FACTBOX: Missouri and its presidential primary

(Reuters) - Missouri is among 24 states taking part in "Super Tuesday," the February 5 contests in which voters will chose nominees from the Democratic and Republican parties for the November presidential election.

Following are a few facts about the Show Me State:

* Situated in the middle of the country, Missouri's blend of Southern and Midwestern cultural influences and its balance of rural and urban populations has made it a bellwether state in presidential politics. It has backed the winner in each presidential election in the past 100 years except 1956.

* With 5.9 million residents, Missouri is one of the larger states holding a Super Tuesday contest. Democrats will allocate 88 delegates on a proportional basis, while Republicans will award all 58 of their delegates to the winner of their primary.

* Polls close at 8:00 p.m. EST. Both primaries are open to independent voters.

* The country-music resort town of Branson in the Ozark Mountains has become one of the top tourist destinations in the United States, drawing 8 million visitors in 2006.

* The two largest rivers in the United States, the Mississippi and the Missouri, meet north of St. Louis.

(Reporting by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Bill Trott)

SOURCES: Almanac of American Politics, U.S. Census Bureau, Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Secretaries of State, U.S. Geological Survey

(For more about the U.S. political campaign, visit Reuters "Tales from the Trail: 2008" online at http:/blogs.reuters.com/trail08/)