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Iowa History, Geography, Population, State Facts

The Hawkeye State

Great Seal of the State of Iowa

Adopted in 1847.

One of the initial acts of the first Iowa Legislature in 1847 was to create the Great Seal of Iowa.

The two-inch diameter seal pictures a citizen soldier standing in a wheat field, surrounded by farming and industrial tools, with the Mississippi River in the background. An eagle is overhead, holding in its beak a scroll bearing the state motto, "Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain." The motto was the work of a three-man Senate committee and was incorporated into the design of the seal at their suggestion.

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The first Europeans to visit the area were the French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet in 1673. The U.S. obtained control of the area in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase, and during the first half of the 19th century, there was heavy fighting between white settlers and Indians. Lands were taken from the Indians after the Black Hawk War in 1832 and again in 1836 and 1837.

When Iowa became a state in 1846, its capital was Iowa City; the more centrally located Des Moines became the new capital in 1857. At that time, the state's present boundaries were also drawn.

Capital City: Des Moines

Capitol Tour

Iowa: State of Iowa Official Web Site

Admission to Statehood: Click for Date & List

Airports: Airports Map • Airport Links

Amtrak: Midwest

Area: 56276 sq.mi, 26th Land 55875 sq. mi., 23rd Water 401 sq.mi., 44th

Area Codes: Iowa

Biographies: Famous People from Iowa

Bird: American Goldfinch

Border States: Regional List • Illinois • Minnesota • Missouri • Nebraska • South Dakota • Wisconsin

Cam World: Live Web Cams

Climate: Iowa

Community Pages: Iowa Cities, Towns, Communities List

Constitution: 29th State

County Profile: County Map 99 Counties

Courts: Judicial System

Current Events: Iowa News Headlines

Department of: Education • Licensure | Drake University | Private, fully accredited, coeducational university in Des Moines.| Iowa State University | Official homepage for Iowa State University of Science and Technology. | University of Iowa A major national research university located in Iowa City.

Driving: MVD

Flag: Iowa (IA)

Flower: Wild Prairie Rose Rosa pratincola

Cyndi's List • Historical Societies

Geographic Center: Story, 5 mi northeast of Ames

Geology Maps: Iowa

Ghost Towns: Ghost Towns

Governor: Office of Governor

Highest Point: High Point; 1,670 feet, 42nd

Highways: <Iowa Highways

History: History Timeline • Iowa History

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