Iowa is bounded to the north by Minnesota, to the east by Wisconsin and Indiana, by Missouri to the south, and by Nebraska and South Dakota to the west.
Iowa is the 26th largest state by area, and with a population of approx. 3.0 million, is the 30th most populous state. Major industries include agriculture (corn, soybeans, hogs, pigs), food manufacturing, and insurance. Iowa became the 29th state of the Union on December 28, 1946. The name Iowa comes from Ioway, the French word for the Bah-kho-je Indian tribe that lived in the area. Iowa's nickname is "The Hawkeye State".
Iowa has several state taxes including a personal income tax, state sales tax, and property tax.
State Capital: Des Moines State Motto: "Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain" State Bird: Eastern goldfinch State Flower: Wild rose State Song: "The Song of Iowa State Tree: Oak State Rock: Geode
In 2006, Coldwell Banker looked at the cost of a typical 2,200-square-foot house with 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms, a family room and a two-car garage. The neighborhood - a more subjective measure - is one "typical for corporate middle-management transferees." The following is a sample of cities in the state:
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Sioux City
$184,000.00
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Dubuque
$190,125.00
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Iowa City
$206,625.00
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Des Moines
$247,000.00
Cities in the state that ranked in the top 100 "Best Places to Live" by CNNMoney.com include:
