Muscatine, Iowa

History

The European-American city of Muscatine began as a trading post founded by representatives of Colonel George Davenport in 1833. Muscatine was incorporated as Bloomington in 1839; the name was changed to reduce mail delivery confusion, as there were several Bloomingtons in the Midwest. Before that, Muscatine had also been known as "Newburg".

The name Muscatine is believed by some to have been derived from the Mascouten Native American tribe. The Algonquian-speaking Mascoutin were driven out of Michigan in around 1642 by French and Natives, and they were believed to have been absorbed into the Meskwaki (Fox) and Sac tribes by the early 18th century. In 1819 Muscatine Island was known as Mascoutin Island. An alternative theory is that the name is derived from a Siouan-language term meaning "Fire Island". Major William Williams, who was visiting when the town changed its name in 1849, wrote in his journal: "Muscatine in English is Fire Island," in his list of the meanings of Sioux Indian names.

Williams wrote a brief description of the settlement:

From the 1840s to the Civil War, Muscatine had Iowa's largest black community, consisting of fugitive slaves from the South and free blacks who had migrated from the eastern states. One of the most prominent community leaders was Alexander Clark Sr., a Pennsylvania native, barber and eventually a wealthy timber salesman and real estate speculator. He was among the founders of the local AME Church, assisted fugitive slaves, and petitioned the state government to overturn racist laws before the war. 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 prevented him from serving.

In 1868, he successfully desegregated Iowa's public schools by suing the Muscatine board after his daughter Susan was turned away from her neighborhood school. Eleven years later, his son Alexander Jr. became the first black graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law and its first black graduate from any department. Clark Sr. went to the college and became its second black graduate five years later, despite being 58 years old, saying that he wanted to serve “as an example to young men of his own race.” Clark rose to prominence in the Republican Party, serving as a delegate to state and national conventions.

In 1890, Clark was appointed ambassador to Liberia by President Benjamin Harrison. He was one of four Muscatine residents to be appointed as a diplomatic envoy between 1855 and 1900, a remarkable feat for a town of such small size: George Van Horne was consul at Marseilles, France during the 1860s; Samuel McNutt served at Maracaibo, Venezuela in 1890; and Frank W. Mahin represented his country in Reichenberg, Austria in 1900.

Less than a year after arriving in Liberia, Clark died of fever. His body was returned to the US, where he was buried in Muscatine's Greenwood Cemetery. In 1975 the city moved his former house about 200 feet, to make room for a low-income apartment complex for senior citizens; the latter was named in his honor. The University of Iowa's chapter of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) is named for the Clarks, as a testament to the accomplishments of father and son, and their places in the history of civil rights in Iowa.

The writer Sam Clemens (better known by his pen-name 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. He noted some recollections of Muscatine in his book Life on the Mississippi:

In 1884 J.F. Boepple, a German immigrant, founded a pearl button company. He produced buttons that looked like pearls by machine-punching them out of freshwater mussel shells harvested from the Mississippi River. Muscatine's slogan, "Pearl of the Mississippi," refers to the days when pearl button manufacturing by the McKee Button Company was a significant economic contributor. In 1915, Weber & Sons Button Co., Inc. was the world's largest producer of fancy freshwater pearl buttons. From that time forward, Muscatine was known as "The Pearl Button Capital of the World". Weber is still manufacturing today and celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2004. Muscatine is nearly as well known as the "Watermelon Capital of the World".

Muscatine was the home town and operating location of the notorious broadcaster Norman G. Baker, inventor of the calliaphone. In 1925-31, Baker operated the powerful radio station KTNT, published a newspaper, and operated the Baker Institute, a clinic. He also owned numerous businesses in the town.

Muscatine was formerly a stop on the shared Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad and Milwaukee Road line, but the Rock Island station no longer exists.

The two railroads split near the railroad crossing on county highway X61.

A portion of the Milwaukee Road's line is still extant and is used to serve one rail served business and for the storage of Rolling Stock.

Muscatine was hit by an EF3 (Enhanced Fujita Scale 3) tornado on June 1, 2007, which destroyed or damaged areas of the city.

On February 15, 2012, Vice President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping visited Muscatine. He had previously visited in 1985 as part of a Chinese delegation to learn about American agriculture, so Muscatine was again on his agenda when he toured the USA in 2012 before becoming president. The visit prompted the arrival of supporters as well as protestors. One group of protestors was aimed at China's human right's record and another voiced a Pro-Tibet perspective.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.35 square miles (47.53 km²), of which 17.30 square miles (44.81 km²) is land and 1.05 square miles (2.72 km²) is water.

Muscatine is primarily located on a series of bluffs and hills at a major west-south bend in the Mississippi River. The river-bend gives the city roughly 260 degrees of riverfront. The "highland" area of the town is divided into three ridge-like hills by Papoose Creek and Mad Creek, each of which flow individually into the Mississippi in downtown Muscatine. The city's main roads follow these ridges and valleys in a spider-web-like fashion. Several large working-class neighborhoods and industrial sectors have been built on what is called "Muscatine Island". This flat, sandy expanse was largely underwater when a portion of the Mississippi River followed the course of the present-day Muscatine Slough. It is unclear when the river changed course. The hills, river, and island are all integral to the diversity of Muscatine's economy and housing sector. As the city's urbanized area develops, the areas of highest elevation in the "High Prairie" crescent (between the Cedar and Mississippi Rivers) are increasingly re-appropriated from agricultural land to suburban housing.

Positioned some 25 miles (40 km) (30 minutes) from the Quad Cities, 38 miles (61 km) (52 minutes) from Iowa City and some 68 miles (109 km) (75 minutes) from Cedar Rapids, Muscatine is the smallest link in a non-contiguous populated area which surpassed 800,000 residents in the decade following the 2000 census. The key feature of this region is that although the populated areas are non-contiguous, a high percentage of residents commute between the cities for work, particularly those in professional fields.

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. The population density was 1,322.9 inhabitants per square mile (510.8/km²). There were 9,830 housing units at an average density of 568.2 per square mile (219.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.8% White, 2.3% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 6.4% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.6% of the population.

There were 9,008 households of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.2% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the city was 36.1 years. 26.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.7% were from 25 to 44; 25.7% were from 45 to 64; and 13.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

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. The population density was 1,348.1 people per square mile (520.4/km²). There were 9,375 housing units at an average density of 556.9 per square mile (214.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.40% White, 1.08% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 6.04% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.30% of the population.

There were 8,923 households out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04.

Age spread: 26.4% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,122, and the median income for a family was $45,366. Males had a median income of $36,440 versus $23,953 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,483. About 8.0% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Companies in Muscatine include Bridgestone Bandag, H. J. Heinz Company, Carver Pump, Monsanto, the Kent Corporation with its subsidiaries: Kent Nutrition Group, Grain Processing Corporation and Kent Pet Group, Musco Lighting and Stanley Consultants. The Musser Lumber Company was one of Iowa's pioneer lumber concerns.

Headquartered in Muscatine, The HNI Corporation designs and manufactures office furniture including chairs, filing cabinets, workstations, tables, desks and educational furniture under various brand names The HON Company, Allsteel, HBF, Artcobell, Paoli, Gunlocke, Maxon, Lamex, bpergo, and Midwest Folding Products.

Environmental problems

Grain Processing Corp. (GPC) has been known to pollute the air by emitting small particles from its coal burning, acetaldehyde as a byproduct from corn ethanol processing, and also lead. "The plant released more lead than any other plant in Iowa, according to DNR data. It emitted more acetaldehyde — a probable carcinogen chemically similar to formaldehyde — than almost any plant in the country." The Kent-family owned company with an over 60 year presence has a long history of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources allowing it to avoid improvements that would reduce its air pollution. Yet in 2006 GPC had to pay a $538,000 fine for violating the hourly operating limit for years.

Grain Processing Corp. and other industries in Muscatine have worked hard to improve air quality. Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources supports their plan to reduce emissions. The plan includes GPC, Muscatine Power & Water and Monsanto Co working together to reduce emissions. GPC has made some significant investments in improving air quality. In May 2015 GPC announced their $83 million grain dryer was operational reducing the output of PM 2.5. This project was the largest and most comprehensive effort to date to address emissions. The project was completed on time as committed to the community. In July 2015 the company moved from coal to natural gas as their fuel source. GPC's conversion from coal has reduced boiler emissions by 91%, reduced carbon monoxide by 61%, particulate matter by 91%, sulfur dioxide was reduced by 99.9% and lead by 97%. GPC outlined their actions for improving the environment at a community leaders meeting on September 1, 2015, in an effort to be transparent to the community. This was the third meeting held with local community and business leaders to review their project and improvements. The meeting also reviewed various ways they support both employees and the community. GPC and parent company Kent Corporation have long provided education and development support for employee's growth. In addition, employees are encouraged to volunteer with service organizations in their home community.

Gage Kent, CEO at Kent Corporation, parent to Grain Processing Corporation commented that Muscatine is his home and the home for executives, employees and their families. He cited that everyone takes the role of being a good neighbor seriously. Kent, who is a lifelong resident of Muscatine said the company looks forward to a long future of sharing economic, environmental, and community accomplishments with Muscatine and its citizens.

Points of interest

Education

Muscatine Community School District is home to the Muscatine Muskies. Muscatine Schools cover Muscatine, Fairport, Iowa, and Montpelier, Iowa, as well as rural areas of Letts, Iowa, Fruitland, Iowa, and Blue Grass, Iowa.

Muscatine is home to Muscatine Community College and the MCC Cardinals.

Print

Muscatine Journal

The Muscatine Journal newspaper circulates daily throughout the Muscatine area except on Sundays. It is commonly believed to have existed since 1840.

Voice of Muscatine

The Voice of Muscatine, a publication of Prairie Radio Communications, has been an operation newspaper since October 28, 2015. It is a county wide publication, servicing Muscatine County, Iowa.

Radio

Prairie Radio Communications, a midwestern broadcasting company, has two radio stations in Muscatine. KWPC-AM, which has been a long part of the city's history, and KMCS-FM, which has only been in the community since 1996. Cumulus Broadcasting's KBEA-FM broadcasts from a tower near 10 miles (16 km) north of Muscatine. Residents also received radio broadcasts from stations in the Quad Cities, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Burlington, Waterloo, and Aledo, IL.

Transportation

Muscatine is located along two designated routes of Iowa's "Commercial-Industrial Network", U.S. Highway 61 and Iowa Highway 92. Highway 61 serves as a major agricultural-industry route to the south from Burlington, IA to Muscatine, where it becomes a heavy-industrial and major commuter route to the northeast between Muscatine and Davenport, IA. In conjunction with Iowa 92, which provides access to the Avenue of the Saints (U.S. 218/IA 27) to the west and the lightly populated western Illinois via the Norbert Beckey Bridge to the east, Highway 61 serves as a shortcut for traffic from northeastern Missouri and southeastern Iowa en route to the Quad Cities, Chicago, and points beyond. Several regional highway improvement projects are in the works to further establish and capitalize on this trade-route. Additionally, Muscatine is connected to Interstate 80 to the north by fifteen miles (24 km) of Iowa Highway 38. Iowa Highway 22 also connects with U.S. 218/IA 27 to the west, and Davenport to the east.

Twin towns – Sister cities

Muscatine has ten sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International: