Iowa – ipl Stately Knowledge: Facts about the United States

Iowa

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AbbreviationIA
Source: United States Postal Service – Abbreviations
CapitalDes Moines
Population3,046,355
Source: 2010 Demographic Profile — U.S. Census Bureau
GovernorTerry Branstad (Republican, to January 2019)
Entered the UnionDecember 28, 1846
as the 29th state
MottoOur liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain
NicknameThe Hawkeye State
FlowerWild Rose
BirdEastern Goldfinch
SongSong of Iowa
Professional Sports TeamsNo NFL, MLB, NBA, WNBA, MLS, or NHL teams.
(sports listing policy)
Origin of NameProbably from an Indian word meaning “the beautiful land”
Historical SitesHerbert Hoover Birthplace and Library, Fort Dodge Historical Museum, Effigy Mounds National Monument
Points of InterestAmana Colonies, Des Moines Art Center, Sanford Museum and Planetarium, Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad, DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Living History Farms, Paddlewheel Riverboats
Bordering StatesIowa borders Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin
FlagIowa's flag

Follow these links to read articles about Iowa from Encyclopedias and Almanacs:

Official State Links

Other State Links

  • 50states.com: Iowa
    http://www.50states.com/iowa.htm
    The site provides a wealth of information about Iowa. It includes everything from the highest point to county profile to climate.
  • Things To Do in Iowa
    http://www.thingstodo.com/states/IA/index.htm
    ThingsToDo.com is an online guide to information about Iowa’s entertainment, recreation, and travel, and includes the state’s interesting facts, famous people, and special events.
  • Roadside America: Iowa Attractions
    http://www.roadsideamerica.com/location/ia
    Roadside America describes itself as an online guide to offbeat attractions.
  • FedStats: MapStat: United States: Iowa
    http://www.fedstats.gov/qf/states/19000.html
    Fast access to statistics from more than 100 federal agencies on “economic and population trends, crime, education, health care, aviation safety, energy use, farm production and more” in Iowa.
  • The shortest and steepest railroad in the U. S. is in Dubuque. It is 296 feet long, and rises at an incline of 60 degrees to a height of 189 feet.
  • The red Delicious apple (the most popular apple in the U. S.) was developed in East Peru.

Some Famous People from this State

  • William “Buffalo Bill” Cody was a Pony Express rider, cavalry scout, buffalo hunter, and showman in the late 1800s.
  • Presidents from Iowa with links to ipl’s POTUS (Presidents of the United States) page:
    • Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the United States, was born in West Branch on August 10, 1874.
  • Charles and John Ringling, co-founders of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, were born in the late 1800s in Iowa.
  • Movie icon John Wayne was born in Iowa with the original name “Marion Michael Morrison.”
  • The artist Grant Wood (1892-1942) painted his most famous painting “American Gothic” in 1930.