Missouri Facts and information
Missouri (MO) was admitted to the Union on August 10, 1821State Capital: Jefferson City
Missouri is situated in the Midwest region
States sharing a border with Missouri:
Tennessee Iowa Illinois Kentucky Oklahoma Kansas Nebraska
Tennessee , Iowa , Illinois , Kentucky , Oklahoma , Kansas , Nebraska
Size in square miles:
69,708
Major Lakes & Rivers in / through or touching Missouri:
Missouri River
Missouri River
White River
Arkansas River
Black River
North Fork River
James River
Little River
St. Francis River
Meramec River
Crooked River
Little Blue River
Platte River
Major sports teams/venues/accomplishments:
Major League Baseball Kansas City Royals play games at Kauffman Stadium
Major Championships: World Series Champions 1985
Major League Baseball St. Louis Cardinals play games at Busch Stadium
Major Championships: World Series Champions 2006, 1982, 1967, 1964, 1946, 1944, 1942, 1934, 1931, 1926
National Football League St. Louis Rams play games at Edward Jones Dome
Major Championships: League Champions 1945, 1951, 1999
National Football League Kansas City Chiefs play games at Arrowhead Stadium
Major Championships: League Champions 1962, 1966, 1969
National Hockey League St. Louis Blues play games at the Scottrade Center
Major Championships: Division Champions 1968-69, 1969-70, 1976-77, 1980-81, 1984-85, 1986-87, 1999-2000
Main industry/ jobs:
Publishing/printing
Electrical equipment
Transportation equipment
Aerospace
Chemicals
Food processing
Beer
Beef
Soybeans
Pork
Dairy products
Hay
Corn
Poultry
Eggs
Agriculture
Wine
Limestone
Lead
Coal
Tourism
Healthcare:
Auxi Health Care
Missouri Health Care
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri
Major Facilities:
Shelter Insurance
Columbia Insurance Group
MFA Incorporated
MFA Oil
Express Scripts
Emerson Electric
Charter Communications
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Anheuser-Busch
Scottrade
Edward Jones
Energizer
Major Natural Disasters:
March 18, 1925 – The Tri-State Tornado system was one of the most devastating systems to hit the United States. It wreaked havoc in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana and caused almost 700 deaths in a five hour period. By today’s standards, the tornado also caused more than 1.5 billion dollars in damage, too.
May 27, 1896 – A tornado outbreak in the Midwest ravaged the area. It caused between 250-400 deaths and resulted in almost 3 billion dollars worth of damage by today’s standards. It is generally referred to as the St. Louis Tornado of 1896.
Missouri Area codes:
314 417 557 573 636 660 816 975
Famous People Born in Missouri:
Robert Altman, director
Scott Bakula, actor
Linda Blair, actress
Don Cheadle, actor
Walt Disney, producer, director, etc.
Jenna Fischer, actress
Friz Freleng, animator
John Goodman, actor
Eddie Griffin, actor
Don Johnson, actor
Kevin Kline, actor
Vincent Price, actor
Ginger Rogers, actress/dancer
Kathleen Turner, actress
Dick Van Dyke, actor
Redd Foxx, actor/comedian
Chuck Berry, musician
Sheryl Crow, singer
Eminem, rapper
Sara Evans, singer
Scott Joplin, composer
Walter Cronkite, TV Personality
Rush Limbaugh, radio talk show host
Yogi Berra, baseball manager
Harry Caray, baseball broadcaster
Samuel Clemens, author
T.S. Eliot, author
Langston Hughes, poet
Laura Ingalls Wilder, author
George Washington Carver, scientist
Jesse James, outlaw
Max Factor, cosmetologist entrepreneur
Population
1960 – 4,319,813
1970 – 4,676,501
1980 – 4,916,686
1990 – 5,117,073
2000 – 5,595,973
2005 – 5,842,713
Major cities & populations 2004:
1. Kansas City – 444,965
2. St. Louis – 344,362
3. Springfield – 150,298
4. Independence – 110,208
5. Columbia – 91,814
6. Lee’s Summit – 80,338
7. St. Joseph – 72,661
8. O’Fallon – 69,694
9. St. Charles – 62,304
10. St. Peter’s – 54,209
Politics
Congress / House of Representatives:
Congressman William Lacy Clay (Democrat)
Congressman Todd Akin (Republican)
Congressman Russ Carnahan (Democrat)
Congressman Ike Skelton (Democrat)
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (Democrat)
Congressman Sam Graves (Republican)
Congressman Roy Blunt (Republican)
Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson (Republican)
Congressman Kenny Hulshof (Republican)
Governor:
Matt Blunt (Republican)
Senators:
Kit Bond (Republican)
Claire McCaskill (Democrat)
House Prices, Wages, Taxes
State Sales Tax:
4.225%
Income Tax:
1.5%-6.0%, depending on income
Median Home Values:
1940: $24,900
1950: $38,800
1960: $53,700
1970: $55,300
1980: $72,600
1990: $76,400
2000: $89,900
Number of People employed in the state:
3,052,100 people employed in Missouri
Mean annual yearly income:
2005: $28,542
2000: $27,882
1990: $26,362
1980: $26,109
1970: $24,145
Tourism
Tourism / Places of Interest / Parks:
The Gateway Arch
Arrow Rock State Historic Site
Babler State Park
Sam A. Baker State Park
Battle of Athens State Historic Site
Battle of Carthage State Historic Site
Battle of Lexington State Historic Site
Bennett Spring State Park
Thomas Hart Benton Home and Studio State Historic Site
Big Lake State Park
Big Oak Tree State Park
Big Sugar Creek State Park
Bollinger Mill State Historic Site
Nathan Boone Homestead State Historic Site
Boone's Lick State Historic Site
Bothwell Lodge State Historic Site
Castlewood State Park
Clark's Hill/Norton State Historic Site
Confederate Memorial State Historic Site
Crowder State Park
Cuivre River State Park
Deutschheim State Historic Site
Dillard Mill State Historic Site
Gov. Daniel Dunklin's Grave State Historic Site
Elephant Rocks State Park
Finger Lakes State Park
First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site
Fort Davidson State Historic Site
Graham Cave State Park
Grand Gulf State Park
Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Hawn State Park
Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site
Iliniwek Village State Historic Site
Jewell Cemetery State Historic Site
Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park
Jones-Confluence Point State Park
Scott Joplin House State Historic Site
Katy Trail State Park
Knob Noster State Park
Lake of the Ozarks State Park
Lake Wappapello State Park
Lewis and Clark State Park
Locust Creek Covered Bridge State Historic Site
Long Branch State Park
Mastodon State Historic Site
Meramec State Park
Missouri Mines State Historic Site
Montauk State Park
Morris State Park
Onondaga Cave State Park
Osage Village State Historic Site
Gen. John J. Pershing Boyhood Home State Historic Site
Pershing State Park
Pomme de Terre State Park
Prairie State Park
Roaring River State Park
Robertsville State Park
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park
Route 66 State Park
Sandy Creek Covered Bridge State Historic Site
Sappington Cemetery State Historic Site
State Capitol Complex
St. Francois State Park
St. Joe State Park
Stockton State Park
Table Rock State Park
Taum Sauk Mountain State Park
Thousand Hills State Park
Towosahgy State Historic Site
Trail of Tears State Park
Harry S Truman Birthplace State Historic Site
Harry S Truman State Park
Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site
Mark Twain State Park
Union Covered Bridge State Historic Site
Felix Vallé House State Historic Site
Van Meter State Park
Wakonda State Park
Wallace State Park
Washington State Park
Watkins Mill State Park
Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site
Weston Bend State
Old News Stories Involving Missouri
July 16, 1808 – Lewis and Clark, the famed explorers, help to create the Missouri Fur Company. After arriving in the area, they set up the company as a way to profit from the plentiful of animals in the region that are ideal for providing fur.March 14, 1864 – The famous Casey Jones – an American railroad engineer – was born in the southeastern region of Missouri. He was later made into a folk hero when his death was immortalized in “The Ballad of Casey Jones.”
June 18, 1928-Flood Report Reveals Damage to Levee
Reports dated this date revealed details of Rising flood waters in Missouri. This disaster caused unspeakable damage to the St. Francis River Levee. Nearly 100,000 acres of land were drenched and about 1,000 persons were homeless.
March 27, 1932-New Railroad Loan Policy Established
A new railroad loan policy was established. As approved by the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation assumed one half of the $11,700,000 debt due on April 1st. This money was formerly owed by the Missouri Pacific Railroad.
October 15, 1949-Programs to Provide New Year-Round Jobs Implemented
A majority of Missouri’s employers had started new programs designed to provide steady year-round employment. According to a survey conducted by the Associated Industries of Missouri, a total of 75% of this state’s industries were participating in this new effort.
April 19, 1959-Truman’s Birthplace Dedicated as State Park
The birthplace of President Harry S. Truman was dedicated today. This important landmark became part of a new Missouri State Park. The former president as well as state and national leaders had attended this special event.
September 4, 1962-Farm Strike Violence Reported to Governor
Several incidences of violence have been reported to Governor John M. Dalton regarding farm violence. These acts of harm were a result of attempts made by the National Farmer’s Organization to stop the movement of market livestock. Governor Dalton spoke out against these acts of violence, saying they will not be tolerated.
November 23, 1976-First Case of Swine Flu Ever Noted in State
For the first time ever, a man from the state of Missouri was stricken with the swine flu. This was the first case of this illness reported in the U.S. in nearly a year. The previous case resulted in the death of a New Jersey Soldier.
March 16, 1987-Collapse of Missouri Bridge
A 35-foot section of the Missouri Bridge collapsed. The location of this tragedy was on the outskirts of St. Louis. These bridges, which were originally designed for horse and buggy, were closed for 24 hours for repair.
August 26, 1997-Texas Prison Sued by Missouri
Missouri state officials charged Texas for the cover-up of the misuse of their (Missouri’s) prisoners. These inmates were/are held in a facility run by a private party in the state of Texas.
Video tapes of Missouri guards kicking these Missouri prisoners, and tapes of stunning them with tazor guns confirmed these incidences of violence. On one occasion, a guard dog had sunk its teeth into a prisoner’s leg.
2004-Fetus Kidnapping Case Transferred to Missouri
Missouri received the responsibility of deciding the fetus-kidnapping case. A lady known as Lisa Montgomery was charged of stealing Bobbie Joe Stinnet’s baby after violently removing it from her womb.
Lisa Montgomery admitted to this serious crime, and thankfully the baby was saved. Unfortunately, the mother who was eight months pregnant had died at this time. As of 2007 Montgomery was found guilty and the date of her death penalty was yet to be established.
