HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sorry Miami, but Oklahoma City is more manly than you – and they've got the evidence to prove it! Today Mars Chocolate North America released their fourth annual COMBOS® "America's Manliest Cities" study, which saw Oklahoma City claim the No. 1 position, well ahead of Miami (36^th).

COMBOS®, everyone's favorite cheese-filled pretzels, crackers and tortillas made with real cheese, once again partnered with Bert Sperling, the research expert behind the popular "Best Places to Live" studies, to develop the "America's Manliest Cities" study.

"The results don't lie: the manliest place to be is the city they call 'OKC,'" said Craig Hall, General Manager, Mars Chocolate North America. "From its stellar hoops team to its love of pick-up trucks, Oklahoma City exemplifies the best of being a man."

The COMBOS® "America's Manliest Cities" study takes 50 major metropolitan areas and ranks them from manliest to least manly. The study compiles manly city data such as the number of home improvement stores, steak houses and manly occupations per capita. But even if a city has a fair share of manly traits, unmanly or "girly" factors, like a high concentration of nail salons and fancy shopping boutiques can bump cities to the bottom of the list.

Rounding out the Top 5 are No. 2 Columbia, S.C.; No. 3 Memphis, Tenn.; No. 4 Nashville, Tenn. (last year's "America's Manliest City"); and No. 5 Birmingham, Ala.  The Golden State dominated the bottom of the rankings (five of the final seven spots), with San Diego earning the dubious distinction of "America's Least Manly City" for 2012. Proof, perhaps, that the Left Coast needs more manly COMBOS®.

The Manly Methodology
The rankings were determined using 50 of the largest metropolitan areas as defined by the United States Census Bureau, which includes a central city and the surrounding county (or counties). Each metro area received a "manliness rating" between 0 and 100 based on how well it performed in each of the study's manly categories. All data was adjusted by the current population of the cities to arrive at "per capita" figures, providing an accurate comparison between cities of varying sizes.

2012 "America's Manliest Cities" Rankings

*Change from 2011 rankings follows each city

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About Mars Chocolate North America:
In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars' roots as a confectionery company.  In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of  building a business based on the philosophy of a "mutuality of benefits" for all stakeholders – this vision serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $30 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and approximately 70,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.

Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, KITEKAT®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital and NUTRO®; Chocolate – M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® AND LIFESAVERS® mints.  Food –  UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANY™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – COCOAVIA™,  WISDOM PANEL™ and SERAMIS®. 

For more information, please visit www.mars.com. 

SOURCE Mars Chocolate North America