Iowa Almanac: State Facts and Figures

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Iowa Almanac

Official Name

Iowa

Capital

Des Moines

Nick Name

Hawkeye State

Motto

Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain

Location & Region

41.57673 N, 093.61740 W

Midwest

Constitution Ratified

1857

Date Admitted -
Union:

December 28, 1846

29th state

Population

2,926,324

52.37

30th

Largest City
(by population)

Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City

Bordering States

Illinois - Minnesota - Missouri - Nebraska - South Dakota - Wisconsin

Number of Counties

99 Counties in Iowa

Largest County
(by population)

Polk County

374,601

570 sq mi.

Time Zone

Central Standard Time

Iowa Climate and Weather

The weather in Iowa varies greatly from season to season, with cold winters and hot summers. Each year the temperature drops to -20 F/-28 C and rises to 100 F/38 C somewhere in the state. Although travel is generally pleasant from late spring to early fall, we recommend visiting from late August through October to enjoy comfortable temperatures and humidities.

Spring can be unsettled and stormy, though temperatures are comfortable. July can afflict Iowa with high temperatures and high humidities, and that's the month that sees the greatest number of visitors.

Highest Temperature

118 degrees
July 20, 1934 - Keokuk

Lowest Temperature

47 degrees
January 12, 1912 - Washta

Avg Temp: High - Low

86.2 degrees

6.3 degrees

Iowa Highest, Lowest, and Mean Elevations (Feet)

Mean Elevation

1,100

Highest Point

Sec. 29, T100N, R41W, Osceola County

1,670

Lowest Point

Mississippi River

480

Iowa Land Area (Square Miles)

Geographic Center

Located in Story County, 5 miles NE of Ames.

Total Area

56,271.55

26th

Land Area¹

55,869.36

99.29%

Water Area²

402.2

0.71%

Forested Land Area³

5.7%

Dimensions
(Length - Width)

310 miles

200 miles

Source: (U.S. Census, April 1, 2000)
1. Dry land and land temporarily or partially covered by water, such as marshland, swamps, etc.; streams and canals under one-eighth statute mile wide; and lakes, reservoirs, and ponds under 40 acres.
2. Permanent inland water surface, such as lakes, reservoirs, and ponds having an area of 40 acres or more; streams, sloughs, estuaries, and canals one-eighth statute mile or more in width; deeply indented embayments and sounds, and other coastal waters behind or sheltered by headlands or islands separated by less than 1 nautical mile of water, and islands under 40 acres in area. Excludes areas of oceans, bays, sounds, etc. lying within U.S. jurisdiction but not defined as inland water.
3. 1997

Almanac Provided by SHG Resources