- Fast Facts -

Iowa is located in the midwest and is bordered by Minnesota (north), Missouri (south), Wisconsin and Illinois (east), and Nebraska and South Dakota (west). Acquired as part of the Lousiana Purchase in 1803 and became a part of the Missouri Territory until 1821 when Missouri became a state. Later attached to Michigan Territory, and enumerated as a part of Michigan in the 1830 Census. When Michigan gained statehood, in 1836, Iowa became a part of Wisconsin Territory until 1838 when the Territory of Iowa was established, which included Minnesota and parts of (now) North and South Dakota.

On December 28, 1846, Iowa entered the union as the 29th state. The capital, Iowa City, was removed to Des Moines in 1857 as it was more centrally located. By the late 1850's all Indians had been removed from Iowa. The Meskwaki later returned to an area near Tama, where the Meskwaki Settlement can still be found.

Early settlers were drawn to the region by the rolling hills and fertile lands. Today, with roughly ninety-two percent of the land devoted to agriculture, Iowa leads the nation in corn and soybean production. Iowa had been a major fruit growing state, being second only to Michigan in apple production, until the devastating Armistice Day Blizzard of November 11, 1940, afterwhich only fifteen percent of those in western Iowa remained.

Iowa has a land area of 56,272 square miles and is divided into 99 counties. The largest city is Des Moines.

The genealogical records held here are for use by the general public. These records have been submitted to the USGenNet Data Repository by volunteers and researchers just like you for permanent on-line free-access.