Careers, Jobs and Education Resources for: Decatur County, Iowa
Decatur County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 8,689 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Leon. This county is named for Stephen Decatur, Jr., a hero in the War of 1812. (from wikipedia)Iowa Fast Facts:
Location, Location, Location...: Iowa is located in the midwestern region of the United States in the area often referred to as the “American Hearland.”
Cities: Des Moines is Iowa’s capital and largest city, followed by Cedar Rapids and Davenport, respectively.
Behind the Name: Iowa is officially nicknamed the “Hawkeye State.”
A Closer Look: On December 28, 1846, Iowa became the 29th state in the Union.
Did You Know? In the spirit of Iowa’s countless farms it produced the first tractor in 1892; today the state claims the largest tractor manufacturing plant in the nation.
Iowa Careers and Employment:
Population: 3,002,555 (2.6% increase since 2000) – 50.7% Female, 49.3% Male (2008 U.S. Census Bureau).
Business Environment: Ranked 22nd in Forbes Magazine’s “Best States for Business,” 2008.
Top Industries: In terms of paid employees, according to a 2008 U.S. Census Bureau study: (1) manufacturing; (2) health care and social assistance; (3) retail trade; (4) accommodation and food services; and (5) finance and insurance.
Taxes: Income Tax, 0.36% to 8.98% and Sales Tax, 5% (Federation of Tax Administrators).
Cost of Living: 93.4 in relation to the “National Average” of 100 (Federal Cost of Living Index).
Quality of Life: Ranked 20th of 50 states by CNBC, 2009.
Weather: Average Temperature (In °F) – Jan: 17.84; Apr: 48.53; July: 73.78; Oct: 50.95 (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
K-12 Ranked 20th of 50 states in “Academic Achievement” by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2009.
Iowa Economics:
In General: In the mid and late 20th century, Iowa’s historic agricultural economy transitioned to a diversified economy of advanced manufacturing, processing, financial services, biotechnology and green energy production.
Service Industry: Iowa’s leading service industry is wholesale (automobiles, farm machinery, farm products) and retail (automobile dealerships, grocery stores, restaurants) trade.
Agriculture: While Iowa’s economy provides opportunities for those who work in a variety of fields, the state is best known for its farming industry. Iowa is the third largest producer of food for the U.S, and is often called the “Food Capital of the World.” Iowa leads the states in the production of corn and ranks among the leaders in production of soybeans.
Manufacturing: Not surprisingly, the largest manufacturing industry in Iowa is the food processing industry. Meatpacking plants producing canned hams and breakfast sausages are important, along with other plants that produce corn oil, cornstarch, corn sugar and glucose.
A Closer Look: Des Moines serves as a national center of the insurance industry and the state also boasts a considerable finance and real estate industry.
Did You Know? One of the largest cereal mills in the United States and the country’s largest popcorn-processing plant are both located in Iowa. [Ed. Note: What’s next is perhaps a new kind of snap, crackle and pop.]
Iowa Education:
In General: With more than 60 public and private colleges and universities, in addition to many different technical and vocational schools, Iowa is a wonderful place to seek higher education. Major colleges and universities in Iowa are concentrated in and around the large cities of Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque and Sioux City, while small towns including Fort Dodge and Waterloo are home to some smaller, independent colleges.
In the Rankings: U.S. News and World Report rankings: National Rankings – University of Iowa (#66), Iowa State University (#89); Liberal Arts Rankings – Grinnell College (#14), Cornell College (#88), Luther College (#88).
Online Education: There are a variety of accredited online universities offering degrees in the state of Iowa.
A Closer Look: Iowa is considered one of the safest states in which to live and its population is among the most literate and best educated. As is typical of the Midwest, Iowa is home to many colleges and universities that were founded by various churches.
Did You Know?: Both the University of Iowa and Iowa State University are major research institutions and members of the prestigious Association of American Universities.
Sources: In addition to specific citations noted in this “Career Information” section, supplementary source materials include: the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service; Netstate.com; Education-Portal.com; USCollegeSearch.org; and Wikipedia.com.