Statehood: Iowa was announced the 29th state of the U.S. on December 28, 1846
Origin of Name: Iowa is named for the Iowa River which runs throughout the state. The river is named after the Iowa Indians.
State Capital: Des Moines
State Nickname: "The Hawkeye State"
State Motto: Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.
State Flag: In the background of the Iowa state flag there are
three vertical stripes. Colored red, white and blue. The white stripe,
the larger of the three, is in the middle, the blue stripe is to the
right of the white and the red is to the left of the white. On the white
stripe there is a picture of a bald eagle carrying a banner in it's mouth
with the state motto on it.
State Bird: Eastern Goldfinch
State Flower: Wild Rose
State Tree: Oak
State Colors: Red, white, and blue
State Song: "The Song of Iowa"
State Stone: Geode
Population Density: 50 persons per square mile, the U.S. average is 69 per square mile.
Population Distribution: 59 percent urban, 41 percent rural
Highest Point: 1,670 ft. above sea level along the north boundary
of Osceola County.
Lowest Point: 480 ft. above sea level at the junction of the Des
Moines and Mississippi rivers in Lee County.
Greatest Distances:
Area: 56,290 square miles
Rank in Area Among the States: 25th