Iowa - The Hawkeye State

About Iowa

Iowa, the 31st most populous state with approximately 3.2 million residents, occupies a central position in America's heartland and plays an outsized role in national politics as home to the first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses. Known as the Hawkeye State (honoring Chief Black Hawk of the Sauk Nation), Iowa epitomizes Midwest values of hard work, community, and agricultural heritage while evolving into a diversified economy encompassing manufacturing, renewable energy, finance, and biotechnology.

Des Moines, the state capital and largest city with a metropolitan population exceeding 700,000, serves as Iowa's economic, political, and cultural center. The city has emerged as a major insurance and financial services hub, earning it the nickname "Hartford of the West." Principal Financial Group, Nationwide Insurance, and Wells Fargo are major employers, while the city's affordable cost of living, growing arts scene, and quality of life attract young professionals and families.

Iowa's landscape is dominated by gently rolling prairies, fertile farmland, and rivers including the Mississippi (forming the entire eastern border) and Missouri (forming the western border). The state's deep, rich soil—among the most productive in the world—has made Iowa America's agricultural powerhouse. Iowa ranks first nationally in corn production, soybean production, pork production, and egg production. The state's 85,000 farms cover 86% of Iowa's land area, creating the iconic landscape of cornfields, soybean fields, red barns, and small towns that define rural America.

Iowa's economy generates over $200 billion in gross state product, with remarkable diversity beyond agriculture. The state is a national leader in renewable energy, with wind turbines generating over 57% of Iowa's electricity—the highest percentage of any state. Manufacturing contributes significantly, particularly agricultural equipment (John Deere's largest operations), food processing, and machinery. Cedar Rapids hosts major facilities for Rockwell Collins (aerospace), while Dubuque has successfully diversified from industrial decline into healthcare, education, and technology, earning recognition as one of America's best small cities.

Major Cities in Iowa

Agriculture & Economy

Iowa's agricultural dominance is staggering—the state produces more corn than most countries, accounting for about one-fifth of U.S. corn production with approximately 13 billion bushels in high-yield years. Iowa also leads the nation in soybean production, growing over 500 million bushels annually. This agricultural output generates over $12 billion annually in crop revenue alone, with the total agriculture and food processing sector contributing over $100 billion to Iowa's economy when multiplier effects are included.

Livestock production is equally impressive. Iowa produces the most pork of any state, with over 23 million hogs at any given time—more than seven hogs for every person. The state also leads in egg production, with over 60 million laying hens producing approximately 16 billion eggs annually. Cattle, dairy, and poultry operations contribute billions more. This concentration of livestock has created both economic prosperity and environmental challenges, with debates over water quality, manure management, and odor impacting rural communities.

Iowa has become a national leader in renewable energy, particularly wind power. The state ranks first in wind energy capacity as a percentage of total electricity generation, with wind providing over 57% of Iowa's electricity. Thousands of wind turbines dot the landscape, providing lease income to farmers and property tax revenue to rural communities. The renewable fuels industry, particularly ethanol and biodiesel production, represents a major economic sector with over 40 ethanol plants converting corn into fuel, producing over 4 billion gallons annually.

Beyond agriculture, Iowa's economy includes significant manufacturing, particularly agricultural equipment and food processing. John Deere operates multiple facilities including its largest tractor assembly plant in Waterloo. Food processing companies including Tyson Foods, Hormel, and numerous others process Iowa's agricultural products. The financial services sector concentrated in Des Moines employs tens of thousands in high-wage jobs. Biotechnology and advanced manufacturing are growing sectors, with companies attracted by Iowa's educated workforce, affordable costs, and quality of life.

History & Culture

Iowa's indigenous history includes the Ioway, Sauk, Meskwaki (Fox), Sioux, and other tribes who inhabited the region for thousands of years. The French explored and claimed the area in the 1670s-1680s as part of Louisiana. The United States acquired eastern Iowa through the Louisiana Purchase (1803) and western Iowa through treaties with Native Americans. Black Hawk, a Sauk leader, resisted forced removal in the 1832 Black Hawk War, ultimately unsuccessful but remembered in Iowa's nickname, the Hawkeye State.

American settlement accelerated after the 1832 Black Hawk Purchase opened lands for settlement. Iowa Territory was created in 1838, and Iowa achieved statehood on December 28, 1846, becoming the 29th state. The state's capital moved from Iowa City to Des Moines in 1857. During the Civil War, Iowa provided over 76,000 soldiers to the Union Army—remarkable for a state with only about 675,000 total population. No Civil War battles occurred in Iowa, but the state's agricultural production helped feed Union forces.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries brought agricultural expansion, railroad development, and immigration. Czech, Dutch, German, and Scandinavian immigrants settled Iowa, establishing communities preserving ethnic traditions visible today in festivals, churches, and cuisine. Pella celebrates its Dutch heritage with tulip festivals and windmills. Czech Village in Cedar Rapids maintains Czech and Slovak cultural traditions. These immigrant communities transformed Iowa's prairies into productive farmland through backbreaking labor and community cooperation.

The 20th century brought mechanization revolutionizing agriculture, rural depopulation as farms consolidated, and economic diversification. The Farm Crisis of the 1980s devastated rural Iowa when land values plummeted and many farmers lost their property. Iowa rebounded through economic diversification, though rural population decline continued. Today, Iowa balances agricultural heritage with modern economy, maintaining small-town values while Des Moines and other cities offer urban amenities. Iowa consistently ranks high for quality of life, low unemployment, good schools, and affordability, attracting businesses and residents seeking Midwest values with economic opportunity.

Neighboring States