Welcome to Iowa
"The Hawkeye State" Situated in the heart of the Corn Belt, Iowa is not as dependent on agriculture as might be expected. While it's true the industry is important to the economy, the state is actually far more economically diversified. Over 60 percent of the population is urban, and the manufacturing, finance, and insurance sectors are major players. While the state's population is still overwhelmingly Caucasian, it has increased at a faster rate than the U.S. population as a whole, with immigration from outside the U.S. being an important factor. While generally thought of as embracing Midwestern conservative values, Iowa has a long history of acceptance. Many ostracized religious groups have found a home in the Hawkeye state: from the Amish to Quakers to German Pietists. And Iowa's Supreme Court has one of the most progressive track records of any state in the country. In 1868 the court ruled that racially segregated "separate but equal" schools are unconstitutional 85 years before the U.S. Supreme Court, and in 2009 the state Supreme Court unanimously overturned Iowa's same-sex marriage ban. It's safe to say that, while Iowa may be located in "Middle America," contrary to popular perception, it's anything but "middle of the road." State Name: Iowa State Nickname: "The Hawkeye State"  State Motto: "Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain."  Name for Residents: Iowan Abbreviation: IA Time Zone: Central, GMT/UTC -6 / -5 (Daylight Savings Time) Capital City: Des Moines  Date of Statehood: December 28, 1846  Statehood Rank: 29th State Area: 56,272 square miles (145,743 km²) Area Rank: 26 of 50 Number of Counties: 99 State Population: 3,002,555 (2008 estimate) Largest Cities:     Des Moines - 198,682 (2008)     Cedar Rapids - 128,056 (2008)     Davenport - 100,827 (2008) Major Rivers:     Missouri River - Length: 2,540 mi (4,090 km)     Mississippi River - Length: 2,320 mi (3,730 km)     Des Moines - Length: 525 mi (845 km) Highest Point: Hawkeye Point, 1,670 ft (509 m) Lowest Point: Mississippi River at Keokuk, 480 ft (146 m) Bordering States and Countries:     Minnesota (North)     Wisconsin (Northeast)     Illinois(Southeast)     Missouri (South)     Nebraska (West)     South Dakota (Northwest) Record High Temperature:     118°F (48°C)     July 20, 1934 at Keokuk Record Low Temperature:     -47°F (-44°C)     February 3, 1996 at Elkader
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	Author: World Trade Press