Missouri Local Business Directory

Missouri is named after the Missouri River, which in turn derives its name from the native Missouri Indians who originally inhabited this area. Known as the Show-Me State, Missouri takes pride in the no-nonsense practicality of its citizens. The nickname is attributed to a speech given by a native of the state, United States Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver. The western region of Missouri is also referred to as Little Dixie due to the large number of Southern settlers who moved into the area during the early part of the 19th century.

Prior to the Civil War, Missouri was a slave state. Its acceptance into the Union in 1821 allowed the entrance of Maine as a counterbalancing free state under the provisions of the Missouri Compromise. Agricultural activities provided much of the economic support for Missouri residents both before and after the Civil War, with large metropolitan centers developing in Kansas City in the west and St. Louis in the east of the state.

Today, many Missouri residents continue to depend on agriculture as their primary income source. However, diversification in and around the major cities has created a more balanced economy for the state. Aerospace engineering, chemical plants and transportation companies provide employment for many residents of Missouri. Tourism is important in the southern areas of the state; the Ozark Mountains attract many visitors each year for folk festivals, the shows and attractions of Branson and numerous outdoor activities in this part of Missouri.