Missouri, the Show Me State, was admitted to the United States in 1821 as part of the Missouri Compromise. Located on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, the state was an important hub of transportation and trade in early America, and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis is a monument to Missouri’s role as the “Gateway to the West.”
St. Louis, Missouri is home to the Anheuser-Busch, the maker of Budweiser beer, and has the country’s largest beer-producing plant.
Geography
Missouri is a state located in the Midwestern United States. It is bordered by Iowa to the north, Illinois to the east, Tennessee and Arkansas to the south, and Kansas and Oklahoma to the west. The capital of Missouri is Jefferson City, which is located in the center of the state.
The geography of Missouri varies greatly from one region to another. The northern part of Missouri is dominated by rolling hills and valleys, while the southern part has more flat terrain. The Ozark Mountains dominate much of central and southern Missouri, providing scenic views and recreational opportunities. These mountains also serve as a natural barrier between Missouri’s two major rivers: the Mississippi River in the east and the Missouri River in the west.
The climate in Missouri ranges from humid continental in northern parts of the state to humid subtropical in southern areas. Summers are usually hot and humid with temperatures reaching up to 95°F (35°C). Winters can be cold with temperatures often dropping down below freezing (-18°C).
Missouri’s soil is generally fertile due to its location near two major rivers, making it suitable for growing crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, cotton and tobacco. The state also has abundant natural resources including coal, lead, zinc, iron ore and timber.
The population of Missouri is concentrated primarily along its two major rivers: St Louis on the Mississippi River in eastern Missouri; Kansas City on the Missouri River in western Missouri; Springfield near its geographic center; Columbia near its south-central border; Joplin near its southwestern border; Branson near its southwest corner; St Joseph near its northwest corner; Cape Girardeau along its southeastern border; Hannibal along its northeastern border; Rolla along its southwestern border; Poplar Bluff along its southeastern border; Jefferson City at its geographic center; Kirksville at its northernmost point; Columbia at its southernmost point; Sedalia at its westernmost point; West Plains at its easternmost point ;and Independence at an intersection between both rivers near Kansas City.
Overall, Missouri has a diverse geography with a wide variety of climates ranging from humid continental to humid subtropical regions as well as fertile soils suitable for growing crops such as corn or soybeans. Its abundant natural resources make it an important contributor to America’s economy while also providing recreational opportunities for visitors or residents alike who wish to explore this unique landscape.
Cities in Missouri
Below are the top 15 cities by population in Missouri. For all cities and towns in the state, please see Missouri cities list.
| Rank | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City | 502,597 |
| 2 | St. Louis | 302,787 |
| 3 | Springfield | 168,603 |
| 4 | Columbia | 124,342 |
| 5 | Independence | 122,230 |
| 6 | Lee’s Summit | 100,772 |
| 7 | O’Fallon | 90,802 |
| 8 | St. Joseph | 73,138 |
| 9 | St. Charles | 70,218 |
| 10 | Blue Springs | 58,265 |
| 11 | St. Peters | 57,289 |
| 12 | Florissant | 52,382 |
| 13 | Joplin | 51,539 |
| 14 | Chesterfield | 49,675 |
| 15 | Wentzville | 43,213 |
Counties in Missouri
The State of Missouri consists of 115 counties. They are:
- Adair County, Missouri
- Andrew County, Missouri
- Atchison County, Missouri
- Audrain County, Missouri
- Barry County, Missouri
- Barton County, Missouri
- Bates County, Missouri
- Benton County, Missouri
- Bollinger County, Missouri
- Boone County, Missouri
- Buchanan County, Missouri
- Butler County, Missouri
- Caldwell County, Missouri
- Callaway County, Missouri
- Camden County, Missouri
- Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
- Carroll County, Missouri
- Carter County, Missouri
- Cass County, Missouri
- Cedar County, Missouri
- Chariton County, Missouri
- Christian County, Missouri
- Clark County, Missouri
- Clay County, Missouri
- Clinton County, Missouri
- Cole County, Missouri
- Cooper County, Missouri
- Crawford County, Missouri
- Dade County, Missouri
- Dallas County, Missouri
- Daviess County, Missouri
- DeKalb County, Missouri
- Dent County, Missouri
- Douglas County, Missouri
- Dunklin County, Missouri
- Franklin County, Missouri
- Gasconade County, Missouri
- Gentry County, Missouri
- Greene County, Missouri
- Grundy County, Missouri
- Harrison County, Missouri
- Henry County, Missouri
- Hickory County, Missouri
- Holt County, Missouri
- Howard County, Missouri
- Howell County, Missouri
- Iron County, Missouri
- Jackson County, Missouri
- Jasper County, Missouri
- Jefferson County, Missouri
- Johnson County, Missouri
- Knox County, Missouri
- Laclede County, Missouri
- Lafayette County, Missouri
- Lawrence County, Missouri
- Lewis County, Missouri
- Lincoln County, Missouri
- Linn County, Missouri
- Livingston County, Missouri
- Macon County, Missouri
- Madison County, Missouri
- Maries County, Missouri
- Marion County, Missouri
- McDonald County, Missouri
- Mercer County, Missouri
- Miller County, Missouri
- Mississippi County, Missouri
- Moniteau County, Missouri
- Monroe County, Missouri
- Montgomery County, Missouri
- Morgan County, Missouri
- New Madrid County, Missouri
- Newton County, Missouri
- Nodaway County, Missouri
- Oregon County, Missouri
- Osage County, Missouri
- Ozark County, Missouri
- Pemiscot County, Missouri
- Perry County, Missouri
- Pettis County, Missouri
- Phelps County, Missouri
- Pike County, Missouri
- Platte County, Missouri
- Polk County, Missouri
- Pulaski County, Missouri
- Putnam County, Missouri
- Ralls County, Missouri
- Randolph County, Missouri
- Ray County, Missouri
- Reynolds County, Missouri
- Ripley County, Missouri
- Saint Charles County, Missouri
- Saint Clair County, Missouri
- Saint Francois County, Missouri
- Saint Louis County, Missouri
- Saint Louis City, Missouri
- Sainte Genevieve County, Missouri
- Saline County, Missouri
- Schuyler County, Missouri
- Scotland County, Missouri
- Scott County, Missouri
- Shannon County, Missouri
- Shelby County, Missouri
- Stoddard County, Missouri
- Stone County, Missouri
- Sullivan County, Missouri
- Taney County, Missouri
- Texas County, Missouri
- Vernon County, Missouri
- Warren County, Missouri
- Washington County, Missouri
- Wayne County, Missouri
- Webster County, Missouri
- Worth County, Missouri
- Wright County, Missouri
