Missouri is the 24th state to be admitted in the union on August 10, 1821. It is located in the Midwest region of the United States. It is bordered by Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois and Iowa. It is ranked 18th in population. It is composed of 114 counties and 1 independent city. The state capital is Jefferson City.

The agriculture products of Missouri include beef, pork, poultry, eggs, soybeans, hay, corn, sorghum as well as other dairy products. It is ranked 6th in the production hogs, and 7th in the country’s production of cattle. It is also among the top 5 producers of soybeans.

Missouri is a mix of both urban and rural culture which mirrors the nation’s economic and political make-up. It is considered as the country’s political bellwether state. Since 1904, Missouri has predicted the results of every presidential election in the US, except in 1956 and 2008. It is also considered as the transition state between the western and eastern region of the United States. Missouri also have highly varied geography. Known as “The Cave State”, it has more than 6000 caves. Perry County has the most number and the longest cave in the state of Missouri.

The motto of Missouri is, “Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law.” More popular is that Missouri is known as the “Show Me” state. Other insignia and symbols of the state include the Bluebird (1927), Missouri Mule (1995), Channel Catfish (1997), Honey bee (1985), Hawthorn (1923), Flowering Dogwood (1995) and Missouri Waltz (1949). Missouri is also called by different unofficial nicknames such as “The Lead State”, “The Iron Mountain State”, “The Ozark State”, The Bullion State”, “Mother of the West”, and “Pennsylvania of the West”.