Iowa, the heartland of American agriculture, is also a growing center of industry. Iowa is a leader in corn and soybean production, but Iowa industry generates about three and a half times the revenue of agriculture. The 3,600 manufacturing firms in the state produce more than 3,000 different products, ranging from motor homes to microwave ovens. Major appliances, farm implements, and plastics are exported all over the world. Iowa is the only state bordered by two navigable rivers, with the Mississippi River forming its eastern boundary and the Missouri River most of its western boundary. The Sioux called Iowa the "beautiful land."

Iowa's countryside offers tourists a wide range of recreational activities, from boating and fishing on lakes, rivers, and reservoirs to hiking and picnicking at the many state parks and forests. Iowa also offers medium-sized cities with cultural activities, including performing arts, historic sites, and art museums. This is the land of Native American warrior Black Hawk and the birthplace of Buffalo Bill Cody, John Wayne, Herbert Hoover, Meredith Willson, and Dr. James Van Allen.

Four glacial epochs and centuries of untouched wilderness fertilized the soil of Iowa before Marquette and Jolliet came in 1673. A favorite Native American hunting ground, Iowa was part of the Louisiana Purchase. Lewis and Clark passed through in 1804 on their arduous trip to find out what the United States had bought. Treaties with the Native Americans in 1832, 1837, and 1842 opened the area to European settlers. Pioneer settlements were made in Lee County in 1820, at Burlington in 1832, and at Dubuque in 1833. The Territory of Iowa was created from the Territory of Wisconsin in 1838.

In its 300-mile east-west sweep and 210-mile north-south stretch, Iowa has nearly 56,000 acres of natural and man-made lakes, 19,000 miles of interior fishing streams, and 72 state parks and recreation areas.