Missouri
The Show-Me State
Quick Stats
Map
Seal & Motto
"Salus populi suprema lex esto"
Additional Information
Latin for "The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law."
Adopted 1822.
Population Growth
Overview
Missouri, the 'Show-Me State,' sits at the geographic and cultural crossroads of the nation, straddling the divide between the Midwest and the South. Home to two major metropolitan powerhouses and defined by the iconic Gateway Arch, it is a leading center for agriculture, aerospace, and financial services today.
Historical Significance
Missouri officially joined the Union on August 10, 1821, as the 24th state. As the primary departure point for the Oregon, Santa Fe, and California Trails, it served as the literal gateway for Westward Expansion, and later as the birthplace of Mark Twain, it became an enduring symbol of American literary and cultural identity.
Top Cities & Hubs
Kansas City
Population: ~509,000Missouri's largest city and a world-renowned destination for championship BBQ and jazz heritage, featuring one of the nation's most vibrant entertainment districts and a booming tech economy.
St. Louis
Population: ~286,000The iconic "Gateway to the West," home to the majestic 630-foot Gateway Arch, a storied baseball tradition with the Cardinals, and a nationally recognized craft brewing industry.
Springfield
Population: ~170,000The "Birthplace of Route 66," the commercial center of the Ozarks, and home to the national headquarters of Bass Pro Shops and a thriving college economy.
Columbia
Population: ~128,000Home to the University of Missouri, a vibrant and rapidly growing college city recognized as a national leader for startup culture and healthcare research.
Independence
Population: ~122,000The historic staging point for the Oregon, California, and Santa Fe Trails, and the hometown and final resting place of President Harry S. Truman.
Key Landmarks & Economy
Did You Know?
- Missouri is one of only two states that borders eight other states, the maximum possible for any state in the contiguous U.S.
- Mark Twain, the father of American literature, was born in Florida, Missouri, and grew up in Hannibal along the Mississippi River, which inspired Huckleberry Finn.
- The ice cream cone is widely believed to have been invented at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, when a waffle vendor rolled his waffles to help an overwhelmed ice cream vendor.