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Mississippi River
The largest river in North America, the Mississippi River played an integral role in the economic growth and settlement of the American interior.
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Missouri River
longest tributary of the Mississippi River, formed by the confluence of the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin rivers in the Rocky Mountain area of southwestern Montana (Gallatin county), U.
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Ozark Mountains
heavily forested group of highlands in the south-central United States, extending southwestward from St. Louis, Mo., to the Arkansas River. The mountains occupy an area of about 50,000 square miles (130,000 square km), of which 33,000 square miles (85,500 square km) are in Missouri, 13,000 square miles (33,700 square km) in northern Arkansas, and the remainder in southern Illinois and southeastern Kansas.
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White River
river rising in the Boston Mountains, in northwestern Arkansas, U.S., and flowing northeast into southern Missouri, where it bends southeast and reenters Arkansas, continuing in a southerly direction to join the Arkansas River near its confluence with the Mississippi River, above Arkansas City.
Capital of Missouri, U.S., and seat of Cole county, on the Missouri River, near the geographic centre of the state. The site for the state capital was selected in 1821. The land had been donated under an act of the U.S. Congress that specified it be within 40 miles (64 km) of the mouth of the Osage River. Named for President Thomas Jefferson, it was laid out by Daniel M. Boone, son of the Kentucky frontiersman. Loyalties were divided during the American Civil War, but the city remained in the Union. Jefferson City is the trading centre for surrounding farmlands and has diversified manufacturing (automotive seating, specialty paper and printing supplies, electric appliances and transformers, printing, cosmetics). The capitol (1911–18), constructed of Carthage and Phoenix marble, contains celebrated murals by Thomas Hart Benton. The state prison (1833) prevented the city from becoming the site of the state university. Lincoln University, founded there in 1866 by African American Union Army veterans, is now racially integrated. Inc. town, 1825; city, 1839. Pop. (2000) city, 39,636; Jefferson City MSA, 140,052; (2005 est.) city, 39,062; (2004 est.) Jefferson City MSA, 142,448.
Copyright © 1994-2011 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. For more information visit Britannica.com.
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This Day in History
Feb 9
Lead Story
Satchel Paige nominated to Baseball Hall of Fame, 1971
On this day in 1971, pitcher Leroy "Satchel" Paige becomes the first Negro League veteran to be nominated for the Baseball Hall of Fame. In August of that…
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