So far, the states that I have covered have contained some claim to fame. Some majestic landforms or major historic landmarks are associated with images of the state. Sure, they have had their boring parts, but at least there is something that the average person would consider a destination. However, for my next state, corn and cows are the only things that come mind.
Iowa, the 29th state to join the union, is at the heart of our nation. Producing almost a fifth of the corn that we eat, Iowa is one of the most important states in United States agriculture. This goes hand in hand with the food processing business, which is the largest sector in Iowa’s economy. Companies like General Mills, Heinz, Wells Blue Bunny, Quaker Oats, and Tyson Foods have massive processing facilities across the state. Cows and hogs also play a major role in the Iowa economy, as they produce a whopping 30% of all hogs in the US.
In other words, you will see farms everywhere.
Besides the endless seas of corn, the drive across Iowa on interstate 80 will lead you through the state’s largest cities. Iowa City is home to a fellow Big Ten school, the University of Iowa. The largest and fastest growing city in the state, though, is its capital, Des Moines. Though we may not think of Des Moines as a major US city, it is in fact growing so rapidly that many owners of farms in the surrounding areas are becoming worried that the ever expanding suburbia will consume their land.
Once you reach western Iowa, much of the land turns into gorgeous rolling hills. They might not be mountains, but it is certainly better than nothing after a few hundred miles of driving on flat land. Overall, Iowa isn’t a terribly exciting state to drive through, but it is kind of cool to see first-hand the agricultural powerhouse of our nation.
(click on a picture to enlarge)
For my passion blog this semester, I’d like to write about some of the states that make up the country in which we live. However, since I won’t be writing 50 passion blogs, I’ll be focusing on some of the most interesting that I have had the experience of visiting. I’ll highlight some of the obvious and some more subtle points of interest for each state I talk about.
Bighorn Mountains
For my first blog, I’m going to talk about the least populated state in the union. This would be Wyoming, a state with an incredibly diverse landscape but not much to show for in terms of populated areas. The capital and most populated city in Wyoming is Cheyenne, coming in at about 62,000 people in 2013. Sitting in the southeast part of the state, the capital is on the High Plains third of the state. Most of the eastern side consists of vast prairie grasslands that are home to many ranches, mines, and milling towns. The Bighorn Mountains rise dramatically off the plains in the east, and they are home to many state parks and national forests.
The middle of Wyoming is, in my experience, one of the most desolate places I have ever been. There are no mountains, yet the prairie is far behind. There is quite literally nothingness. Not many people live in this region; one town I drove through, Emblem, had a population of 10. Aside from some historic abandoned mining towns, there’s not much to see in this part of Wyoming.
Yellowstone
Western Wyoming, however, is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Home to Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and the Wind River mountain range, the scenery in this part of the state is some of the best in the country. This sudden beauty is due to the Rocky Mountains, which slice down through the western part of the state.
Driving through Wyoming is an awesome experience, as I was able to observe these drastic landscape changes first hand. From the agricultural and resource rich eastern third, to the empty central section, and ending with a spectacular western side, Wyoming is a beautiful example of the dynamic land out west.
Grand Tetons
Wind River Range
So far, the states that I have covered have contained some claim to fame. Some majestic landforms or major historic landmarks are associated with images of the state. Sure, they have had their boring parts, but at least there is something that the average person would consider a destination. However, for my next state, corn and cows are the only things that come mind.
Besides the endless seas of corn, the drive across Iowa on interstate 80 will lead you through the state’s largest cities. Iowa City is home to a fellow Big Ten school, the University of Iowa. The largest and fastest growing city in the state, though, is its capital, Des Moines. Though we may not think of Des Moines as a major US city, it is in fact growing so rapidly that many owners of farms in the surrounding areas are becoming worried that the ever expanding suburbia will consume their land.
