Information About Iowa
Capital: Des Moines
State abbreviation/Postal code: Iowa/IA
Governor: Chet Culver, D (until Jan. 2011)
Lieut. Governor: Patty Judge, D (to Jan. 2011)
Senators: Chuck Grassley, R (to Jan. 2011); Tom Harkin, D (to Jan. 2009)
U.S. Representatives: 5
Historical biographies of Current Congressional members
- Secy. of State: Michael A. Mauro, D (to Jan. 2011)
- Treasurer: Michael L. Fitzgerald, D (to Jan. 2011)
- Atty. General: Tom Miller, D (to Jan. 2011)
Organized as territory: June 12, 1838
Entered Union (ranking): Dec. 28, 1846 (29th)
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: The Hawkeye State
Origin of Name: From the Iowa River which was named after the Ioway Indian tribe
10 largest cities (2005 est.): Des Moines, 194,163; Cedar Rapids, 123,119; Davenport, 98,845; Sioux City, 83,148; Waterloo, 66,483; Iowa City, 62,887; Council Bluffs, 59,568; Dubuque, 57,798; West Des Moines, 52,768; Ames, 52,263
Land area: 55,869 square miles (144,701 sq km)
Iowa’s Geographic center: In Story County, 5 miles NorthEast of Ames
Number of Iowa counties: 99
Largest county by population and area: Polk, 401,006 (2005); Kossuth, 973 sq mi.
Iowa State forests: 10 (43,917 ac.)
State parks/recreation areas: 84 (53,000 ac.)
Residents: Iowans
2005 Iowa Resident Population (Estimate): 2,966,334
2000 resident census population (rank): 2,926,324 (30th). Male: 1,435,515 (49.1%); Female: 1,490,809 (50.9%). White: 2,748,640 (93.9%); Black: 61,853 (2.1%); American Indian: 8,989 (0.3%); Asian: 36,635 (1.3%); Other race: 37,420 (1.3%); Two or more races: 31,778 (1.1%); Hispanic/Latino: 82,473 (2.8%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 74.9; 65 and over: 14.9; median age: 36.6.
Iowa’s Historical Information
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.
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