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About Iowa
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Statehood |
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Iowa became the 29th state on December 28, 1846. Capital City: Des Moines Founded at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers; originally a military outpost.
Nickname: The Hawkeye State
The nickname was adopted early in the state's history. Two Iowa promoters from Burlington are believed to
have popularized the name.
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| State Banner and Motto |
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Iowa was almost 75 years old before the
state flag was adopted by the General Assembly. Creation of the state flag had been suggested for years by patriotic
organizations, but no action was taken until World War I, when Iowa National Guardsmen stationed along the Mexican border
suggested a state flag was needed to designate their unit. This prompted the state's Daughters of the American Revolution
(DAR) to design a flag in 1917. The Iowa General Assembly officially adopted the design in 1921. Designed by Mrs. Dixie
Cornell Gebhardt of Knoxville, Iowa, a member of the DAR, the state flag consists of three vertical stripes -- blue, white and
red. Gebhardt explained that the blue stands for loyalty, justice and truth; the white for purity; and the red for courage. On
the white center stripe is an eagle carrying in its beak blue streamers inscribed with the state motto: "Our liberties we
prize, and our rights we will maintain." The word "Iowa" is in red just below the streamers. All schools must fly the state
flag on school days. The flag may also be flown on the sites of public buildings. When displayed with the United States flag,
the state flag must be flown below the national emblem. |
| The Great Seal of the State of Iowa |
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The Great Seal of Iowa pictures a
citizen soldier standing in a wheat field surrounded by farming and industrial tools, with the Mississippi River in the
background. An eagle overhead bears the state motto. |
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State Flower: Wild Rose |
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The 26th Iowa General Assembly designated
the wild rose as the official state flower in 1897. It was chosen for the honor because it was one of the decorations used on
the silver service which the state presented to the battleship USS Iowa that same year. Although no particular species of the
flower was designated by the General Assembly, the wild prairie rose (rosa pratincola) is most often cited as the official
flower. Wild roses are found throughout the state and bloom from June through late summer. The flower, in varying shades of
pink, is set off by many yellow stamens in the center. |
| State Bird: Eastern Goldfinch |
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The Iowa General Assembly designated the
eastern goldfinch, also known as the American goldfinch and the wild canary, as the official state bird in 1933. It was chosen
as the state bird because it is commonly found in Iowa and often stays through the winter. Seeds from dandelions, sunflowers,
ragweed and evening primrose are the main source of food for the eastern goldfinch (carduelis tristis). In late July or early
August, goldfinches build their nests from plant materials and line them with thistledown. The pale blue-white eggs of the
eastern goldfinch hatch after two weeks and then, following two to three more weeks, the young birds leave the nest. The top
of a male's head is topped with black and their bright yellow body also has black wings and tail. The female has a dull
olive-yellow body with a brown tail and wings. The male goldfinch acquires the same dull plumage in the winter months. |
| State Tree: Oak |
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The oak was designated as the official
state tree in 1961. The Iowa General Assembly chose the oak because it is abundant in the state and serves as shelter, food
and nesting cover for many animals and birds. It is difficult to find a tract of natural woodland in Iowa that does not have
in it at least one species of oak. No other group of trees is more important to people and wildlife. Acorns, the nuts of oak
trees, are a dietary staple of many animals and birds. Deer, wild turkeys, pheasants, quail, wood ducks, raccoons, squirrels,
chipmunks, bluejays, nuthatches, grackles and several kinds of woodpeckers are a few of the species that depend on acorns for
a significant portion of their diet. |
| State Rock: Geode |
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The Iowa General Assembly designated the
geode as the official state rock in 1967. Because Iowa is well known for the presence of the geode, it was chosen as the
official rock in an effort to promote tourism in the state. Legislators who favored making the geode the state rock pointed
out that it is among the rarest and most beautiful of rocks and that Iowa is known worldwide because of the large number found
in the state. Other rocks considered for official status were limestone and fossil coral. In Latin, the word geode means
earthlike. Geodes are shaped like the earth and average about four inches in diameter. Geodes are found in limestone
formations and have a hard outer shell. When carefully broken open, a sparkling lining of mineral crystals, most often quartz
and calcite, is revealed. Geologists attribute the crystal growth to the percolation of groundwater in the geologic past.
Southeastern Iowa is one of the state's best Geode collecting areas. Geode State Park in Henry County is named for the
occurrence of the geode. |
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In the United States, Iowa ranks:
First in pork production
First in corn production
Second in soybean production
Education
Iowa has three state universities, 62 public and private colleges and 28 community colleges.
Geography and Climate
Iowa is centrally located in the heart of North America, a welcoming place to stop and visit. With the
Missouri River to the west and the Mississippi to the east, Iowa is the only state bordered by two navigable rivers.
A farm north of Sibley in Osceola County marks Iowa's highest point, 1,670 feet above sea level. Conversely,
Iowa's lowest point is at the confluence to the Des Moines and Mississippi Rivers in Lee County, 470 feet above sea level.
Iowa's four distinct seasons provide a wide range of temperature variation through the year - a perfect
place to celebrate summertime sunshine and winter wonders!
Industry
The largest source of personal income for Iowans is manufacturing, followed by services, retail/wholesale
trade and government.
Agriculture
Producing food, fuel, clothing and medicine for the world, agriculture is a leading industry in Iowa, a
state with more than 97,000 farms. One Iowa farm family grows enough food and fiber to feed 279 people, one-fourth of whom
live overseas. For more information go to Iowa Farmer Today.
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