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)