Iowa

Please enjoy the fun, interesting facts that we have found out about Iowa.


 * = # ||= Fact ||= Source ||= Contributor ||
 * = 1 ||= Back in 1850, surveyor Humphrey Parker jammed his walking stick into the ground, and a tree grew and separated the counties of Audobon and Cass, ||= Pohlem, Jerome. //Oddball Iowa: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places.//2005 ||= Marissa and Jayden ||
 * = 2 ||= People first entered the land now known as Iowa as far back as 11,000 B.C. ||= Martin, Michael E. //World Almanac Iowa//. 2002 ||= Brennen and Nathan D ||
 * = 3 ||= The north fork of the Maquoketa River supplied coal in 1835. They used it in trains in 1840. ||= //Iowa Department of Natural Resources.// 2000. ||= Morgan and Kim ||
 * = 4 ||= West Lake Okoboji is Iowa's deepest lake at 136 feet. ||= Whye, Mike. //The Great Iowa Touring// //Book//. 2004. ||= Miranda and Joe ||
 * = 5 ||= Hawkeye Point is 1,670 feet (509 m) above sea level. It is the highest point in Iowa. ||= Martin, Michael.//World Almanac Iowa.// 2002. ||= Stephanie and Emily ||
 * = 6 ||= The Historic Crapper (officially called the C.D.) is in Madison County. It is in the National Register of Historic Places. ||= Pohlen, Jerome. //Oddball Iowa: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places//. 2005 ||= Sydney and Cole ||
 * = 7 ||= Do you know Laura Ingalls? The hotel that she used to work at is in Burr Oak. ||= Pohlem, Jerome. //Oddball Iowa: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places//. 2005. ||= Lexi F and Braydon ||
 * = 8 ||= Iowa is known as "The Hawkeye State" in honor of Chief Black Hawk. ||= Gensicken, Mary Ann. //I is for Iowa//. 1995. ||= Caleb and Vicky ||
 * = 9 ||= Sabula is Iowa's only town on an island. ||= www.shopiowaonline/node/71 ||= Levi W and Hunter ||
 * = 10 ||= Scranton has the oldest water tower in service in Iowa. ||= www.shopiowaonline/node/71 ||= Levi W and Hunter ||
 * = 11 ||= Spirit Lake is the deepest lake in Iowa ||= www.shopiowaonline/node/71 ||= Levi W and Hunter ||
 * = 12 ||= Iowa is the only state that starts with two vowels. ||= www.shgresources.com ||= Lexi F, Cole, Kyle, Kaylynrae, Emma, Cody, Brock, and Colton ||
 * = 13 ||= The longest and highest bridge in Iowa crosses Lake Red Rock. ||= www.shopiowaonline/node/71 ||= Tyler and Brandi ||
 * = 14 ||= One Iowa family farm grows enough food and fiber to feed 279 people. ||= www.foodreference.com/html/fiowa.html ||= Vicky and Calem ||
 * = 15 ||= Did you know that about one fifth of the United States' corn comes from Iowa? ||= www.history.com/states ||= Nathan, Braydon, Kyle, Kaylynrae, Emma, and Cody ||
 * = 16 ||= Iowa gets more tornadoes than any other state.. ||= www.history.com/states ||= Kyle, Kaylynrae, Marissa, Alex, Emma, and Cody ||
 * = 17 ||= A full 90% of Iowa's land is used as farm land. ||= www.history.com/states ||= Kyle, Kaylynrae, Emma, Cody, Brock, and Colton ||
 * = 18 ||= The word //Iowa// comes from the American Indian tribe of the same name. ||= publications.iowa.gov/135/1/profile/8-14.html ||= Stephanie and Ashton ||

www.roadsideamerica.com/blog/popcorn-ball-supremacy/ ||= Marissa and Alex || Pohlem, J. //Oddball Iowa.// 2005. ||= Mitchell, Brianna, Alex and Marissa || 100. The largest rock or boulder that was NOT destroyed by the 1961 Annual Report of the Iowa Geological Survey. Tucker glaciers in Iowa is located three miles west of Nashua. In 1961, it was listed as being 40 feet by 30 feet by 12 feet.
 * = 19 ||= Quaker Oats is the largest cereal company in the world. It is located in Cedar Rapids. ||= www.foodreference.com/html/fiowa.html ||= by Emily and Dillan ||
 * = 20 ||= The world's first moving train robbery was in Adair. It was robbed by Jesse James. ||= Pohlen, Jerome. //Oddball Iowa//: //A Guide to Some Really Strange Places//. 2005. ||= Cody and ||
 * = 21 ||= The 2008 flood in Iowa is five times as bad as the 1993 flood. ||= www.history.com/states ||= Marissa and Alex ||
 * = 22 ||= Sac City has the world's largest popcorn ball. It weighs a 5,060 lbs. It’s 7.5 feet tall, and 29 feet around. ||= www.history.com/states
 * = 23 ||= Two million years ago, glaciers moved across Iowa and smoothed it. ||= Morrice, Joyce. //Iowa Celebrates the States//. 2007 ||= Levi E and Alex ||
 * = 24 ||= The highest temperature in Iowa was 118 degrees Fahrenheit. It happened in Keokuk on July 10, 1934. ||= Morrice, Joyce. //Iowa Celebrates the States//. 2007 ||= Levi E and Alex ||
 * = 25 ||= When Iowa became a state in 1846, its capitol was in Iowa City. ||= www.geography.about.com ||= Kimberly, Tucker, Brennen, and Levi E ||
 * = 26 ||= Iowa produces one tenth of the nation's food supply. ||= www.geography.about.com ||= Kimberly and Tucker ||
 * = 27 ||= Iowa farms sell over 10 billion dollars worth of crops and livestock. ||= www.geography.about.com ||= Kimberly and Tucker ||
 * = 28 ||= The world's largest bullhead is in Crystal Lake. The whiskers on the bullhead are 3 feet long. ||= Pohlem, Jerome. //Oddball Iowa: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places.//2005 ||= Megan, James, Marissa, and Alex ||
 * = 29 ||= Spook Cave is in McGregor. It is an unique cave because you can ride in a boat through the cave. ||= Pohlem, Jerome. //Oddball Iowa: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places.//2005 ||= Megan and James ||
 * = 30 ||= The world's largest strawberry is in Strawberry Point. It is 15 feet high and 12 feet across, and weighs 1,430 pounds. ||= Pohlem, Jerome. //Oddball Iowa: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places.//2005 ||= Megan, James, Marissa, and Alex ||
 * = 31 ||= John Wayne, a famous actor, was born in Winterset. His real name was Marion Michael Morrison. ||= www,factmonster.com ||= Megan and Dayton ||
 * = 32 ||= About 50% of the value of the goods produced in Iowa comes from manufacturing. ||= Thompson, Kahtleen. //Portrait of America: Iowa//. 1986. ||= Brianna and Mitchell ||
 * = 33 ||= Iowa has more than 93,000 farms within the state. ||= Wagner, Jay. //H is for Hawkeye//. 2003. ||= Brianna and Mitchell ||
 * = 34 ||= LeMars, Iowa is home to the Wells Blue Bunny which makes more ice cream than any other city in the world. ||= Wagner, Jay. //H is for Hawkeye//. 2003.
 * = 35 ||= About one million people visit the Iowa State Fair each August. ||= Wagner, Jay. //H is for Hawkeye//. 2003. ||= Mitchell and Brianna ||
 * = 36 ||= The state capitol building in Des Moines is topped with a dome that reaches 275 feet (84 m) and is covered in 23 karat gold leaf. ||= Martin, Michael E. //World Almanac Iowa//. 2002 ||= Joseph, Tanner, Tristen, Sydney, Keaton, and Emma ||
 * = 37 ||= On June 17, 1882, two twisters met in the very center of the town of Grinnell. They crashed and that made six smaller twisters. ||= Erickson, Lori and Stuhr, Tracy. //Iowa off the Beaten Path: A Guide to Unique Places.// ||= Ashton and Isaiah ||
 * = 38 ||= On November 20, 2001, the golden dome of Iowa City's famous Old Capitol was destroyed by a fire. ||= Erickson, Lori and Stuhr, Tracy. //Iowa off the Beaten Path: A Guide to Unique Places.// ||= Ashton and Isaiah ||
 * = 39 ||= The most famous frontiersman was born near LeClair in Scott County. His real name was William Fredrick. He got his nickname of "Buffalo Bill" because he killed over 4,000 buffaloes. ||= Wilson, Ray D. //Iowa Historical Tour Guide. 1986.// ||= Jade, Kaylynrae, Kylie, Dillon, Tyler, Levi W, and Nathan S ||
 * = 40 ||= The Mahanay Bell Tower in Jefferson stands 168 feet tall and has 14 bronze bells. It plays patriotic songs and religious songs three times a day. ||= Whye, Mike. //The Great Iowa Touring// //Book//. 2004. ||= Brianna and Mitchell ||
 * = 41 ||= Effigy Mounds located in Harpers Ferry has over 200 mounds in the shapes of animals. These are burial mounds that early Indian settlers used to house their dead. ||= Iowa Department of Economic Development. //Iowa Travel Guide//. 2009, ||= Miranda, Autumn. Dawson, Dayton, Kaylee, and Rylee ||
 * = 42 ||= The Amana Colonies are a group of seven villages that were first settled by Germans who held common religious beliefs. ||= Gensicken, Mary. //I is for Iowa//. 1995 ||= Kylie and Dillon ||
 * = 43 ||= Iowa has 1.5 million ring-necked pheasants. ||= Hintz, Martin. //America the Beautiful: Iowa//. 2000. ||= Tyler, Levi W, and Nathan S ||
 * = 44 ||= In 1673, the first Europeans to enter the area now known as Iowa were Louis Joliet and Father Jacques Marquette. ||= Thompson, Kathleen. //Portrait of Iowa//. 1991. ||= Dillon, Levi W, Nathan S, Marissa, and Caleb L ||
 * = 45 ||= Iowa has about a dozen covered bridges that were built in the 1800's. ||= Wagner, Jay. //H is for Hawkeye//. 2003. ||= Calem and Mason ||
 * = 46 ||= Nile Kinnick was one of the greatest football players in history. He was born in Adel. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1939 and the Big Ten MVP in1944. ||= Wagner, Jay. //H is for Hawkeye//. 2003. ||= Calem and Mason ||
 * = 47 ||= The world's largest Dairy Queen is located in Council Bluffs. ||= Pohlem, Jerome. //Oddball Iowa: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places.//2005 ||= Gunnar and Cole ||
 * = 48 ||= The famous red Delicious apples were developed in East Peru, Iowa in 1800. ||= Pohlem, Jerome. //Oddball Iowa: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places.//2005 ||= Gunnar, Cole, Emma, and Keaton ||
 * = 49 ||= There used to be a building called the Corn Palace in Sioux City until a flood ruined it in 1892. Every inch of the building was covered in seeds. That same year Mitchell, South Dakota opened their own corn palace. ||= Pohlem, Jerome. //Oddball Iowa: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places.//2005 ||= Gunnar and Cole ||
 * = 50 ||= The Grotto of Redemption is the biggest hand-made grotto in the world. It's located in West Bend. ||= Whye, Mike. //The Great Iowa Touring// //Book//. 2004. ||= Nicole andHunter ||
 * = 51 ||= Carrie Chapman Catt helped the Iowa suffrage movement. She is from Charles City. ||= Whye, Mike. //The Great Iowa Touring// //Book//. 2004. ||= Nicole and Hunter ||
 * = 52 ||= Dubuque is the state's oldest city. ||= www.shoponline.com ||= Nicole and Hunter ||
 * = 53 ||= Back in 1858, 3 sons and their father dug a tunnel along Badger Creek. It's Iowa's only tunnel. It is located in Pamel State Park. ||= Pohlem, Jerome. //Oddball Iowa: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places.//2005 ||= Britney, Braydon, Marissa, and Alex ||
 * = 54 ||= Thirteen is known as an unlucky number. They say that the Thirteen Step Cemetery is guarded by a phantom dog. ||= Pohlem, Jerome. //Oddball Iowa: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places.//2005 ||= Britney and Braydon ||
 * = 55 ||= The Des Moines Botanical Center Contains one of the largest collections of tropical, subtropical, and desert plants in the United States. ||= Thompson, Kathleen. //Portrait of Iowa//. 1991. ||= Lexi F and Caleb W ||
 * = 56 ||= Drake University has a Bulldog Beauty Contest in which 50 bulldogs compete for the title. ||= Erickson, Lori and Stuhr, Tracy. //Iowa off the Beaten Path: A Guide to Unique Places.// ||= Lexi F and Caleb W ||
 * = 57 ||= The state's only National Cemetary is in Keokuk. ||= Hintz, Martin. //America the Beautiful: Iowa//. 2000. ||= Tyler, Levi W, and Nathan ||
 * = 58 ||= The National Hot Air Balloon Race, held every summer in Indianola, is one of Iowa's less traditional events. ||= Thompson, Kathleen. //Portrait of Iowa//. 1991. ||= Lexi F and Caleb W ||
 * = 59 ||= Okoboji has one of Iowa's first Phillips 66 gas stations. ||= Whye, Mike. //The Great Iowa Touring// //Book//. 2004. ||= Vicky and Brandon ||
 * = 60 ||= The Squirrel Cage Jail in Council Bluffs has a three story drum-shaped set of jail cells. ||= Whye, Mike. //The Great Iowa Touring// //Book//. 2004. ||= Vicky and Brandon ||
 * = 61 ||= Stuart is the location of the last bank to be rbbed by Bonnie and Clyde. ||= Whye, Mike. //The Great Iowa Touring// //Book//. 2004. ||= Vicky and Brandon ||
 * = 62 ||= Iowa has the world's largest bull located in Audubon. ||= Pohlem, Jerome. //Oddball Iowa: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places.//2005 ||= Marissa and Alex ||
 * = 63 ||= The Black Angel is located in Iowa City. The legend is that whoever touches the winged Feldervert family monument in the Oakland Cemetery will drop dead unless they are virgins. ||= Pohlem, Jerome. //Oddball Iowa: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places.//2005 ||= Marissa and Alex ||
 * = 64 ||= Julien Dubuque was the first white man to settle in Iowa. ||= Gensicke, Mary Ann. //I is for Iowa//. 1995. ||= Kaylee and Rylee ||
 * = 65 ||= The first computer was invented by Atanasoff and Clifford Berry at Iowa State University. ||= Gensicke, Mary Ann. //I is for Iowa//. 1995. ||= Kaylee and Rylee ||
 * = 66 ||= Grant Wood was born near Anamosa and became of America's famous artists. ||= Gensicke, Mary Ann. //I is for Iowa//. 1995. ||= Kaylee and Rylee ||
 * = 67 ||= Iowa is the only state bordered by two navigable rivers. The mighty Mississippi River flows the full length of Iowa's eastern border. On the western border is the Big Sioux River which joins the Mississippi River. ||= Morrice, Joyce. //Iowa Celebrates the States//. 2001. ||= Levi E and Jayden ||
 * = 68 ||= In 1957, a band of Sioux warriors massacred settlers in the western settlement of Spirit Lake. ||= Martin, Michael E. //World Almanac Iowa//. 2002 ||= Kimberly and Brock ||
 * = 69 ||= There is a stone observation tower at the state's second highest point in Pilot Knob State Park, east of Forrest City. ||= Whye, Mike. //The Great Iowa Touring// //Book//. 2004. ||= Nathan D and Caleb L ||
 * = 70 ||= Liberty Hall in Lamoni was the home of Joseph Smith III and the headquarters of the Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. ||= Whye, Mike. //The Great Iowa Touring// //Book//. 2004. ||= Nathan D and Caleb L ||
 * = 71 ||= James Jordan (from Polk County) helped save slaves in the Civil War time. ||= Wagner, Jay. //H is for Hawkeye//. 2003. ||= Keaton and Emma ||
 * = 72 ||= The highest point in Iowa is 1,670 feet. It's in the northwest on Ocheyedan Mound. ||= www.history.com/states ||= Autumn and Dawson ||
 * = 73 ||= Ida Grove is known as //Castle Town// because many of the buildings have castle designs. ||= iowa.com/ivisit/odd-iowa-attractions/ ||= Keaton and Levi E ||
 * = 74 ||= Riverside is the birthplace of the fictional character Captain James Kirk. They have //trek// fests every June. ||= iowa.com/ivisit/odd-iowa-attractions/ ||= Keaton and Levi E ||
 * = 75 ||= Iowa sells 1/4 of the nation's total of hogs and pigs which is about15.5 million (as of March 1, 2007). ||= www.foodreference.com/html/fiowa.html ||= Kim and Colton ||
 * = 76 ||= Most people know Iowa for its rich soil and great agriculture, but now more Iowans live in cities than on farms. ||= www.history.com/states ||= Colton and Kim ||
 * = 77 ||= Britt, Iowa is home to the only museum in the world dedicated to the hobo way of life. The museum features photographs, videos, and artifacts. They also have annual hobo conventions. ||= iowa.com/ivisit/odd-iowa-attractions/ ||= Levi E and Keaton ||
 * = 78 ||= Iowa is the nation's third most productive agricultural state. ||= www.thingstodo.com ||= Tucker and Brock ||
 * = 79 ||= The highest double track railroad bridge in the world is located in Boone. It's name is the Kate Shelley Bridge. ||= www.thingstodo.com ||= Tucker and Brock ||
 * = 80 ||= Iowa has more golf coursed per capita than any other state. ||= publications.iowa.gov/135/1/profile/8-14.html ||= Kaylee, Alex, Caleb W, and Gunnar ||
 * = 81 ||= Iowa ranks first in beef, pork, corn, soybean, and grain production. ||= publications.iowa.gov/135/1/profile/8-14.html ||= Kaylee and Alex ||
 * = 82 ||= In 1867, the first railroad was completed in Iowa. ||= www.thingstodo.com/states ||= Emma and Rylee ||
 * = 83 ||= Iowa has the highest literacy rate in the United States. More than 99% of Iowa's citizens can read. ||= www.history.com/states ||= Mason and Kylie ||
 * = 84 ||= Dubuque is home to the only courthouse with a gold dome. ||= shopiowaonline.com ||= Braydon and Levi W ||
 * = 85 ||= Shawn Johnson is the current women's artistic gymnast world all around champion. She is from Des Moines. ||= www.zimbio.com/Shawn+johnson ||= Nicole and Sydney ||
 * = 86 ||= Kalona is the largest Amish community west of the Mississippi River. ||= www.thingtodo.com/states ||= Tristen and Vicky ||
 * = 87 ||= Felon Place Elevator in Dubuque is the world's steepest and shortest railway. ||= www.thingtodo.com/states ||= Tristen and Vicky ||
 * = 88 ||= How did Iowa get it's name? It's from the Iowa River which is named after the Ioway tribe. ||= www.askjeeves ||= Lexi F and Britney ||
 * = 89 ||= Iowa's oldest building is the Mathias Ham Historic House in Dubuque. ||= www.museumstuff.com ||= Brandon ||
 * = 90 ||= In 1993, flooding in Iowa caused more than 2 billion dollars in damage. ||= www.thingtodo.com/states ||= Emma and Rylee ||
 * = 91 ||= Black men received the right to vote in Iowa in 1868. ||= www.thingtodo.com/states ||= Emma and Rylee ||
 * = 92 ||= Iowa used to be part of the Wisconsin Territory. ||= www.history.com ||= Caleb L and Marissa ||
 * = 93 ||= To see what it was like in the riverboat era, go see the Goerge M. Verity Riverboat Museum in Koeokuk. ||= Iowa Department of Economic Development. //Iowa Travel Guide//. 2009, ||= Dayton ||
 * = 94 ||= Rock Rapids has a Bridge to Nowhere. It doesn't cross any water or railroads. ||= Pohlem, Jerome. //Oddball Iowa: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places.//2005 ||= Gunnar ||
 * = 95 ||= Grant Wood, one of America's famous artists, was born in Anamosa. ||= Wagner, Jay. //H is for Hawkeye//. 2003. ||= Calem ||
 * = 96 ||= The state of Iowa opened up to settlers in 1833. ||= www.agriculture.ia.US/centuryFarmsProgram.asp ||= Ashton ||
 * = 97 ||= Newton has "America's Place to Race:. The 7/8 mile oval track was designed by Nascar champion Rusty Wallace. ||= Iowa Department of Economic Development. //Iowa Travel Guide//. 2009, ||= Paul ||
 * = 98 ||= Hazelton is the largest community of Amish in Iowa. You can visit there to enjoy the Amish way of life. ||= Iowa Department of Economic Development. //Iowa Travel Guide//. 2009, ||= Paul ||
 * = 99 ||= The world's largest coffee pot and coffee cup water tower is located in Stanton. In 1971, they erected a Swedish coffee pot capable of holding 640.000 cups of coffee--that's 40,000 gallons!! ||= Pohlem, Jerome. //Oddball Iowa: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places.//2005 ||= Jayden ||