Iowa City

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Iowa City

Iowa, United States

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

Iowa City, city, seat (1839) of Johnson county, east-central Iowa, U.S., on the Iowa River, 27 miles (43 km) south of Cedar Rapids. Founded as territorial capital of Iowa in 1839, it lost the state capital to Des Moines in 1857 but retained the University of Iowa (1847). With the arrival of the railroad (1855), Iowa City became an important dispersal point for westward immigrants. Coralville, just to the west, was the starting point for the Mormon handcart expedition to Utah of 1856.

The city’s economy, based on the university and its medical centre, is supplemented by light manufactures (including automotive products, paper, toothbrushes, and toiletries) and farming (hogs, cattle, and grain). The Old Capitol (1842), built in the Greek Revival style, stands on the university campus, and Plum Grove (1844) is the restored home of Robert Lucas, the territory’s first governor; both are open for tours. The birthplace of Herbert Hoover (a national historic site) is in West Branch, 10 miles (16 km) east. Other nearby attractions include the Amana Colonies (west) and Kalona Historic Village (southwest). Lake Macbride State Park and Coralville Reservoir are both popular recreation areas to the north. Inc. 1853. Pop. (2000) 62,220; Iowa City Metro Area, 131,676; (2010) 67,862; Iowa City Metro Area, 152,586.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kenneth Pletcher.