Clinton is a city in and the county seat of Clinton County, Iowa, United States. It borders the Mississippi River. The population was 24,469 as of 2020.
Clinton, along with DeWitt (also located in Clinton County), was named in honor of the sixth governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton. Incorporated on January 26, 1857, Clinton is the principal city of the Clinton Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is coterminous with Clinton County.
History
left|thumb|Welcome to Clinton, Iowa
Elijah Buell, among the first European-American settlers in the Clinton area, established the town of Lyons in 1837. It was named after the French city Lyon. It grew with the lumber and railroad industry through the century, and merged in 1895 with the City of Clinton.
Clinton was platted as the Town of New York in 1836 by Joseph Bartlett. He was looking for gold deposits in the area.
In 1855, the Chicago, Iowa, Nebraska Railroad announced it would build a bridge across the Mississippi River at Little Rock Island. The Iowa Land Company named the town as Clinton, in honor of DeWitt Clinton, governor of New York State. A general city charter was adopted in 1857. Lyons Female College was established in 1858.
Clinton's population grew to more than 1,000 as construction of the bridge continued. In 1859, the railroad line was completed to Cedar Rapids. Fifty years later, the single-track railroad bridge was replaced by a double-track bridge that was completed in 1909.
Between the 1850s and 1900, Lyons and Clinton quickly became centers of the lumber industry and together 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 and the sawmills closed. 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. Among these is the George M. Curtis House.
In 1925, Clinton acquired Eagle Point Park as part of its 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 US 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. Under this award, Clinton received a $1 million state budget allocation for cultural and landscape improvements along the city's riverfront.
In 2009, Archer Daniels Midland began construction of a new cogeneration plant to Clinton. This has brought more jobs and workers to 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 were expected to occupy the Rail Park in 2025.
In the 2010s–2020s, many businesses expanded, 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. This catalyzed the development of new suburban housing developments, restaurants, and recreational attractions.
In 2020, Clinton received a grant from 'Iowa Great Places'. It dedicated to a project known as 'Even More Things to Do with a River View.' Funds were used to improve the city's riverfront and improve public access.
In 2023, the historic Clinton High School was torn down. 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 , of which is land and 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 across.