Clinton, Iowa, United States

🇺🇸 Clinton is a city in, and the county seat of, Clinton County, Iowa, United States. Clinton was named in honor of the sixth governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton. Clinton is the principal city of the Clinton Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is coterminous with Clinton County.

History Elijah Buell was among the first settlers in the Clinton area, established the town of Lyons in 1837. Lyons named after the French city eventually grew and merged into the City of Clinton. Clinton was platted as the town of New York in 1836 by Joseph Bartlett, who was looking for gold deposits in the area.

In 1855, the Chicago, Iowa, Nebraska Railroad announced it would cross the river at Little Rock Island. The Iowa Land Company named it Clinton, in honor of DeWitt Clinton, a general city charter was adopted in 1857.

Clinton's population grew to over 1,000 as construction of the bridge continued. In 1859, the railroad line was completed to Cedar Rapids. The original single-track railroad bridge was replaced by a double-track bridge that was completed in 1909. Between the 1850s and 1900, the cities of Lyons and Clinton quickly became centres of the lumber industry and were regarded as the "Lumber Capital of the World". In the 1880s and 1890s, Clinton boasted more millionaires per capita than any other city in the nation.

In 1895, the town of Lyons officially merged with the City of Clinton.

By the end of 1900, the northern forests were depleted. The sawmills closed, but the railroad and river, providing economical transportation in all directions, attracted manufacturing and heavy industry. The city still boasts a number of magnificent Victorian mansions built during that time. The George M. Curtis House being among them.

In 1925, Eagle Point Park is acquired as part of the Clinton Park System

In 1956, the Gateway Bridge (Illinois-Iowa) was opened.

In 1965, the Mississippi River crested at 24.85 feet. Effectively flooding the city of Clinton as well as many other cities along the Mississippi. The Army Corps of Engineers began a seven-year, $28.9 million levee project. An 8.1-mile dyke, 4,330 feet of concrete flood wall, six pumping stations, seven closure structures, five major street crossings, 17,320 feet of new sewer, and 23 gate wells were completed and dedicated in June 1981.

In 2005, Clinton was awarded one of the inaugural Iowa Great Places designations. This award brought to Clinton a $1 million state budget allocation for cultural and landscape improvements along the city's riverfront.

In 2009, the Archer Daniels Midland began construction of a new cogeneration plant to Clinton. Bringing more jobs and workers to the city of Clinton.

In 2016, The city obtained the certification for Lincolnway Industrial Rail and Air Park. The park is located adjacent to US Highway 30 and the Clinton Municipal Airport. The Union Pacific East-West Mainline runs to the south, with a dedicated spur running into the park. Targeted industries for the Clinton Region included Chemicals Processing, metal fabrication, and value-added agriculture. Rail.One, HeroBX and Atlas Roofing Corporation occupied the Rail Park in 2025.

In the 2010s-2020s, many of the different businesses utilized expansions adding hundreds of new jobs to the area. These businesses include Big River Packaging, Nestle Purina, and Archer Daniels Midland. They invested millions of dollars into the community and kickstarted the creation of many suburban housing developments, restaurants, and recreational attractions dedicated to the new workers that were to come.

In 2020, Clinton received a grant from ‘Iowa Great Places’ and dedicated the funds to, ‘Even More Things to Do with a River View,’ the funding went to improving the city’s riverfront.

In 2023, The historic Clinton High School was torn down, and the newly built Clinton High was opened for student use. Additionally, the 'Tailgate N' Tallboys' concert brought nearly 9,000 people to Clinton for a 3-day concert series.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 38.01 square miles (98.45 km²), of which 35.15 square miles (91.04 km²) is land and 2.86 square miles (7.41 km²) is water.

Clinton is on the western shore of the Mississippi River and is the easternmost city in Iowa. The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge passes through Clinton along the river.

The pool of the Mississippi River above Lock and Dam No. 13 is the widest section of the river at 1.8 miles (2.9 km) across.

Notable businesses Notable businesses include: Archer-Daniels-Midland Company; Clinton LumberKings, a Class A minor league Midwest League team affiliated with the Miami Marlins; and Clinton Herald, a daily newspaper owned by Community Newspaper Holdings.

Parks and recreation • Eagle Point Park is a 164-acre park located on the north side of the City. It is on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. It includes the Eagle Point Lodge, Soaring Eagle Nature Center, Flannery one-room schoolhouse, many playgrounds, Prairie Pastures Dog Park, A Disc Golf Course, Equestrian Center and trails, Mississippi River Overlook, Picnic Areas, a restored prairie and butterfly gardens, approximately 3 miles of hiking trails, a waterfall, and a large stone castle. • Riverview Park is a 65-acre park overlooking the Mississippi River encompassing several features including a marina and restaurant, public boat ramps, Pickleball courts, sand volleyball courts, ball diamonds, Lubbers Fountain, large municipal swimming pool, picnic areas, Riverview Bandshell, skate park, playground, RV Park, bike path, Showboat theatre, and prospect league baseball stadium. • Other parks in the City of Clinton are Dewitt Park, Clinton Park, Chancy Park, Rotary Park, Hawthorne Park, Emma Young Park, and Lyons Four Square Park. • The Clinton Fitness Court is part of a nationwide effort launched by the National Fitness Campaign to get people excited about health and wellness. Located on the Riverfront, it is accessible to those of all needs and abilities. • The Parks and Recreation Department offers over 170 recreation programs designed for all ages from preschoolers to young adults, adults, and seniors. • Clinton is home to many walking and biking trails all across town. • The Parks and Recreation Department and Administrative Office, better known as the Ericksen Community Center, is located on the northernmost part of 148 acres of Emma Young Park. There are three USA Softball certified softball fields, four tennis courts, a cross country running trail, a playground, and a public pond. • The Jurgensen Soccer Complex was re-opened in the fall of 2020 following a major expansion. The previously featured 3-Tiered playing field limited the ability to grow, and was not accessible for everyone. The new renovation features flattened fields so that children, parents, and families of all ages and abilities may enjoy the game of soccer.

Tourist attractions • The Bickelhaupt Arboretum is a non-profit arboretum with 14 acres of plant life • Felix Adler Children's Discovery Center a non-profit children's centre that helps children explore science, the arts and culture. • Sawmill Museum is a family friend Museum in north Clinton that teaches about the Lumber Industry and the History of Clinton. • Clinton Area Showboat Theatre is a non-profit summer stock professional theatre run in an old steamboat on the edge of the Mississippi. • Wide River Winery is located in north Clinton along the bluff of the Mississippi River. They offer wine tastings, stays at The River Lodge, and tours of the Vineyard. • Great Revivalist Brewery is based out of Downtown Clinton. The Brewery is in a restored church and serves food, wine, and in-house brewed beer. • Military Attractions, Clinton has a multitude of different Military Attractions to honor veterans from Clinton and the surrounding cities. These include the 9/11 Memorial, The Veterans Memorial, which is home to the famous Crunelle WWI Statue, the painted freedom rock, and the Hometown Hero Banners which are hung in the Historic Downtown every summer. • Lumber Kings Baseball is a prospect league that plays on NelsonCorp Field in the City of Clinton Municipal Riverview Stadium on the Riverfront of Clinton. • Lyons Farmers Market is held every Saturday and Wednesday at Lyons Four Square Park. This event brings in people from Clinton and surrounding areas to sell their produce and goods. The farmer's market is also home to a one-of-a-kind pavilion that goes over Roosevelt Road. • Public Art has been a current trend within the city of Clinton. Different non-profit groups have been working to put up different murals and signage in Clinton. This trend has led to eight different murals as well as the “I Believe in Clinton,” Campaign which is graphic signage. Additionally, the city has opened “The Grove,” a pocket park used to display the work of local artists to the public. • Clinton County Historical Society is a museum located in downtown Clinton. This museum is aimed at preserving the history of Clinton County as a whole, as well as the City of Clinton. • Clinton has the 'First White Settler in Clinton County' Historical Marker.

Transport U.S. Route 30 (Lincoln Highway), U.S. Route 67 (Great River Road), and Iowa Highway 136 pass through Clinton.

For air travel, the Quad City International Airport, which is about 40 miles away in Moline, Illinois, is the closest commercial airport and can be reached in less than one hour by car. Chicago's O'Hare International Airport is about 140 miles east, and can typically be reached in less than three hours by car.

Clinton has a municipal airport (Clinton Municipal Airport, KCWI) that serves the general aviation community. There are two runways, 3-21 which is 5,200' long, and 14-32 which is 3700' long. Numerous instrument approaches are available.

Major railroads include the Union Pacific Railroad and the Canadian Pacific.

A national U.S. recreation trail, the Mississippi River Trail passes through Clinton.

For intracity transit, residents can rely on the MTA's (Municipal Transit Authority) 6 bus routes that run throughout the city. Disabled residents can rely on the MTA's para-transit service.

Education Prince of Peace Catholic Academy is a Private Catholic K-12 school.

The Clinton Community School District is a public district home to many schools: • Clinton High School • Clinton Middle School • Jefferson Elementary • Whittier Elementary • Eagle Heights Elementary • Bluff Elementary

Gateway Area Community Center is an alternative high school for students who struggle to learn in a regular classroom.

The Lighthouse School is a boarding and computer-based self-learning program.

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges also has a branch, Clinton Community College

Religion Churches in Clinton include: Catholic Church • Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace Catholic Parish

Lutheran Churches • St. Paul Lutheran Church • Faith Center Church • Trinity Lutheran Church • Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church • St. John Lutheran Church

LDS • Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Non-denominational Christian Churches • Journey • River Church

Baptist Church • Gateway Baptist Church • Calvary Baptist Church • First Baptist Church

Islamic Mosque • Clinton Islamic Center

Methodist Church • First Methodist Church

Culture and institutions • Bickelhaupt Arboretum 340 S. 14th St. • Clinton Area Showboat Theatre, 311 Riverview Drive, Clinton • Felix Adler Discovery Center, 501 11th Avenue South, Clinton • The Clinton County Historical Society, 601 South 1st Street, Clinton • The Sawmill Museum, 2231 Grant Street, Clinton • The Soaring Eagle Nature Center, 3923 North 3rd Street, Clinton

Architecture National Historic Landmark: • The Van Allen Building, a National Historic Landmark designed by Louis Sullivan, was completed in 1914.The Van Allen Building is currently a commercial and residential space located in Downtown Clinton. The Van Allen Building was added to the National Historic Landmarks in 1976.

Buildings on the National Register of Historic Places: • Clinton County Courthouse, constructed from 1892 to 1897 by architects Stanley Mansfield and Josiah Rice in Romanesque Revival style. Exterior walls are of red sandstone and granite and the tower is of copper which has weathered to a bright green color. Noted architect Claire Allen from Jackson, Michigan also worked on this building. The Clinton County Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. • Clinton Public Library, financed by Andrew Carnegie and built 1903-1904 from the design of the Chicago architectural firm of Patton & Miller. Beaux Arts Neoclassica; style with a monumental entry with processional steps and flanking paired columns. Symmetry of design and borrowings of Greek and Roman inspired elements complete the composition. Exterior walls of cut and dressed limestone. The Clinton Public Library was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. • Lafayette Lamb House (YWCA), constructed in 1877 by architect W.W. Sanborn and rebuilt in 1906. Originally built in the Second Empire style, the 1906 'modernization' converted it to more of the Georgian Revival style. The Lafayette Lamb House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. • City National Bank (First National Bank), designed by John Morrell & Son in the Neoclassical style and constructed in 1911-1912. City National Bank was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. • Howes Building, constructed in 1900 for Edward Madison Howes by architect Josiah Rice in Renaissance Revival style, featuring engaged pilasters with Ionic capitals. The exterior street facades of the building are of red face brick with decorative accents of red terracotta. The fourth floor added in 1905 by architect John Morrell. The Howes Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. • Ankeny Building, constructed in 1930, designed by Chicago architect Harold Holmes in "Moderne" or Art Deco style. The building street facades are clad with cream-colored terracotta panels. Today, this building is home to many commercial businesses. The Ankeny Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. • Moeszinger-Marquis (Armstrong) Building, designed by Josiah Rice and constructed in 1891 by William Bentley for the Clinton Produce Company. In 1907 the Baldwin Bros. acquired the building for its wholesale hardware business, which in turn passed to its successor company, the Moeszinger-Marquis Hardware Company in 1912. In 1941 the building was acquired by R.W. Armstrong, who also conducted a wholesale hardware business from the premises. The Armstrong Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. • George M. Curtis Mansion (Women's Club), constructed in Queen Anne style in 1883-1884. The Mansion contains more than forty stained glass windows, carved banisters, ornate wood trim, and massive fireplaces. Curtis Mansion was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. • Castle Terrace Historic District, Originally platted in 1892. The project was a promotional effort to show developers, architects, and builders the application and products of the Curtis Company. The architectural design is highly eclectic, with Tudor Gothic the primary style utilized. Castle Terrace Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. • Cherry Bank, Built 1870–1871, the Dr. A.L. Ankeny/Lindmeier/Cottral house is two stories high with walls of red brick with buff-colored brick used for quoins at the corners and for the window arches. A cornice, hip roof, and widow's walk cap the building. Cherry Bank was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. • Saint Irenaeus Church, was designed by W.W. Sanborn and was constructed from 1864 to 1871. It was constructed in the Gothic Revival Style. Saint Irenaeus was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.