This is a list of cheeses typical of the United States. The list excludes specific brand names, unless a brand name is also a distinct variety of cheese. While the term "American cheese" is legally used to refer to a variety of processed cheese, many styles of cheese originating in Europe are also made in the United States, such as brie, cheddar, gouda, mozzarella, and provolone. Also, many local dairies throughout the country produce artisan cheeses and other more localized flavors. Almost half of the cheese produced in the United States comes from Wisconsin and California; they along with New York and Vermont are well-known within the U.S. for their cheese.[1]