 Missouri
Information
Capital
City: Jefferson
City
Economy: Agriculture,
tourism, industry and manufacturing.
Language Description:
English
Population: 5,595,211
Religion: Christian
(Protestant, Roman Catholic), though other major religions are represented
Time Zone: 6 hours
behind Greenwich Mean Time (-6 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is observed
from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October
Voltage Requirements:
110 volts
Missouri's Flag:
Centered on red, white and blue fields is the Missouri state seal.
It is encircled by a blue band with twenty-four stars representing
the number of states in 1821. The stars in the inner circle have
the same meaning. Two huge grizzly bears support the circular shield
in the center which has three parts: The motto "United We Stand,
Divided we Fall" The right section representing the United
States The left section containing a moon representing a new state
and a grizzly bear standing for courage.
History of Missouri: Hernando
De Soto visited the Missouri area in 1541. France's claim to the
entire region was based on sieur de la Salle's travels in 1682.
French fur traders established Ste. Genevieve in 1735 and St. Louis
was first settled in 1764. The U.S. gained Missouri from France
as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, and the territory was
admitted as a state following the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Throughout
the pre–Civil War period and during the war, Missourians were
sharply divided in their opinions about slavery and in their allegiances,
supplying both Union and Confederate forces with troops. However,
the state itself remained in the Union. Historically, Missouri played
a leading role as a gateway to the West, St. Joseph being the eastern
starting point of the Pony Express, while the much-traveled Santa
Fe and Oregon trails began in Independence. Now a popular vacationland,
Missouri has 11 major lakes and numerous fishing streams, springs,
and caves. Bagnell Dam, across the Osage River in the Ozarks, completed
in 1931, created one of the largest man-made lakes in the world,
covering 65,000 acres. Missouri's economy relies on a diversified
industrial base. Service industries provide more income and jobs
than any other segment, and include a growing tourism and travel
sector. Wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, and agriculture
also play significant roles in the state's economy. Missouri is
a leading producer of transportation equipment (including automobile
manufacturing and auto parts), beer and beverages, and defense and
aerospace technology. Food processing is the state's fastest-growing
industry, well suited to the state's blend of agricultural, natural,
energy, and transportation resources. Missouri mines produce 90%
of the nation's principal (non-recycled) lead supply. Missouri's
largest corporate employers include McDonnell-Douglas/Boeing, Wal-Mart,
Washington University, Schnuck Markets, Barnes Hospital, Chrysler
Corporation, Ford Motor Company, May Department Stores, Trans World
Airlines, and Southwestern Bell. The state's top agricultural products
include grain, sorghum, hay, corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, barley,
tobacco, and rice. A well-established grape and wine program brings
together aspects of agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism to support
a vibrant vintner industry. Tourism draws hundreds of thousands
of visitors to a number of Missouri points of interest: the country-music
shows of Branson; Bass Pro Shops national headquarters (Springfield);
the Gateway Arch at the Jefferson National Expansion (St. Loius);
Mark Twain's boyhood home and cave (Hannibal); the Harry S Truman
home and library (Independence); the scenic beauty of the Ozark
National Scenic Riverways; and the Pony Express and Jesse James
museums (St. Joseph). The state's different lakes regions also attract
fishermen and sun-seekers from throughout the Midwest.
Other Missouri Links:
Missouri Division of Tourism
Missouri Municipal League
Missouri State Chamber |
