How Wide Is Iowa? Total Distance from East to West

Source:AZ Animals Time:October 28, 2023

Key Points

  • Iowa is the 26th-largest U.S. state by area
  • President James K. Polk admitted Iowa into the Union in 1846
  • Iowa is largely farmland, with some low-elevation prairie and savanna

Iowa is a unique state known for its vast, flat geography and abundance of farmland. Its size is average compared to other U.S. states, ranking 26th by total area. This article explores Idaho’s width and includes information about its history as a U.S. state, its geography, and the interesting animals that live there.

Iowa is 310 miles wide from east to west and 199 miles long from north to south. Its widest section runs through the center of the state, just north of Des Moines. This expanse runs from a point on the western border, between Omaha and Sioux City, to a point on the Mississippi River to the east.

Given that Iowa is the 26th-largest state, we can say that it is medium-sized. Iowa is much larger than the most narrow state but also much smaller than the widest state. So, on the one hand, Iowa is 273 miles wider than the small state of Rhode Island, which is just 37 miles wide. On the other hand, however, Iowa is 1,190 miles more narrow than Hawaii, which measures a whopping 1,500 miles wide.

Overall, Iowa is similar in width to Pennsylvania, which is 283 miles wide at its widest point.

How Wide Is Iowa? Total Distance from East to West

Iowa, the Hawkeye State, is the 29th U.S. state.

©railway fx/Shutterstock.com

Becoming Part of the United States

The land now called Iowa is home to several indigenous peoples including the Ioway, Dakota, Ho-Chuck, and Omaha. Through a combination of treaties, purchases, and war, European settlers forced many of the native people from the area. Iowa was first colonized by France, and then by the United States after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. In 1838, the United States Congress officially established the Territory of Iowa. Shortly after, Iowa became the 29th U.S. state on December 28, 1846, when President James K. Polk signed its admission to the Union.

Overall Size of Iowa

Iowa has a total area of 56,273 square miles, making it the 26th largest U.S. state. It is similar in area to the states of New York and Illinois. To compare Iowa to other countries in the world, it is around the same size in total area as Nepal or Bangladesh.

As for its size by population, Iowa is home to 3,200,517 people, making it the 30th most populous state. Two other U.S. states with a similar amount of people are Nevada and Utah.

Now that we have a sense of Iowa’s size, let’s explore the state’s unique geography.

Geography of Iowa

How Wide Is Iowa? Total Distance from East to West

Over 85% of Iowa is farmland, where corn and soybeans are the most abundant crops.

©Felix Mizioznikov/Shutterstock.com

The most striking feature of Iowa’s geography is its massive expanse of farmland. Over 47,000 of Iowa’s 56,273 square miles are farms, an amount of land approximately the size of Pennsylvania or Mississippi. Aside from farmland, Iowa’s geography mainly consists of lowland prairie and savanna. It is relatively flat and low elevation, with the highest point at only 1,670 feet above sea level. In addition to being mainly flat farmland, another notable feature of Iowa’s geography is its many beautiful rivers. Iowa is bordered by the Big Sioux and Missouri Rivers to the east, and the Mississippi River to the west. These rivers provide excellent wildlife habitat, which brings us to our next topic.

Let’s explore some of the amazing wildlife living in Iowa.

Wildlife in Iowa

How Wide Is Iowa? Total Distance from East to West

Trumpeter swans, which are the largest species of waterfowl, nest in Iowa each spring.

©Florence-Joseph McGinn/Shutterstock.com

According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, there are over 1,100 species of wildlife in Iowa. Some of the most common large mammals in Iowa include white-tailed deer, coyote, red fox, gray fox, and bobcats. As for small mammals, raccoons, opossums, river otters, and muskrats are common.

In addition to mammals, Iowa is home to many fish and amphibians in its rivers and wetlands. Some common fish species include catfish, walleye, and crappie. As for amphibians, Iowa is home to the bullfrog, American toad, and several other frogs and toads.

Lastly, Iowa is home to an incredible array of birds, including many waterfowl. The trumpeter swan, snow goose, and wood duck are all found in Iowa. Additionally, many species of songbirds live in Iowa including the cedar waxwing, house sparrow, and hermit thrush, among many others.

Despite its many interesting wildlife species, Iowa’s only official state animal is the American goldfinch.

Final Thoughts

Iowa is average size compared to other U.S. states. It is 310 miles wide at its widest point. While Iowa is known for its farmland, it also has some incredible wildlife habitat along its mighty rivers. The state is home to many interesting wildlife species including many species of waterfowl.

RECENT POSTS

What Do Gopher Snakes Eat? 10 Common Foods

What do gopher snakes eat? It’s a more intricate question than the name implies. The assumption is that an observer of a snake eating a gopher gave the snake i...
October 28, 2023
What Do Gopher Snakes Eat? 10 Common Foods

The 8 Most Haunted Places In Connecticut

Are you a fan of ghost hunting? Or are you just a curious skeptic? Connecticut has more than just a handful of haunted places to try your luck at. While visit...
October 28, 2023
The 8 Most Haunted Places In Connecticut

Discover Where Border Collies Are From (Origin, Purpose, and More!)

If you’ve ever owned a border collie, you know what a boundless furball of energy they can be. Keeping up with a border collie is like trying to catch lightn...
October 28, 2023
Discover Where Border Collies Are From (Origin, Purpose, and More!)

When Does It Snow in Colorado? Typical Timing and Average Amounts

Colorado always looks like it’s out of a Hallmark card. During the spring, the bright sun and green trees sparkle after winter. The summer is warm and animal...
October 28, 2023
When Does It Snow in Colorado? Typical Timing and Average Amounts

14 Amazing Types of Palm Trees You'll Find in Arizona

Arizona, the sunniest state in the United States, typically enjoys over 300 days of sunshine per year. This intensely sunny environment is the ideal haven for...
October 28, 2023
14 Amazing Types of Palm Trees You'll Find in Arizona

15 Plants That Are Perfect Fits for Prairie Gardens

The prairie is an oft-overlooked but critical ecosystem. Prairies once covered about one-third of the United States, serving as the habitat for countless plan...
October 28, 2023
15 Plants That Are Perfect Fits for Prairie Gardens

Discover Just How Tall Mount Bierstadt Really Is

Colorado is home to a lot of tall mountain peaks. The most impressive mountains in the state are called “fourteeners”, mountains with peaks that have an ele...
October 28, 2023
Discover Just How Tall Mount Bierstadt Really Is

What Do Bluebirds Symbolize? Discover the Spiritual Meaning and Signs

There are many reasons why bluebirds are spiritually and symbolically significant. What do bluebirds symbolize? Across many cultures, religions, and places, b...
October 28, 2023
What Do Bluebirds Symbolize? Discover the Spiritual Meaning and Signs

The Top 10 Countries With the Most National Parks (#1 Has 10x as Many as the U.S.)

National parks are always a fun place to visit. Ultimately, they possess so much history and intrigue that makes exploring them incredibly enjoyable. Whether...
October 28, 2023
The Top 10 Countries With the Most National Parks (#1 Has 10x as Many as the U.S.)

See the California Waterfall Teddy Roosevelt Called "the Eighth Wonder of the World"

When you’re out exploring nature, you will run across things that are just stunningly beautiful. You may come across specific mountain ranges that will leave...
October 28, 2023
See the California Waterfall Teddy Roosevelt Called "the Eighth Wonder of the World"

CATEGORY