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Muscatine, Iowa

Muscatine is a city in and the county seat of Muscatine County, Iowa, United States.
Population 23,797

Top Events in Muscatine History

1
1819History
In 1819 Muscatine Island was known as Mascoutin Island.
2
1833Government
== History == Muscatine began as a trading post founded by representatives of Colonel George Davenport in 1833.
3
1838History
In the 1838 United States General Land Office map, the town is labelled Musquitine, which may be a variation of Musquakeen, an alternative name for Muscatine Island; Musquakeen ...
4
1839Government
Muscatine was incorporated as Bloomington in 1839; the name was changed to reduce mail delivery confusion, as there were several Bloomingtons in the Midwest.
5
1840Government
Established in 1840, the Muscatine Journal was once owned by Mark Twain's brother, Orion Clemens, and Twain wrote for the paper during his time in Muscatine.
6
1848Government
In 1848 he was among the founders of the local African Methodist Episcopal Church, which had been established as the first independent black denomination in the US.
7
1849Disaster
Major William Williams, who was visiting in 1849 when the town was still called both Bloomington and Muscatine, claimed, "Muscatine in English is Fire Island," in his list of th...
8
1855Culture
Mark Twain lived in the city briefly during the summer of 1855 while working at the local newspaper, the Muscatine Journal, which was partly owned by his brother, Orion Clemens.
9
1863History
In 1863, Clark helped organize Iowa's black regiment, the 60th United States Colored Infantry (originally known as the 1st Iowa Infantry, African Descent), though an injury prev...
10
1868Civil Rights
In 1868, he gained desegregation of Iowa's public schools by suing the Muscatine school board after his daughter Susan was turned away from her neighborhood school.

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Historical Timeline

1819History
In 1819 Muscatine Island was known as Mascoutin Island.
1833Government
== History == Muscatine began as a trading post founded by representatives of Colonel George Davenport in 1833.
1838History
In the 1838 United States General Land Office map, the town is labelled Musquitine, which may be a variation of Musquakeen, an alternative name for Muscatine Island; Musquakeen ...
1839Government
Muscatine was incorporated as Bloomington in 1839; the name was changed to reduce mail delivery confusion, as there were several Bloomingtons in the Midwest.
1840Government
Established in 1840, the Muscatine Journal was once owned by Mark Twain's brother, Orion Clemens, and Twain wrote for the paper during his time in Muscatine.
1848Government
In 1848 he was among the founders of the local African Methodist Episcopal Church, which had been established as the first independent black denomination in the US.
1849Disaster
Major William Williams, who was visiting in 1849 when the town was still called both Bloomington and Muscatine, claimed, "Muscatine in English is Fire Island," in his list of th...
1855Culture
Mark Twain lived in the city briefly during the summer of 1855 while working at the local newspaper, the Muscatine Journal, which was partly owned by his brother, Orion Clemens.
1863History
In 1863, Clark helped organize Iowa's black regiment, the 60th United States Colored Infantry (originally known as the 1st Iowa Infantry, African Descent), though an injury prev...
1868Civil Rights
In 1868, he gained desegregation of Iowa's public schools by suing the Muscatine school board after his daughter Susan was turned away from her neighborhood school.
1879History
Eleven years later, in 1879 his son Alexander Jr.
1890History
In 1890, Clark was appointed ambassador to Liberia by President Benjamin Harrison.
1900History
Mahin represented his country in Liberec (Reichenberg), Austria-Hungary in 1900.
1910Sports
The Muscatine Muskies was the last moniker of the minor league teams that played in Muscatine from 1910 to 1916.
1912Sports
Baseball Hall of Fame member Sam Rice played for the Muscatine Wallopers in 1912.
1915History
In 1915, Weber & Sons Button Co., Inc.
1925History
In 1925–1931, Baker operated the powerful radio station KTNT, published a newspaper, and operated the Baker Institute, a clinic.
1971Architecture
The city's main shopping district is Muscatine Mall, opened in 1971.
1975Culture
In 1975 the city moved his former house about 200 feet (61 m), to make room for a low-income apartment complex for senior citizens; the latter was named in his honor.
1985Culture
He had previously visited in 1985 as part of a Chinese delegation to learn about American agriculture.
1996Culture
has two radio stations in Muscatine; KWPC-AM has been a long part of the city's history, and KMCS-FM has been in the community since 1996.
2000History
=== 2000 census === As of the 2000 United States census, there were 22,697 people, 8,923 households, and 6,040 families residing in the city.
2004History
Weber is still manufacturing today and celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2004.
2007Disaster
Muscatine was hit by an EF3 tornado on June 1, 2007, which destroyed or damaged areas of the city.
2010History
=== 2010 census === As of the 2010 United States census, there were 22,886 people, 9,008 households, and 5,923 families residing in the city.
2012History
On February 15, 2012, Xi Jinping, Vice President of the People's Republic of China, visited Muscatine.
2014Culture
In July 2014, the company agreed to new, more stringent, air emissions permits with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and federal regulators.
2015History
The Voice of Muscatine, a publication of Jam Media Solutions, has been an operation newspaper since October 28, 2015.
2017History
In 2017, the 33,000-square-foot (3,100 m2) Sino-U.S.
2018Economy
The company claimed that, by 2018, these projects would reduce overall pollution by 87%.
2019History
From 2019 to 2023 the median households income (in 2023 dollars) was $59,332, the per capita income in past 12 months (in 2023 dollars) was $31,057 and 16.5% persons were in pov...
2020History
=== Climate === == Demographics == === 2020 census === As of the census of 2020, there were 23,797 people, 9,623 households, and 5,960 families residing in the city.
2024Economy
As of 2024, Bayers Muscatine plant supplied 70% of North America's Roundup.
2025Government
Cultural Center was established for $1 million (equivalent to $1.31 million in 2025), by Glad Cheng (born 1971), owner of Muscatine Travel and chairman of the China Windows Grou...

Did You Know?

1
Muscatine is located in the state of Iowa.
2
Muscatine has a population of 23,797 residents.
3
The population was 23,797 at the time of the 2020 census, an increase from 22,697 in 2000.

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Famous People from Muscatine, Iowa

NB
Norman G. Baker
Radio Broadcaster, Quack · Born Nov 27, 1882 · Died Sep 10, 1958 (age 75)
AB
Alfred Balk
Non-Fiction Writer · Born Jul 24, 1930 · Died Nov 25, 2010 (age 80)
DB
Donald E. Bently
Entrepreneur, Engineer, Philanthropist · Born Oct 18, 1924 · Died Oct 1, 2012 (age 87)
DC
David C. Cloud
Politician · Born Jan 29, 1817 · Died Jul 10, 1903 (age 86)
AC
Alexander Clark
Businessman, Activist · Born Feb 25, 1826 · Died May 31, 1891 (age 65)
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