Taum Sauk Mountain |
 In many ways, Missouri sits roughly in the middle of the United States. It was the 24th state (out of 50) to join the Union, it is the 21st largest state in terms of area, and is the 18th largest in population. Missouri is surrounded by eight states (only one other state, Tennessee, has as many as eight states on its borders), and Missouri's neighbours include states as culturally and politically diverse as Arkansas and Illinois. Missouri is a buffer or link between the USA’s north and south: it was a slave state, but its legislature voted decisively to remain within the Union during the civil war. |