Iowa is known as the “Hawkeye State".[1] This nickname has a debated origin with two main theories. Some believe the name honors Chief Black Hawk, the leader of the Sauk tribe,[2] who was relocated to Iowa after fighting against settlers. Others attribute the nickname to the character Hawkeye from James Fenimore Cooper’s novel “The Last of the Mohicans.” Hawkeye is a skilled woodsman and warrior, and the novel was published in 1826, well before Iowa’s statehood.[3] Iowa became the 29th state to join the Union on December 28, 1846.[4] Iowa is the 26th most extensive state in the United States.[4] As of 2024, Iowa is the 31st most populous state.[5]
Iowa’s economy ranks 31st in size among states and Washington, DC and as of November 2023, the unemployment rate in Iowa was 3.3%.[6] In the 3rd quarter of 2023, the real GDP growth rate for Iowa was 4.1% per year.[6] Iowa’s main agricultural outputs include hogs, corn, soybeans, oats, cattle, and dairy products.[7]
Its industrial outputs are food processing, machinery, electric equipment, chemical products, publishing, and primary metals. Iowa is also the nation’s largest producer of ethanol.[8] The manufacturing sector includes food processing, machinery, electric equipment, chemical products, publishing, and primary metals.[9]
Iowa boasts natural wonders such as the Loess Hills, Maquoketa Caves, and the bluffs along the Upper Iowa River. There are numerous historical landmarks, including the Effigy Mounds National Monument and the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. Towns like Pella showcase Dutch history and architecture, and the state is known for its annual Tulip Time festival.
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History of IowaHistory of Iowa
The first recorded European explorers to set foot in what is now Iowa were the Frenchmen Louis Joliet and Father Jacques Marquette in 1673.[10] They ventured down the Mississippi River, marking the beginning of European interest in the region.[10] For much of the early 19th century, the area was a contested zone among Native American tribes, European traders, and the colonial powers of France and Spain.[11]
Iowa was admitted to the Union on December 28, 1846, as the 29th state. The path to statehood was marked by debates over its boundaries, which were eventually resolved with the signing of the final Act of Congress.[12]
During the Civil War, Iowa played a significant role for the Union by providing food, supplies, and troops. Nearly half of the state’s eligible men enlisted, and Iowa contributed 48 regiments of state infantry, one regiment of black infantry, nine regiments of cavalry, and four artillery batteries.[13] The state’s commitment to the Union cause was unwavering, despite initial shortages in weapons and ammunition.[14][15]
19th and 20th Century Economic and Social Development: Iowa’s economic landscape in the 19th century was shaped by competing political philosophies between Democrats, who represented small farmers and sought minimal government interference, and Whigs, who advocated for government-supported economic growth through infrastructure and industry.[16] The 20th century saw agriculture continue to thrive, with increased productivity leading to lower prices and heightened competition. However, this also resulted in a trend of out-migration as less successful farms ceased operations.[17]
Demographics of IowaDemographics of Iowa
The demographic distribution of Iowa population is as follows:[18]
- White: 87.93%
- Two or more races: 3.89%
- Black or African American: 3.74%
- Asian: 2.49%
- Other race: 1.47%
- Native American: 0.34%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.13%
Most common surnames in IowaMost common surnames in Iowa
Researching family history in IowaResearching family history in Iowa
The National Archives at Kansas City, Missouri has the records of regional federal courts and offices for Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. The Mid-Continent Public Library - Midwest Genealogy Center is located in Independence, Missouri but it is the hub for genealogy in the mid-wester part of the United States. The IAGenWeb project is a wedsite for queries, obituaries, biographies, and other miscellaneous documents such as vital records, military records, land records and news items. The State Historical Society of Iowa has a substantial collection of county records on microfilm, including book, manuscripts, and periodicals. The Iowa Genealogical Society has a books, microforms, and periodicals in addition to Iowa materials. The State Library of Iowa supports libraries all over the state. There are also a number of individual genealogical societies, libraries, and other repositories. [19]
Iowa county listIowa county list
| Adair | Adams | Allamakee | Appanoose |
| Audubon | Benton | Black Hawk | Boone |
| Bremer | Buchanan | Buena Vista | Butler |
| Calhoun | Carroll | Cass | Cedar |
| Cerro Gordo | Cherokee | Chickasaw | Clarke |
| Clay | Clayton | Clinton | Crawford |
| Dallas | Davis | Decatur | Delaware |
| Des Moines | Dickinson | Dubuque | Emmet |
| Fayette | Floyd | Franklin | Fremont |
| Greene | Grundy | Guthrie | Hamilton |
| Hancock | Hardin | Harrison | Henry |
| Howard | Humboldt | Ida | Iowa |
| Jackson | Jasper | Jefferson | Johnson |
| Jones | Keokuk | Kossuth | Lee |
| Linn | Louisa | Lucas | Lyon |
| Madison | Mahaska | Marion | Marshall |
| Mills | Mitchell | Monona | Monroe |
| Montgomery | Muscatine | O Brien | Osceola |
| Page | Palo Alto | Plymouth | Pocahontas |
| Polk | Pottawattamie | Poweshiek | Ringgold |
| Sac | Scott | Shelby | Sioux |
| Story | Tama | Taylor | Union |
| Van Buren | Wapello | Warren | Washington |
| Wayne | Webster | Winnebago | Winneshiek |
| Woodbury | Worth | Wight |
See alsoSee also
Explore more about IowaExplore more about Iowa
MyHeritage.com has 53 collections of valuable genealogical records from Iowa. Some of these records include Iowa, Marriages, 1809-1992, US Naturalization Record Index, Northern Illinois, 1840-1950, 1905 Iowa State Census, and Iowa Newspapers, 1837-2009. There are many other important records in the Iowa Collections Catalog.
References
- ↑ Iowa State Nickname
- ↑ Sauk Tribe: Facts, Clothes, Food and History
- ↑ Iowa State Nickname
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 102 Interesting Facts About Iowa102 Interesting Facts About Iowa
- ↑ US States - Ranked by Population 2024
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Economy of Iowa Statistics and Data Trends: GDP ranking, unemployment rate, and economic growth
- ↑ Iowa Economy: Iowa Agriculture and Industry
- ↑ The Biggest Industries In Iowa
- ↑ The Manufacturing Industry in Iowa | Iowa PBS
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Early Exploration and Settlement | State Historical Society of Iowa
- ↑ European Explorers Meet Early Iowans | Iowa PBS
- ↑ Iowa
- ↑ Iowa Civil War History Casualties Army Soldiers Military Map
- ↑ Iowa and the Civil War | State Historical Society of Iowa
- ↑ Iowa in the Civil War | Iowa PBS
- ↑ Economic Development and Community Growth in the 19th Century Midwest | State Historical Society of Iowa
- ↑ Iowa - Economic Stabilization, Agriculture, Manufacturing | Britannica
- ↑ Iowa Population 2024 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs)
- ↑ Iowa Genealogy