Iowa is located in the midwestern region of the country, an area referred to as the "American Heartland." After the Louisiana Purchase, settlers laid the foundation for an agriculture-based economy in the heart of the Corn Belt, making Iowa known as the "Food Capital of the World." Iowa is one of the safest states in which to live and its population is among the most literate and best-educated. Des Moines is the largest city in Iowa and the state's political, economic, and cultural center. The population is more urban than rural, with 61 percent living in urban areas.