Missouri
MO · Data from 2022–2023 government sources
Missouri, the Show-Me State, sits at the geographic and cultural crossroads of America. As the Gateway to the West, Missouri was the jumping-off point for pioneers heading to Oregon, California, and Santa Fe. Today, it is home to two major cities — Kansas City and St. Louis — each with distinct personalities but united by a spirit of Midwestern pragmatism and some of the best barbecue in the world.
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Missouri was part of the Louisiana Purchase and became the 24th state on August 10, 1821, through the Missouri Compromise — a landmark agreement that admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state to maintain the balance in Congress. St. Louis was the starting point for Lewis and Clark's expedition to the Pacific. The Pony Express launched from St. Joseph in 1860. Missouri was a border state during the Civil War, with fierce guerrilla warfare and divided loyalties. Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president, was from Independence.
Economy
Missouri's economy is diversified across agriculture, aerospace, financial services, healthcare, and manufacturing. Anheuser-Busch (now AB InBev) in St. Louis is one of the world's largest brewers. Boeing's defense division is headquartered in St. Louis. Kansas City is a major financial services center, home to several federal agencies including the IRS. Agriculture is significant — Missouri ranks among the top states in cattle, soybeans, and hogs. The state also has a growing tech sector in both KC and STL.
Geography & Landmarks
Missouri covers 69,707 square miles with varied terrain. The Ozark Plateau in the southern half features rolling hills, caves, springs, and forested ridges. Northern Missouri is part of the glaciated Central Lowlands with rich farmland. The state is bisected by the Missouri River and bordered on the east by the Mississippi. With over 6,000 recorded caves, Missouri is called the Cave State. The Current River and Jacks Fork are protected as the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. The Ozark Plateau is underlain by karst topography, producing over 6,400 recorded caves — more than any other state. The confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers near St. Louis is one of the most significant river junctions on the continent, combining two of North America's three longest rivers.
Gateway Arch National Park — NPS photo/Jennifer Clark
Source: NPS API
Culture & Traditions
Missouri sits at a cultural crossroads, blending Southern, Midwestern, and Western traditions. Kansas City's barbecue scene is legendary, with institutions like Arthur Bryant's, Joe's Kansas City, and Gates Bar-B-Q serving slow-smoked burnt ends, ribs, and pulled pork slathered in thick, sweet sauces. St. Louis contributed toasted ravioli, the St. Louis-style thin-crust pizza (Provel cheese on a cracker-thin crust cut in squares), and gooey butter cake to American cuisine. The city's Gateway Arch, designed by Eero Saarinen and completed in 1965, is the tallest man-made monument in the United States at 630 feet. Missouri's music heritage spans Kansas City jazz (Count Basie, Charlie Parker spent formative years here), St. Louis blues (including Chuck Berry, who helped invent rock and roll), and the country and folk traditions of the Ozarks. The Cardinals are the most successful National League franchise in baseball history, with 11 World Series championships.
Notable Cities
Jefferson City
CapitalThe state capital, located on the Missouri River bluffs. Named after Thomas Jefferson and home to the Missouri State Penitentiary, once the largest prison in the U.S. (now a tourist attraction).
42,644
Population
$63,649
Median income
$189,200
Home value
$740
Median rent
38.5
Median age
2.9%
Unemployment
59.2%
Homeownership
6,457
Bachelor's+
Kansas City
Straddling the Missouri-Kansas border, KC is famous for barbecue, jazz, the Chiefs and Royals, and a revitalized downtown anchored by the Power & Light District.
St. Louis
The Gateway to the West, defined by its iconic 630-foot Arch. A beer city (Anheuser-Busch), a baseball city (Cardinals), and a city rich in neighborhoods and culinary tradition.
Branson
A resort city in the Ozarks known for its family-friendly entertainment, live music theaters, and Silver Dollar City theme park. Often called the 'Live Music Capital of the Universe.'
Springfield
The birthplace of Route 66 and home to Bass Pro Shops' massive flagship store, which draws visitors from across the country.
Capital city data: Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022)
Intel File · Fun Facts
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is the tallest man-made monument in the United States at 630 feet.
Missouri has over 6,000 recorded caves, earning it the nickname the Cave State.
Kansas City has more barbecue restaurants per capita than any other U.S. city — over 100 establishments.
The ice cream cone was popularized at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, along with hot dogs and iced tea.
Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, which inspired the settings of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
Data & Statistics
Demographics
- Population
- 6,154,422
- Median income
- $65,920
- Median age
- 38.8
- Median home value
- $199,400
- Below poverty line
- 766,582
- Bachelor's degree+
- 804,597
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2022)
Agriculture
- Total farms
- 87,887
- Cropland
- 14,764,750 acres
- Market value
- $14,697M
Source: USDA NASS, Census of Agriculture (2022)
Public Health
- Obesity rate
- 35.3%
- Diabetes rate
- 12.3%
- Smoking rate
- 15.3%
- High blood pressure
- 36.2%
- Uninsured
- 6.6%
Source: CDC BRFSS Prevalence Data (2023, 2022 fallback)
National Parks & Sites
- National parks
- 1
- Total NPS sites
- 14
- Sites
- Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail, California National Historic Trail, Gateway Arch National Park, George Washington Carver National Monument, Harry S Truman National Historic Site, Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, Oregon National Historic Trail, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Pony Express National Historic Trail, Santa Fe National Historic Trail, Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park, Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail, Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site, Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
Source: National Park Service API
Climate
- Avg temperature
- 55.1°F
- Avg high
- 66.2°F
- Avg low
- 44.0°F
- Annual precipitation
- 43.8 in
- Annual snowfall
- 12.2 in
Source: NOAA Climate Normals (2010)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the capital of Missouri?▾
Jefferson City is the capital of Missouri. Despite Kansas City and St. Louis being much larger and more well-known, Jefferson City was chosen for its central location on the Missouri River.
Why is Missouri called the Show-Me State?▾
The origin of 'Show-Me State' is attributed to Congressman Willard Vandiver, who in 1899 said: 'I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have got to show me.' The phrase captures a spirit of skepticism and pragmatism.
What is the Gateway Arch?▾
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is a 630-foot stainless steel catenary arch designed by Eero Saarinen, completed in 1965. It symbolizes St. Louis's historic role as the Gateway to the West. Visitors can ride a tram to the top for panoramic views of the city and the Mississippi River.
What is the difference between Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas?▾
Kansas City straddles the Missouri-Kansas state line. Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO) is the larger and more prominent of the two, with most of the metro's cultural attractions, sports teams, and downtown. Kansas City, Kansas (KCK) is a separate city in Wyandotte County.
Data sources
U.S. Census Bureau · USDA NASS · CDC BRFSS · National Park Service · NOAA CDO
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. This product uses the NASS API but is not endorsed or certified by NASS.
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