Iowa (original) (raw)
The first known peoples on Iowa soil were the ancient Mound Builders, followed by the indigenous Native American peoples. When North America was discovered, the land was claimed by various European nations until it was absorbed by the United States, became and territory, and in 1846, the 29th state to join the Union.
After the Civil War was over, Iowa's population continued to grow dramatically, almost doubling from 1860 to 1870. The introduction of railroads in the 1850s and 1860s transformed Iowa into a major agricultural producer.
However, agriculture would not be enough to maintain Iowa's economy in the long term and in the early 20th century, the state began to change, increasing its number manufacturing and service businesses.