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Nicknamed the Show Me State, Missouri became the 24th state in 1821. Located in the Midwest region of the United States, Missouri has a population of over 6 million residents. The state covers 69,715 square miles of land and ranks 21st in size among the 50 states. Missouri's capital and largest city is Jefferson City.

History of Missouri

Humans have inhabited Missouri for at least 12,000 years. The three major Native American tribes were the Osage, Missouri, and Quapaw peoples. The first European explorers arrived in the late 17th century looking for fur trading opportunities and precious metals. Missouri was part of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase and became a state in 1821 as part of the Missouri Compromise. In the 1830s, Mormons fleeing persecution settled in northwestern Missouri. Between the 1830s to 1860s, Missouri dealt with bloody skirmishes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces, including Quantrill's Raid on Lawrence, Kansas. Missouri played a strategic role during the American Civil War with key battles at Wilson's Creek and Westport. After the war, railroads connected Missouri with other parts of the country fueling economic growth. Today, manufacturing, agriculture, biotech, healthcare, transportation, and tourism drive Missouri's diverse economy. Learn more about Missouri's history at the Missouri History Wikipedia page.

Missouri Geography and Climate

Missouri features a variety of landscapes across its north, central, and south regions. Northern Missouri tends to be flat or rolling hills dotted with lakes, forests, and farms. The Ozark Mountains cut through south central Missouri showcasing beautiful rock formations, winding rivers, caves, springs, and lakes. Fertile plains make up the northwest corner of the state. The Bootheel in the southeast has rich floodplain soil ideal for farming. Two major rivers, the Mississippi and the Missouri, converge near St. Louis. The St. Francois Mountains contain ancient volcanic rock and the highest point in the state at Taum Sauk Mountain. Missouri has a temperate climate with cold winters and hot, humid summers. However, weather can vary widely across the state on any given day thanks to its inland location. Tornadoes can strike during spring and early summer. The state averages about 42 inches of precipitation annually.

Major Cities and Regions

Missouri contains dozens of cities and towns. Here are some of the key areas and attractions:

Kansas City

Anchoring western Missouri along the Kansas border, Kansas City is the state's largest city. Home to jazz and barbecue, Kansas City offers:

The Country Club Plaza - Upscale shopping district
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art - Impressive art collections
KC Zoo - 200 acres with over 1,000 animals
Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums - Homes of the Chiefs and Royals sports teams
World War I Museum - America's leading museum dedicated to WWI

St. Louis

Founded by French explorers, St. Louis is a major city along the Mississippi River combining old and new attractions:

Gateway Arch - Iconic stainless steel monument
Forest Park - One of the largest urban parks in the U.S.
St. Louis Zoo - Home to over 18,000 animals
Missouri Botanical Garden - A National Historic Landmark
Anheuser-Busch Brewery - Makers of Budweiser beer
St. Louis Cardinals - Beloved professional baseball team

Springfield

Situated in southwest Missouri, Springfield offers:

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World - Enormous flagship store & indoor lake
Fantastic Caverns - Unique ride through underground cave
Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium - Massive wildlife exhibits & aquarium
Dickerson Park Zoo
Ozark Mountain landscapes

Branson

Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, the popular tourist town of Branson is known for its:

Live music theaters & country music shows
Silver Dollar City theme park
Table Rock, Taneycomo & Bull Shoals Lakes
Golf courses
Titanic Museum
Shepherd of the Hills historic farm

Columbia

Columbia serves as a cultural center and college town:

University of Missouri flagship campus
Jesse Hall - University administrative center
Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
Shelter Gardens and Insurance Park
Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival
Museums and art galleries

Lake of the Ozarks

Offering over 1,100 miles of shoreline, fun awaits at Lake of the Ozarks with:

Fishing, boating, swimming
Golf courses
Water parks
Caves
Shooting range
Casinos
Wineries

Hannibal

Mark Twain's boyhood home of Hannibal highlights literary history:

Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum
Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse
Mark Twain Riverboat tours
Rockcliffe Mansion
Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn caves

Transportation and Infrastructure

Missouri contains one of the nation's largest highway systems with dozens of interstate, U.S., and state highways. Four interstate highways cross the state including 70, 44, 55, and 29. St. Louis Lambert International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the state. Kansas City International Airport also serves millions of passengers annually. Smaller regional airports operate across the state. Amtrak passenger train service connects Missouri with Chicago and Los Angeles via the Missouri River Runner and other lines. Public bus systems operate in Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield and other communities. Learn more at the Missouri Department of Transportation website.

Economy

Agriculture has historically driven Missouri's economy with farms producing soybeans, dairy, corn, hay, eggs, cattle, and hogs. Missouri also became an industrial powerhouse manufacturing aerospace technology, automobiles, beer, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electrical equipment, and processed foods. Today, the diverse economy includes advanced manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, biotechnology, and information technology. Top employers include Walmart, Cerner Corporation, Wash U School of Medicine, State of Missouri, Washington University in St. Louis, and the U.S. Postal Service. The state minimum wage is $12.85 per hour and will increase to $13.86 per hour in 2026. Learn more economic data at the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.

Education

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education oversees public education in the state. Missouri has over 550 public school districts running elementary, middle, and high schools. The eight largest school districts are located in Kansas City, St. Louis city, Springfield, St. Charles, St. Joseph, Jefferson City, St. Louis County, and Joplin. Some of Missouri's notable universities include:

University of Missouri System - Flagship state university system with campuses in Columbia, Kansas City, St. Louis and Rolla
Washington University in St. Louis - Top private research institution
University of Central Missouri - One of the largest universities in the state located in Warrensburg
Missouri State University - Public university in Springfield
Missouri Western State University - Public, 4-year university in St. Joseph
Northwest Missouri State University - Public, 4-year university in Maryville
Missouri Southern State University - Public, 4-year university in Joplin

The state also has two-year community colleges, private liberal arts colleges, a law school, medical schools, nursing schools, an agricultural college, and several seminaries.

Sports Teams

Missouri is home to professional sports teams across baseball, football, hockey, and soccer:

St. Louis Cardinals - Major League Baseball team
Kansas City Royals - Major League Baseball team
St. Louis CITY SC - Major League Soccer team
St. Louis Blues - National Hockey League team
Kansas City Chiefs - National Football League team

The state also has minor league baseball teams, indoor football teams, and various college athletic programs including Mizzou, Missouri State, SLU, UMKC, and Missouri Southern State University.

Arts and Culture

Missouri provides a thriving arts and cultural scene. Major institutions include:

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City - Collection of over 35,000 works of art
St. Louis Art Museum - One of the leading comprehensive art museums in the U.S.
World Chess Hall of Fame in St. Louis - Dedicated to the history, culture, and science of chess
Missouri History Museum in St. Louis - Artifacts and exhibits exploring Missouri's heritage
Springfield Art Museum - Largest art museum in the Ozarks region
The Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis - Ornate performing arts venue
Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City - Modern home to symphony, opera, and ballet
Missouri Symphony Orchestra
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Kansas City Symphony
Jazz music in Kansas City and St. Louis

Missouri has inspired famous authors and artists including Mark Twain, Maya Angelou, Walt Disney, Chuck Berry, Sheryl Crow, Brad Pitt, and George Washington Carver among others.

National Parks and Outdoor Activities

Missouri offers fantastic outdoor recreation across its diverse landscapes. National parks include:

Gateway Arch National Park - The iconic, 630-foot tall stainless steel Gateway Arch along the Mississippi River in St. Louis.
- Address: 11 N 4th St, St. Louis, MO 63102
- Phone: (314) 655-1700
- GPS: 38.622717, -90.184852
Ozark National Scenic Riverways - Protected riverways with rock formations, caves, springs and gravel bars located south of Rolla.
- Address: 404 Watercress Drive, Van Buren, MO 63965
- Phone: (573) 323-4236
- GPS: 37.348212, -91.330403

Other activities around the state include:

Hiking and backpacking in the Ozark Mountains and parks
Camping at state parks and national forests
Fishing for bass, catfish, trout and more
Bird watching along the Mississippi Flyway
Golfing - Missouri has over 300 golf courses
Caving at places like Meramec Caverns and Fantastic Caverns
Biking and walking along the Katy Trail
Hunting for deer, turkey, squirrels and other game

Food and Drink

Missouri cuisine includes:

Kansas City-style barbecue - Slow smoked meats doused in molasses, ketchup or vinegar-based sauces
Toasted ravioli - Iconic St. Louis appetizer
Gooey butter cake - Sweet St. Louis tradition
Frozen custard
Missouri wine country around Augusta
Budweiser and other beers from St. Louis and Kansas City breweries

Tourism

Missouri welcomed over 44 million visitors in 2021. Popular attractions include:

Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis
Silver Dollar City theme park in Branson
Lake of the Ozarks
Country music theaters in Branson
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis
Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
Harry S. Truman National Historic site
Mark Twain National Forest
Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum
Worlds of Fun amusement park
Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City
Battle of Westport reenactment in Kansas City

Find vacation packages, deals and more at the Missouri Division of Tourism website and Facebook page.

Missouri Facts and Trivia

Missouri nickname: The Show Me State
Missouri motto: Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto (Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law)
Missouri entered the union as the 24th state in 1821
Missouri has 114 counties and the city of St. Louis is independent of any county
The Missouri River runs through the state and is the longest river in North America
Highest point: Taum Sauk Mountain (1,772 feet)
The Ozark Mountains cover most of southern Missouri
Harry S. Truman was the only U.S. president born in Missouri
Missouri borders more states (8) than any other state
Kansas City has more miles of boulevards than Paris and more fountains than any city outside of Rome
Missouri produces nearly 90% of the beer produced in the U.S.
The ice cream cone was invented during the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis

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Major Landmarks and Attractions

Here are some of Missouri's most famous landmarks and attractions with addresses, phone numbers, and GPS coordinates:

Gateway Arch - Iconic 630-foot stainless steel monument in St. Louis
- Address: 11 N 4th St, St. Louis, MO 63102
- Phone: (314) 655-1700
- GPS: 38.622717, -90.184852
Silver Dollar City - Popular Branson theme park
- Address: 399 Silver Dollar City Pkwy, Branson, MO 65616
- Phone: (800) 831-4386
- GPS: 36.649031, -93.338114
Country Club Plaza - Upscale shopping district in Kansas City
- Address: Nichols Rd & Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, MO 64112
- Phone: (816) 753-0200
- GPS: 39.053414, -94.594449
Mark Twain National Forest - 1.5 million acre national forest
- Address: 401 Fairgrounds Rd Rolla, MO 65401
- Phone: (573) 364-4621
- GPS: 37.955271, -91.775097
Lake of the Ozarks - Popular lake and vacation destination
- Address: PO Box 816, Gravois Mills, MO 65037
- GPS: 38.132043, -92.632520
Missouri State Capitol - State capitol building in Jefferson City
- Address: 201 W Capitol Ave, Jefferson City, MO 65101
- Phone: (573) 751-3222
- GPS: 38.576767, -92.173516

Famous Missourians

Missouri is home to many famous figures such as:

Mark Twain - Renowned author from Hannibal
Harry S. Truman - U.S. President from Independence
Laura Ingalls Wilder - Author of the "Little House" books
George Washington Carver - Scientist and inventor
Chuck Berry - Pioneering rock & roll musician
Brad Pitt - Award-winning Hollywood actor
Dick Van Dyke - Beloved TV star and comedian
Maya Angelou - Celebrated poet and author
Yogi Berra - Hall of Fame baseball player
Sheryl Crow - Grammy-winning singer and songwriter
Walter Cronkite - Legendary TV news anchor
Phyllis Schlafly - Activist and author
Rush Limbaugh - Controversial conservative radio host

Conclusion

From the Gateway Arch in St. Louis to the Ozark Mountains, Missouri provides a diverse landscape filled with history, culture, natural beauty, and friendly people. Hometown stars, famous barbecue and beer, impressive museums, fantastic sports teams, and top universities make Missouri a unique Midwestern state with many places to explore. The Show Me State invites everyone to come visit and experience its treasures and hospitality.

Top 10 Most Populous Cities in Missouri

Kansas City

With a population of 508,090 as of 2021, Kansas City is the largest city in Missouri. Kansas City is known for its contributions to jazz music, barbecue, and fountains. The city contains over 200 fountains, earning it the nickname “City of Fountains”. Some of Kansas City's most famous attractions include the Country Club Plaza, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Kansas City Zoo, and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Kansas City Government Website: https://www.kcmo.gov/ Kansas City Tourism Website: https://www.visitkc.com/ Kansas City Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/KCMOgov/

St. Louis

St. Louis is Missouri's second most populous city, with a population of 300,576 as of 2021. St. Louis is known for its role in westward expansion as the gateway to the west, its Anheuser-Busch breweries, and its Gateway Arch. Other popular attractions include the St. Louis Zoo, Forest Park, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and the iconic Cathedral Basilica. St. Louis is also home to a thriving arts scene and many significant music venues. St. Louis Government Website: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/ St. Louis Tourism Website: https://www.explorestlouis.com/ St. Louis Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CityofStLouis/

Springfield

Springfield, nicknamed "The Queen City of the Ozarks", is Missouri's third largest city with a population of 168,122 as of 2021. Springfield is known for its central role in the Civil War, Route 66 history, and country music roots. Top attractions include the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, and Fantastic Caverns. Springfield Government Website: https://www.springfieldmo.gov/ Springfield Tourism Website: https://www.itsallherespfd.com/ Springfield Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CityofSGF/

Independence

Independence is a suburb of Kansas City and the fourth largest city in Missouri, with a population of 122,786 as of 2021. Independence is significant for being the hometown of former US President Harry S. Truman. The city is also home to Truman's house, which is part of the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site operated by the National Park Service. Independence Government Website: https://www.independencemo.org/ Independence Tourism Website: https://www.visitindependence.com/ Independence Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CityofIndependenceMO/

Columbia

Columbia is home to the University of Missouri and has a population of 123,180 as of 2021, making it the fifth largest city in Missouri. Besides the university, Columbia is known for its downtown district full of local restaurants, shops, and bars. Popular attractions include the Mizzou Sports Complex, Stephens Lake Park, and the historic Missouri Theatre. Columbia Government Website: https://www.como.gov/ Columbia Tourism Website: https://www.visitcolumbiamo.com/ Columbia Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CityofColumbiaMO/

Lee's Summit

Lee's Summit is a suburb of Kansas City and has a population of 101,108 as of 2021, making it Missouri's sixth largest city. Lee's Summit is a fast-growing community with highly ranked schools, parks, trails, and shopping centers. Top attractions include Town Center Park, Legacy Park, and the John Knox Village Museum. Lee's Summit Government Website: https://www.cityofls.net/ Lee's Summit Tourism Website: https://www.visitls.net/ Lee's Summit Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/leessummitMO/

O'Fallon

O'Fallon is a St. Louis suburb located along Interstate 64/US Route 40 with a population of 91,497 as of 2021, making it Missouri's seventh largest city. O'Fallon offers shopping and dining at the Premium Outlets Mall, Main Street downtown, and Sonderen Farm. Other top O'Fallon attractions include Fort Zumwalt Park and the Katy Trail. O'Fallon Government Website: https://www.ofallon.mo.us/ O'Fallon Tourism Website: https://www.discoverofallon.com/ O'Fallon Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CityofOFallonMO

St. Joseph

St. Joseph, with a population of 76,760 as of 2021, is the eighth largest city in Missouri. St. Joseph played an important role in westward expansion as the starting point of the Pony Express and home to fur traders and explorers. Today, popular attractions include the Patee House Museum, Remington Nature Center, Krug Park, and the Missouri Theater. St. Joseph Government Website: https://www.stjoemo.info/ St. Joseph Tourism Website: https://www.stjomo.com/ St. Joseph Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CityofStJoseph/

St. Charles

St. Charles, located along the Missouri River west of St. Louis, has a population of 71,028 as of 2021. It is the ninth largest city in Missouri. St. Charles has preserved much of its historic Main Street and French colonial architecture. Popular attractions include the Lewis & Clark Boat House, Katy Trail, St. Charles Convention Center, and Ameristar Casino. St. Charles Government Website: https://www.stcharlescitymo.gov/ St. Charles Tourism Website: https://www.discoverstcharles.com/ St. Charles Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/cityofstcharles/

Florissant

Florissant, a northern suburb of St. Louis, had a population of 51,700 as of 2021, making it Missouri's tenth largest city. Florissant is home to several historic attractions including the Florissant Old Town, the John J. Pershing House, and the James J. Eagan Center for Performing Arts. Popular attractions include the Florissant Civic Center, Koch Park, and McClure Park. Florissant Government Website: https://www.florissantmo.com/ Florissant Tourism Website: https://www.florissantoldtown.com/ Florissant Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FlorissantMO/
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