Missouri

**Missouri Overview:**
– Etymology and Pronunciation:
– Named after the Missouri River, which was named after the Missouria tribe.
– Common pronunciations: mih-ZUR-ee, mih-ZUR-ə, mih-ZU-uh-ree.
– Politicians use multiple pronunciations for different audiences.
– Geography:
– Ranks 21st in U.S. land area, borders 8 states.
– Features the Ozarks in the south and the Missouri River.
– Major urban areas include St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, and Columbia.

**Missouri History and Culture:**
– History:
– Continuous habitation since 9000 BCE, Mississippian culture, statehood in 1820.
– Central role in westward expansion and the American Civil War.
– Culture:
– Blend of Midwestern and Southern elements.
– Birthplace of ragtime, Kansas City jazz, and St. Louis blues.
– Major center of beer brewing with permissive alcohol laws.

**Missouri Historical Events:**
– Early Settlement and Exploration:
– Changing borders, French Canadian settlements, role of enslaved Africans and Native Americans.
– St. Louis founded in 1764 by French fur traders.
– 19th Century Development:
– Part of the Louisiana Purchase, Platte Purchase, and conflicts like the Mormon War.
– Missouri admitted as a slave state in 1821 under the Missouri Compromise.

**Missouri Economic and Social Changes:**
– American Immigration:
– Irish and German immigrants in the late 1840s and 1850s.
– Majority were Catholic, settling in cities and contributing to industries.
– American Civil War:
– Missouri’s role in the Civil War, Reconstruction period, and rise of vigilante groups.
– 19th and 20th Century Missouri:
– Transition from rural to industrial-service-agricultural economy.
– Impact of deindustrialization and economic changes in cities like St. Louis and Kansas City.

**Modern Missouri and Geographical Features:**
– 21st Century:
– National attention for protests and riots, issues with law enforcement in Ferguson.
– Student protests at the University of Missouri over racist incidents.
– Geography and Climate:
– Borders, rivers, and varied topography from plains to mountains.
– Climate ranging from humid continental to subtropical, facing tornadoes and severe weather.

Missouri (Wikipedia)

Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it borders Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas to the south and Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska to the west. In the south are the Ozarks, a forested highland, providing timber, minerals, and recreation. The Missouri River, after which the state is named, flows through the center and into the Mississippi River, which makes up the eastern border. With over six million residents, it is the 18th-most populous state of the country. The largest urban areas are St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, and Columbia; the capital is Jefferson City.

Missouri
State of Missouri
Nicknames
Show Me State, Cave State and Mother of the West
Motto
Salus populi suprema lex esto (Latin) Let the good of the people be the supreme law
Anthem: "Missouri Waltz"
Map of the United States with Missouri highlighted
Map of the United States with Missouri highlighted
CountryUnited States
Before statehoodMissouri Territory
Admitted to the UnionAugust 10, 1821 (24th)
CapitalJefferson City
Largest cityKansas City
Largest county or equivalentSt. Louis
Largest metro and urban areasGreater St. Louis
Government
 • GovernorMike Parson (R)
 • Lieutenant GovernorMike Kehoe (R)
LegislatureGeneral Assembly
 • Upper houseSenate
 • Lower houseHouse of Representatives
JudiciarySupreme Court of Missouri
U.S. senatorsJosh Hawley (R)
Eric Schmitt (R)
U.S. House delegation6 Republicans
2 Democrats (list)
Area
 • Total69,715 sq mi (180,560 km2)
 • Land68,886 sq mi (179,015 km2)
 • Rank21st
Dimensions
 • Length300 mi (480 km)
 • Width241 mi (390 km)
Elevation
800 ft (244 m)
Highest elevation1,772 ft (540 m)
Lowest elevation230 ft (70 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total6,160,281
 • Rank19th
 • Density88.2/sq mi (34.1/km2)
  • Rank30th
 • Median household income
$53,578
 • Income rank
38th
DemonymMissourian
Language
 • Official languageEnglish
 • Spoken language
Time zoneUTC−06:00 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−05:00 (CDT)
USPS abbreviation
MO
ISO 3166 codeUS-MO
Traditional abbreviationMo.
Latitude36° 0′ N to 40° 37′ N
Longitude89° 6′ W to 95° 46′ W
Websitewww.mo.gov
State symbols of Missouri
List of state symbols
SongMissouri Waltz
Living insignia
AmphibianAmerican bullfrog
BirdEastern bluebird
FishChannel catfish
FlowerWhite hawthorn
FruitPaw-paw
GrassBig bluestem
Horse breedMissouri Fox Trotter
InsectWestern honey bee
MammalMissouri Mule
TreeFlowering Dogwood
Inanimate insignia
DanceSquare dance
DinosaurHypsibema missouriensis
FoodDessert: Ice cream
FossilCrinoid
GemstoneBeryl
InstrumentFiddle
MineralGalena
RockMozarkite
SoilMenfro
State route marker
Route marker
State quarter
Missouri quarter dollar coin
Released in 2003
Lists of United States state symbols

Humans have inhabited present-day Missouri for at least 12,000 years. The Mississippian culture, which emerged at least in the ninth century, built cities and mounds before declining in the 14th century. When European explorers arrived in the 17th century, they encountered the Osage and Missouria nations. The French incorporated the territory into Louisiana, founding Ste. Genevieve in 1735 and St. Louis in 1764. After a brief period of Spanish rule, the United States acquired Missouri as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Americans from the Upland South rushed into the new Missouri Territory. Missouri was admitted as a slave state as part of the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Many from Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee settled in the Boonslick area of Mid-Missouri. Soon after, heavy German immigration formed the Missouri Rhineland.

Missouri played a central role in the westward expansion of the United States, as memorialized by the Gateway Arch. The Pony Express, Oregon Trail, Santa Fe Trail and California Trail all began in Missouri. As a border state, Missouri's role in the American Civil War was complex, and it was subject to rival governments, raids, and guerilla warfare. After the war, both Greater St. Louis and the Kansas City metropolitan area became centers of industrialization and business. Today the state is divided into 114 counties and the independent city of St. Louis.

Missouri's culture blends elements of the Midwestern and Southern United States. It is the birthplace of the musical genres ragtime, Kansas City jazz and St. Louis blues. The well-known Kansas City-style barbecue, and the lesser-known St. Louis-style barbecue, can be found across the state and beyond. Missouri is a major center of beer brewing and has some of the most permissive alcohol laws in the U.S. It is home to Anheuser-Busch, the world's largest beer producer, and produces an eponymous wine produced in the Missouri Rhineland and Ozarks. Outside the state's major cities, popular tourist destinations include the Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake and Branson.

Well-known Missourians include Chuck Berry, Sheryl Crow, Walt Disney, Edwin Hubble, Nelly, Brad Pitt, Harry S. Truman, and Mark Twain. Some of the largest companies based in the state include Cerner, Express Scripts, Monsanto, Emerson Electric, Edward Jones, H&R Block, Wells Fargo Advisors, Centene Corporation, and O'Reilly Auto Parts. Well-known universities in Missouri include the University of Missouri, Saint Louis University, and Washington University in St. Louis. Missouri has been called the "Mother of the West", the "Cave State", and the "Show Me State".

Definition from ChatGPT:

Missouri:

Missouri is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is known for its diverse geography, including rolling hills, forests, and the Mississippi River. The state is also recognized for its cultural contributions, such as jazz music and barbecue cuisine. The capital of Missouri is Jefferson City, and its largest city is Kansas City.