Iowa
Iowa (/ˈaɪəwə/ (
listen))[6][7][8] is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the east and southeast, Missouri to the south, Nebraska to the west, South Dakota to the northwest, and Minnesota to the north.
Iowa | |
|---|---|
| State of Iowa | |
| Nickname: | |
| Motto(s): Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain. | |
| Anthem: "The Song of Iowa" | |
 Map of the United States with Iowa highlighted | |
| Country | United States |
| Before statehood | American Indians of Iowa Iowa Territory |
| Admitted to the Union | December 28, 1846 (29th) |
| Capital (and largest city) | Des Moines |
| Largest metro and urban areas | Des Moines[lower-alpha 1] |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Kim Reynolds (R) |
| • Lieutenant Governor | Adam Gregg (R) |
| Legislature | Iowa General Assembly |
| • Upper house | Senate |
| • Lower house | House of Representatives |
| Judiciary | Iowa Supreme Court |
| U.S. senators | Chuck Grassley (R) Joni Ernst (R) |
| U.S. House delegation | 1: Ashley Hinson (R) 2: Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) 3: Zach Nunn (R) 4: Randy Feenstra (R) (list) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 55,857.1 sq mi (144,669.2 km2) |
| • Rank | 26th |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 310 mi (499 km) |
| • Width | 240 mi (322 km) |
| Elevation | 1,100 ft (340 m) |
| Highest elevation | 1,671 ft (509 m) |
| Lowest elevation | 480 ft (146 m) |
| Population (2022) | |
| • Total | 3,190,369[4] |
| • Rank | 30th |
| • Density | 57.1/sq mi (22.0/km2) |
| • Rank | 36th |
| • Median household income | $61,691[5] |
| • Income rank | 30th |
| Demonym | Iowan |
| Language | |
| • Official language | English |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−05:00 (CDT) |
| USPS abbreviation | IA |
| ISO 3166 code | US-IA |
| Latitude | 40° 23′ N to 43° 30′ N |
| Longitude | 90° 8′ W to 96° 38′ W |
| Website | www |
| Iowa state symbols | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Living insignia | |
| Bird | Eastern goldfinch |
| Flower | Prairie rose |
| Tree | White Oak |
| Inanimate insignia | |
| Rock | Geode |
| State route marker | |
 | |
| State quarter | |
 Released in 2004 | |
| Lists of United States state symbols | |
During the 18th and early 19th centuries, Iowa was a part of French Louisiana and Spanish Louisiana; its state flag is patterned after the flag of France. After the Louisiana Purchase, people laid the foundation for an agriculture-based economy in the heart of the Corn Belt.[9] In the latter half of the 20th century, Iowa's agricultural economy transitioned to a diversified economy of advanced manufacturing, processing, financial services, information technology, biotechnology, and green energy production.[10][11]
Iowa is the 26th most extensive in total area and the 31st most populous of the 50 U.S. states, with a population of 3,190,369,[12] according to the 2020 census. The state's capital, most populous city, and largest metropolitan area fully located within the state is Des Moines. A portion of the larger Omaha, Nebraska, metropolitan area extends into three counties of southwest Iowa.[13] Iowa has been listed as one of the safest U.S. states to live in.[14]