Iowa comes from the Iowa River, which was named for the Iowa (or Ioway) Indians (a Sioux tribe).

Location one of the Midwestern states
Bordered By Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota

Total Area (rank) 56,276 sq mi (26th)
Greatest Distance E-W 324 mi
Greatest Distance N-S 210 mi
Geographic Center 5 miles northeast of Ames
Highest Point High Point; 1,670 ft
Lowest Point junction of Mississippi and Des Moines rivers; 480 ft

Population (rank) 3,090,416 (30th)
Largest Cities Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, Waterloo, Iowa City, Council Bluffs, Dubuque, Ames, Cedar Falls

Capital Des Moines
U.S. Congress 2 Senators, 4 Representatives
Local Administration 99 counties

Principal Industries food processing, machinery, electric equipment, chemical products, printing and publishing, primary metals
Agricultural Products corn, soybeans, oats; hogs, cattle; dairy products
Nonfuel Minerals limestone, sand and gravel, gypsum

First Explored By Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette in 1673
First Permanent Settlement Fort Madison, 1808
Territorial Status Achieved 1838
Admitted to Union (rank) December 28, 1846 (29th)

SEE ALSO
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Illinois
Missouri
Nebraska
South Dakota
Louis Joliet
Jacques Marquette

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This page was last updated on September 26, 2017.