Information about Iowa

State of Iowa
Flag of Iowa Flag of Iowa Seal Nickname(s): The Tall Corn State, The Hawkeye State Motto(s): Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain Map of the United States with Iowa highlighted
Official language(s)	English
Capital	Des Moines
Largest city	Des Moines
Area	Ranked 26th
- Total	56,272 sq mi (145,743 km)
- Width	310 miles (500 km)
- Length	199 miles (320 km)
- % water	0.71
- Latitude	40° 23′ N to 43° 30′ N
- Longitude	90° 8′ W to 96° 38′ W
Population	Ranked 30th
- Total (2000)	2,926,324
- Density	52.4/sq mi  20.22/km (33rd)
Elevation
- Highest point	Hawkeye Point[1] 1,670 ft  (509 m)
- Mean	1,099 ft  (335 m)
- Lowest point	Mississippi River[1] at Keokuk 480 ft  (146 m)
Admission to Union	December 28, 1846 (29th)
Governor	Chet Culver (D)
'''U.S. Senators	Chuck Grassley (R) Tom Harkin (D)
'''Congressional Delegation	List
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/DST-5
Abbreviations	US-IA
Web site	www.iowa.gov

The State of Iowa (IPA: /ˈaɪəwə/) 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 Mississippi River 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 [2] 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
[3]

Neighboring states

Iowa is bordered 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

Main article: History of Iowa

Highlights:

• 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 29^th 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

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%
1840	43,112		—
1850	192,214		0%
1860	674,913		0%
1870	1,194,020		0%
1880	1,624,615		0%
1890	1,912,297		0%
1900	2,231,853		0%
1910	2,224,771		0%
1920	2,404,021		0%
1930	2,470,939		0%
1940	2,538,268		0%
1950	2,621,073		0%
1960	2,757,537		0%
1970	2,824,376		0%
1980	2,913,808		0%
1990	2,776,755		0%
2000	2,926,324		0%
Est. 2006	2,982,085		0%

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 [4].

Demographics of Iowa (csv)
By race	White	Black	AIAN	Asian	NHPI
AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native   -   NHPI is Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
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 2000-2005 (total population)	1.01%	12.55%	-2.70%	14.41%	1.01%
Growth 2000-2005 (non-Hispanic only)	0.12%	11.13%	-5.68%	14.14%	0.05%
Growth 2000-2005 (Hispanic only)	31.91%	53.85%	19.33%	29.51%	7.14%

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%
• Other Religions – 6%
• Non-Religious – 13%
• Did not answer – 5%

Economy

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:

• 29, 35, 74, 80, 129, 235, 280, 380, 480, 680

US highways

These are 20 United States highways that go through Iowa:

• 6, 18, 20, 30, 34, 52, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 75, 77, 136, 151, 169, 218, 275

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

See List of Governors of Iowa, Iowa General Assembly, and Iowa State Capitol

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, 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

Main article: List of cities in Iowa

These are Iowa's 30 largest cities, based on 2006 population estimates from the United States Census Bureau.^[12][13]

1. Des Moines (193,886/MSA 534,230), state capital, home to Drake University, and location of internationally known Iowa State Fair
2. Cedar Rapids (124,417/MSA 249,320), home of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
3. Davenport (99,514/MSA 377,291), home of Saint Ambrose University, largest of the Quad Cities
4. Sioux City (83,262/MSA 143,474), home of Sergeant Floyd Monument of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, northern-most Missouri River port
5. Waterloo (65,998/MSA 162,263), home of John Deere's tractor factory
6. Iowa City (62,649/MSA 139,567), home of the University of Iowa
7. Council Bluffs (60,271/MSA 822,549), part of Omaha, Nebraska metropolitan area
8. Dubuque (57,696/MSA 92,384) Iowa's oldest city, river port, home of Loras College, tourist destination
9. West Des Moines (53,945/534,230), suburb of Des Moines and insurance center
10. Ames (51,557/MSA 80,145), home of Iowa State University.
11. Ankeny (38,726/MSA 534,230), suburb of Des Moines
12. Urbandale (37,173/MSA 534,230), suburb of Des Moines
13. Cedar Falls (36,940/MSA 162,263), home of the University of Northern Iowa and part of the Waterloo metropolitan area
14. Bettendorf (32,394/MSA 377,291), part of the Quad Cities
15. Marion (31,084/MSA 249,320), suburb of Cedar Rapids
16. Mason City (27,740), city known for cement manufacturing
17. Clinton (27,042), industrial river town
18. Marshalltown (25,957), home of Iowa Veterans Home, known for furnace and valve manufacturing
19. Fort Dodge (25,466), known for mining and veterinary pharmaceuticals
20. Burlington (25,464), industrial river town
21. Ottumwa (24,845), industrial river town
22. Muscatine (22,719), location of many chemical plants
23. Coralville (18,017), suburb of Iowa City
24. Newton (15,469), home of the Iowa Speedway, former home of the Maytag Corporation's headquarters prior to the Whirlpool Corporation buyout
25. Johnston (14,513), suburb of Des Moines
26. Indianola (14,227), home of National Balloon Museum and Simpson College
27. Clive (14,062), suburb of Des Moines
28. Altoona (13,394), suburb of Des Moines
29. Boone (12,773), an important hub for the Union Pacific Railroad
30. 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. [5]

State universities

• Iowa State University
• University of Iowa
• University of Northern Iowa

Independent colleges and universities

Ashford University Briar Cliff University Buena Vista University Central College Clarke College Coe College Cornell College Divine Word College Dordt College Drake University Emmaus Bible College Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary Graceland University Grand View College Grinnell College Iowa Wesleyan College

Loras College Luther College Maharishi University of Management Morningside College Mount Mercy College Northwestern College Simpson College Saint Ambrose University University of Dubuque Upper Iowa University Vennard College Waldorf College Wartburg College Wartburg Theological Seminary William Penn University

Community colleges

Clinton Community College Des Moines Area Community College Ellsworth Community College Hawkeye Community College Indian Hills Community College Iowa Central Community College Iowa Lakes Community College Iowa Western Community College Kirkwood Community College

Marshalltown Community College Muscatine Community College North Iowa Area Community College Northeast Iowa Community College Northwest Iowa Community College Scott Community College Southeastern Community College Southwestern Community College University of Okoboji

Professional business and technical colleges and universities

AIB College of Business Allen College of Nursing Des Moines University Hamilton College Kaplan College Mercy College of Health Sciences

Palmer College of Chiropractic St. Luke's College of Nursing and Health Sciences Vatterott College

Sports

Club	Sport	League
Burlington Bees	Baseball	Minor League Baseball (A)
Cedar Rapids Kernels	Baseball	Minor League Baseball (A)
Clarinda A's	Baseball	Collegiate, summer
Clinton LumberKings	Baseball	Minor League Baseball (A)
Iowa Cubs	Baseball	Minor League Baseball (AAA)
Sioux City Explorers	Baseball	Northern League
Swing of the Quad Cities	Baseball	Minor League Baseball (A)
Waterloo Bucks	Baseball	Collegiate, summer
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders	Ice hockey	United States Hockey League
Des Moines Buccaneers	Ice hockey	United States Hockey League
Dubuque Thunderbirds	Ice hockey
Iowa Stars	Ice hockey	American Hockey League
North Iowa Outlaws	Ice hockey	North American Hockey League
Omaha Lancers	Ice hockey	United States Hockey League
Quad City Flames	Ice hockey	American Hockey League
Sioux City Musketeers	Ice hockey	United States Hockey League
Waterloo Blackhawks	Ice hockey	United States Hockey League
Iowa Stalkers	Wrestling	Real Pro Wrestling
Des Moines Menace	Soccer	USL Premier Development League
Sioux City Bandits	Indoor football	United Indoor Football League
Sioux City Cornhuskers (moved to St. Paul, Minnesota and became the St. Paul Saints, would move again to Chicago, Illinois and are now the Chicago White Sox)	Baseball	Major League Baseball
Iowa Energy	Basketball	NBA Developmental League (NBA DL)
Waterloo Hawks (defunct)	Basketball	National Basketball Association/National Basketball League

Art

• Exhibitions
• Iowa Biennial

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	Heavy 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	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:

White-tailed deer Pheasant Quail Muskrat Raccoon Red fox Jackrabbit Cottontail Fox squirrel Gray squirrel Coyote Beaver Bobcat Northern River Otter

Badger Weasel Mink Eastern spotted skunk Striped skunk Gray fox Opossum Gopher Groundhog Massassauga rattlesnake Prairie rattlesnake Timber rattlesnake Mountain Lion Bald Eagle

State symbols

• Nickname(s): The Tall Corn State, The Hawkeye State^[15]
• Bird: Eastern Goldfinch^[16]
• Fish: Channel catfish (unofficial) http://www.statefishart.com/states/midwest/io.htm
• Flower: Wild Rose^[16]
• Grass: Bluebunch wheatgrass
• Tree: Oak^[16]
• Colors:Red, white, and blue (in state flag)
• Fossil: Crinoid (proposed) http://www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/states/iowa/
• 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^[21]
• Soil: Tama (unofficial)

See also

34th Infantry Division (United States) Amana Colonies Black Hawk War Corn Effigy Mounds National Monument Field of Dreams Flag of Iowa Fox (tribe) Geode Governor (Iowa) Hawkeye Point Hawkeye state Herbert Hoover National Historical Site Herbert Hoover History of Iowa Honey War Interstate 35 Interstate 80 Invasion Iowa Iowa (song) Iowa (tribe) Iowa Air National Guard Iowa Arboretum Iowa Army National Guard Iowa Barnstormers Iowa Biennial Iowa caucuses Iowa census statistical areas Iowa Communications Network Iowa Counties Iowa Cubs Iowa General Assembly Iowa Great Lakes Iowa Hawkeyes

Iowa House of Representatives Iowa in the American Civil War Iowa Interstate Railroad Iowa newspapers Iowa River Iowa Senate Iowa Speedway Iowa Stars Iowa State Capitol Iowa State Cyclones Iowa State Fair Iowa State Patrol Iowa Territory Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail List of Iowa area codes List of United States Representatives from Iowa List of United States Senators from Iowa Midwestern United States Miss Iowa Mississippi River Missouri River Mormon Trail Northern Iowa Panthers Pig Pioneer Hi-Bred (Headquartered in Johnston, Iowa) Prairie RAGBRAI Red Bull Highway (Iowa) Scouting in Iowa Seal of Iowa Sports teams to have ever been in Iowa State Capital Des Moines and the old State Capital Iowa City Terrace Hill USS Iowa

References

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

	•  • [ e] State of Iowa Des Moines (capital)
Topics	History | Governors | Flag | Seal | Geography | Demographics | Education | Sports | Iowans | State Parks | County Seats
Regions	Coteau des Prairies | Des Moines metropolitan area | Dissected Till Plains | Driftless Area | Great River Road | Iowa Great Lakes | Loess Hills | Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area | Quad Cities | Siouxland
Largest cities	Ames | Ankeny | Bettendorf | Burlington | Cedar Falls | Cedar Rapids | Clinton | Council Bluffs | Davenport | Des Moines | Dubuque | Fort Dodge | Iowa City | Marion | Marshalltown | Mason City | Muscatine | Ottumwa | Sioux City | Urbandale | Waterloo | West Des Moines
Counties	Adair | Adams | Allamakee | Appanoose | Audubon | Benton | Black Hawk | Boone | Bremer | Buchanan | Buena Vista | Butler | Calhoun | Carroll | Cass | Cedar | Cerro Gordo | Cherokee | Chickasaw | Clarke | Clay | Clayton | Clinton | Crawford | Dallas | Davis | Decatur | Delaware | Des Moines | Dickinson | Dubuque | Emmet | Fayette | Floyd | Franklin | Fremont | Greene | Grundy | Guthrie | Hamilton | Hancock | Hardin | Harrison | Henry | Howard | Humboldt | Ida | Iowa | Jackson | Jasper | Jefferson | Johnson | Jones | Keokuk | Kossuth | Lee | Linn | Louisa | Lucas | Lyon | Madison | Mahaska | Marion | Marshall | Mills | Mitchell | Monona | Monroe | Montgomery | Muscatine | O'Brien | Osceola | Page | Palo Alto | Plymouth | Pocahontas | Polk | Pottawattamie | Poweshiek | Ringgold | Sac | Scott | Shelby | Sioux | Story | Tama | Taylor | Union | Van Buren | Wapello | Warren | Washington | Wayne | Webster | Winnebago | Winneshiek | Woodbury | Worth | Wright

•  • [ e] Political divisions of the United States
States	Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Federal District	Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia)
Insular Areas	American Samoa Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands
Outlying Islands	Baker Island Howland Island Jarvis Island Johnston Atoll Kingman Reef Midway Atoll Navassa Island Palmyra Atoll Wake Island

•  • [ e] Protected Areas of Iowa
National Parks	None
National Monuments	Effigy Mounds
National Historic Sites	Herbert Hoover
State Parks	Ambrose A. Call • Backbone • Badger Creek • Beed's Lake • Bellevue • Big Creek • Bixby • Black Hawk • Brushy Creek • Cedar Rock • Clear Lake State Park • Dolliver Memorial • Elk Rock • Elinor Bedell • Fort Atkinson • Fort Defiance • Geode • George Wyth Memorial • Green Valley • Gull Point • Honey Creek • Lacy-Keosauqua • Lake Ahquabi • Lake Anita • Lake Darling • Lake Keomah • Lake MacBride • Lake Manawa • Lake of Three Fires • Lake Wapello • Ledges • Lewis and Clark • Maquoketa Caves • McIntosh Woods • Mines of Spain & E.B. Lyons • Nine Eagles • Okamanpedan • Palisades-Kepler • Pikes Peak • Pilot Knob • Pine Lake • Pleasant Creek • Prairie Rose • Preparation Canyon • Red Haw • Rice Lake State Park • Rock Creek • Slinde Mounds • Springbrook • Stone • Templar • Twin Lakes • Union Grove • Viking Lake • Volga River • Walnut Woods • Wanata • Wapsipinicon • Waubonsie • Wildcat Den • Wilson Island
State Forests	Backbone • Barkley • Gifford • Holst • Loess Hills • Pilot Mound • Shimek • Stephens • White Pine Hollow • Yellow River
National Register of Historic Places	See List of Registered Historic Places in Iowa
National Historic Landmarks	Amana Colonies • Blood Run Site • Dubuque County Jail • Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School • George M. Verity • Grenville M. Dodge House • William P. Hepburn House • George B. Hitchcock House • Herbert Hoover Birthplace • Indian Village Site • James B. Weaver House • Julien Dubuque's Mines • Lone Star • Merchants' National Bank • Old Capitol • Phipps Site • President • Sergeant Floyd Monument • Sergeant Floyd • Terrace Hill • Toolesboro Mound Group • Van Allen and Company Department Store • William M. Black • Woodbury County Courthouse
Iowa Department of Natural Resources

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