This monstrosity comes from Spree's address form view.

gistfile1.erb

  <% if Spree::Config[:address_requires_state] %>
    <p class="field" id=<%="#{address_id}state" %>>
      <% have_states = !address.country.states.empty? %>
      <%= form.label :state, Spree.t(:state) %><span class='required' id=<%="#{address_id}state-required"%>>*</span><br/>

      <% state_elements = [
         form.collection_select(:state_id, address.country.states,
                            :id, :name,
                            {:include_blank => true},
                            {:class => have_states ? 'required' : 'hidden',
                            :disabled => !have_states}) +
         form.text_field(:state_name,
                            :class => !have_states ? 'required' : 'hidden',
                            :disabled => have_states)
         ].join.gsub('"', "'").gsub("\n", "")
      %>
      <%= javascript_tag do -%>
        $('#<%="#{address_id}state" %>').append("<%== state_elements %>");
      <% end %>
    </p>
      <noscript>
        <%= form.text_field :state_name, :class => 'required' %>
      </noscript>
  <% end %>