Muscatine County

Muscatine County is an administrative division in eastern Iowa that stretches along the Mississippi River and contains both farmland and towns. The area includes several communities, with the city of Muscatine serving as the main urban hub and county seat.

The county was established in 1836 during Iowa's early territorial expansion and served as a gateway for settlement. Its location along the Mississippi River made it a natural hub for trade and later industrial growth.

The name comes from an Indigenous word referring to the people who lived here long before European settlers arrived. Today, the pearl button manufacturing heritage remains central to how locals view their identity and what visitors come to learn about.

The area is accessible through several highways, including U.S. Routes 6 and 61, which connect to neighboring regions. Spring and fall offer the most comfortable conditions for exploring, with moderate temperatures and outdoor activities in mind.

Mark Twain worked as a printer in Muscatine before becoming a famous writer, and later drew on those experiences for his writings about river life. The city and its connection to the Mississippi remain tied to American literary history in unexpected ways.

Location: Iowa

Inception: December 7, 1836

Capital city: Muscatine

Elevation above the sea: 199 m

Shares border with: Cedar County, Louisa County, Scott County, Rock Island County, Johnson County

Website: http://co.muscatine.ia.us

GPS coordinates: 41.48111,-91.11972

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:45