According to Countryaah, Iowa is home to some of the most beautiful cities in the country. Des Moines is the capital city of Iowa and offers attractions such as The Pappajohn Sculpture Park and The Iowa State Capitol. Cedar Rapids is a vibrant city with plenty of cultural attractions including The Brucemore Mansion and The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. Other popular cities in Iowa include Davenport, Sioux City, Waterloo, Dubuque, Ames, and West Des Moines. Each of these cities has something special to offer from outdoor activities like kayaking or bird watching to historical sites like Herbert Hoover National Historic Site or Effigy Mounds National Monument.
Politics of Iowa in 2013
2013 was an exciting year for politics in Iowa. In the Republican primary, the state saw a contested race between Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, with Santorum ultimately claiming the victory. In the general election, President Barack Obama won by a comfortable margin, taking home 52% of the vote. Despite Obama’s win in the state, Republicans maintained control of both houses of the legislature with a majority in both chambers.
The 2013 legislative session was primarily focused on fiscal issues such as cutting taxes and balancing the budget. Republicans passed legislation that cut taxes for businesses and individuals while also reducing spending on social services and education. Democrats argued that these cuts would hurt working families but were unable to make any significant progress in their efforts to prevent them.
Throughout 2013, there were several major political debates in Iowa, including ones about abortion rights, same-sex marriage, gun control and immigration reform. On abortion rights, Republican legislators sought to pass laws that would make it more difficult for women to obtain abortions while Democrats argued for a woman’s right to choose. On same-sex marriage, Republicans proposed legislation that would ban it while Democrats advocated for marriage equality and civil unions for all couples regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. With regards to gun control, Republicans sought to expand gun rights while Democrats pushed for stricter regulations on firearms ownership and use. Finally, on immigration reform, Republicans advocated for tighter border security measures while Democrats pushed for comprehensive immigration reform that would provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants living in Iowa.
Overall, 2013 was an interesting year politically in Iowa with many debates over important issues facing the state and nation as a whole. Despite some disagreements between parties on certain issues, there were still some areas where compromise was reached such as passing legislation that provided tax relief to businesses and individuals while also balancing the budget without making severe cuts to social services or education programs.
Population of Iowa in 2013
In 2013, the population of Iowa was estimated to be 3,090,416. This population was spread across all 99 counties in the state with the highest concentrations of people living in the metropolitan areas of Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport. Check ehuacom for more information about the capital city of Iowa.
The majority of Iowan’s were white (87.2%) followed by African American (4.3%), Asian (3.2%), Hispanic or Latino (3.1%), Native American (0.7%), and Pacific Islander (0.1%). The majority of the population identified as Christian with 67% identifying as Protestant, 19% Roman Catholic and 4% LDS/Mormon while 15% identified as having no religion or another religion entirely such as Islam or Judaism.
In terms of age demographics, 16% of Iowa residents were under 18 years old while 14% were over 65 years old with the remaining 70% between 18 and 64 years old. The median age in Iowa was 38 years old with a higher concentration of people aged 40-64 living in more rural areas while those aged 18-39 concentrated more heavily in cities like Des Moines and Cedar Rapids which had higher populations due to their larger job markets and economic opportunities.
In terms of gender demographics, there was an almost even split between men and women at 49% male to 51% female respectively with a slightly higher concentration of men living in rural areas than women due to traditional gender roles still being prominent at this time period.
The largest industry sector for employment in 2013 was manufacturing which employed 25%, followed by education & health services which employed 23%, retail trade which employed 12%, professional & business services which employed 11%, leisure & hospitality which employed 8%, finance & insurance which employed 7%, construction which employed 6%, transportation & warehousing which employed 5%, government which employed 4%, wholesale trade which employed 4%, information industries which employed 3%.
Lastly, Iowa had an average income per capita income rate that year that was slightly below the national average at $34,848 compared to $46,242 nationwide but this income rate varied widely depending on geographical location with some parts being much lower than others due to differences in job availability and economic opportunities between urban and rural areas within the state itself. Check anycountyprivateschools for business education in Iowa.
Economy of Iowa in 2013
In 2013, the economy of Iowa was largely centered around agriculture, manufacturing, and services. Agriculture was the main driver of the state’s economy, accounting for about one-third of all jobs in the state. The most important agricultural products were corn, soybeans, hogs, and cattle. Manufacturing also played a significant role in Iowa’s economy in 2013. It employed nearly 25% of all workers and had a wide range of industries including food processing, machinery production, furniture production, printing and publishing. Services were also an important part of Iowa’s economy in 2013. This sector employed 23% of all workers and included healthcare services such as hospitals and nursing homes; educational services such as schools and universities; professional services such as legal advice; financial services such as banking; transportation services such as trucking; leisure activities such as restaurants and hotels; retail trade including supermarkets; information technology services such as software development; government services at both the state and local levels; wholesale trade including wholesalers who buy goods from manufacturers to resell them to retailers or other businesses; construction activities including residential housing construction; and energy production from coal-fired power plants.
The unemployment rate in Iowa was relatively low in 2013 at around 5%. This was slightly lower than the national average which stood at 7%. The inflation rate was also relatively low at 1%, compared to a national average of 2%. Wage growth was also modest with average weekly earnings increasing by 0.5% year-on-year. Overall, economic growth in Iowa during this period was positive with GDP increasing by 1.9%, slightly higher than the national average which stood at 1.7%.
The major cities in Iowa that contributed significantly to its economy were Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport/Moline/Rock Island (quad cities), Waterloo/Cedar Falls (tri cities) and Dubuque which collectively accounted for two-thirds of total economic output in 2013. Des Moines alone accounted for nearly 30% while Cedar Rapids made up 15%. Other smaller towns throughout the state also contributed significantly to its Overall, economic output with many rural towns relying heavily on agriculture for their livelihoods while others relied on small businesses or tourism related activities due to their location near rivers or lakes or other attractions like ski resorts or golf courses.
Overall, Iowa’s economy was strong heading into 2014 with signs pointing towards continued positive growth over the coming years thanks to investments in areas like manufacturing and infrastructure that would help spur job growth across multiple sectors while still retaining its strong agricultural base that had helped drive economic activity throughout much of its history.
Events Held in Iowa in 2013
Iowa held a variety of events throughout 2013 that attracted visitors from all over the country. The Iowa State Fair, held in August, is one of the oldest and most iconic events in the state. It draws hundreds of thousands of people to Des Moines each year for a week-long celebration of Iowa’s agricultural heritage. Activities include livestock shows, carnival rides, music performances, and plenty of fried food. The fair also features a wide variety of competitions such as baking contests, talent shows, woodworking competitions, and more.
Also held in Des Moines is the Iowa State Fair Parade which features colorful floats, marching bands from across the state, and other performers. This parade has been a part of the fair since 1854 and is always an exciting event for both locals and tourists alike.
Another popular event in Iowa is RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa). This seven-day bike ride takes place in July and allows cyclists to ride across the entire state while stopping at various towns along their route for entertainment and activities. During this time there are concerts, games, food vendors and more to enjoy while taking in some breathtaking views of the state’s scenery.
The National Balloon Classic is another big event that takes place annually in Indianola near Des Moines. During this nine-day festival hot air balloons from all over come to participate in races or simply take part in sightseeing tours or special events like balloon launches or night glows when several balloons light up together at once creating an incredible display against the night sky.
Finally, there are also several smaller annual events that take place throughout different parts of the state such as Oktoberfest celebrations like Amana’s Fest which happens every October near Cedar Rapids or Mayfest which occurs every May in Dubuque. These smaller festivals usually feature local music acts along with plenty of food vendors selling traditional German dishes like brats or sauerkraut as well as activities such as carnival games or hayrides for those looking for something fun to do with their family during their visit to Iowa.