January 23, 1839 – Governor Robert Lucas signs a bill incorporating the town of Bloomington (Muscatine), Iowa.

Did you know that in the early 1840’s, there was an up-and-coming Iowa town, located on the Mississippi River, that was a pretty important community in Iowa’s earliest history? Located about 40 miles east of Iowa City, Bloomington was the jumping off point for those who wanted to come to Johnson County and had traveled to Iowa on Mississippi River steamboats.

But, as Bloomington was growing up, there was a big problem brewing for the good people living in Muscatine County. Bloomington, you see, was not the only Bloomington in the growing Midwest. Actually, there were three different Bloomingtons – all located in three different Midwestern I states – Bloomington, Indiana – Bloomington, Illinois and Bloomington, Iowa.

This was causing so much confusion for the postal service, with mail and packages often ending up in the wrong Bloomington, the U.S. government stepped in, insisting that the smallest Bloomington change their name. Yup, that’s right. You guessed it. So, in 1850, the good people of Bloomington, Iowa changed their city’s name – becoming a name I’m sure you’ll recognize. Friends – Welcome to Muscatine!

A Day-by-Day Calendar of Historical Events In Iowa, William J. Petersen, State Historical Society of Iowa, 1946, p 14

READ MORE ABOUT THIS IOWA STORY HERE

---

This Day In History is an Our Iowa Heritage blog series that offers you a little bit of Iowa trivia from a large selection of stories on our website. Subscribe to this FREE blog and you’ll get a new email from us daily.

Join us for Our Iowa Heritage blog posts.

Learn some historical facts about Iowa City, Johnson County, or Eastern Iowa.

Amaze your friends.

Click to learn more.

Click here to go on to the next date…