Missouri was admitted to the United States as the 24th state on August 10, 1821, as part of the Missouri Compromise.[1] Missouri is often referred to as the “Show Me State”. This nickname reflects the practical nature and conservative spirit of Missourians.[2]
Missouri has a total area of approximately 70,000 square miles, making it the 21st largest state in the U.S.[3] As of 2024, the estimated population of Missouri is approximately 6.2 million.[3] In the 3rd quarter of 2023, the real GDP growth rate for Missouri was 4.0% per year.[4] The state’s economy ranks 21st in size among states and Washington, DC.[4] The three sectors that contributed the most to Missouri’s 3rd quarter growth were retail trade, finance, insurance, real estate, rental, and leasing, and manufacturing.[5]
Missouri is known for a wide range of products. Some of the most well-known products made in Missouri include Anheuser-Busch beers, Hostess Cupcakes, and Dog Chow.[6] The state is also known for its agricultural products, including produce, cattle, and cotton.[7]
Some of the most attractive features of Missouri include the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, which is a monument to Missouri’s role as the “Gateway to the West”. Other popular attractions include the National WWI Museum and Memorial, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and the numerous picturesque caves throughout the state.
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History of MissouriHistory of Missouri
The history of Missouri begins with the settlement of the region by indigenous people during the Paleo-Indian period, which began around 12,000 BC. The complex Mississippian culture arose before 1000 CE, creating regional political centers at present-day St. Louis and across the Mississippi River at Cahokia.[8] European explorers arrived in the 17th century, encountering the Osage and Missouria nations. New France set up small settlements, and in 1803, Napoleonic France sold the area to the U.S. as part of the Louisiana Purchase.[9]
Missouri was admitted to the United States in 1821 as part of the Missouri Compromise. This compromise allowed slavery in Missouri and prohibited it in the remaining Louisiana Purchase territory north of latitude 36°30’3.[10]
During the Civil War, Missourians were split in their allegiances, supplying both Union and Confederate forces with troops. The state saw numerous small battles and was under Union control.[11] Both Missouri and Arkansas saw the emergence of guerrilla violence in the post-war years[12] After the war, Missouri’s economy diversified. Railroads, centered in Kansas City, opened up new farmlands in the west. Progressive Era reforms in the early 20th century sought to modernize state and local government and minimize political corruption.[13]
During the 20th century, Missouri’s economy diversified further, developing a balanced agricultural and economic sector. By the 21st century, manufacturing was fading, as service industries grew, especially in medicine, education, and tourism. Agriculture remained a profitable economic sector, as farms grew larger due to mechanization.[14]
Demographics of MissouriDemographics of Missouri
The demographic distribution of Missouri population is as follows:[15]
- White: 80.28%
- Black or African American: 11.33%
- Two or more races: 4.55%
- Asian: 2.01%
- Other race: 1.37%
- Native American: 0.32%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.14%
Most common surnames in MissouriMost common surnames in Missouri
Researching family history in MissouriResearching family history in Missouri
The National Archives at Kansas City houses records from Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska. As one of the 13 regional branches of the National Archives, they maintain federal records many of which are valuable for genealogical research. The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) is the primary repository for military records, however, on July 12, 1973, a disastrous fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) destroyed approximately 16-18 million Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF). The main records affected include the following:
| Army | Personnel discharged November 1, 1912 to January 1, 1960 | 80% |
| Air Force | Personnel discharged September 25, 1947 to January 1, 1964
(with names alphabetically after Hubbard, James E.) |
75% |
The Missouri State Archives holdings date from 1770 and include: executive, legislative, and judicial records; records of state departments and agencies; land records; military records; state publications; photographic collections; county and municipal records on microfilm; and manuscript and reference collections. The Missouri State Genealogical Association has a substantial collection of genealogical sources. Additional collections can be found at The State Historical Society of Missouri and other county and local libraries and societies.
Missouri county listMissouri county list
Missouri has 114 counties and one independent city:
| St. Louis - Independent city | Adair | Andrew | Atchison |
| Audrain | Barry | Barton | Bates |
| Bollinger | Boone | Buchanan | |
| Caldwell | Callaway | Camden | |
| Carroll | Carter | Cass | |
| Chariton | Christian | Clark | |
| Clinton | Cole | Cooper | |
| Dade | Dallas | Daviess | |
| Dent | Douglas | Dunklin | |
| Gasconade | Gentry | Greene | |
| Harrison | Henry | Hickory | |
| Howard | Howell | Iron | |
| Jasper | Jefferson | Johnson | |
| Laclede | Lafayette | Lawrence | |
| Lincoln | Linn | Livingston | |
| Madison | Maries | Marion | |
| Mercer | Miller | Mississipi | |
| Monroe | Montgomery | Morgan | |
| Newton | Nodaway | Oregon | |
| Ozark | Pemiscot | Perry | |
| Phelps | Pike | Platte | |
| Pulaski | Putnam | Ralls | |
| Ray | Reynolds | Ripley | |
| Saint Clair | Saint Francois | Saint Louis County | |
| Saline | Schuyler | Scotland | |
| Shannon | Shelby | Stoddard | |
| Sullivan | Taney | Texas | |
| Warren | Washington | Wayne | |
| Worth | Wright |
See alsoSee also
Explore more about MissouriExplore more about Missouri
MyHeritage.com has 40 valuable genealogical record collections for Missouri research. Some of the largest collections include Missouri Births, Missouri, Voter Registrations, Missouri Deaths, Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1960, Missouri Newspapers, 1845-2009, Missouri Deaths, 1961-1970. There are also a number of valuable record collections from the Missouri Collections Catalog.
References
- ↑ Missouri
- ↑ Missouri State Nickname | The Show-Me State
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Missouri | Capital, Map, Population, History, & Facts | Britannica
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Economy of Missouri Statistics and Data Trends: GDP ranking, unemployment rate, and economic growth | USAFacts
- ↑ State Gross Domestic Product 2022 | Missouri Economic Research and Information Center
- ↑ 10 Things We Love, Made in Missouri
- ↑ Missouri Grown USA
- ↑ Cahokia Was The First And Largest City In North America — Before It Vanished Mysteriously
- ↑ Missouri Timeline | The State Historical Society of Missouri
- ↑ Missouri Compromise | Summary, Map, & Significance | Britannica
- ↑ American Civil War in Missouri Research Guide | The State Historical Society of Missouri
- ↑ Reconstruction in Missouri
- ↑ Timeline of Historic Missouri: 1870-1899
- ↑ Learn About Missouri
- ↑ Missouri Population 2024 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs)
- ↑ Most Common Surnames in Missouri, With Meanings