Iowa is known for:
- Corn
- Pork Production
- Beautiful countryside and parks
- Unpredictable Weather
- Political Caucuses, as it holds the first caucus in every presidential primary election
Geography & Demographics
| State Abbreviation |
IA |
| State Capital |
Des Moines |
| State Size |
Total (Land + Water): 56,272 sq miles; Land Only: 55,869 sq miles |
| Number of Counties |
99 |
| Time Zone |
Central Time Zone |
| Bordering States |
Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin |
| Highest Point | Hawkeye Point, 1,671 feet |
| Tallest Building | 801 Grand in Des Moines, 630 feet |
| Largest Stadium | Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, capacity 70,585 |
| National Parks | None |
| State Population (2020) | 3,190,369 |
| State Population Density | 57.1 people / square mile |
| Area Codes |
319, 515, 563, 641, 712 |
| Top 5 Cities (2020 population) |
Des Moines (212,312)
Cedar Rapids (134,027)
Davenport (101,799)
Sioux City (82,759)
Iowa City (76,608)
|
Government & Legislature
State Symbols
| State Bird |
Eastern goldfinch |
| State Flower |
Wild rose |
| State Motto |
Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain |
| State Nickname |
Hawkeye State |
| State Rock | Geode |
| State Tree |
Bur oak |
Sports Teams
| City |
Table Tennis Club |
| Davenport | Quad-City Table Tennis Club |
Popular Tourist Attractions
- Adventureland: Amusement park in Des Moines, Iowa.
- Amana Colonies: National landmark that consists of seven villages formed by German Pietists, who maintained an almost completely self-sufficient local economy for 80 years, located in Amana, Iowa.
- American Gothic House: Museum and art center in Eldon, Iowa.
- Blank Park Zoo: Zoo in Des Moines, Iowa.
- Des Moines Art Center: Art museum in Des Moines, Iowa.
- Field of Dreams Movie Site: Field filmed in the movie "Field of Dreams" starring Kevin Costner, located in Dyersville, Iowa.
- Figge Art Museum: Art museum in Davenport, Iowa.
- Grotto of the Redemption: Religious shrine in West Bend, Iowa.
- High Trestle Trail: 25-mile recreational trail from Ankeny, Iowa, to Woodward, Iowa.
- Hoyt Sherman Place: Performing arts theater in Des Moines, Iowa.
- Iowa Speedway: Car racing track in Newton, Iowa.
- Ledges State Park: State park in Madrid, Iowa.
- Living History Farms: Open-air museum in Urbandale, Iowa.
- Maquoketa Caves State Park: State park in Maquoketa, Iowa.
- Pikes Peak State Park: State park in McGregor, Iowa.
- Prairie Meadows: Casino in Altoona, Iowa.
- Putnam Museum: History and natural science museum in Davenport, Iowa.
- Reiman Gardens: Garden in Ames, Iowa.
Festivals and Events
Top festivals and events in Iowa. They are listed in approximate order of when they take place during the year.
| Festival / Event |
When |
Location |
| Pella Tulip Time Festival | May | Pella |
| Des Moines Arts Festival | June | Western Gateway Park, Des Moines |
| Ottumwa Pro Balloon Race | June | Ottumwa |
| National Czech & Slovak Festival | Third full weekend in June | Cedar Rapids |
| Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival | June to July | Cedar Rapids |
| Lake Red Rock Balloonfest | July | Pella |
| National Balloon Classic | Late July to early August | National Balloon Classic Launch Field, Indianola |
| Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival | July or August | Davenport |
| DubuqueFest Fine Arts Festival | August | Dubuque |
| Hoover's Hometown Days | August | West Branch |
| Iowa Irish Fest | August | Waterloo |
| Iowa State Fair | August | Iowa State Fairgrounds, Des Moines |
| Quad City Balloon Festival | August | Davenport |
| Creston/Southwest Iowa Hot Air Balloon Days | September | Creston |
Popular Iconic Iowa Foods
Iowa is famous for the following foods:
- Loose Meat Sandwich (Maid Rite)
- Breaded Pork Tenderloin
- Iowa Sweet Corn
- Scotcharoos
- Steak de Burgo
- Puppy Chow
- Taco Pizza
- Blue Bunny Ice Cream
- Morel Mushrooms
- Pork Chop on a Stick
- Dutch Letters
Famous People Born In Iowa
Nobel Prize Winners
United States Presidents
- Herbert Hoover (31st President)
Pro Football Hall Of Fame Members
- Kurt Warner (Quarterback. Inducted in 2017)
Baseball Hall Of Fame Players
- Cap Anson (First Baseman. Inducted in 1939)
- Fred Clarke (Left Fielder. Inducted in 1945)
- Dazzy Vance (Pitcher. Inducted in 1955)
- Bob Feller (Pitcher. Inducted in 1962)
- Red Faber (Pitcher. Inducted in 1964)
- Dave Bancroft (Shortstop. Inducted in 1971)
Famous Actors And Actresses
- Cloris Leachman
- Michelle Monaghan
- John Wayne
Iowa Fun Facts
- Iowa derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the Native American tribes that made the region their home.
- Iowa is the only state in the Unites States whose eastern and western borders are formed entirely by rivers.
- Iowa is the only state in the United States that has two vowels as the first two letters of its name and has two vowels as its state abbreviation (IA).
- Iowa is called "The Hawkeye State" to honor Indian Chief Black Hawk.
- Iowan Arabella Mansfield the first female lawyer in the United States. She was admitted to the Iowa bar in 1869.
- Iowa is the largest producer of ethanol among all the states in the United States. Not surprisingly, Iowa is also the largest producer of corn among all U.S. states.
- The novel and movie "The Bridges of Madison County" was set in Madison County, Iowa.
- Iowa State University is the oldest land grant college in the United States.
- In Iowa, ministers must obtain a permit to carry their liquor across state lines.
This page was last updated on October 12, 2024.
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