Iowa History Timeline: Text Version
B.C.E. = Before Common Era
C.E. = Common Era
C.E. = Common Era
- 1870s:
U.S. Event
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Refrigerated Railroad Cars
The first refrigerated railroad cars made it possible for farmers to transport perishable products longer distances. The development opened up new markets for farmers.
Find out more about railroads in Iowa. - 1870:
Iowa Event
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Iowa's Population: 1,194,020
- 1870:
Iowa Event
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Medical School in Iowa
The State University of Iowa opened a medical school that admitted both men and women.
Find out more about medicine in Iowa. - 1870:
Iowa Event
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Decorah's Opera House in Built
The Steyer's Opera House is one of the oldest opera houses still standing in Iowa. It is in Decorah.
Find out more about opera houses in Iowa. - 1870:
U.S. Event
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15th Amendment Passed
The 15th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was passed. It stated that no citizen could be denied the right to vote on basis of "race, color or previous condition of servitude."
Find out more about civil rights. - 1870s:
Iowa Event
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Meatpacking in Iowa
Meatpacking plants were built in Ottumwa, Cedar Rapids and Sioux City. The processed products were shipped all over the country.
Find out more about Iowa industry. - 1870s-1880s:
Iowa Event
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Wheat Crop Wiped Out
Wheat was a popular crop on Iowa farms before the 1870s. Between 1870-80 chinch bugs and grasshoppers wiped out the wheat crops and Iowa farmers stopped planting wheat and started planting corn and oats.
Find out more about grist mills in Iowa. - 1871:
Iowa Event
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Iowan Becomes Famous Baseball Batter
Adrian "Cap" Anson of Marshalltown left his hometown to join a professional baseball team in Illinois. He earned his place in history as a top batter.
Find out more about baseball in Iowa. - 1871:
Iowa Event
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Bloomer Becomes First President of Iowa Woman Suffrage Association
Amelia Jenks Bloomer was a suffrage and temperance leader from Council Bluffs. She was the first president of the Iowa Woman Suffrage Association, 50 years before women gained the right to vote. She is most famous for the short skirt and pantaloon costume which bears her name. But she is most important for her role in promoting the cause of women's voting rights in Iowa and for her newspaper publishing experience in the temperance movement.
Find out more about the temperance movement in Iowa. - 1872:
U.S. Event
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Yellowstone Park Established
- 1872:
Iowa Event
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Creamery in Iowa
John Stewart started a creamery in Manchester, Iowa. Only four years later, his butter took a gold medal in competition at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.
Find out more about creameries in Iowa. - 1873:
Iowa Event
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Ben Buxton Started a Town
The town of Buxton was established by Ben Buxton. The town was a coal mining town where blacks and whites lived in an integrated society. This was rare for the time.
Find out more about Buxton. - 1873:
Iowa Event
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Nationwide Economic Depression Causes Trouble for Iowans
Like previous economic depressions, this one led to bank failures, mortgage foreclosures and a decline in employment. It was especially hard on the farmers who were already economically depressed because of adjustments after the Civil War.
Find out more about the economics of agriculture. - 1873:
U.S. Event
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First Nursing School
- 1874:
Iowa Event
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Herbert Hoover Born
- 1875:
Iowa Event
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Wheat in Iowa
- 1875:
Iowa Event
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Meteor Strikes Amana
- 1875:
Iowa Event
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Mill Owners Get Insurance Coverage
The Mill Owners Mutual Fire Insurance Company was started to provide insurance for grain mills. Other companies refused to insure the mills because they were a high risk for fires.
Find out more about the insurance industry in Iowa. - 1876:
Iowa Event
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Iowa State Normal School Founded in Cedar Falls
A former Civil War orphan's home in Cedar Falls was the first building used by the Iowa Normal School, which, under the name Iowa State Teachers College, because one of the three leading teacher-training colleges in the United States. The school later was named the University of Northern Iowa.
Find out more about higher education in Iowa. - 1876:
U.S. Event
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Telephone Patented
Alexander Graham Bell received a patent for a telephone. Common use of the telephone was exciting for most Americans, but especially so for rural Americans. The telephone helped farm families "connect" with neighbors and friends.
Find out about the communications industry in Iowa. - 1876:
U.S. Event
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First Exposition
- 1876:
U.S. Event
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First Bicycle Displayed
At the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia the first bicycle was displayed. It had one large, high front wheel and a smaller back wheel.
Find out more about bicycles in Iowa. - 1877:
Iowa Event
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Newbold Elected Governor
Lieutenant Governor Joshua Newbold was elected governor of Iowa.
Find out more about Iowa government. - 1879:
U.S. Event
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Electricity Becomes Practical
Electric lighting had been experimented with for about 50 years when Thomas Edison improved on the idea. He produced a reliable, long-lasting light that was practical for home use.
Find out about electricity coming to Iowa. - 1879:
Iowa Event
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Meteor Strikes Estherville
- 1879:
Iowa Event
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State Fair Moves to Des Moines
Planners of the fair decided to make Des Moines the permanent home for the State Fair.
Find out more about the Iowa State Fair.
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