Iowa - Political   Capital Des Moines Largest City Des Moines Major Cities Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, Waterloo, Iowa City Nicknames Hawkeye State Area 56,275 sq. miles Population 2,776, 755

 

Iowa - Physical features   Physical Features Driftless Zone Rivers Mississippi, Missouri, Des Moines, Big Sioux, Iowa, Cedar Highest Point Hawkeye Point Bordering States Minnesota (north), South Dakota (northwest), Nebraska (west), Missouri (south), Illinois (east), Wisconsin (northeast) National Parks None Key Products Corn, Hogs, Soybeans Natural Resources Fertile agricultural land

 

Iowa - History   1673 French explorers Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette explored the area for France 1803 The US gets control of the region as part of the Louisiana Purchase from France 1832 Lands taken from the Native Americans after the Black Hawk War 1833 First permanent settlement founded at Dubuque 1846 Iowa becomes the 29th state, with its capital at Iowa City on the Iowa river 1857 The more centrally located city of Des Moines becomes the new capital Present Day The annual Iowa State Fair in Des Moines held every August brings in loads of visitors.

 

Iowa - Facts   Iowa has some of the world’s best agricultural land, and about 70% of the state is cropland Iowa raises more hogs, and produces more corn and soybeans than any other state Des Moines is one of the nation’s leading insurance centers, being home to more than 50 insurance firms Iowa ranks as the nation’s second largest agricultural producer after California. Over 90% of the state is covered by farms Waterloo is a meat-packing and food processing center, while Cedar Rapids and Keokuk, to its south, are home to large cereal mills