IOWA PROFILE


QUICK FACTS ABOUT IOWA

Information provided by the Department of Economic Development

• The estimated population of Iowa is 2,830,000. Among the 50 states, Iowa ranks 30th in population and 23rd in land area.

• The word "Iowa" comes form the American Indian tribe of the same name.

• Iowa became the 29th state on December 28, 1846.

• Iowa is the only state bordered by two navigable rivers; the Missouri River to the west and the Mississippi River to the east.

• The capital of Iowa is Des Moines.

• Iowa's nickname is the Hawkeye state.

• Iowa has 3 state universities: Iowa StateUniversity, University of Iowa, and University of Northern Iowa.

• Iowa ranks first in beef, pork, corn, soybean and grain production.

• One Iowa family farm grows enough food and fiber to feed 279 people.

• The world's first electronic digital computer was built and operated by researchers at Iowa State University in the 1930's.

• The largest source of personal income for Iowans is manufacturing.

• Iowa students' ACT and SAT scores rank among the top five states.

• The high school graduation rate is 88%; 17% above the national average.

• Iowa's sales tax rate is 5%.

• The median cost of a home is 36% lower than the average price of a house nationwide.

• Sergeant Charles Floyd, the only person to die during Lewis and Clark's historic journey, is buried in Sioux City.

• Iowa has more golf courses per capita, than any other state.

Communication Statistics
Commercial broadcast stations (1998)
235
Noncommercial broadcast stations (1998)
35
Telephones in use (1994)*
1,433,970
Daily newspapers (1994)
38
Net paid circulation
724,469
Sunday newspapers (1995)
11
Net paid circulation
386,979
Weekly newspapers (1995)
300
Net paid circulation
639,522

* Since private ownership of telephones began, only the number of primary access lines is available. A primary access line is a telephone line with an associated phone number.

Education Statistics
State Universities (1999)
3
4 - Year Colleges (1999)
31
Area community colleges (1999)
15
Students at universities and 4-year colleges (1999)
118,162
Public school districts
375
Enrollment (1998- 1999)
502,534

 

Employment Statistics
Employment by industry (1998 - persons 16 years or older)
Total nonagricultural wage and salary
1,437,900
Manufacturing
258,900
Durable goods
152,100
Nondurable goods
106,800
 
Non-Manufacturing
1,179,000
Mining
2,000
Construction
61,900
Transportation, communication and public utilities
68,100
Trade
349,900
Wholesale Trade
85,800
Retail Trade
264,200
Finance, insurance, and real estate
81,900
Services
377,300
Health Services
113,900
Government
237,900
 
Licensed Medical Professionals (1998)
Chiropractors
6,231
Dentists
4,544
Dental hygienists
2,570
Doctors of Medicine
9,452
Licensed Practical Nurses
9,504
Optometrists
2,134
Osteopathic
1,311
Pharmacists
4,854
Physical therapists
2,887
Physicians' Assistants
1,216
Podiatrists
579
Registered Nurses (active)
38,417
Registered hospitals
126

Farm Statistics - 1998
No. of Farms Land (Acres)
Total (1998)
97,000
33,000,000
Crops:
Corn
56,466
12,500,000
Soybeans
56,373
10,500,000
Livestock:
Cattle and calves
39,000
3,650,000
Hogs and pigs
17,500
15,300,000
Total Sales
$11,002,380,000

Income Statistics

Personal Income of Iowans (1998)
Total (millions of dollars)
68,483
Personal Income by Industry (millions of dollars)
Farm
2,122
Nonfarm
66,362
Agricultural services, forestry, fisheries
398
Finance, insurance, real estate
3,787
Government, and government enterprises
7,045
Manufacturing
10,458
Services
10,988
Trade (retail)
4,606

Trade (wholesale)

3,415
Transportation and public utilities
3,042


Population Statistics

State total population (as of 07-01-99)

2,862,447
Rank among states
30
persons per square mile (1998)
51.1
Median age
36.3
Live births (1995)
36,790
rate per 1,000 population
12.9
Deaths (1995)
27,962
rate per 1,000 population
9.8
Marriages (1995)
22,573
rate per 1,000 population
7.9
Dissolutions, including annulments (1995)
10,545
rate per 1,000 population
3.7
Voting age population (1998)
2,138,000
Total area of Iowa
56,276
rank among states
26th
land area
55,875 sq. mi.
water area (permanent inland)
401 sq. mi.

Largest Cities (07-01-99)
Des Moines (Polk County)
193,422
Cedar Rapids (Linn County)
113,482
Davenport (Scott County)
97,010
Sioux City (Woodbury County)
83,791
Waterloo (Black Hawk County)
65,022
Iowa City (Johnson County)
60,923
Dubuque (Dubuque County)
57,312
Council Bluffs (Pottawattamie County)
55,569

Transportation Statistics (Jan,1997)
Motor vehicles registered 3,027,355
Automobiles registered 2,058,306
Highway mileage (All surfaces) 113,095
Registered aircraft (1998) 2,259

Weather Statistics
(long term averages 1961-1996)

Average temperature (degrees F)

December/January/February

21.4

March/April/May

48.7
June/July/August 72.1
September/October/November 51.0
Average precipitation (inches)
December/January/February 3.05
March/April/May 9.33
June/July/August 12.59
September/October/November 8.14
Average annual precipitation (inches)
Southeast 36.35
Northwest 28.33

Average annual snowfall (inches)

Southeast 27.5
Northwest 34.7
Average annual temperature (degrees F)
Northwest 46.1
Southeast 51.1