For those considering Southern Iowa.... (Des Moines, Burlington: to buy, high school, store)

[Northern Traveler]

Seems like every so often a random person will come in asking for info on a place like... Ottumwa, or Burlington, etc. SO - as a warning, I thought I would share something a geography teacher in my NE Iowa high school taught us.

"If you gave the bottom three rows of Iowa counties to Missouri .. both states would get smarter."

Okay I'm starting trouble, but don't say I didn't warn you.

[thatguy1]

Originally Posted by Northern Traveler

Seems like every so often a random person will come in asking for info on a place like... Ottumwa, or Burlington, etc. SO - as a warning, I thought I would share something a geography teacher in my NE Iowa high school taught us.

"If you gave the bottom three rows of Iowa counties to Missouri .. both states would get smarter."

Okay I'm starting trouble, but don't say I didn't warn you.

Ha, I can guarantee there is absolutely no validity to that whatsoever.

[GraniteStater]

Since the OP brought up the topic.
For those interested here is the Iowa Census Data by county:
Iowa QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau

[capitalcityguy]

I think the actual punchline is "...you'd raise the average IQ in both states".

[Northern Traveler]

Originally Posted by capitalcityguy

I think the actual punchline is "...you'd raise the average IQ in both states".

sure

[zz4guy]

Originally Posted by Northern Traveler

Seems like every so often a random person will come in asking for info on a place like... Ottumwa, or Burlington, etc. SO - as a warning, I thought I would share something a geography teacher in my NE Iowa high school taught us.

"If you gave the bottom three rows of Iowa counties to Missouri .. both states would get smarter."

Okay I'm starting trouble, but don't say I didn't warn you.

I would move that line north to the Minnesota border.

[Northern Traveler]

Originally Posted by zz4guy

I would move that line north to the Minnesota border.

haha well that does include Marion.

[duster1979]

I grew up in Illinois and spent some time in Colorado and Des Moines before landing so far south in Iowa that, to paraphrase Tina Fey, "I can see Missouri from my house." I can't see where Missouri would be gaining much in the way of IQ if they absorbed this area. It would definitely be an intellectual boost for Iowa, though, to cut it loose.

[Northern Traveler]

Originally Posted by duster1979

I grew up in Illinois and spent some time in Colorado and Des Moines before landing so far south in Iowa that, to paraphrase Tina Fey, "I can see Missouri from my house." I can't see where Missouri would be gaining much in the way of IQ if they absorbed this area. It would definitely be an intellectual boost for Iowa, though, to cut it loose.

Hahah ... well put

[mofford]

Ah, what a delight it would be for smokers in Des Moines to have the southern 3 counties defecting to Missouri. Guess I could give up those motorcycle rides to Lineville and get them at the store on SW 9th and County Line Road.

But then I wouldn't pass by Lucas to buy cookies and pies from the Amish girls set up on the corner in their buggy. But if they could invest in a good team of horses to make that daily run up to the corner of 9th and County Line.......

The IQ level of the bar/store owners of "New Missouri" might not change, but their bank accounts would. Tell us more about Missouri getting closer to Des Moines, such a nice little dream, I might wake up in my sleep tonight with a big smile on my face.....