Iowa

Capital: Des Moines State abbreviation/Postal code: Iowa/IA Governor: Terry E. Branstad, R (to Jan. 2019) Lieut. Governor: Kim Reynolds, R (to Jan. 2019) Senators: Chuck Grassley, R (to Jan. 2017); Joni Ernst, R (to Jan. 2021) U.S. Representatives: 4 Historical biographies of Congressional members Secy. of State: Paul Pate, R (to Jan. 2019) Treasurer: Michael L. Fitzgerald, D (to Jan. 2019) Atty. General: Tom Miller, D (to Jan. 2019) Organized as territory: June 12, 1838 Entered Union (rank): Dec. 28, 1846 (29) Present constitution adopted: 1857 Motto: Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain State symbols: flower wild rose (1897) bird eastern goldfinch (1933) colors red, white, and blue (in state flag) song "Song of Iowa" Nickname: Hawkeye State Origin of name: From the Iowa River which was named after the Ioway Indian tribe 10 largest cities (2014): Des Moines, 206,688; Cedar Rapids, 128,119; Davenport, 101,363; Sioux City, 82,719; Iowa City, 70,133; Waterloo, 68,297; Council Bluffs, 62,115; Ames, 60,634; West Des Moines, 59,296; Dubuque, 58,155; Land area: 55,869 sq mi. (144,701 sq km) Geographic center: In Story Co., 5 mi. NE of Ames Number of counties: 99 Largest county by population and area: Polk, 444,009 (2014); Kossuth, 973 sq mi. State forests: 10 (43,917 ac.) State parks/recreation areas: 84 (53,000 ac.) Residents: Iowan 2015 resident population: 3,123,899 2010 resident census population (rank): 3,046,355 (30). Male: 1,508,319 (49.5%); Female: 1,538,036 (50.5%). White: 2,781,561 (91.3%); Black: 89,148 (2.9%); American Indian: 11,084 (0.4%); Asian: 53,094 (1.7%); Other race: 56,132 (1.3%); Two or more races: 53,333 (1.9%); Hispanic/Latino: 151,544 (5.0%). 2010 population 18 and over: 2,318,362; 65 and over: 452,888 median age: 38.1. See additional census data Area codes Tourism office

Map of Iowa

The first Europeans to visit the area were the French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet in 1673. The U.S. obtained control of the area in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase, and during the first half of the 19th century, there was heavy fighting between white settlers and Indians. Lands were taken from the Indians after the Black Hawk War in 1832 and again in 1836 and 1837.

When Iowa became a state in 1846, its capital was Iowa City; the more centrally located Des Moines became the new capital in 1857. At that time, the state's present boundaries were also drawn.

Although Iowa produces a tenth of the nation's food supply, the value of Iowa's manufactured products is twice that of its agriculture. Major industries are food and associated products, non-electrical machinery, electrical equipment, printing and publishing, and fabricated products.

Iowa stands in a class by itself as an agricultural state. Its farms sell over $10 billion worth of crops and livestock annually. Iowa leads the nation in all corn, soybean, and hog marketings, and comes in third in total livestock sales. Iowa's forests produce hardwood lumber, particularly walnut, and its mineral products include cement, limestone, sand, gravel, gypsum, and coal.

Tourist attractions include the Herbert Hoover birthplace and library near West Branch; the Amana Colonies; Fort Dodge Historical Museum, Fort, and Stockade; the Iowa State Fair at Des Moines in August; and the Effigy Mounds National Monument, a prehistoric Indian burial site at Marquette.

In 2007, Cedar Rapids native and graduate of Drake University, Zach Johnson, won the Masters Golf Tournament.

A severe drought and extreme heat in 2012 raised water temperatures in some spots to 97 degrees, killing fish by the thousands, including 40,000 shovelnose sturgeon whose value in caviar was estimated at almost $10 million.

See more on Iowa:
Encyclopedia: Iowa
Encyclopedia: Geography
Encyclopedia: Economy
Encyclopedia: Government
Encyclopedia: History
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Selected famous natives and residents:

• Michelle Bachmann politician;
• Bix Beiderbecke jazz musician;
• Norman Borlaug plant pathologist, geneticist, and Nobel Peace Prize winner;
• William “Buffalo Bill” F. Cody scout;
• Johnny Carson TV entertainer;
• Gardner Cowles, Jr. publisher;
• Simon Estes bass-baritone;
• William Frawley actor;
• George H. Gallup poll taker;
• Susan Glaspell writer;
• Herbert Hoover president;
• MacKinlay Kantor novelist;
• Charles A. Kettering inventor;
• Ashton Kutcher actor;
• Ann Landers columnist;
• Cloris Leachman actress;
• John L. Lewis labor leader;
• Glenn L. Martin aviator and manufacturer;
• Elsa Maxwell writer;
• Frederick L. Maytag inventor and manufacturer;
• Glenn Miller bandleader;
• Kate Mulgrew actress;
• Harriet Nelson actress;
• Nathan M. Pusey educator;
• David Rabe playwright;
• Harry Reasoner TV commentator;
• Donna Reed actress;
• Lillian Russell soprano;
• Robert Schuller evangelist;
• Wallace Stegner novelist and critic;
• Billy Sunday evangelist;
• James A. Van Allen space physicist;
• Abigail Van Buren columnist;
• Henry A. Wallace statesman and vice president;
• Kurt Warner NFL MVP;
• John Wayne actor;
• Andy Williams singer;
• Meredith Willson composer;
• Grant Wood painter.