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Missouri Facts

Missouri Facts
The State of Missouri is located in the mid-west United States. It shares state borders with Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Kansas, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Nebraska. Missouri is the 21st largest state with 69,709 square miles. It is the 18th most populated state with approximately 6,044,171 residents and it is ranked the 30th most densely populated U.S. state. Prior to European settlement, Missouri's region was inhabited by Native people. French Canadians were the first real settlers to the area, leaving Canada for political reasons. In 1803 the Louisiana Purchase resulted in the U.S. gaining Missouri from France. Missouri joined the Union in 1821, becoming the 24th U.S. state. The Civil War divided Missourians and both the Confederate and Union were supported, but Missouri remained a state.
Interesting Missouri Facts:
The name Missouri is believed to be derived from an Algonquin word meaning 'river of the big canoes' or 'town of the large canoes'.
Missouri's capital city is Jefferson City and its largest city is Kansas City.
Missouri residents are called Missourians.
Missouri's state nickname is the 'Show Me' state.
The state motto for Missouri is "Salus populi suprema lex esto' which means 'The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law'.
Missouri's state song is the 'Missouri Waltz'.
Missouri's state flag background colors of blue, white and red were part of the Louisiana Purchase, signifying the state's French heritage. 'United We Stand, Divided We Fall' is the motto in the inner circle and the state motto 'Salus populi suprema lex esto' is found on the yellow ribbon.
Missouri's state bird is the bluebird and the state animal is the Missouri mule.
The state insect is the honey bee and the state flower is the white hawthorn.
Missouri's state tree is the flowering dogwood and the state nut tree is the eastern black walnut tree.
Missouri's state fish is the channel catfish and the state aquatic animal is the paddlefish.
Missouri's major lakes include Lake Wappapello, Clearwater Lake, Table Rock Lake and Lake of the Ozarks.
Missouri's major rivers include Osage River, Missouri River and Mississippi River.
Missouri has 114 counties, 81 state parks and historic sites, and 1 independent city, St. Louis.
Missouri's major agriculture includes corn, grain, hay, sorghum, rice and soybeans.
Missouri's major industry includes mining, beer, cattle, hogs, turkeys, broilers, food processing, cars and aircraft equipment.
90% of the non-recycled lead in the United States is produced by mining in Missouri.
Mark Twain's boyhood home is located in Hannibal, Missouri.
Jesse James Museums can be found in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Kansas City, Missouri has more fountains than any other city in the world except for Rome, Italy.
Aunt Jemima pancake flour was invented in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1889. It was the first ready-mix food commercially sold to the public.
Former U.S. President Harry S. Truman was born in 1884 in Lamar, Missouri.
The first state to free its slaves was Missouri. It did so in 1865.
Missouri's state musical instrument is the fiddle and the state dance is the square dance.


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