Quick Facts: Iowa

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Iowa is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States, a region sometimes called the “American Heartland”. Iowa is bordered by the Mississippi River on the east and the Missouri River and the Big Sioux River on the west; it is the only U.S. state whose eastern and western borders are formed entirely by rivers.

• ABBREVIATION: IA
• NICKNAME: The Hawkeye State
• POPULATION: 3,241,488 (2024 est.)
• CAPITAL: Des Moines
• STATE BIRD: Eastern Goldfinch
• STATE FLOWER: Wild Rose
• AREA: 56,272 sq. mi.
• TIME ZONE: Central
• ENTERED UNION: Dec. 28, 1846
• ALTITUDE: High, 1,671 ft. Hawkeye Point
• CLIMATE: Hot summers with ample rainfall; cold winters with some heavy snows.

Corn is the word for Iowa, “that’s where the tall corn grows”. The high-yield hybrid corn of today is short-six to eight feet-but the “big fertile farm”-which is Iowa grows more of it than any other state. A major food producing state, Iowa is the third largest agricultural production state, behind California and Texas. Iowa’s agricultural success is due in large part to its deep mineral-laden topsoil, whose origin goes back to the ice-age glaciers.

So concentrated is this fertile soil that Iowa has one fourth of all the grade A farmland in the United States. In terms of revenue generated, Iowa’s top five agricultural products are corn for grain, hogs, soybeans, cattle and calves, and dairy products.

Hogs, beef cattle and calves are also major industries in The Hawkeye State. Hogs are Iowa’s leading source of livestock income. More hogs are raised in Iowa than in any other state. Less important livestock products of the state are turkeys, sheep and some horses.

Iowa State Fair

Although 89 percent of Iowa is farmland, industry also marks the plains. But its focus, too, is agriculture. Iowa brought a new word into the language when two Charles City mechanics built a strange vehicle called a “tractor” in 1906. Today the production of farm machinery, construction equipment and the processing of food are among Iowa’s largest industries.

Fun Facts:

• The largest popcorn ball ever made weighed 3,423 lb. and was made by employees at The Popcorn Factory, Lake Forest, Illinois (2006 est.).
• The Amana Colonies, established in 1855 by people of German heritage who belonged to a religious group called the Community of True Inspiration, strived to achieve an ideal society that promoted equality, humility, and a simple way of life. In 1931 the community formed a corporation that became famous for making refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners.
• Iowa ranks as the nation’s second largest (2015 est.) agricultural producer after California, which has almost three times its area.
• In the 1880s Iowa’s topsoil was as much as five feet deep. Today, decades of farming have reduced it to an average depth of two feet.
• Iowa’s nickname comes from Chief Black Hawk, a Sauk Indian chief who started what became known as the Black Hawk War in 1832.
• The town of Fort Atkinson was built to protect one Indian tribe from another. It is the only fort ever built by the U.S. government for this purpose.

History:

Iowa’s history is a compelling narrative of Indigenous heritage, pioneering spirit, agricultural transformation, and political significance. Located in the heart of the American Midwest, Iowa has long been a crossroads of cultures and a key contributor to the nation’s development.

Long before European settlement, Iowa was home to Native American tribes such as the Ioway (for whom the state is named), Sioux, Sauk, Meskwaki (Fox), and Potawatomi. These tribes lived in harmony with the land, relying on hunting, fishing, and farming to sustain themselves.

They built villages along rivers, developed trade networks, and held deep spiritual connections to the land. Evidence of even earlier civilizations, such as the Woodland and Mississippian cultures, remains in the form of burial mounds and archaeological sites.

The first Europeans to explore the area were French explorers Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette in 1673, as they traveled the Mississippi River. Iowa later became part of the vast Louisiana Territory claimed by France, which was sold to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Following the acquisition, explorers, fur traders, and settlers began moving into the area.

In the early 19th century, as American expansion pushed westward, conflicts with Native tribes increased. The Black Hawk War of 1832 marked a turning point, leading to the forced removal of many Native groups from Iowa. However, the Meskwaki Tribe (Sac and Fox of the Mississippi in Iowa) resisted relocation and, uniquely, were allowed to buy back land in Tama County, where their community still resides today.

Iowa was organized as a territory in 1838, with Burlington as its first capital. On December 28, 1846, Iowa became the 29th state in the Union. Its early settlers were largely from the eastern U.S. and Europe, especially Germans, Irish, Scandinavians, and Dutch, all drawn by the promise of fertile farmland. Iowa’s rich soil and central location made it ideal for agriculture, and farming quickly became the backbone of its economy.

During the Civil War, Iowa strongly supported the Union. Although it did not experience battles on its soil, more than 75,000 Iowans served in the war. Afterward, the state continued to grow, fueled by railroads, improved farming techniques, and the rise of small towns and cities.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Iowa became known for its agricultural output—particularly corn, soybeans, and livestock. Education also became a priority, with the establishment of public schools and major universities like the University of Iowa and Iowa State University.

In modern history, Iowa gained national political significance with the Iowa Caucuses, which are the first major event of the U.S. presidential election season. This has made Iowa a focal point in American politics every four years.

Today, Iowa continues to blend tradition with innovation. While agriculture remains central, the state has diversified into biotechnology, finance, education, and renewable energy. Its rich history—grounded in Native heritage, pioneering settlement, and civic engagement—makes Iowa a vital part of the American story.