The establishment of Iowa City was a result of a Legislative Assembly in 1839, out of Governor Robert Lucas’ desire to relocate the capital closer to the heart of the territory. On May 1, Commissioners John Ronalds and Chauncey Swan gathered to decide on the capitol city’s location. The following day, the two of them decided to build the capitol on a cliff above the Iowa River. The land had been surveyed in June 1839 from Brown Street to Governor Street. At present, a big part of the area is made up of the downtown district, alongside businesses.
In 1839, Iowa City was chosen as the territorial capitol. But it was not until 1841 that it became official, following the establishment of the capitol building. The construction of the capitol building took a year to finish and was completed in 1842. It was the meeting place of the Iowa General Assemblies and the last four territorial legislatures until the state capitol was moved to Des Moines in 1857. During this period, European migrants flee to the Midwest because of the prosperous land that awaits them. Due to a large number of immigrants, the construction of railroads began in the 1850s. The large portion of Iowa residents voted Abraham Lincoln. During the Civil War, they deployed 75,000 troops to the battle.
On February 13, 1843, Oakland Cemetery was granted to the city of Iowa City. Throughout the years, the cemetery has developed and increased in size. It is funded by city taxes, with its workers committed to its preservation and maintenance. Oakland Cemetery is the resting place of popular personalities in the city of Iowa, such as Samuel J. Kirkwood, Robert E. Lucas, and Irving B. Weber.
The city was afflicted by challenges in the agricultural sector, which impacted the entire nation. The challenges motivated Henry A. Wallace to come up with a new system for farm subsidies. Norman Borlaug, a Nobel Prize recipient, got his recognition for his dedication to the research of plants in the 1940s. The following decades were a breakthrough for its manufacturing industry.
Coralville began to progress following the establishment of the former largest dam in the state of Iowa. The mills around the area took advantage of the dam’s power. Coralville’s population increased in 1873 after its incorporation. During that time, the town’s primary source of income was wagon shops, blacksmith shops, and dry goods stores.
In 1847, the University of Iowa was built. It is now recognized as one of the country’s leading universities with over a hundred areas of expertise. The University’s Writers’ Workshop is recognized globally as the training ground for notable names such as Flannery O’Connor, Wallace Stegner, John Casey, and John Irving.
Iowa City is known for its historic state fairs. The iconic event came to be in the 1850s and still continues to persist to this day. Right now, the Iowa State Fair attracts thousands of visitors from all over the globe annually. You can witness carnival rides, food fairs, and agricultural contests if you visit this festive fair.