Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States
bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma,
Kansas and Nebraska. Missouri is the 18th most populous state.
It comprises 114 counties and one independent city. Missouri's
capital is Jefferson City. The four largest urban areas are, in
descending order, St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, and Columbia.
Missouri was originally acquired from France as part of the Louisiana
Purchase and became defined as the Missouri Territory. Part of
the Missouri Territory was admitted into the union as the 24th
state in 1821
