Iowa Vacation Guide System

Iowa Fun Facts

Capital: Des Moines

State abbreviation/Postal code: Iowa/IA

Governor: Terry E. Branstad, R (to Jan. 2015)

Lieut. Governor: Kim Reynolds, R (to Jan. 2015)

Senators: Chuck Grassley, R (to Jan. 2017); Tom Harkin, D (to Jan. 2015)

U.S. Representatives: 5

Historical biographies of Congressional members

Secy. of State: Matt Schultz, R (to Jan. 2015)

Treasurer: Michael L. Fitzgerald, D (to Jan. 2015)

Atty. General: Tom Miller, D (to Jan. 2015)

Organized as territory: June 12, 1838

Entered Union (rank): Dec. 28, 1846 (29)

Present constitution adopted: 1857

Motto: Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain

State symbols:

flower	wild rose (1897)
bird	eastern goldfinch (1933)
colors	red, white, and blue (in state flag)
song	“Song of Iowa”

Nickname: Hawkeye State

Origin of name: From the Iowa River which was named after the Ioway Indian tribe

10 largest cities (2005 est.): Des Moines, 194,163; Cedar Rapids, 123,119; Davenport, 98,845; Sioux City, 83,148; Waterloo, 66,483; Iowa City, 62,887; Council Bluffs, 59,568; Dubuque, 57,798; West Des Moines, 52,768; Ames, 52,263

Land area: 55,869 sq mi. (144,701 sq km)

Geographic center: In Story Co., 5 mi. NE of Ames

Number of counties: 99

Largest county by population and area: Polk, 401,006 (2005); Kossuth, 973 sq mi.

State forests: 10 (43,917 ac.)

State parks/recreation areas: 84 (53,000 ac.)

Residents: Iowan

2005 resident population est.: 2,966,334

2000 resident census population (rank): 2,926,324 (30). Male: 1,435,515 (49.1%); Female: 1,490,809 (50.9%). White: 2,748,640 (93.9%); Black: 61,853 (2.1%); American Indian: 8,989 (0.3%); Asian: 36,635 (1.3%); Other race: 37,420 (1.3%); Two or more races: 31,778 (1.1%); Hispanic/Latino: 82,473 (2.8%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 74.9; 65 and over: 14.9; median age: 36.6.

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