I'm in a smaller town without a Starbucks and only 2 McDonald's in town.
I can easily believe it, you just have to remember that museum does not always mean history and art. Places like ripleys believe it or not and guiness book of records counts as museums. Museum is a very broad term.
By that logic, what is the definition of Museum that they are using? B/c of we are going off of road side stops that refer to themselves as a museum wouldn't this data be wrong by my standards of a museum ... Sorry for spelling errors
11,100 Starbucks (in 2012)
14,157 McDonald's
17,500 museums