The United States of America
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois
and
Missouri
States of America
The United States is a federal union of fifty
states, which are equal subjects of the
federation, and a federal district. Every state has
it’s own constitution, legislative, executive and
judicial authority.
In this work I want to present you five of these
states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and
Missouri.
States of America
Minnesota
Etymology
The word Minnesota comes from
the Dakota name for the
Minnesota River: Mnisota. The
root mni (also spelled mini or
minne) means, "water". Mnisota
can be translated as sky-tinted
water or somewhat clouded
water. Native Americans
demonstrated the name to early
settlers by dropping milk into
water and calling it mnisota.
Many locations in the state have
similar names, such as Minnehaha
Falls ("waterfall"), Mineisska
("white water"), Minneota ("much
water"), Minnetonka ("big
water"), Minnetrista("crooked
water"), and Minneapolis, which is
a combination of mni and polis,
the Greek word for "city".
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest
state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents.
Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to
the Union as the thirty-second state on May 11, 1858. Known as the Land of 10,000
Lakes, the state's name comes from a Dakota word for "sky-tinted water". Those waters,
together with forests, parks, and wilderness areas, offer residents and tourists a variety
of outdoor recreational opportunities.
Some interesting facts about Minnesota:
o Minnesota is known for its moderate to progressive politics and social policies, civic
involvement, and high voter turnout. Minnesota ranks among the healthiest states, and
has a highly literate population. The large majority of residents are of German or
Nordic descent, but ethnic diversity has increased in recent decades. Substantial
influxes of African, Asian, and Latin American immigrants have joined the descendants
of European immigrants and the original Native American inhabitants.
o The remainder of the state consists of western prairies now given over to intensive
agriculture; deciduous forests in the southeast, now cleared, farmed and settled; and
the less populated North Woods, used for mining, forestry, and recreation.
o Minnesota contains some of the oldest rocks found on earth, gneisses some 3.6 billion
years old, or 80% as old as the planet.
o Today Minnesota has 72 state parks and recreation areas, 58 state forests covering
about four million acres (16,000 km²), and numerous state wildlife preserves, all
managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
o Nearly 60% of Minnesota's residents live in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, which is the
most populous urban area in the state of Minnesota and is composed of 186 cities and
townships. Built around the Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix rivers, the area is also
nicknamed the Twin Cities for its two largest cities, Minneapolis and Saint Paul, the
former the larger and the latter the state capital. It’s the center of transportation,
business, industry and education, and home to an internationally known arts
community.
Some interesting facts about Minnesota:
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Nickenames:
"Land of 10,000 Lakes"
"North Star State"
"Gopher State"
"Land of Sky-Blue Waters"
"Bread and Butter State" (A reference to the
grain and dairy products Minnesota produces)
o Capital – Saint Paul
o Largest city – Minneapolis
o Area: Ranked 12th in US, total: 86,939 sq mi
(225,181 km2)
o Population: Ranked 21st in the US, total:
5,303,925 (2010)
o Elevation:
Highest point – Eagle Mountain (2,301 ft (701 m))
Lowest point – Lake Superior (601 ft (183 m))
Minneapolis-Saint Paul (Twin Cities) highlighting both the 7-county Urban Area (traditional) and
the revised 13-county Metropolitan Statistical Area from the 2000 Census. Today, the term Twin
Cities typically refers to the metropolitan area. The pink areas represent urbanized areas as
defined by the Metropolitan Council (urbanized meaning developed with sewer access and
includes suburbia and small towns). The red and green lines are highways while the grid-like lines
within the counties are township boundaries and mostly rural. Suburban cities are also defined
within the pink area however they are not as apparent since their borders so regularly match up
with existing highways and natural features
Sights (attractions?)
The French Renaissance style Cathedral
of St. Paul in the city of St. Paul
The Richardsonian Romanesque
Pillsbury Hall (1889) is one of the oldest
buildings on the University of Minnesota
Minneapolis campus
Sights
The IDS Tower, designed by Philip Johnson
is the state's tallest building
(775 feet =236 m), reflecting César Pelli's
Art Deco-style Wells Fargo Center
Jay Cooke State Park is a Minnesota state park located about ten
miles (16 km) southwest of Duluth. It is famous for its rustic style
historical structures and for it strange and unique geology.
Itasca State Park is a state park in Minnesota and contains the headwaters of the
Mississippi River. It was established by the Minnesota Legislature on April 20, 1891,
making it the first of Minnesota's state parks and second oldest in the United States,
behind Niagara Falls State Park.
Wisconsin
Etymology
The word Wisconsin originates from the name
given to the Wisconsin River by one of the
Algonquian speaking American Indian groups living
in the region at the time of European contact.
French explorer Jacques Marquette was the first
European to reach the Wisconsin River and record
its name, arriving in 1673 and calling the river
Meskousing in his journal. This spelling was later
corrupted to Ouisconsin by other French explorers,
and over time this version became the French
name for both the Wisconsin River and the
surrounding lands. English speakers anglicized the
spelling to its modern form when they began to
arrive in greater numbers during the early 19th
Century. The current spelling was made official by
the legislature of Wisconsin Territory in 1845.
Throughout the course of its many variations, the Algonquian word for Wisconsin and its original
meaning have both grown obscure. Interpretations may vary, but most implicate the river and the red
sandstone that line its banks. One leading theory holds that the name originated from the Miami word
Meskonsing, meaning "it lies red," a reference to the setting of the Wisconsin River as it flows by the
reddish sandstone of the Wisconsin Dells. Numerous other theories have also been widely publicized,
including claims that name originated from one of a variety of Ojibwa words meaning "red stone
place," "gathering of the waters," or "great rock."
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United State and is considered
part of the Midwest. Wisconsin is bordered by the Montreal River; Lake Superior and
Michigan to the north; by Lake Michigan to the east; by Illinois to the south; and by
Iowa to the southwest and Minnesota to the northwest. More than 46% of
Wisconsin's land area is covered by forest.
Some interesting facts about Wisconsin:
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Wisconsin is the northernmost state that does not share a border with Canada.
With its location between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, Wisconsin is home to a
wide variety of geographical features. The state is divided into five distinct regions.
o Wisconsin is second to California in overall production of milk and butter, and third in percapita milk production, behind Idaho and Vermont, though it leads the nation in cheese
production
o Wisconsin's capital is Madison, and its largest city is Milwaukee. As of 2010 the state has
5,686,986 residents. The state contains 72 counties.
o Nicknames: Badger State; America's Dairyland.
o Capital – Madison
o Largest city – Milwaukee
o Area: Ranked 23rd in US, total: 65,497.82 sq mi (169,639 km2)
o Population: Ranked 20th in the US, total: (2010) 5,686,986
o Elevation:
Highest point – Timms Hill (1,951 ft (595 m))
Lowest point – Lake Michigan (579 ft (176 m))
o Areas under the management of the National Park Service include the following:
 Apostle Islands National Lakeshore along Lake Superior
 Ice Age National Scenic Trail
 North Country National Scenic Trail
 Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
With its location between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, Wisconsin is home to a wide variety of
geographical features. The state is divided into five distinct regions. In the north, the Lake Superior Lowland
occupies a belt of land along Lake Superior. Just to the south, the Northern Highland has massive mixed
hardwood and coniferous forests including the 1,500,000 acres (6,100 km2) Chequamegon-Nicolet National
Forest, as well as thousands of glacial lakes, and the state's highest point, Timms Hill. In the middle of the
state, the Central Plain has some unique sandstone formations like the Dells of the Wisconsin River in
addition to rich farmland. The Eastern Ridges and Lowlands region in the southeast is home to many of
Wisconsin's largest cities. The ridges include the Niagara Escarpment, that stretches from New York State,
the Black River Escarpment and the Magnesian Escarpment. The bedrock of the Niagara Escarpment is
dolomite, while the two shorter ridges have limestone bedrock. In the southwest, the Western Upland is a
rugged landscape with a mix of forest and farmland, including many bluffs on the Mississippi River. This
region is part of the Driftless Area, which also includes portions of Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota. This area
was not covered by glaciers during the most recent ice age, the Wisconsin Glaciation.
Sights.
There is one national forest managed by the U.S. Forest Service in Wisconsin,
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
Legally two separate national forests—the Chequamegon National Forest and the Nicolet
National Forest—the areas were established by presidential proclamations in 1933 and
have been managed as one unit since 1993.
The U.S. Bank Center in Milwaukee is Wisconsin's tallest skyscraper.
Tourist destinations such as the House on the Rock near Spring Green and Circus World
Museum in Baraboo also draw thousands of visitors annually, and festivals such as
Summerfest and the EAA Oshkosh Airshow draw international attention, along with hundreds
of thousands of visitors.
The House on the Rock,
originally opened in
1959, is a complex of
architecturally unique
rooms, streets, gardens
and shops designed by
Alex Jordan, Jr.
The Infinity Room juts
out 218 feet from the
House on the Rock,
without supports
underneath. The room
has over 3,000 windows.
The Circus World Museum is a large museum complex in Baraboo devoted to circus-related
history. The museum, which features not only circus artifacts and exhibits, but also hosts
daily live circus performances throughout the summer, is owned by the Wisconsin
Historical Society, and operated by the non-profit Circus World Museum Foundation. The
museum was the major participant in the Great Circus Parade held from 1985 to 2005.
Iowa
Etymology
Iowa is a state located in the
Midwestern United States, an
area often referred to as the
"American Heartland". It derives
its name from the Ioway people,
one of the many American Indian
tribes that occupied the state at
the time of European
exploration. Iowa was a part of
the French colony of New
France. After the Louisiana
Purchase, settlers laid the
foundation for an agriculturebased economy in the heart of
the Corn Belt. Iowa is often
known as the "Food Capital of
the World.
Some interesting facts about Iowa:
o Iowa has been listed as one of the safest states in which to live.
o Des Moines is Iowa's capital and largest city.
o Area: Ranked 26th in the US, total: 56,272 sq mi (145,743 km2)
o Population: Ranked 30th in the US, total: (2010) 3,046,355
o Elevation:
Highest point – Hawkeye Point (1,670 ft (509 m))
Lowest point – Mississippi River at Keokuk (480 ft (146 m))
o Iowa is bordered by the Mississippi River on the east; the Missouri River and the
Big Sioux River on the west and the southern border is the Des Moines River.
o Iowa has 99 counties, but 100 county seats because Lee County has two. The state
capital, Des Moines, is located in Polk County.
o In the mid and late 20th century, Iowa's agricultural economy transitioned to a
diversified economy of advanced manufacturing, processing, financial services,
biotechnology, and green energy production.
o After English, Spanish is the second-most-common language spoken in Iowa, the
third-is German.
o Nickname: The Hawkeye State
Sights
Des Moines is the largest city in Iowa and the state's political and economic center. It is
home to the Iowa State Capitol, the State Historical Society of Iowa Museum, Drake
University, Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines Botanical Center, Principal Riverwalk, the
Iowa State Fair, Terrace Hill, and the World Food Prize. Nearby attractions include
Adventureland in Altoona, Living History Farms in Urbandale, and the Iowa Speedway in
Newton.
The Iowa State Capitol is the state
capitol building of Iowa. The building was
constructed between 1871 and 1886.
Todar’s capitol is the only five-domed
state capitol in the country.
The University of Iowa (also
known as U of I, or simply
Iowa) is a public flagship
state-supported research
university located in Iowa
City.. The University of Iowa is
the oldest public university in
the state.
University seal mosaic, ca. 1908,
Iowa Hall
The Grotto of the Redemption is a religious monument located in West Bend, Iowa, in the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City. A conglomeration of nine grottos depicting scenes in
life of Jesus, the Grotto contains a large collection of minerals and petrifications and is
believed to be the largest grotto in the world.
The main entrance on the North side of the Grotto of the Redemption
The Iowa Great Lakes Region,
showing Spirit Lake (top),
West Okoboji Lake (left), and
East Okoboji Lake (right). Map
courtesy of USGS
The Iowa Great Lakes are a
group of natural glacial lakes in
Dickinson County in
northwestern Iowa in the
United States. The three
principal lakes of the group are
Spirit Lake, West Okoboji Lake,
and East Okoboji Lake. They are
the largest natural lakes in the
state of Iowa. The largest, Spirit
Lake, is 5,684 acres (23 km²)
Illinois
Etymology
"Illinois" is the modern spelling for the
early French missionaries and explorers'
name for the Illinois people, a name that
was spelled in many different ways in the
early records.
The name "Illinois" has traditionally been
said to mean "man" or "men" in the
Miami-Illinois language, with the original
iliniwek transformed via French into
Illinois.However, this etymology is not
supported by the Illinois language itself,
in which the word for 'man' is ireniwa
and plural 'man' is ireniwaki. The name
Illiniwek has also been said to mean
"tribe of superior men",though this is
nothing more than a folk etymology.
In fact the name "Illinois" derives from the Miami-Illinois verb irenwe·wa "he speaks the regular way".
This was then taken into the Ojibwe language, perhaps in the Ottawa dialect, and modified into ilinwe·
(pluralized as ilinwe·k). These forms were then borrowed into French, where the /we/ ending acquired
the spelling -ois. The current form, Illinois, began to appear in the early 1670s. The Illinois's name for
themselves, as attested in all three of the French missionary-period dictionaries of Illinois, was Inoka, of
unknown meaning and unrelated to the other terms.
Illinois' eastern border Indiana consists (from
Lake Michigan to the
Wabash River, above Post
Vincennes). The Wabash
River continues as the
eastern/southeastern
border with Indiana, until
the Wabash enters the
Ohio River. This marks the
beginning of Illinois'
southern border with
Kentucky, which runs
along the northern
shoreline of the Ohio
River. Its western border
with Missouri and Iowa is
the Mississippi River. Its
northern border with
Wisconsin. The
northeastern border of
Illinois actually lies within
Lake Michigan, within
which Illinois shares a
water boundary with the
state of Michigan.
Some interesting facts about Illinois:
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It is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America.
Capital: Springfield.
Largest city: Chicago.
Area: Ranked 25th in the US, total: 57,914 sq mi
(149,949 km2)
Population: Ranked 5th in the US, total: 12,910,409 (2009 est.)
Elevation:
Highest point – Charles Mound (1,235 ft (377 m))
Lowest point – Mississippi River (279 ft (85 m))
Three U.S. Presidents have been elected while living in Illinois — Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant,
and Barack Obama. However, the only President actually born and raised in Illinois was Ronald
Reagan. Today, Illinois honors Lincoln with its official state slogan, Land of Lincoln, which is displayed
on its license plates.
Another nickname: The Prairie State
Illinois has three major geographical divisions: Nothern, Central, Southern.
Chicago is the largest city in the state and the third most populous city in the United States.
Nuclear power arguably began in Illinois with the Chicago Pile-1, the world's first artificial selfsustaining nuclear chain reaction in the world's first nuclear reactor, built on the University of
Chicago campus. There are six operating nuclear power plants in Illinois: Braidwood; Byron; Clinton;
Dresden; LaSalle; and Quad Cities.
Sights
The state of the art Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield is the largest
presidential library in the country.
Museum documents the life of the 16th U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln, and the course of the
American Civil War.
Two of the buildings, the museum and the library, are separated by a street and connected above
the street level by an enclosed walkway. The entrance of each building features a rotunda,
reflective of the dome on the Old State Capitol in Springfield, where Lincoln served four terms as
a legislator.
The Illinois State Capitol, located in Springfield, is the capitol and seat of government
of Illinois. The current building is the sixth capitol to serve the state since its entry into
the United States in 1818. The current capitol is in the architectural style of the French
Renaissance.
Missouri
Etymology
The state is named for the
Missouri River, which was
named after the Siouanlanguage tribe. They were
called the ouemessourita
(wimihsoorita), meaning
"those who have dugout
canoes", by the MiamiIllinois language speakers.
The Illini were the first
natives encountered by
Europeans in the region and
they took adopted the name
of the Missouri from them.
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Nicknames (unofficial):
"The Show-Me State " ,
"The Cave State", "The
Lead State", "The Bullion
State", "The Ozark State",
"Mother of the West",
"The Iron Mountain
State", and "Pennsylvania
of the West".
Missouri is bounded on the north by Iowa; on the east, across the Mississippi River, by Illinois,
Kentucky, and Tennessee; on the south by Arkansas; and on the west by Oklahoma, Kansas, and
Nebraska (the last across the Missouri River). The two largest Missouri rivers are the Mississippi,
which defines the eastern boundary of the state, and the Missouri River, which flows from west
to east through the state, essentially connecting the two largest metros, Kansas City and St. Louis.
Some interesting facts about Missouri:
o Missouri borders eight different states, as does its neighbor, Tennessee. No
state in the U.S. touches more than eight states.
o With a 2009 population of 5,987,580, Missouri is the 18th most populous
state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It comprises
114 counties and one independent city.
o Missouri mirrors the demographic, economic and political makeup of the
nation (in general) with a mix of urban and rural culture.
o Residents of cities and rural areas farther north and of the state's large
metropolitan areas, where most of the state's population resides (Kansas City,
St. Louis, and Columbia), typically consider themselves Midwestern. In rural
areas and cities farther south (such as Cape Girardeau, Poplar Bluff,
Springfield, and Sikeston), residents typically self-identify as more Southern.
o Capital: Jefferson City
o Largest city: Kansas City
o Area: Ranked 21st in the US, total: 69,704 sq mi (180,533 km2)
o Population: Ranked 18th in the US, total: (2010) 5,988,927
o Elevation:
Highest point – Taum Sauk Mountain 1,772 ft (540 m)
Lowest point – St. Francis River 230 ft (70 m)
Some interesting facts about Missouri:
o The four largest urban areas are
St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield,
and Columbia. Missouri was
originally acquired from France as
part of the Louisiana Purchase
and became defined as the
Missouri Territory. Part of the
Missouri Territory was admitted
into the union as the 24th state
on August 10, 1821.
o Missouri has 114 counties and
one independent city (St. Louis).
o The largest county by size is Texas
County (1,179 sq. miles) and
Shannon County is second (1,004
sq. miles). Worth County is the
smallest (266 sq. miles).
Sights
The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial was
established to commemorate several historical events:
• the Louisiana Purchase, and the subsequent
westward movement of American explorers and
pioneers;
• the first civil government west of the Mississippi
River;
• the debate over slavery raised by the Dred Scott
case.
The memorial site consists of a 91-acre park along the
Mississippi River on the site of the original city of St.
Louis; the Old Courthouse, a former state and federal
courthouse which saw the origins of the Dred Scott
case; the 45,000 sq ft (4,200 m2) Museum of
Westward Expansion; and most notably, the Gateway
Arch, an inverted steel catenary arch that has become
the definitive icon of the city.
The Gateway Arch is known as the "Gateway to the
West".
Sights
Brunswick, Missouri. World's Largest
Pecan.
Jasper County Courthouse, erected in 1894-95, is
listed in the National Register of Historic Places.