Some of the first people to live in the region that became the state of Missouri belonged to a Native American tribe known as the Missouri, meaning “canoe possessor.” The name was later given to the long river that runs across the middle of the state and to the state itself.
Missouri is often called the Show Me State. Many historians believe the nickname can be traced to comments made by a Missouri congressman named Willard D. Vandiver in 1899. In a speech he said, “I'm from Missouri, and you've got to show me.” Residents of the state liked this image of being tough-minded people who had to be shown real proof rather than just trusting the words of others. The state capital is Jefferson City.
Missouri is nearly in the center of the continental United States (the area made up of the original 48 states). Eight states border Missouri: Iowa on the north; Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma on the west; Arkansas on the south; and Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois on the east. The Missouri River forms the northwest boundary, while the Mississippi River runs along the eastern border.
The area of Missouri is 69,697 square miles (180,516 square kilometers). North of the Missouri River, the state's landscape is characterized by gently rolling hills, open plains, and prairie country. This region was smoothed out by glaciers during the Ice Age. South of the Missouri the land is mostly rough and hilly, with some deep, narrow valleys and clear, swift streams. This region, part of the Ozarks, contains the highest point in Missouri: Taum Sauk Mountain at 1,772 feet (540 meters). Elevations are lower along the western boundary and in the southeastern corner of the state, which is part of the floodplain of the Mississippi River.
Before settlers arrived, about two thirds of Missouri was covered with trees. Prairie grass grew on the rest of the land. Trelease's larkspur and coneflower continue to grow in the wild. Many unusual plants are found on the river bluffs and in the valleys in the south.
Elk, deer, bison, bears, beavers, otters, and mink once roamed Missouri in large numbers. Settlement and fur trapping greatly reduced the number of animals in the state, however.
Early European settlers found two different groups of Native Americans living in what is now Missouri. Woodland Indians, including the Fox and the Sauk, lived in the north. Plains Indians, including the Missouri and the Osage, lived in the south.
Most of the early white settlers were French fur trappers and traders. In the first half of the 19th century people began arriving from other states. The Ozarks were populated by mountaineers from the Appalachian Mountains. Most of the state's European immigrants came from Germany and Ireland; others came from Great Britain, France, Switzerland, and Poland.
People of European heritage continue to make up the majority of the population. In 2000 African Americans made up about 11 percent of the population, and Hispanics and Asians together accounted for 3 percent. Less than 1 percent of the people were Native American.
Kansas City, located at the big bend of the Missouri River, is the state's largest city. The second-largest city is St. Louis, on the Mississippi River. Jefferson City, the capital, is in the center of the state. Independence was the home of United States president Harry S. Truman. St. Joseph was the departure point for the first Pony Express rider in 1860.
Kansas City and St. Louis offer a range of cultural activities, including art museums, theaters, and musical performances. Professional sports teams include the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals (baseball), the Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Rams (football), and the St. Louis Blues (ice hockey).
A famous attraction in St. Louis is the Gateway Arch. The 630-foot (192-meter) stainless-steel arch was designed by architect Eero Saarinen and finished in 1965. The arch represents Missouri's history as a starting point for pioneers traveling to the West.
The Lake of the Ozarks is a popular vacation spot. The 225-mile (362-kilometer) Katy Trail, a former railroad line, is used by hikers and bicyclists. Onondaga Cave is a National Natural Landmark. Branson, a town near the Arkansas border, is a favorite place for country-music fans.
The state legislature began the modern system of public education in Missouri in 1839. The University of Missouri, founded in 1839, is the oldest state university west of the Mississippi River. Its main campus is in Columbia, with branches at Kansas City, Rolla, and St. Louis. Washington University in St. Louis, a private school founded in 1853, has become a leading research and academic institution.
Manufacturing is a major part of Missouri's economy. Chief products include transportation equipment, chemicals, and processed foods. Mines and quarries produce lead, limestone, zinc, and iron ore. The forests provide hardwoods such as hickory, oak, black walnut, and maple for the timber industry. Many of Missouri's leading industries are in services, such as health care and business services. Tourism is important as well.
Livestock accounts for a large part of Missouri's income from agriculture. Cattle, pigs, and sheep are the main animals raised, though the state has long been famous for its horses and mules. Soybeans are the most valuable crop. Corn, wheat, cotton, hay, sorghum, and various kinds of fruit are also grown.
French explorers Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette visited the mouth of the Missouri River in 1673. Another French explorer, La Salle, claimed the Missouri area for France in 1682. The first permanent white settlement was Sainte Genevieve, established in 1735. St. Louis was founded by Pierre Laclède in 1764.
In 1803 the United States made a famous deal with France known as the Louisiana Purchase. The area that became the state of Missouri was included in the land that the United States bought from France. The Missouri Territory was organized in 1812.
When Missouri wanted to become a state, it faced the question of whether or not to allow slavery. Because the United States already had 11 states in favor of slavery and 11 states against slavery, the nation became very interested in whether Missouri would be a “slave” state or a “free” state. Many people in the region already owned slaves and did not want them taken away.
The United States Congress decided on a measure known as the Missouri Compromise. Maine would join the Union as a free state, and Missouri would enter as a slave state. This action maintained the balance of power in the Senate between the northern states, which opposed slavery, and the southern states, which supported slavery.
Although Missouri was a slave state, it did not join other slave states in withdrawing from the Union during the American Civil War (1861–65). Federal troops were brought in to make sure that Missouri did not join the Confederacy.
The growth and economic success of Missouri were celebrated in the St. Louis Exposition in 1904. The state remained mostly rural until the Great Depression and World War II. Growth of industry during the war years of the early 1940s led many people to leave farms and towns for cities. Gradually, manufacturing and service industries became the most important parts of the state's economy. In 1993 much of Missouri was declared a disaster area after the Mississippi, Missouri, and other rivers flooded most of the state. Population (2000 census), 5,595,211.
