The only state in the Midwestern United States to have a growing/expanding economy, Iowa is a major producer of refrigerators, washing machines, ethanol and bio-diesel. Due to its decreasing population, Iowa now offers free land and tax incentives to bring people into their state.
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The first explorers of the area were most probably French-Canadian Louis Joliet and Frenchman Jacques Marquette in 1673. In the 1700s, Spain took advantage of the lead mining potential of the Dubuque area.
Although the area was part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the first permanent settlement was not until the 1830s. Several groups formed experimental communities in these early years, however now only the Amana’s remain. Religious and ethnic groups migrated here too, including the Amish which still inhabit the area south of Iowa City and near Independence; Mormons are in the south, near Lamoni; Quakers were east of Iowa City.
The Civil War divide Iowa as it did to many states. Abolitionist John Brown was a frequent visitor the Quaker Springdale-West Branch area. No bullets flew over Iowa landscape, but more troops per capita came from Iowa than any other state.
Since a 1959 visit by Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev to view farming techniques, Iowa has been a leading supplier to the international food market. Over 25 percent of the annual production is sold to foreign buyers.
Besides being home to vast farms of corn and soybeans, Iowa is also home to 4,000 farm related manufacturing businesses. They primarily reside in Burlington, Des Moines, Dubuque, Ottumwa and Waterloo and bring in annual revenues of more than $10 billion. Non-manufacturing firms are equally abundant. Publishing is a major factor in Clinton, and over 60 insurance companies make Des Moines the third largest insurance center in the world. The Amana experimental community of years gone by spawned the joint stock corporation that now manufactures freezers, stoves, refrigerators and microwaves. The rich farmland produces 20 percent of the nation’s corn harvest. Gypsum is the most important of the minerals mined in the state.
The statewide sales tax is 5 percent with local options for an additional 1 percent. Local Occupancy Taxes of up to 7 percent may be levied by cities and counties.
With the Missouri, Des Moines and Iowa rivers running through the state, and the Mississippi having many dams, water sports are extremely popular. Fishing, water skiing, boating can be found on any waterway. Hunting and biking trails weave their way through the countryside. Winter brings out skiing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.
