The nation's eyes turn in January of each presidential election year to the Hawkeye State, which holds this country's first election caucuses.. The moving of those caucuses to January is among the eight key events that have shaped the history of Iowa.
1. Jolliet and Marquette Visit Iowa: In 1673, French explorers Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette, accompanied by five crewmen stepped ashore from the Mississippi River into present-day Iowa. They are thought to be the first Europeans to have entered the region. France transferred the possession of Iowa to the Spanish in 1762 before taking it back in 1800.
2. The United States Acquires Iowa: In 1803, the United States acquired a large area that included present-day Iowa from the French as part of the Louisiana Purchase.
VOTE NOW: Is Iowa Sen. Jodi Ernst Doing a Good Job?
3. The Black Hawk War: After losing the Black Hawk War, the Sauk Indian Tribe in 1832 agreed to a treaty in which it gave up land it occupied in present-day Iowa. The land was then opened to legal white settlement in 1833. Congress created the Iowa Territory in 1838.
4. Iowa becomes a state: Iowa became the 29th state of the United States in 1846. The state's capital was initially Iowa City before Iowa moved its government in 1857 to Des Moines.
5. The Sioux Give Up Their Claim: The Sioux Indians in 1851 agreed to a treaty in which they gave up their right to land they occupied in the far north-central and far northwest parts of Iowa,
says the Old Capitol Museum. The move removed the final Indian claim to land in Iowa.
VOTE NOW: Should the Government Be Doing More to Promote Tourism in America?
6. Railroad Tracks First Cross Iowa: In 1867, the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska Railroad became the first railroad to build tracks completely across Iowa,
according to the Iowa Department of Transportation. Other railroads quickly followed suit and railroad transportation had come to Iowa in the 1840s.
7. Herbert Hoover Elected President: In 1928, Herbert Hoover became the first and only person from Iowa elected president of the United States. Hoover's time in office was marred by the Great Depression and he lost his bid for re-election in 1932.
8. Iowa Caucus Moves to January: In 1972, Iowa Democrats moved the time of their presidential election caucus to January, causing it to take place prior to election caucuses held by all other states,
says The Washington Post. In 1976, Iowa Republicans moved their caucus so it would take place at the same time. Each Iowa Caucus brings considerable media attention to an otherwise quiet state, where almost every candidate for president spends months campaigning.
URGENT: Do You Approve of the Job Jodi Ernst Is Doing as an Iowa Senator?
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.