Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos

Iowa: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated

News •

Postal employee shot 2 co-workers at an Iowa post office before being captured, police say • Nov. 5, 2026, 6:59 PM ET (AP)
Iowa Democrat wins state House race despite suspending campaign in September • Nov. 5, 2026, 5:44 PM ET (AP)
Trump rallies in Iowa and Kansas as Republicans fight to keep Senate and House control • Nov. 1, 2026, 11:25 PM ET (AP)
Trump and Clinton rally as early voting surges, Alaska probe widens, and Michigan Democrats feud • Oct. 30, 2026, 10:30 PM ET (AP)
Trump cancels rallies in Kansas and Iowa, opting for telerallies to reach more voters, RNC says • Oct. 29, 2026, 9:47 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As Hawkeye State
Capital Des Moines
Population1 (2020) 3,190,369; (2025 est.) 3,238,387
Governor Kim Reynolds (Republican)
Date Of Admission Dec. 28, 1846
U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (Republican) • Chuck Grassley (Republican)
State Nickname Hawkeye State • Corn State
State Motto “Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain”
State Bird eastern goldfinch
State Flower wild prairie rose
State Song “The Song of Iowa”
Seats In U.S. House Of Representatives 4 (of 435)
Time Zone Central (GMT − 6 hours)
Total Area (Sq Km) 145,745
Total Area (Sq Mi) 56,273
1Excluding military abroad.

Photos and Videos

Iowa: flag
The Great Seal of the State of Iowa features a soldier in blue holding an American flag and a rifle in the foreground, with agricultural tools, fields, and a steamboat in the background. An eagle holds banners reading We prize and our rights, our liberties we will maintain. The outer ring displays the seal's title in gold and red.
Illustration of an American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) perched on a branch, showing its yellow body, black wings, and black cap.
Iowa's state flower is the wild rose.
Political map of Iowa showing state and county boundaries, major cities, county seats, and the state capital, Des Moines. Surrounding states-Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota-are labeled at the borders. An inset locator map highlights Iowa's position within the United States.
Corn harvesting in Iowa
Map of the United States highlighting Iowa in orange at the center of the country, with its capital, Des Moines, marked. Surrounding states, major cities, and neighboring countries are also shown for geographic context.
Map of Iowa showing major physical features, including rivers such as the Mississippi, Missouri, Des Moines, Cedar, and Iowa, as well as lakes and dams. State boundaries are marked, and key sites like Effigy Mounds National Monument and Herbert Hoover National Historic Site are labeled. An inset locator map shows Iowa's position within the United States.
Iowa River
Iowa: severe flooding, 1993
The difference between a primary and caucus, explained
Understanding the impact of bioethanol on food prices
Monarch Butterfly Migration Explained
See All Videos, Images and Interactives →

Related Topics and References

Topics
Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst
Joni Ernst
United States senator
Grassley, Chuck
Chuck Grassley
United States senator
Cummins, Albert Baird
Albert Baird Cummins
United States politician

Related Places

United States
United States
country, North America
Des Moines
Des Moines
Iowa, United States
default image
Amana Colonies
settlement, Iowa, United States
Julien Dubuque Monument
Dubuque
Iowa, United States
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City
Iowa, United States
Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk
Iowa, United States
Davenport
Davenport
city, Iowa, United States
Civic building, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids
Iowa, United States
Council Bluffs
Council Bluffs
Iowa, United States
Map of Iowa highlighting the location of Burlington in the southeastern part of the state near the Mississippi River, with surrounding states labeled and a small globe inset showing Iowa's position in North America.
Burlington
Iowa, United States
Iowa: gypsum-processing plant
Fort Dodge
Iowa, United States
Mount Pleasant: Old Threshers Reunion
Mount Pleasant
Iowa, United States
default image
Mason City
Iowa, United States
Clinton: George M. Curtis House
Clinton
Iowa, United States
Newton
Newton
Iowa, United States

Related Quizzes

USA, United States watercolor map Illustration in rainbow colors
50 States, 50 Fun Facts Quiz
Extruded map of the United States of America with states borders on national flag background. (3-d rendering)
Guess the U.S. State by Its Neighbors
Texas State Capitol building in Austin, Texas. United States
U.S. State Capitals Quiz
Close-up of a weathered, old American flag of the United States of America, used as a patriotic decoration on Fourth of July (Independence Day), Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and other national holidays.
U.S. State Nicknames Quiz
State capitol building in Austin, Texas.
USA Capitals and Nicknames Quiz