Missouri is one of 12 states that located in the midwestern of the United States. It’s surrounded by Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas to the south and Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska to the west. There are several popular nicknames for Missouri, such as: “Show Me State”, “Cave State” and “Mother of the West”. To know more about Missouri, we will talk about 10 interesting Missouri facts in this article.
1. Missouri, along with Tennessee, is the State that Border with Most States
Missouri and Tennessee are two states that border with most states. Both Missouri and Tennessee have borders with 8 states. Missouri is bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. Missouri is 21st largest state in the United States and currently is 19th-most populous.
2. Jefferson City is the Capital City of Missouri while Its Largest City is Kansas City
The capital city of Missouri is Jefferson City. Jefferson City is also the county seat of Cole County that is located in the middle of Missouri. Kansas City is Missouri’s largest city by population and area that’s located near the Kansas border, but when we talk about metropolitan area, Greater St. Louis is still larger than the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.
3. There are More than 7,300 Recorded Caves in Missouri
Missouri is one of the states that have the most caves. There are more than 7,300 recorded caves in Missouri. It’s still behind Tennesse in number that have more than 10,000 documented caves. With a large number of caves, Missouri gets the “Cave State” nickname. Perry County is the county with the largest number of caves.
4. Anheuser-Busch, the Largest Beer Producer in the United States, is Headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri
Anheuser-Busch is the largest beer producer in the United States. It’s headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri and owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (AB InBev), the world’s largest beer producer. Missouri is a major center of beer brewing and its alcohol law is among the most permissive in the United States. The permissive alcohol law of Missouri is in contrast with the strict law of its neighbors, Kansas and Oklahoma.
5. Missouri is the Longest River in the United States
The state of Missouri is named after the Missouri River that flows through this state to the Mississippi river. Missouri is the longest river in the United States although it’s indeed only a little longer than the Mississippi river. The name of Missouri river itself were coming from the indigenous Missouri Indians, a Siouan-language tribe that live in the state of Missouri (previously) and Oklahoma.
6. Missouri is the Largest Producer of Lead in the United States
Missouri is the top leading lead producer. It produces more lead than any other state in the United States. A number of lead mines are operated in Missouri, such as: Sweetwater Mine, Buick Mine, Brushy Creek Mine and Fletcher Mine. Missouri is also ranked high in Lime production. It’s usually ranked first or top 3. Lime is essential for Portland cement production.
7. The Gateway Arch in Missouri is the Tallest Monument in the United States
At 630-foot-tall (192 m) height, The Gateway Arch that located in St. Louis Missouri is the tallest monument in the United States. The Gateway Arch is also the world’s tallest arch. It’s a National Historic Landmark in Gateway Arch National Park. The arch was designed by Eero Saarinen in 1947 and was built in 1963 and completed in 1965.
8. Taum Sauk Mountain is the Highest Natural Point in Missouri
The highest natural point in Missouri is Taum Sauk Mountain at 1,772 feet (540 m) elevation. It’s located in Mountain County, Missouri. Taum Sauk Mountain State Park was created on this mountain with an area of 7,448-acre (30.14 km2). We can also find Mina Sauk Falls in this state park which is the highest the highest waterfall in Missouri.
9. Eastern Bluebird is the Official State Bird of Missouri
The official state bird of Missouri is the Eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) that was designated in 1927. The Eastern bluebird is a small migratory bird from North America. It can be found in open farmlands, orchards and woodlands east of the Rockies, southern Canada to the Gulf states, and southeastern Arizona to Nicaragua. The Eastern Bluebird is also the state bird of New York.
10. The Official State Tree of Missouri is Flowering Dogwood
The flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) has been the official state tree of Missouri since 1955. Cornus florida is a species of flowering tree that native to eastern North America and northern Mexico. As an endemic population, Cornus florida once found from southernmost coastal Maine south to northern Florida and west to the Mississippi River. While the flowering dogwood is an official state tree of Missouri, its flower is the official state flower of North Carolina.
If you know other interesting facts about Missouri, feel free to share with us here. There are surely many interesting facts about Missouri that we haven’t talked about in this article.