Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette were the first European visitors to what is now Iowa. They came to the area in 1673. The area became U.S. property as a result of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase.
Throughout the first half of the nineteenth century, Indians and white settlers had many disputes in the area. Indian land was taken as a result of the 1832 Blackhawk War and more lands were again taken from them in 1836 and 1837. The capital of Iowa was Iowa City when it gained statehood, in 1846. However, since Des Moines was in a more reasonable central location, it became the new capital in 1857, at the same time that the boundaries of the state were drawn to be in their present-day form.
Iowa Counties – The Iowa Territory, was organized on June 12, 1838. The State of Iowa was created as the 15th state on December 28, 1846. Iowa borders Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missour, South Dakota and Wisconsin. It has 99 Counties. The capital is Des Moines and the official state website is http://www.iowa.gov/.
Select a Iowa county to view information & records pertaining to each County