Missouri Vacation Guide System
Missouri Fun Facts
Capital: Jefferson City
State abbreviation/Postal code: Mo./MO
Governor: Jay Nixon, D (to Jan. 2013)Lieut. Governor: Peter Kinder, R (to Jan. 2013)
Senators: Roy Blunt, R (to Jan. 2017); Claire McCaskill, D (to Jan. 2013)
U.S. Representatives: 9
Historical biographies of Congressional members
Secy. of State: Robin Carnahan, D (to Jan. 2013)
Treasurer: Clint Zweifel, D (to Jan. 2013)
Atty. General: Chris Koster, D (to Jan. 2013)
Organized as territory: June 4, 1812
Entered Union (rank): Aug. 10, 1821 (24)
Present constitution adopted: 1945
Motto: Salus populi suprema lex esto (The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law)
State symbols:
| flower | hawthorn (1923) |
| bird | bluebird (1927) |
| aquatic animal | paddlefish (1997) |
| fish | channel catfish (1997) |
| song | “Missouri Waltz” (1949) |
| fossil | crinoid (1989) |
| musical instrument | fiddle (1987) |
| rock | mozarkite (1967) |
| mineral | galena (1967) |
| insect | honeybee (1985) |
| tree | flowering dogwood (1955) |
| tree nut | eastern black walnut (1990) |
| animal | mule (1995) |
| dance | square dance (1995) |
| Missouri Day | third Wednesday in October (1969) |
Nickname: Show-me State
Origin of name: Named after the Missouri Indian tribe. “Missouri” means “town of the large canoes.”
10 largest cities (2005 est.): Kansas City, 444,965; St. Louis, 344,362; Springfield, 150,298; Independence, 110,208; Columbia, 91,814; Lee's Summit, 80,338; St. Joseph, 72,661; O'Fallon, 69,694; St. Charles, 62,304; St. Peter's, 54,209
Land area: 68,886 sq mi. (178,415 sq km)
Geographic center: In Miller Co., 20 mi. SW of Jefferson City
Number of counties: 114, plus 1 independent city
Largest county by population and area: St. Louis, 1,004,666 (2005); Texas, 1,179 sq mi.
Conservation areas1: leased, 315 (197, 661 ac.); owned, 775 (770,574 ac.)
State parks and historic sites: 81
Residents: Missourian
2005 resident population est.: 5,800,310
2000 resident census population (rank): 5,595,211 (17). Male: 2,720,177 (48.6%); Female: 2,875,034 (51.4%). White: 4,748,083 (84.9%); Black: 629,391 (11.2%); American Indian: 25,076 (0.4%); Asian: 61,595 (1.1%); Other race: 45,827 (0.8%); Two or more races: 82,061 (1.5%); Hispanic/Latino: 118,592 (2.1%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 74.5; 65 and over: 13.5; median age: 36.1.
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