The Iowa Straw Poll is a non-binding event held in Ames, Iowa, to test the viability of Republican presidential candidates. Fundraising and publicity are the primary goals, and the winner can use the results to fuel a publicity tour across the Midwest. The event has been held since 1979, and some candidates opt-out of the […]
The Iowa state flag was designed in 1917 by the Daughters of the American Revolution in response to requests from the National Guard. It features a tricolor background with an eagle carrying blue banners featuring the state motto. The flag was officially adopted in 1921 and must be flown every school day in Iowa. Unlike […]
Iowa’s official state song, The Song of Iowa, was adopted in 1911 and was written by Samuel Hawkins Marshall Byers. The Corn Song, an unofficial state song, is more popular and was written by George Hamilton in 1912. Iowa is known for its corn and other agricultural products, and has various state symbols including the […]
The state tree of Iowa is the oak, with the bench oak being the most common species. Oak trees have lobed leaves and produce acorns, which are a staple food source for many animals. Iowa also has other state emblems, including the wild rose as the state flower and the American goldfinch as the state […]
Iowa’s nickname, the Hawkeye State, was approved in 1838 and is thought to have been inspired by Native American warrior Black Hawk and/or the character Hawkeye in The Last of the Mohicans. The name was promoted by David Rorer and James G. Edwards, and the latter even renamed his paper The Hawk-Eye. Iowa is also […]
