Missouri is a state in the
Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it
is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa
to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas
to the south and Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska to the west. In the south
are the Ozarks, a forested highland, providing timber, minerals, and
recreation. The Missouri River, after which the state is named, flows
through the center into the Mississippi River, which makes up the eastern
border. With more than six million residents, it is the 19th-most populous
state of the country. The largest urban areas are St. Louis, Kansas
City, Springfield and Columbia. The capital is Jefferson City. |