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MISSOURI center. It is governed by the commission form of government. Pop. (1910) 12,869; (1920) 12,668.  MISSOURI, a river of the United States; formed in the Rocky Mountains, in Montana, winds circuitously along the base of the mountains, then E. till it reaches the W. boundary of North Dakota and receives the Yellowstone. Here it begins to flow S. E. through North and South Dakota, then forms the E. boundary of Nebraska, separating it from Iowa and Missouri; separates for a short distance Kansas from Missouri, then strikes E. across the latter State, and joins the Mississippi after a course of 2,908 miles. It is navigable 2,500 miles from the Mississippi.  MISSOURI, a State in the South Central Division of the United States, bounded by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska; admitted to the Union, Aug. 10, 1821; counties, 115; area, 68,735 square miles; pop. (1900) 3,108,665; (1910) 3,293,335; (1920) 3,404,055; capital, Jefferson City.

Topography.— Though the surface of the State presents no considerable elevations, it is greatly diversified. In the S. W. part are the Ozark Mountains, a series of isolated knobs, peaks, and cliffs of sandstone, some reaching an altitude of 1,500 feet. The Mississippi river, forming the E. boundary line, is bordered by highlands in the shape of limestone bluffs, in some cases reaching a height of 350 feet. W. of these highlands the State is high and broken, becoming more and more level till the Osage river is reached. The principal rivers are the Mississippi, having a course of 470 miles along the E. boundary, the Missouri, which forms 200 miles of the W. boundary, and turning E. crosses the State, and flows 250 miles to the Mississippi. The Osage, St. Francis, Black, White, Gasconade, Current, Grand, and Charlton are all navigable for small boats at high water. Among unnavigable streams of importance are the Platte, Sac, Piney, Castor, Salt, South Grand, Nodaway, Fabrus, Meramec, Cuivre, and Niaugua rivers.

Geology.— The geological formations of Missouri are principally of Carboniferous origin, especially in the N. and W. Devonian rocks occur in the N. E. and S. W., extending in a S. direction toward St. Louis. The S. of the State is principally of Silurian formation, and the rocks include shale, limestone, conglomerate, and sandstone. Granite, greenstone, porphyry, and other Eozoic and Archean rocks occur in the S. and S. W.

Mineral Products.— The chief mineral products of the State are zinc and lead, in the production of which it ranks first among the States. The total value of the lead and zinc concentrates produced in 1918 was $37,763,394; the production of lead concentrates was 287,983 short tons, valued at $21,988,567. The quantity of zinc blende concentrate sold from the Missouri mines was 95,555 tons, valued at $4,899,347. The chief production is from the central and southeastern part of the State. Copper is also produced in the State. The production in 1918 was 577,665 pounds, valued at $142,683. The silver production was 46,939 fine ounces, valued at $46,939. The State produces a considerable amount of coal. The production in 1918 was 5,605,000 tons. There were employed in the coal mines of the State about 8,000 persons. Gold is found in small quantities. Other important mineral products are sulphuret of nickel, manganese, wolfram, gypsum, asbestos, bitumen, fire clay, kaolin, hydraulic lime, saltpeter, and mica.

Soil.— The soil is generally fertile, excepting on the hills, where it is mixed with such a proportion of iron oxides as to make it unproductive. The alluvial deposits of the Mississippi and Missouri are exceedingly fertile, and the swamps, when drained, yield enormous crops. The prairies produce tobacco and wheat of the best quality. Only about one-third of the State is cultivated, the remainder being to a large extent densely timbered. The principal forest trees are the elm, ash, oak, sugar maple, hackberry, dogwood, sassafras, sweet gum, black gum, calapa, tupelo, pawpaw, and pecan. Yellow pine grows abundantly around the head waters of the Black, White, and Current rivers, and extensive pine forests extend also along the Arkansas border.

Agriculture.— Missouri ranks among the first of the States in its importance in agricultural products. The production and value of the principal crops in 1919 was as follows: Corn, 155,412,000 bushels, valued at $214,459,000; oats, 38,259,000 bushels, valued at $27,164,000; wheat, 57,868,000 bushels, valued at $120,982,000; hay, 3,794,000 tons, valued at $73,983,000; potatoes, 8,250,000 bushels, valued at $15,180,000; cotton, 60,000 bales, valued at $10,200,000. Other important crops are pear, clover, flax, hemp, garden fruits, and barley. Agricultural and creamery products, such as butter, cheese, barley, sorghum, beeswax, wine, and maple syrup, and molasses, are all developed to a high standard. Much of the territory N. of the Missouri river is covered with blue