Remember Our Roots History

The roots of Maquoketa, Iowa run deep through American history. In January 1838, two young men from upper New York state headed west with a wagonload of trade goods, crossed the frozen Mississippi River and settled at the future site of Maquoketa, in the east-central region of Iowa. Two of the earliest settlers include J. E. Goodenow and Lyman Bates, who joined the steady stream of settlers migrating west. They each built a log cabin; Goodenow’s was in what is now the center of downtown Maquoketa, and Bates’ was on the outskirts.

In 1839, other settlers arrived at the settlement, attracted to the area’s vast expanse of fertile prairie, said to be the best in the world for farming. In that same year, Goodenow built a corn cracker. In 1842, a flourmill was constructed. Soon after, a brick oven and a pot kiln for making brick lime for mortar were also constructed. In 1840, Goodenow established a post office under the name of Springfield. That name was already taken, however, so on March 3, 1844, the town officially became "Maquoketa," derived from the Sauk and Fox Indian words Makwok-eteg, meaning "there are bears." Since then, Maquoketa has also been referred to as the "Timber City" due to the abundance of trees that line the streets.

Maquoketa was incorporated in 1853 with a population of 300 people. In 1854, Maquoketa’s first fair was sponsored by the Agricultural Association, and W.C. Swigart published the Jackson Sentinel. The Maquoketa Excelsior was established in 1856. The first train chugged into town in 1870.

In 1873, Maquoketa became the permanent county seat of Jackson County. The Decker House and the 800-seat Harris Opera House were built in 1876, and telephone service was established in 1880. A fire in 1882 prompted the establishment of a volunteer fire department and the construction of a firehouse in 1901.

Today, Maquoketa is home to approximately 6,100 residents who enjoy its family-oriented atmosphere, close proximity to major transportation networks, abundance of jobs, numerous shopping areas and excellent cultural and recreational facilities.

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