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Fun Facts About the Legislature
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How many capitol buildings have been built in Missouri?
Why is Missouri called the "Show-Me State?"
What was one of the longest bills ever introduced in the Missouri Senate?

Keep reading to find the answers to these questions and other interesting facts about our state and the Missouri Senate.
checkmark In 1829, our state drew up a constitution and elected and organized a state government months before Missouri was officially recognized as a state.
 
checkmark Missouri has actually had SIX Capitol buildings: the Mansion House in St. Louis, the Missouri Hotel in St. Louis; St. Charles; and three buildings in Jefferson City. Fire destroyed the first two in 1837 and 1911. The present Capitol building has been occupied since 1917.
 
checkmark Missouri's first African-American senator was Theodore McNeal of St. Louis. He served from 1960-1970. Three African-Americans currently serve in the Missouri Senate.
 
checkmark Our state's first female senator was Mary Gant of Kansas City. She served from 1972-1980. Six women currently serve in the Missouri Senate.
 
checkmark Missouri's longest-serving senator was Michael Kinney of St. Louis — who served for 56 years — from 1912-1968. He retired at the age of 93.
 
checkmark The average age of Missouri senators serving in the 96th General Assembly is 49. The oldest senator is 65 and the youngest is 36.
 
checkmark Missouri is known as the "Show-Me State." It is not for certain how the nickname was created, however the expression may have originated in 1899 when Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver stated, "I'm from Missouri and you've got to show me."
 
checkmark More than half of Missouri's state senators reside in one of the state's three largest metropolitan areas — Kansas City, St. Louis, and Springfield.
 
checkmark The geographic size of Missouri's 34 state senatorial districts ranges from a few square miles in some urban areas to 16 counties in some rural areas. Each state senator represents a district comprised of approximately 174,000 Missourians.
 
checkmark The shortest bill introduced in the Missouri Senate was one line long. One of the longest bills introduced was Senate Bill 52 (897 pages) in 1993.
 
checkmark Senators serve in the General Assembly approximately five months out of the year, and most have additional jobs back home in their districts. Some members work as bankers, businessmen and women, lawyers, farmers, veterinarians and doctors, as well as in construction, real estate and the Army Reserves.