Humans have inhabited present-day Missouri for at least 12,000 years. The
Mississippian culture, which emerged at least in the ninth century, built cities and
mounds before declining in the 14th century. When European explorers arrived in the 17th century, they encountered the
Osage and
Missouria nations. The French incorporated the territory into
Louisiana, founding
Ste. Genevieve in 1735 and
St. Louis in 1764. After a brief period of
Spanish rule, the United States acquired Missouri as part of the
Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Americans from the
Upland South rushed into the new
Missouri Territory; Missouri played a central role in the westward expansion of the United States. Missouri was admitted as a slave state as part of the
Missouri Compromise of 1820. As a
border state,
Missouri's role in the
American Civil War was complex, and it was subject to rival governments, raids, and guerilla warfare. After the war, both
Greater St. Louis and the
Kansas City metropolitan area became centers of industrialization and business.
During its 18 months of operation beginning in 1860, the Pony Express reduced the time for messages to travel between the
east and
west US coast to about 10 days. It became the west's most direct means of east–west communication before the
first transcontinental telegraph was established (October 24, 1861), and was vital for tying the new state of
California with the rest of the United States. (Full article...)
Springfield's nicknames include "Queen City of the
Ozarks" and "The Birthplace of
Route 66". The city has been called the "Buckle of the
Bible Belt" due to its association with evangelical Christianity. The city is the headquarters for
Bass Pro Shops and the adjoining
Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium. It is also home to
O'Reilly Auto Parts, which began as a family business with 13 employees in 1957. Springfield is close to
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield and is along the national historic
Trail of Tears. In 2020, Springfield's largest ethnicities were 87.6% White, 4% Black, and 5% two or more races, placing it among the least diverse cities in the United States. The city is a regional center of medical care, with the two largest hospitals,
CoxHealth and
Mercy, being the largest employers in the city. Springfield hosts several universities and colleges, including
Missouri State University,
Drury University, and
Evangel University. Springfield is an important regional center for distribution, logistics, and manufacturing. (Full article...)
The following are images from various Missouri-related articles on Wikipedia.
Image 1The states and territories of the United States as a result of Missouri's admission as a state on August 10, 1821. The remainder of the former
Missouri Territory became unorganized territory. (from Missouri)
Image 3Christopher Bond became the youngest person elected Governor of Missouri in 1972 and was part of the rise of the Republican Party in the state. (from History of Missouri)
Image 10The
Lake of the Ozarks is one of several man-made lakes in Missouri, created by the damming of several rivers and tributaries. The lake has a surface area of 54,000 acres and 1,150 miles of shoreline and has become a popular tourist destination. (from Missouri)
Image 19Most Missourians traveled longer distances by water, and large cargo was transported by
bateaux (shown above). (from History of Missouri)
Image 20The
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City services the western portion of Missouri, as well as all of Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, and northern New Mexico. (from Missouri)
Image 36The
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City services the western portion of Missouri, as well as all of Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, and northern New Mexico. (from Missouri)
Image 37The
Lake of the Ozarks is one of several man-made lakes in Missouri, created by the damming of several rivers and tributaries. The lake has a surface area of 54,000 acres and 1,150 miles of shoreline and has become a popular tourist destination. (from Missouri)
Image 49The population center for the United States has been in Missouri since 1980. As of 2020, it is near
Interstate 44 in Missouri as it approaches
Springfield. (from Missouri)
Image 53Forrest Smith, elected Governor of Missouri in 1948, was the first governor chosen under the 1945 state Constitution. (from History of Missouri)
Image 71Köppen climate types of Missouri (from Missouri)
Image 72The states and territories of the United States as a result of Missouri's admission as a state on August 10, 1821. The remainder of the former
Missouri Territory became unorganized territory. (from Missouri)
Image 74The population center for the United States has been in Missouri since 1980. As of 2020, it is near
Interstate 44 in Missouri as it approaches
Springfield. (from Missouri)
This list was generated from
these rules. Questions and feedback
are always welcome! The search is being run daily with the most recent ~14 days of results. Note: Some articles may not be relevant to this project.