Iowa is a landlocked state  in the upper Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River and to the west;  Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the east and southeast, Missouri to the south, Nebraska to the west, South Dakota to the northwest, and Minnesota to the north. Iowa is the 26th largest in total area and the 31st most populous of the 50 U.S. states, with a population of 3.19 million. The state’s capital, most populous, and largest metropolitan area fully located within the state is Des Moines.

During the 18th and early 19th centuries, Iowa was a part of French Louisiana and Spanish Louisiana; its state flag is patterned after the flag of France. After the Louisiana Purchase, pioneers laid the foundation for an agriculture-based economy in the heart of the Corn Belt. In the latter half of the 20th century, Iowa’s agricultural economy began to transition to a diversified economy of advanced manufacturing, processing, financial services, information technology, biotechnology and green energy production.

Politically, Iowa is notable for the Iowa caucuses, an influential event in national politics, as well as its high levels of voter turnout and foundational leadership in civil rights including early adoption or support of black suffrage.