Did you know that the geodes of Iowa are world-renowned? Your kids will have fun discovering the history of Iowa, geography, important facts, landmarks and more through this Iowa State Study.
Did you know that the name ‘Iowa’ comes from a tribe of Indians of the same name or that the state song is set to the tune of ‘O Tannenbaum’? These are just a couple of facts I learned while putting together this state study of Iowa.
I designed this Iowa State Study to make learning about ‘The Hawkeye State’, both a fun and educational experience. I’ve included videos, articles, literature options, state facts, famous landmarks and more to provide thorough learning opportunities for your children.
Iowa State Study
History of the State of Iowa
Historical Climate Histories of Iowa
Iowa’s Presidential Election Voting History
Videos
Indiana Literature and Research Resources
Iowa (A True Book: My Unite...Shop on Amazon
Birds of Iowa Field Guide (...Shop on Amazon
A Culinary History of Iowa:...Shop on Amazon
What's Great about Iowa? (O...Shop on Amazon
Iowa Off the Beaten Path®:...Shop on Amazon
History of Iowa, Vol. 1 of ...Shop on Amazon
Good Night Iowa (Good Night...Shop on Amazon
Goodnight Hawkeyes: Univers...Shop on Amazon
I is For Iowa: The Hawkeye ...Shop on Amazon
Night-Night Iowa: A Sweet G...Shop on Amazon
H is for Hawkeye: An Iowa A...Shop on Amazon
Identifying Trees of Iowa: ...Shop on Amazon
Mushrooms of Iowa: Mushroom...Shop on Amazon
Rockhounding in Iowa: Rock ...Shop on Amazon
Critters of Iowa Pocket Gui...Shop on Amazon
Iowa Curiosities: Quirky Ch...Shop on Amazon
It Happened in Iowa: Remark...Shop on Amazon
All About Iowa
When did Iowa become a state?
On December 28, 1846, Iowa became the 29th state in the Union.
What is the state capital of Iowa?
Iowa’s capital is Des Moines, which is located near the middle of the state.
State Abbreviation
IA
State Population
Iowa is estimated to have a population of 2,830,000 people. Iowa has the 30th largest population of the 50 states.
State Size
Iowa has the 23rd largest land area in the US with 55,857 square miles.
State Name Origin
The word “Iowa” is derived from an American Indian tribe of the same name.
State Motto
Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.
State Nickname
The state of Iowa is known as the Hawkeye State.
State Song
“The Song of Iowa” is the regional anthem of the U.S. state of Iowa. “The Song of Iowa” was written by S. H. M. Byers in 1867 and later adopted as the state song of Iowa by the Iowa State Legislature on March 20, 1911. The lyrics of the song are set to the tune “O Tannenbaum” and the song’s theme is centered on Byers’ love for and praise for Iowa.
State Seal
On the great seal of Iowa, you can see a citizen soldier standing in a wheat field, surrounded by farming and industrial tools, with the Mississippi River in the background. As the eagle soars overhead holding a scroll bearing the state motto in its beak.
State Flag
The Iowa state flag is a tricolor comprised of three colors: blue, white, and red. An eagle is holding a ribbon in the center of the center stripe that is twice as wide as the other two. The flag was adopted on March 29, 1921.
State Bird
American Goldfinch
State Tree
Bur Oak
State Flower
Prairie Rose
State Stone
Since the geodes of Iowa are world-renowned, the Iowa General Assembly declared the geode the official “State Rock” in 1967.
Geography
- Major Cities
- Des Moines (208,966)
- Cedar Rapids (134,621)
- Davenport (100,606)
- Sioux City (83,464)
- Ankeny (73,676)
- Iowa City (73,432)
- West Des Moines (71,781)
- Ames (67,029)
- Waterloo (66,146)
- Council Bluffs (62,001)
- Rivers
- Iowa River
- Missouri River
- Mississippi River
- Des Moines River
- Big Sioux River
- Lakes
- Lake Anita
- Lake Red Rock
- Brushy Creek Lake
- Black Hawk Lake
- Pine Lake
- Pleasant Creek
- Backbone Lake
- Lake Geode
- Forests
Highways
Iowa has over 700 highways. The longest primary highway is currently U.S. Highway 30 at 332 miles (534 km). The shortest highway is Interstate 129 with a distance of 0.27 miles (430 m).
National Parks
State Parks
- Ambrose A. Call State Park
- Backbone State Park
- Badger Creek State Recreation Area
- Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park
- Beeds Lake State Park
- Bellevue State Park
- Big Creek State Park
- Blackburn State Park
- Black Hawk State Park
- Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
- Cedar Rock
- Clear Lake State Park
- Dolliver Memorial State Park
- Elinor Bedell State Park
- Elk Rock State Park
- Emerson Bay State Recreation Area
- Fairport State Recreation Area
- Fort Atkinson State Preserve
- Fort Defiance State Park
- Geode State Park
- George Wyth State Park
- Green Valley State Park
- Gull Point State Park
- Honey Creek Resort
- Honey Creek State Park
- Lacey Keosauqua State Park
- Lake Ahquabi State Park
- Lake Anita State Park
- Lake Darling State Park
- Lake Keomah State Park
- Lake Macbride State Park
- Lake Manawa State Park
- Lake of Three Fires State Park
- Lake Wapello State Park
- Ledges State Park
- Lewis and Clark State Park
- Lower Gar State Recreation Area
- Loess Hills State Forest
- Maquoketa Caves State Park
- Marble Beach State Recreation Area
- McIntosh Woods State Park
- Mines of Spain State Rec Area
- Mini-Wakan State Park
- Nine Eagles State Park
- Okamanpedan State Park
- Palisades-Kepler State Park
- Pikes Peak State Park
- Pikes Point State Park
- Pilot Knob State Park
- Pine Lake State Park
- Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area
- Prairie Rose State Park
- Preparation Canyon State Park
- Red Haw State Park
- Rice Lake State Park
- Rock Creek State Park
- Shimek State Forest
- Springbrook State Park
- Stephens State Forest
- Stone State Park
- Templar State Recreation Area
- Trappers Bay State Park
- Twin Lakes State Park
- Union Grove State Park
- Viking Lake State Park
- Volga River State Recreation Area
- Walnut Woods State Park
- Wapsipinicon State Park
- Waubonsie State Park
- Wildcat Den State Park
- Wilson Island State Recreation Area
- Yellow River State Forest
Famous Landmarks
- Effigy Mounds National Monument
- Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
- Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
- Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail
- The Bridges of Madison County
- John Wayne Birthplace
Famous People
- John Wayne (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979) This American actor, also known as Duke, was born in Winterset Iowa.
- Herbert Hoover (August 10, 1874 – October 20, 1964) The 31st president of the United States was born in West Branch Iowa
- Glenn Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944) This big band musician rocked the swing era. Born in Claridina Iowa suddenly disappeared never to be found.
- Buffalo Bill (February 26, 1846 – January 10, 1917) Best known for his Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show, he was also a buffalo hunter, U.S. Army scout, actor, Pony Express rider and Indian fighter.
- Elijah Wood (January 28, 1981 – ) His first acting credit came from Back to the Future II, but he is best known for playing Frodo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit.
- Kurt Warner (June 22, 1971 – ) The winner of the National Football League’s MVP in 1999 and 2001 and a Super Bowl Title winner with the St. Louis Rams in 2000.
Interesting Facts
- One of the unique features of Iowa is that it is bordered by two navigable rivers; the Missouri River to the west and the Mississippi River to the east.
- The state of Iowa ranks first in the production of beef, pork, corn, soybeans, and grains in the United States.
- The state of Iowa produces more corn per capita than any other state in the country.
- Iowa is the home of the invention of sliced bread.
- Le Mars, Iowa is the ice cream capital of the world.
Iowa Learning Resources
