100 Dumb US Laws (With Proof They Exist)
Missouri (MO) lies in the American Midwest, its eastern border formed by the Mississippi River. Agriculture and the food industry are important to Missouri’s economy, and it is home to one of the world’s largest breweries, Anheuser-Busch. Top tourist attractions include Gateway Arch National Park with its massive arch right in St. Louis, and the Ozark Mountains. The capital of Missouri is Jefferson City, the largest city is Kansas City.
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name Missouri Abbreviation MO Capital Jefferson City Largest city Kansas City (Population: 510 704) Current time 13:20 Time zone CST (UTC-6), state observes daylight saving time CDT (UTC-5) Population 6,154,889 (#19 most populous US state) Area 180,560 km² (#21 largest US state) Admitted to the Union August 10, 1821 (#24 state to join) ⭐ Capital of Missouri
Jefferson City has been the capital of Missouri since its founding in 1821. The settlement’s original name was Lohman’s Landing, and one of the proposed names was the tongue-twisting Missouriopolis, but Jefferson City was ultimately chosen in honor of Thomas Jefferson, the third U.S. President.
🏙️ Largest City in Missouri
The largest city in Missouri is Kansas City, which had a population of 510,704 in 2023. Second is St. Louis with 281,754 residents, and third is Springfield with 170,188.
🕒 Time in Missouri
The current time in Missouri is 13:20. The entire state uses Central Standard Time (CST, UTC−6), with daylight saving time observed from March to November.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of Missouri
According to 2023 data, Missouri had 6,154,889 residents, making it the 19th most populous state in the United States.
📍 Area of Missouri
Missouri’s total area is 180,560 km², of which 179,015 km² is land and 1,545 km² is water. Missouri is the 21st largest state in the U.S.
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Fun Facts about the State of Missouri
🧩 Which States Border Missouri
Missouri shares borders with eight U.S. states, the same number as Tennessee, and no other state has more neighbors. To the west is Kansas, to the northwest Nebraska, to the north Iowa, to the east Illinois, to the southeast Kentucky and Tennessee, to the south Arkansas, and to the southwest Oklahoma.
📅 Date of Missouri Statehood
Missouri was admitted to the Union on August 10, 1821 as the 24th state, carved out of part of the Missouri Territory.
📛 Missouri State Nickname
Missouri has no official nickname, however “Show Me State” is commonly used on license plates. Its origin is unclear. One theory ties it to the traditional skepticism of Missourians, who believed things only when they saw them with their own eyes.
The other nickname, “The Cave State,” points to the local landscape, since more than 7,500 caves have been discovered across Missouri.
⛰️ Highest Mountain in the State of Missouri
The highest mountain in Missouri is Taum Sauk Mountain at 540.11 m, part of the Saint Francois Mountains.
🏞️ Rivers in Missouri
The longest river in the state is the Missouri River, with a total length of 3,770 km. It is followed by the Mississippi River (3,730 km), the White River (1,162 km), the Des Moines River (845 km), and the St. Francis River (686 km).
🎓 Universities in Missouri
The largest university in the state is the University of Missouri, founded in 1839, with more than 68,000 students across its four campuses. The second largest is Missouri State University in Springfield with about 23,000 students, followed by the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg with roughly 13,000 students enrolled.
✉️ ZIP Codes in Missouri
Missouri is assigned ZIP code ranges 630xx–631xx, 633xx–641xx, and 644xx–658xx. You can look up a specific ZIP for any address on the USPS website. For more details, see the article on ZIP codes in the USA.
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Weather in Missouri
The best time to visit Missouri is early fall, when humidity drops and temperatures are more pleasant than in the hot summer. The weather is also more stable, with a lower chance of tornadoes or uncomfortable heat.
Spring in Missouri begins in March, when temperatures usually range between 0 °C and 15 °C. In the following months, temperatures rise to May averages of 17 °C to 22 °C, and the chance of rainy days increases as well. Thunderstorms with heavy downpours are relatively common, and dangerous tornadoes can occur in the western part of Missouri.
Summer in Missouri is humid and hot, with temperatures often exceeding 30 °C. The heat is amplified by high humidity, and thunderstorms and heavy rains can develop in the evening, causing flash floods.
Fall in Missouri brings cooler average temperatures of 15 °C to 20 °C, and the likelihood of rain drops too. September and October are the best months for hiking, and dangerous tornadoes are rare.
Winters in Missouri are colder in the north of the state, where temperatures can fall below freezing and snowfall can reach 10 cm to 15 cm. In southern Missouri, winter temperatures usually hover around 0 °C.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in Missouri
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What to See in Missouri
1️⃣ Gateway Arch National Park
Gateway Arch National Park is different from most others. It sits in the city of St. Louis, and its main attraction is a 192 m tall stainless-steel arch with sweeping panoramic views of the city and surrounding area. The arch was built from 1963 to 1965 to highlight the city’s role in the 19th-century settlement of the American West. An elevator takes visitors to the top.
2️⃣ Silver Dollar City Amusement Park
The amusement park Silver Dollar City sits near Branson in the southwest of the state, and the whole place is styled like a late 19th-century village. Traditional craft workshops operate in the park, showing what life looked like back then, and visitors can watch glassblowing or pottery making.
The park’s star attractions include roller coasters and the popular log flume ride. There are rides for small children and a separate water park too, which makes it a great stop for families.
3️⃣ Anheuser-Busch Brewery
Anheuser-Busch Brewery is one of the largest and oldest breweries in the United States, and its first batch was brewed back in 1852. Visitors can join a tour that shows the brewing process and includes tastings of different beers.
As a curiosity, the brewery’s operator fought worldwide legal battles beginning in 1907 with the Czech Budějovický Budvar over the Budweiser trademark. The American brewery lost most of the cases.
4️⃣ City Museum
City Museum in St. Louis blends an amusement park, an art gallery, and a giant playground. The museum’s architecture is unconventional, and it is an ideal stop for families with kids. Children can explore mazes, tunnels, and slides made from recycled materials. Braver kids can climb an outdoor structure with beautiful views of St. Louis.
5️⃣ Forest Park
Forest Park in St. Louis is one of the largest urban parks in the United States, and it is even larger than the famous Central Park in New York. Opened in 1876, the park is now home to an art museum, a history museum, and a zoo. Visitors will find extensive walking and biking trails and several lakes where you can rent a boat.
6️⃣ Saint Louis Zoo
The Saint Louis Zoo ranks among the best in the United States and opened in 1910. Admission to the zoo is free, with only certain attractions ticketed. More than 18,000 animals live here, organized into several themed areas. The most popular exhibits include polar bears, penguins, and sea lions. The zoo is a great pick for families.
7️⃣ Onondaga Cave State Park
Onondaga Cave State Park is home to one of Missouri’s most beautiful caves, known for its limestone formations. Visitors can take a guided tour through chambers filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and an underground pool. The park also features several hiking trails and campgrounds.
8️⃣ Missouri Botanical Garden
The botanical garden in St. Louis is one of the oldest in the United States, opened in 1859. Also known as Shaw’s Garden, it is divided into themed sections such as the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden, and the Butterfly House. Its herbarium is the second largest in North America, with more than 6.6 million plant specimens.
9️⃣ Fantastic Caverns
Fantastic Caverns are caves near Springfield in southwest Missouri, discovered in 1862. The cave is known for its vast underground chambers richly filled with stalagmites.
Entry is possible only on a guided tour that is quite unusual. It is the only cave tour in America conducted in a tram pulled by a small Jeep.
🔟 Lake of the Ozarks
Lake of the Ozarks is one of Missouri’s favorite recreational areas, offering wide-ranging opportunities for water sports and fishing. With a shoreline of 1,150 km, it ranks among the largest man-made lakes in the United States. Numerous campgrounds and cabins ring the lake, making it easy to stay for a few days.
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Largest Cities in Missouri
The table lists the ten largest cities in Missouri in 2023. The data source is the federal agency United States Census Bureau, whose primary task is the census.
City County Population 1 Kansas City Jackson, Clay, Platte, Cass 510,704 Map of Kansas City 2 St. Louis – 281,754 Map of St. Louis 3 Springfield Greene, Christian 170,188 Map of Springfield 4 Columbia Boone 129,330 Map of Columbia 5 Independence Jackson 120,922 Map of Independence 6 Lee’s Summit Jackson, Cass 104,184 Map of Lee’s Summit 7 O’Fallon Saint Charles 94,074 Map of O’Fallon 8 St. Charles Saint Charles 71,800 Map of St. Charles 9 St. Joseph Buchanan, Andrew 70,634 Map of St. Joseph 10 Blue Springs Jackson 60,539 Map of Blue Springs -
Sports Teams in Missouri
🏒 Hockey (NHL)
Only one NHL team plays in Missouri, the St. Louis Blues, founded in 1967. The club competes in the Central Division of the Western Conference and plays home games at Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Team colors are royal blue, gold, navy, and white.
🏈 American Football (NFL)
Missouri has one NFL representative, the Kansas City Chiefs of the AFC West. The club joined the league in the 1970 season after ten years in the AFL. Its colors are red, gold, and white, and it plays home games at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
There is no NBA team from Missouri.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
Missouri has two teams in Major League Baseball.
The St. Louis Cardinals have played in the National League since 1892 and now compete in its Central Division. Home games are at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, and the club’s colors are red, navy, yellow, and white.
The second team is the Kansas City Royals of the American League Central Division. The club’s first season was in 1969, and its colors are royal blue, white, powder blue, and gold. The Kansas City Royals play home games at Kauffman Stadium in Missouri.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
The soccer team St. Louis City SC has competed in the Western Conference of MLS since the 2023 season. Team colors are red, blue, gray, and yellow, and all home matches are played at CityPark in St. Louis.
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Missouri State Symbols
Missouri law has designated dozens of different symbols, and this article lists some of them.
State Flag of Missouri
The first flag design appeared in 1861 as a golden Missouri coat of arms on a blue field. The current flag has been in use since March 22, 1913, featuring three horizontal stripes in red, white, and blue with the state seal in the center.
State Seal of Missouri
The Great Seal is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the government of Missouri. The first seal design was adopted on January 22, 1822, and it has seen only slight modifications since 1907. The main motif is two grizzly bears holding a shield, symbolizing strength and courage. The number of white stars recalls that Missouri became the 24th state.
State Bird
In the late 1930s, the eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) was added to the list of state symbols. This blue, brown, and white songbird is common in Missouri, and its lovely call is considered a sign that spring has arrived.
State Animal
In 1995, the mule was declared the official state animal, recognized as a strong and reliable work animal that played an important role in the state’s history. In the late 19th century, Missouri ranked among the largest producers of mules, exporting up to 500,000 to neighboring states and countries at its peak.
State Flower
Since 1923, the state flower has been the hawthorn (Crataegus punctata), which grows statewide and whose blossoms represent Missouri’s natural beauty.
State Fish
Since 1997, the official fish symbol has been the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), which occurs in waters throughout Missouri. Interestingly, this species is among the most-caught catfish in North America.
State Rock
In 1967, the state legislature added the orange-yellow rock mozarkite to the list of symbols. It occurs exclusively within Missouri. The name combines MO (the state abbreviation), ZARK (from the Ozarks region), and ITE (meaning rock).
State Song
In 1949, “Missouri Waltz” became Missouri’s official state song, reflecting the state’s cultural heritage. President Truman, who was from Missouri, helped popularize the song and often played it on the piano.
State Amphibian
The American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeiana) became the state amphibian in 2005 and is common in Missouri. The largest frog in North America reaches lengths of 17 cm to 20 cm.
State Dessert
One of the quirkiest symbols is the simple ice cream cone as Missouri’s official state dessert. The cone’s popularity spread after the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. Ice cream vendors ran out of paper cups, and a neighboring stand offered to bake waffle batter into cones.
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