Iowa is a rural state in the American Midwest. Most of the inhabitants originally come from Europe, especially Germans have settled here.
- Iowa is the 29th state in the United States.
- The area has a village and small town structure, there are only four larger towns in the state.
- Agriculture is thriving in Iowa and the state is famous for growing corn.
Des Moines – The state of Iowa has a long history, even if it was not a founding state of the United States. On December 28, 1846, took place foundation of today’s Iowa. The citizens joined the union as the 29th state.
Iowa was particularly popular with settlers from Europe, and Iowa was particularly popular with German emigrants. Today 36% of the population have German roots. The country takes its name from the Iowa Indians who originally lived there. In honor of Chief Black Hawk, Iowa is also called “Hawkeye State” (eagle-eye state).
Civil rights play a major role in the history of Iowa. The state Supreme Court ruled slavery illegal as early as 1839 – decades before the American Civil War ended slavery in general. In 1868, any form of racial segregation, e. g. B. forbidden in schools. Just a year later, women in Iowa were given access to legal professions, elsewhere this was unthinkable for a long time. Same-sex couples have been allowed to marry in Iowa since 2009, previously it was only possible in two other states.
- ABBREVIATIONFINDER.ORG: Overview of state Iowa, including major cities and most commonly used abbreviations of Iowa.
The geography of Iowa
The state is located in the American Midwest. Iowa shares borders with the following states:
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- South Dakota
- Missouri
- Wisconsin
- Illinois
Hilly landscapes with large plains mark the geography of Iowa. Most of the soil consists of loess, an excellent subsoil for agriculture. In the densely wooded south and east of the state there is greater rainfall. To the north and west it becomes drier and the terrain merges into the high grass prairie of the Great Plains.
The total area of Iowa is 145, 743 km², making it the 26th largest US state. There are only a few lakes in the state, but Iowa is framed by several rivers. These include the Mississippi River, the Missouri River, and the Big Sioux River.
According to COUNTRYAAH.COM, big cities are rare. In this state, small communities with a village or small town character dominate. The largest cities in Iowa include:
- Des Moines(capital, around 200, 000 inhabitants)
- Cedar Rapids (around 125, 000 inhabitants)
- Davenport (about 100, 000 inhabitants)
- Sioux City (about 83, 000 inhabitants)
Iowa has a total of 3, 155, 070 people. Most of the population lives away from the cities.
The economy in Iowa
The state in the west of the country is part of the “Corn Belt” of the USA. A lot of maize is grown here. Overall, Iowa agriculture is strong. Pork, soybeans, potatoes, beef and dairy products are also produced here. John Deere invented the first tractor here, and factories in Davenport and Waterloo still manufacture the brand’s agricultural machinery to this day. In addition, the economy is performing in the following sectors:
- food
- machinery
- electronics
- printed matter
- metal industry
Iowa and the elections
The elections in Iowa are always eagerly awaited. Because in this state the first primaries for the presidential election campaign of the USA take place. The decisions of the citizens of Iowa thus form the first impression of the candidates’ chances.
In the final election of the US president, Iowa is one of the states to be watched with tension. The agricultural and sparsely populated state has been a classic “swing state” for around 20 years.
- From 1988 to 2000, Iowa was firmly in Democratic hands.
- In 2004, residents surprisingly voted for Republicans.
- In 2008 and 2012 the Democrats won again.
- In 2016 the Republicans were successful.
Iowa brings six electors to Electoral College.