The quiz is over, put your pencils down
Posted Wednesday, November 19, 2008 @ 10:25 am

Here are the answers for the Welcome to Deer Season Quiz for both readers that are interested:

1. What was the first state park created in Missouri?

Big Spring State Park

Sam A. Baker State Park

Montauk State Park

Elephant Rocks State Park

Big Spring State Park was established Oct. 17, 1924. It is now part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

2. After years of unregulated hunting, the deer population in Missouri was almost wiped out in the early 1900s. How many deer were estimated to live in Missouri in 1925?

40

400

1,000

4,000

The whitetail deer population had dwindled to approximately 400, leading to new laws against poaching and programs to bring in deer from other states.

3. During its early years, the town of Marble Hill had many names. Which of these was not one of them?

Greene

Dallas

New California

Bollinger City

There was no "Bollinger City", although the name would have been appropriate. Old maps show the town as Greene (or "Greene Post Office"), Dallas, and New California at different times. The Marble Hill name became official in 1868.

4. Which historical figure is the namesake for not one, not two, but three Missouri counties?

Andrew Jackson

William Clark

Daniel Boone

Henry Clay

Andrew Jackson, the popular hero of the War of 1812 and the seventh U.S. President, was the source for the names of Andrew, Jackson, and Hickory counties. Jackson County was named directly for him, Hickory County came from his nickname as Old Hickory, and Andrew County was named for Andrew Jackson David of St. Louis, in turn named after him.

5. What Missouri county sits adjacent to a county in Illinois with the same name? (No doubt this causes all kinds of confusion)

Perry

Pike

Lincoln

Monroe

Pike County, Missouri, is just across the Mississippi River from Pike County, Illinois. The two counties are connected by both highway and railroad bridges at Louisiana, Missouri (another confusing name). Both counties were named for Zebulon Pike.

6. What was the county seat of Pemiscot County during the 19th Century?

Caruthersville

Gayoso

Hayti

Cooter

Gayoso was the first county seat, lasting from 1851 to 1900. After the Mississippi River started to wash away the town, the county seat was moved to Caruthersville, while many residents relocated to nearby Hayti. Gayoso was named for Manuel Gayoso de Lemos, the Governor-General of Louisiana in 1797.

7. What was the original name of Hubble Creek in Cape Girardeau County?

Zenon River

Table River

Ramsey Fork

Lorimier's Creek

Hubble Creek was first known as Zenon River (or in French, Riviere Zenon) after Zenon Trudeau, Lieutenant Governor of the Louisiana Territory. Later it was named for Ithamar Hubbell, a settler who arrived here in 1797.

8. In 1839, the Governor of Missouri dispatched the state militia to confront which neighboring state over a boundary dispute?

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Arkansas

In a skirmish known as the Honey War, Missouri confronted Iowa over a 9.5-mile strip of land.

9. Missouri is bordered by how many states?

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Missouri borders eight states: Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska.

10. Route 66 is arguable the most famous highway in America (and Missouri). But it was originally assigned a different number. What was it?

US 42

US 60

US 62

US 55

The first highway system plan from 1925 called for the Los Angeles-to-Chicago road, passing through Missouri, to be numbered US 60. However, because of political opposition from Kentucky (who wanted their road to have the nice round number of 60), it was decided in 1926 to call it Route 66, and the rest is history.

Here we are, just hours from opening day of firearms deer season, the real holiday season for many Missourians. Alas, this also means that the woods are pretty much off-limits to hiking, unless you like the taste of lead. This, of course, puts a real crimp in this blog.

You may remember my earlier blog where I made fun of Illinois as the "Land of Missing Road Signs." I learned last weekend that Illinois can also be described as the "Land of Missing Trail Markers."

This Halloween, you don't have to go far to hear tales of haunted happenings down at the old graveyard.

Wayne County embraces some of the most rugged terrain in Missouri. Mudlick Mountain, at the heart of Sam A. Baker State Park, has such a tall peak compared with the surrounding terrain that some sources claim the mountain can create its own weather.

Here are a few travel-related items that have crossed my desk recently:

Last year, I wrote about places to visit along Highway 61 as an alternative to the boring interstate when travelling to St. Louis.

The Little Grand Canyon near Murphysboro, Illinois, isn't quite as large as its namesake in Arizona. In fact, it's probably only 0.0001% the size. But it's still an impressive canyon by Midwestern standards.

Last month, researchers announced the discovery of the oldest known rocks on the Earth's surface. Located along Hudson Bay in Canada, these rocks are only 4.28 billion years young.

For sale, cheap. Slightly used lead mine with 8,000 acres of land. Comes complete with original equipment, tailing piles, and EPA regulations. Buy now or be priced out forever!