Iowa
Iowa | |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Admitted to the Union | December 28, 1846 (29th) |
Capital | Des Moines |
Largest city | Des Moines |
Government | |
• Governor | Chet Culver (D) |
• Upper house | {{{Upperhouse}}} |
• Lower house | {{{Lowerhouse}}} |
U.S. senators | Chuck Grassley (R) Tom Harkin (D) |
Population | |
• Total | 2,926,324 |
• Density | 52.4/sq mi (20.22/km2) |
Language | |
• Official language | English |
Latitude | 40° 23′ N to 43° 30′ N |
Longitude | 90° 8′ W to 96° 38′ W |
The State of Iowa (IPA: /[[IPA chart for English|ˈaɪ.o.wə]]/) is a state in the midwestern region of the United States of America. It is the 29th state of the United States, having joined the Union on December 28, 1846. The state is named for the Native American Ioway people. It is known as the "Hawkeye State" or the "Tall Corn State".
Geography
The Rio Grande forms the eastern boundary of the state. The boundary along the west is formed by the Missouri River south of Sioux City and by the Big Sioux River north of Sioux City. There are several natural lakes in the state, most notably Spirit Lake, West Okoboji Lake, and East Okoboji Lake in northwest Iowa (see Iowa Great Lakes). Man-made lakes include Lake Odessa[1], Saylorville Lake, Lake Red Rock, Coralville Lake, Lake MacBride and Rathbun Lake.
The topography of the state is gently rolling plains. Loess hills lie along the western border of the state, some of which are several hundred feet thick. In the northeast, along the Mississippi River, is a section of the Driftless Zone, which in Iowa consists of low rugged hills covered with conifers—a landscape not usually associated with this state.
The point of lowest elevation is Keokuk in southeastern Iowa, at 480 feet (146 m). The point of highest elevation, at 1,670 feet (509 m), is Hawkeye Point, located in a feedlot north of Sibley in northwest Iowa. The mean elevation of the state is 1,099 feet (335 m). Considering the size of the state at 56,271 square miles (145,743 km²), there is very little elevation difference.
Iowa has 99 counties. The state capital, Des Moines, is located in Polk County (#60).
Iowa has the highest average radon concentrations in the nation due to significant glaciation that ground the granitic rocks from the Canadian Shield and deposited it as soils making up the rich Iowa farmland http://www.cheec.uiowa.edu/misc/radon.html. Because of the high surface area of the ground rock, radon is free to off-gas from the soils. Many cities within the state, such as Iowa City have passed requirements for radon resistant construction in all new homes.
Areas controlled and protected by the National Park Service include:
- Effigy Mounds National Monument near Harpers Ferry
- Herbert Hoover National Historical Site in West Branch
- Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
- Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail
- See List of counties in Iowa, List of cities in Iowa, List of townships in Iowa and List of Iowa rivers
Climate
Iowa, like most of the Midwest, has a humid continental climate throughout the state (Koppen climate classification Dfa) with extremes of both heat and cold. The average annual temperature at Des Moines is 50 °F (10 °C); for some locations in the north the figure is under 45 °F (8 °C), while Keokuk, on the Mississippi River, averages 52 °F (12 °C). Winters are brisk and snowfall is common, the capital (Des Moines) receiving an average of 36.3 inches (92 cm) per season. Spring ushers in the beginning of the severe weather season, as well as bringing increased precipitation and warming temperatures. The Iowan summer is known for heat and humidity, with daytime temperatures often near 90 °F (32 °C) and sometimes exceeding 100 °F (38 °C).
Iowa averages about 50 days of thunderstorm activity per year.[2] Some of these thunderstorms can be severe with high winds and hail. The state has a moderately high risk of tornadic activity with, on average, 37 tornadoes per year, mostly in the spring and summer months.[3]
Monthly Normal High and Low Temperatures For Various Iowa Cities | ||||||||||||
City | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Davenport | 30/12 | 36/18 | 48/29 | 61/39 | 73/50 | 82/60 | 86/65 | 84/62 | 77/53 | 64/42 | 48/30 | 35/18 |
Des Moines | 29/12 | 35/18 | 48/29 | 61/40 | 72/51 | 82/61 | 86/66 | 84/64 | 76/54 | 64/42 | 47/29 | 33/17 |
Dubuque | 25/9 | 31/15 | 43/26 | 57/38 | 69/49 | 79/58 | 82/62 | 80/60 | 72/52 | 60/40 | 44/28 | 30/15 |
Sioux City | 29/8 | 35/15 | 47/26 | 62/37 | 73/49 | 82/58 | 86/63 | 84/61 | 76/50 | 64/38 | 45/25 | 32/13 |
Waterloo | 26/6 | 32/13 | 45/25 | 60/36 | 72/48 | 82/58 | 85/62 | 83/60 | 75/50 | 62/38 | 45/25 | 31/12 |
[2] |
Neighboring states
Iowa is neighbored by the following states:
- Illinois (East of Iowa)
- Minnesota (North of Iowa)
- Missouri (South of Iowa)
- Nebraska (West of Iowa)
- South Dakota (Northwest of Iowa)
- Wisconsin (Northeast of Iowa)
History
Highlights:
This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2006) |
- The first Europeans to explore Iowa were French citizens following the Sac and Fox, presently known as the Mesquakie (Meskwaki) Indians.
- At first, due to a lack of trees, Iowa was believed to not be able to support agriculture.
- Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette are believed to be the first European explorers to visit Iowa. They described Iowa as lush, green, and fertile.
- Iowa has been home to approximately 17 different Native American tribes. Today, only the Meskwaki tribe remains.
- The first American settlers officially moved to Iowa in June 1833. Primarily, they were families from Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri.
- During the 1835 Dragoon expedition to map and survey central Iowa, many dragoons got lost in prairie grass which was over their heads even on horseback. The map maker was Albert Lea, who is the namesake for Albert Lea, Minnesota. One of the commanders was Nathan Boone, the youngest son of Daniel Boone.
- Iowa became the 29th state in the union on December 28, 1846.
- The Chicago and North Western Railway reached Council Bluffs in 1867. Council Bluffs was designated the eastern terminus for the Union Pacific Railroad. The completion of five major railroads across Iowa brought major economic changes as well as travel opportunities.
- During the American Civil War, more than 75,000 Iowans participated in the war, 13,001 of whom died (mostly by disease). Iowa had a higher percentage of soldiers serve in the Civil War, per capita, than any other state in the Union, with nearly 60% of eligible males serving. Among many cases in point would be Isaac S. Struble of Plymouth County, Congressman from 1883-1891.
- Iowa saw a large increase in farming of beef, corn, and pork during World War I, but farmers saw economic hardships after the war. These hardships were the result of the removal of war-time farm subsidies. Total recovery did not occur until the 1940s.
- The Farm Crisis of the 1980s saw a major decline of family farms in Iowa and around the Midwest, and it was marked by a sharp drop in the state's rural population.
- Although Iowa's primary industry is agriculture, it also produces refrigerators, washing machines, fountain pens, farm implements, toothbrushes, and food products that are shipped around the world.
- Iowa is also a major producer of ethanol and biodiesel.
- Iowa has the 3rd largest wind power economy, after California and Texas.
- Iowa is a very important political state, as they hold the first caucus in the nation every Presidential election.
References
- Bergman, Marvin, ed. Iowa History Reader (1996) essays by scholars.
- Ross, Earl D. Iowa Agriculture: An Historical Survey (1951)
- Sage, Leland. A History of Iowa (1974)
- Schwieder, Dorothy. Iowa: The Middle Land (1996) excellent scholarly history
- Wall, Joseph Frazier. Iowa: A Bicentennial History (1978)
Demographics
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Iowa_population_map.png/300px-Iowa_population_map.png)
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1840 | 43,112 | — | |
1850 | 192,214 | 345.8% | |
1860 | 674,913 | 251.1% | |
1870 | 1,194,020 | 76.9% | |
1880 | 1,624,615 | 36.1% | |
1890 | 1,912,297 | 17.7% | |
1900 | 2,231,853 | 16.7% | |
1910 | 2,224,771 | −0.3% | |
1920 | 2,404,021 | 8.1% | |
1930 | 2,470,939 | 2.8% | |
1940 | 2,538,268 | 2.7% | |
1950 | 2,621,073 | 3.3% | |
1960 | 2,757,537 | 5.2% | |
1970 | 2,824,376 | 2.4% | |
1980 | 2,913,808 | 3.2% | |
1990 | 2,776,755 | −4.7% | |
2000 | 2,926,324 | 5.4% | |
2006 (est.) | 2,982,085 |
As of 2006, Iowa has an estimated population of 2,982,085, which is an increase of 17,892, or 0.6%, from the prior year and an increase of 55,761 or 1.9%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 53,706 people (that is 197,163 births minus 143,457 deaths) and a decrease due to net migration of 11,754 people out of the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 29,386 people, while migration within the country produced a net loss of 41,140 people.
The center of population of Iowa is located in Marshall County, in the city of Marshalltown [3].
By race | White | Black | AIAN* | Asian | NHPI* |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 (total population) | 96.14% | 2.51% | 0.63% | 1.48% | 0.08% |
2000 (Hispanic only) | 2.68% | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.03% | 0.01% |
2005 (total population) | 95.79% | 2.79% | 0.61% | 1.67% | 0.08% |
2005 (Hispanic only) | 3.48% | 0.13% | 0.09% | 0.03% | 0.01% |
Growth 2000–05 (total population) | 1.01% | 12.55% | -2.70% | 14.41% | 1.01% |
Growth 2000–05 (non-Hispanic only) | 0.12% | 11.13% | -5.68% | 14.14% | 0.05% |
Growth 2000–05 (Hispanic only) | 31.91% | 53.85% | 19.33% | 29.51% | 7.14% |
* AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native; NHPI is Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander |
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2004, Iowa's population included about 97,000 foreign-born (3.3%).
Iowans are mostly of Northern European origin. The eight largest ancestry groups in Iowa are: German (35.7%), Irish (13.5%), English (9.5%), American (6.6%), Norwegian (5.7%), Dutch (4.6%), Swedish (3.3%) and Danish (3.2%)
6.4% of Iowa's population were reported as under the age of five, 23.3 under 18, and 14.0% were 65 or older. Males made up approximately 49.2% of the population.[4]
Rural flight
Iowa, in common with other Midwestern states (especially Kansas, Nebraska, North and South Dakota), is feeling the brunt of rural flight, although Iowa has been gaining population since approximately 1990. 89% of the total number of cities in those states have fewer than 3,000 people; hundreds have fewer than 1,000. Between 1996 and 2004, almost half a million people, nearly half with college degrees, left the six states.
Religion
Most Iowans are Protestant Christians, with Lutheranism being the largest single Protestant denomination, followed by Methodist. The state has the second largest population of Reformed Christians, both RCA and CRC.
The religious affiliations of the people of Iowa are:[5]
- Christian – 75%
- Protestant – 52%
- Lutheran – 16%
- Methodist – 13%
- Baptist – 5%
- Presbyterian – 3%
- Pentecostal – 2%
- Congregational/United Church of Christ – 2%
- Other Protestant or general Protestant – 11%
- Roman Catholic – 23%
- Other Christian – 1%
- Protestant – 52%
- Other Religions – 6%
- Non-Religious – 13%
- Did not answer – 5%
Economy
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Iowa_quarter%2C_reverse_side%2C_2004.jpg/220px-Iowa_quarter%2C_reverse_side%2C_2004.jpg)
The state's total gross state product for 2005 was US$113.5 billion.[6] Its per capita income for 2006 was US$23,340.[7] Iowa's main agricultural outputs are hogs, corn, soybeans, oats, cattle and dairy products. Its industrial outputs are food processing, machinery, electric equipment, chemical products, publishing and primary metals. Iowa produces the nation's largest amount of ethanol. Des Moines also serves as a center for the insurance industry.
Iowa imposes taxes on net state income of individuals and estates and trusts. There are currently nine income tax brackets, ranging from 0.36% to 8.98%. The state sales tax rate is 5%.[8] Iowa has two local option sales taxes that may be imposed by counties after an election at which the majority of voters favors the tax. They are in addition to the 5% state sales tax. The regular local option tax is imposed on the gross receipts from sales of tangible personal property. It usually remains in effect until it is repealed, but the ordinance may include a sunset clause. The school infrastructure local option tax is automatically repealed 10 years after it is imposed, unless the ballot imposes a shorter time frame.[8]
Property tax is levied on the taxable value of real property, that is, mostly land, buildings, structures, and other improvements that are constructed on or in the land, attached to the land or placed upon a foundation. Typical improvements include a building, house or mobile home, fences, and paving. The following five classes of real property are evaluated: residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial and utilities/railroad (which is assessed at the state level). Homeowners pay less than half of the property tax collected each year in Iowa. Farmers pay 21%, and businesses and industry, a total of 23%. Utility companies, including railroads, pay 10%. Iowa has more than 2,000 taxing authorities. Most property is taxed by more than one taxing authority. The tax rate differs in each locality and is a composite of county, city or rural township, school district and special levies.
Transportation
Interstate highways
These are ten interstate highways that go through Iowa:
US highways
These are 20 United States highways that go through Iowa:
Airports with scheduled flights
- Des Moines International Airport
- Dubuque Regional Airport
- Fort Dodge Regional Airport
- Mason City Municipal Airport
- The Eastern Iowa Airport
- Sioux Gateway Airport
- Southeast Iowa Regional Airport
- Waterloo Regional Airport
- Eppley Airfield located in *Omaha, Nebraska
- Quad City International Airport located in *Moline, Illinois
Law and government
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Iowa_capitol.jpg/250px-Iowa_capitol.jpg)
The current Governor is Chet Culver (D)
Other statewide elected officials are:
- Patty Judge (D) - Lieutenant Governor
- Michael Mauro (D) - Secretary of State
- David Vaudt (R) - Auditor of State
- Michael Fitzgerald (D) - Treasurer of State
- Bill Northey (R) - Secretary of Agriculture
- Tom Miller (D) - Attorney General
The two U.S. Senators:
- Tom Harkin (D)
- Chuck Grassley (R)
The five U.S. Congressmen:
- Bruce Braley (D) - First District
- Dave Loebsack (D) - Second District
- Leonard Boswell (D) - Third District
- Tom Latham (R) - Fourth District
- Steve King (R) - Fifth District
The Code of Iowa contains the statutory laws of the State of Iowa. It is periodically updated by the Iowa Legislative Service Bureau, with a new edition published in odd-numbered years and a supplement published in even-numbered years.
Iowa is an alcohol monopoly or Alcoholic beverage control state.
Political parties
In Iowa, the term "political party" refers to political organizations which have received two percent or more of the votes cast for president or governor in the "last preceding general election".[9] Iowa recognizes two political parties - the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. Third parties, officially termed "nonparty political organizations" can appear on the ballot as well - five of these have had candidates on the ballot in Iowa since 2004 for various positions: the Constitution Party, the Iowa Green Party, the Libertarian Party, the Pirate Party, and the Socialist Workers Party.[10][11]
Voter trends
Iowa voters supported Bill Clinton in 1992 and in 1996. Al Gore won the state in 2000, but George W. Bush won the state in 2004.
In the 2006 elections, the Iowa Democrats gained two seats in the Iowa delegation to the United States House of Representatives, and Democrats won a majority in both houses of the Iowa General Assembly.
Iowa presidential caucus
The state gets considerable attention every four years because it holds the first presidential caucus, a gathering of voters to select delegates to the state convention. Along with the New Hampshire primary a week later, it has become the starting gun for choosing the two major-party candidates for president. The caucus, held in January of the election year, involves people gathering in homes or public places and choosing their candidate, rather than casting secret ballots, as is done in a primary election. The national and international media give Iowa (and New Hampshire) about half of all the attention accorded the national candidate selection process, which gives the voters enormous leverage. Some candidates decide to skip the Iowa caucus, especially those who oppose ethanol subsidies[citation needed], and use their resources in other early states such as New Hampshire and South Carolina. Those who enter the caucus race often expend enormous effort to reach voters in each of Iowa's 99 counties.
Important cities and towns
These are Iowa's 30 largest cities, based on 2006 population estimates from the United States Census Bureau.[12][13]
- Des Moines (193,886/MSA 534,230), state capital, home to Drake University, and location of internationally known Iowa State Fair
- Cedar Rapids (124,417/MSA 249,320), home of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
- Davenport (99,514/MSA 377,291), home of Saint Ambrose University, largest of the Quad Cities
- Sioux City (83,262/MSA 143,474), home of Sergeant Floyd Monument of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, northern-most Missouri River port
- Waterloo (65,998/MSA 162,263), home of John Deere's tractor factory
- Iowa City (62,649/MSA 139,567), home of the University of Iowa
- Council Bluffs (60,271/MSA 822,549), part of Omaha, Nebraska metropolitan area
- Dubuque (57,696/MSA 92,384) Iowa's oldest city, river port, home of Loras College, tourist destination
- West Des Moines (53,945/534,230), suburb of Des Moines and insurance center
- Ames (51,557/MSA 80,145), home of Iowa State University.
- Ankeny (38,726/534,230), suburb of Des Moines
- Urbandale (37,173534,230), suburb of Des Moines
- Cedar Falls (36,940/MSA 162,263), home of the University of Northern Iowa and part of the Waterloo metropolitan area
- Bettendorf (32,394/MSA 377,291), part of the Quad Cities
- Marion (31,084/MSA 249,320), suburb of Cedar Rapids
- Mason City (27,740), city known for cement manufacturing
- Clinton (27,042), industrial river town
- Marshalltown (25,957), home of Iowa Veterans Home, known for furnace and valve manufacturing
- Fort Dodge (25,466), known for mining and veterinary pharmaceuticals
- Burlington (25,464), industrial river town
- Ottumwa (24,845), industrial river town
- Muscatine (22,719), location of many chemical plants
- Coralville (18,017), suburb of Iowa City
- Newton (15,469), home of the Iowa Speedway, former home of the Maytag Corporation's headquarters prior to the Whirlpool Corporation buyout
- Johnston (14,513), suburb of Des Moines
- Indianola (14,227), home of National Balloon Museum and Simpson College
- Clive (14,062), suburb of Des Moines
- Altoona (13,394), suburb of Des Moines
- Boone (12,773), an important hub for the Union Pacific Railroad
- Spencer (11,059) known for the Clay County Fair
Iowa sister states
Iowa has eight official partner states:[14]
- Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine (1996)
- Hebei Province, People's Republic of China (1983)
- Stavropol Krai, Russia (1989)
- Taiwan (1989)
- Terengganu, Malaysia (1987)
- Veneto Region, Italy (1997)
- Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan (1960)
- Yucatan, Mexico (1964)
Education
Iowa has historically placed a strong emphasis on education, which is shown in standardized testing scores. In 2003, Iowa had the second highest average SAT scores by state, and tied for second highest average ACT scores in states where more than 20% of graduates were tested. The national office of ACT is in Iowa City, and the ITBS and ITED testing programs used in many states are provided by the University of Iowa.
An overhaul of the current education system is being discussed. One of the suggested ideas is switching from 180 days to a year-round school system. [4]
State universities
Independent colleges and universities
Community colleges
Professional business and technical colleges and universities
Sports
Art
- Exhibitions
Famous Iowans
The following is an alphabetical list of famous people born in Iowa (who don't necessarily live in Iowa) as well as famous Iowans in general.
Name | Occupation | Description |
---|---|---|
Julie Adams | film actress | Born on October 17, 1926 in Waterloo, IA. |
Fran Allison | Comedian and singer | Born on November 20, 1907 in La Porte City, IA. She graduated from Coe College in 1927. Began her broadcasting career at WMT in Cedar Rapids, IA. |
Tom Arnold | Film actor | Born in Ottumwa on 6 March 1959. |
Leon "Bix" Beiderbecke | Jazz cornet player | Born in Davenport 1903-1931. |
Buffalo Bill | Buffalo hunter; entertainer; Pony Express rider | Born William Frederick Cody near Le Claire on February 26 1846. |
Billy Aaron Brown | Played Kyle in ABC sitcom 8 Simple Rules | Born in Clarinda, Iowa in 1981. |
Bill Bryson | Popular writer of travel books | Born in Des Moines in 1951. |
Norman Ernest Borlaug | Nobel Peace Prize laureate | Born near Cresco on March 25, 1914. |
Johnny Carson | Comedian | Born in Corning on 23 October 1925. |
Christian Clemenson | American Actor | Born in Humboldt, Iowa on November 11 1959 |
J. Coburn | American writer, Speaker, Body Modification Artist | Born in Brooklyn, Iowa on January 13 1981 |
Mamie Eisenhower | Wife of President Dwight D. Eisenhower | Born in Boone in 1896. |
Michael Emerson | Actor, plays Ben Linus in ABC series Lost | Born in Cedar Rapids on September 7, 1954. |
Bob Feller | Major League Baseball Player; Hall of Famer | Pitched 3 no-hitters for the Cleveland Indians, Born near Van Meter on November 3 1918. |
Freaklabel | Working Class Metal band | Formed in Cedar Rapids. |
Dan Gable | Olympic gold medalist in wrestling and famous wrestling coach for the University of Iowa | Born in Waterloo on October 25 1948. |
George Gallup | American statistician; inventor of the Gallup poll | Born in Jefferson in 1901. |
Frank Gotch | Professional wrestler; world heavyweight champion | Born south of Humboldt in 1878. |
Fred Grandy | Actor and former member of the United States House of Representatives | Born on June 29, 1948 in Sioux City, IA |
Peter Hedges | Screenwriter of What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Director | Born in Des Moines on July 6, 1962 |
Chad Hennings | American football player and US Air Force officer | Born in Elberon on October 20, 1965. |
Kirk Hinrich | NBA basketball player | Born in Sioux City on January 2, 1981 |
Herbert Hoover | 31st President of the United States | Born in West Branch in 1874. He is also buried there. |
Lou Henry Hoover | Wife of President Herbert Hoover | Born in Waterloo, Iowa. |
Zach Johnson | Professional Golfer (2007 Masters Champion) | Born in Iowa City on February 24, 1976 Resided in Cedar Rapids, Graduated from Drake University |
Nate Kaeding | NFL Kicker | Born in Iowa City on March 26, 1982. Played college football at University of Iowa. |
Nile Kinnick | Football player, Heisman Trophy winner, naval officer | Born in Adel on July 9, 1918. Played college football at University of Iowa |
Ashton Kutcher | Film and television actor | Born in Cedar Rapids on February 7, 1978. |
William D. Leahy | Five star admiral | Born in Hampton on May 6, 1875. |
Ron Livingston | Film and television actor | Born in Cedar Rapids on June 5, 1968. |
Frederick L. Maytag | Maytag founder | Lived his childhood years near Laurel. |
Robert Millikan | Physicist | Measured the charge of the electron, spent part of his childhood in Maquoketa. |
Glenn Miller | Musician | Born in Clarinda (1904)] |
Kate Mulgrew | Actress | A film and television actress born in Dubuque, Iowa on April 29, 1955. |
Charles Murray | American policy writer | Best known for being the co-author of the controversial best seller, The Bell Curve. Born in Newton, Iowa on January 8, 1943. |
Nancy Price | Author of Sleeping with the Enemy | Former Professor at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa. |
Ronald Reagan | 40th President of the United States | Worked at WOC radio station in Davenport, IA in 1932 |
Harry Reasoner | Journalist | Born April 17, 1923 at Dakota City, Iowa |
Donna Reed | Actress | Born as Donna Belle Mullenger January 27, 1921 on a farm near Denison, Iowa |
George Reeves | Actor | Born January 5, 1914, best known for playing the role of Superman on the television series the Adventures of Superman in the 1950s. |
Reggie Roby | NFL Punter | Born in Waterloo played college football at University of Iowa. |
Sage Rosenfels | NFL quarterback | Born in Maquoketa in 1978 and played college football at Iowa State University. |
Brandon Routh | Film and television actor | Born in Des Moines on October 9, 1979 |
Slipknot | Alternative metal/nu metal band | Formed in Des Moines. |
Tracie Spencer | Female R&B Vocalist | Born in Waterloo. |
Mark Steines | Co-host of Entertainment Tonight | Alumnus of the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa. |
Bill Stewart (musician) | Accomplished American jazz drummer | Born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. |
Sullivan brothers | Deaths brought about the military's Sole Survivor Policy | Died together on the USS Juneau during the Battle of Guadalcanal, were born in Waterloo. |
Billy Sunday | a professional baseball player; evangelist | Born in Bina in 1862 and lived in Glenwood, Nevada, and Ames. |
Corey Taylor | Lead vocalist of the bands Slipknot and Stone Sour | Born on December 8, 1973 and formed Slipknot in 1995. |
James Van Allen | Scientist | Born in Mount Pleasant in 1914. |
Michelle Vieth | Mexican soap actress | Born in Marshalltown on November 19, 1979. Now lives in Mexico. |
Henry A. Wallace | 33rd Vice President of the United States | Born in Orient, Iowa in 1888; died in Danbury, Connecticut in 1965 |
Robert James Waller | Author of The Bridges of Madison County | Former Professor of Business at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa. |
Brian Wansink | Author of Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think | Born in 1960 in Sioux City, Iowa and alumnus of Drake University (M.A.). Professor at Cornell University. |
Grant Wood | Artist | Known mostly for his painting American Gothic, was born in Anamosa on February 13, 1891. |
Wright Brothers | Lived for a short time in Cedar Rapids while their father was posted there as a bishop with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. | |
Kurt Warner | American football player | Born in 1971 in Burlington. Alumnus of the University of Northern Iowa. |
John Wayne | Film actor | Born as Marion Morrison in Winterset in 1907. |
Meredith Willson | Broadway composer/lyricist: The Music Man, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Here's Love | Born on May 18, 1902 in Mason City. The Music Man is based partly on Willson's own childhood and is his tribute to the State of Iowa. |
Elijah Wood | Film actor | Born in Cedar Rapids on January 28, 1981. |
Ed Yost | Inventor of the modern hot air balloon | Born in Bristow in 1919. |
Andy Williams | American Pop Singer [Moon River, 1962] | Born in Wall Lake in 1927. |
Joey Jordison | American Drummer of Slipknot and Guitarist of Murderdolls | Born in Des Moines in 1975. |
David Hilker | singer/songwriter, producer, music industry exec Wild Whirled Music and Fervor Records | Born in Clarion, Iowa, grew up in Cedar Rapids |
Dave Keuning | guitarist of The Killers | Native of Pella, Iowa |
Animals
Some of the wild animals that can be found in Iowa:
|
State symbols
- Nickname(s): The Tall Corn State, The Hawkeye State[15]
- Bird: Eastern Goldfinch[16]
- Fish: Channel catfish (unofficial) [5]
- Flower: Wild Rose[16]
- Grass: Bluebunch wheatgrass[citation needed]
- Tree: Oak[16]
- Colors:Red, white, and blue (in state flag)
- Fossil: Crinoid (proposed) [6]
- Motto: "Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain"[16]
- Rock: Geode[16]
- Ships: Iowa class battleship, USS Iowa (BB-4), USS Iowa (BB-53), USS Iowa (BB-61)
- Song: The Song of Iowa[17]
- Soil: Tama (unofficial)
See also
References
- ^ a b "Elevations and Distances in the United States". U.S Geological Survey. 29 April 2005.
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suggested) (help)CS1 maint: year (link) - ^ US Thunderstorm distribution. src.noaa.gov. Last accessed November 1, 2006.
- ^ Mean Annual Average Number of Tornadoes 1953-2004. ncdc.noaa.gov. Last accessed November 1, 2006.
- ^ http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/datacenter/quickfacts
- ^ "American Religious Identification Survey 2001" (PDF). The Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
- ^ http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/datacenter/quickfacts
- ^ http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/datacenter/quickfacts
- ^ a b "Iowa Department of Revenue Local Option". Retrieved 2006-06-05.
- ^ "Forming a New Political Party in Iowa" (PDF). Elections Division, Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
- ^ "Official Results Report - Statewide: 2006 General Election" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
- ^ "Canvass Summary: 2004 General Election" (PDF). Chester J. Culver, Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
- ^ Iowa Data Center. "Population Estimates and Rankings for Population, Numerical Change, and Percent Change for Iowa's Incorporated Places: 2000-2006" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-06-28.
- ^ Iowa Data Center. "Population Estimates and Components of Population Change for Iowa's Metropolitan Areas (2003 Definition): 2000-2006" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-04-06.
- ^ http://www.iowasisterstates.org/
- ^ "Iowa Department of Economic Development Travel Iowa web site - State Symbols". Iowa Department of Economic Development.
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External links
- Official State of Iowa Website
- Iowa News.
- USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Iowa
- U.S. Census Bureau
- Iowa Code online at Iowa General Assembly
- Iowa Newspapers
- Midwest Regional Climate Center (climate statistics)
- Iowa State Facts
- State Symbols
- Office of Governor and Lt. Governor
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Iowa Quick Facts