Missouri

State Facts:

Statehood - August 10th, 1821 making it the 24th state.

State Abbreviation - MO

State Capital - Jefferson City

Largest City - St. Louis

Area - 69,709 square miles [Missouri is the 21st biggest state in the USA]

Population - 5,595,211 (as of 2000) [Missouri is the 16th most populous state in the USA]

Major Industries - farming (corn, soybeans), mining (zinc, lead), aircraft equipment, cars, beer

Major Rivers - Mississippi River, Missouri River, Osage River

Major Lakes - Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake, Clearwater Lake, Lake Wappapello

Highest Point - Taum Sauk Mountain- 1,772 feet (540 m) above sea level

Bordering States - Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee

The name Missouri means - "river of the big canoes."

State Nickname - The Show Me State

State Motto - "Salus populi suprema lex esto " - The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law

State Song - Missouri Waltz

State Bird - Bluebird - March 30th, 1927

State Insect - Honey bee - July 3rd, 1985

State Rock - Mozarkite - July 27th, 1967

State Mineral - Galena - July 21st, 1967

State Tree - Cornus Florida L. - "Dogwood" - June 20th, 1955

State Dance - Square Dance

State Musical Instrument - Fiddle