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State Facts for Students

Iowa Flag Iowa

Population
  2000 2009
Population 2,926,324 3,007,856
State Rank 30 30
Median Age 36.6
Total 8 year-olds 41,409 38,782
Boys 21,087 19,657
Girls 20,322 19,125
Total 9 year-olds 42,403 38,340
Boys 21,857 19,608
Girls 20,546 18,732
Total 10 year-olds 42,623 38,146
Boys 21,855 19,494
Girls 20,768 18,652
Total 11 year-olds 41,770 37,991
Boys 21,499 19,472
Girls 20,271 18,519
Total 12 year-olds 41,472 38,205
Boys 21,282 19,566
Girls 20,190 18,639
 
How People Get to Work:
Drive Alone 79% 79%
Car Pool 11% 10%
Public Transportation 1% 1%

Geography
Capital Des Moines
Largest City Des Moines
Second Largest City Cedar Rapids
Persons per square mile 52

Business
  2000 2008
Dentist Offices 1,093 1,062
Amusement Parks 6 4
FastFood Restaurants 2,212 2,373
Toy Stores 113 103
Video/Disc Rental Stores 225 153
Zoos & Botanical Gardens 4 9
Candy & Nut Stores 35 19
Pet & Pet Supply Stores 78 75
Ice Cream & Frozen Dessert Makers 5 6

Note: As is the case with all surveys, statistics from sample surveys are subject to sampling and nonsampling error.

A value of NA indicates that data are not available for the indicated time period, or is not applicable for the current region.

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History

  • Date of Statehood: December 28, 1846
  • Population 1850: 192,914
  • Population 1900: 2,231,853
  • Population 1950: 2,621,073

I never knew that! *

  • Nickname: Hawkeye State
  • Flower: Wild Prairie Rose
  • Tree: Oak
  • Bird: Eastern Goldfinch
  • Insect: Honeybee
  • Grass: Bluebunch Wheatgrass
  • Rock: Geode

Teachers: Download the Picture Your State lesson plan. [pdf]

Who told you this stuff?

The U.S. Census Bureau takes a census of the population every 10 years, and censuses of economic activity and governments every five years. And every year, the Census Bureau conducts more than 100 other surveys. Data on this page come from Population Estimates, the Census of Population and Housing, the American Community Survey, and County Business Patterns.

How are these data collected?

The U.S. Census Bureau sends questionnaires in the mail or contacts businesses and households to participate in its surveys.

* State symbol information was obtained from various non-Census Bureau resources including state web sites, educational web sites, and commercial entities.

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