Iowa
- Just the Facts
- Encyclopedias & Almanacs
- State Links
- Did You Know
- State's Famous People
| Capital | Des Moines |
|---|---|
| Population | 2,929,324 Source: U.S. Census Bureau GCT-PH1-R. Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density (geographies ranked by total population): 2000 Data Set: Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data |
| Governor | Chet Culver (D, to January 2011) |
| Entered the Union | December 28, 1846 as the 29th state |
| Motto | Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain |
| Nickname | Hawkeye state |
| Flower | Wild Rose |
| Bird | Eastern Goldfinch |
| Song | Song of Iowa |
| Professional Sports Teams (sports listing policy) |
No NFL, MLB, NBA, WNBA, MLS, or NHL teams. |
| Origin of Name | Probably from an Indian word meaning "the beautiful land" |
| Major Industries | Corn, Soybeans, Livestock |
| Historical Sites | Herbert Hoover Birthplace and Library, Fort Dodge Historical Museum, Effigy Mounds National Monument |
| Points of Interest | Amana Colonies, Des Moines Art Center, Sanford Museum and Planetarium, Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad, DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Living History Farms, Paddlewheel Riverboats |
| Bordering States | Iowa borders Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin |
| Flag |  |
Follow these links to read articles about Iowa from Encyclopedias and Almanacs:
Official State Links
- Iowa: the Official State of Iowa Website
http://www.iowa.gov/state/main/index.html
This is the official website for the State of Iowa. - State Library of Iowa
http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/
Here is the homepage for the Iowa State Library. - State Historical Society of Iowa
http://www.iowahistory.org/
Here is the homepage for the Iowa State Historical Society. - Iowa State Historical Museum
http://www.iowahistory.org/museum/
Here is the homepage for the State Historical Society of Iowa Museum. - Iowa Archives and Records Program
http://www.iowahistory.org/archives/
Here is the homepage for the Iowa State Archives. - Iowa DNR State Parks
http://www.iowadnr.gov/parks/index.html
Here is the homepage for Iowa State Parks. - Travel Iowa
http://www.traveliowa.com/
Here is the official state tourism website for Iowa. - Iowa Kids Page
http://www.iowa.gov/state/main/kidspage.html
This Iowa state government website provides special resources designed just for kids.
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/map/ia.html
Roadside America describes itself as an online guide to offbeat attractions. This site offers reviews of "weird sites along the highway" in Iowa. - 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 the 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.