Traveling along U.S. Highway 30 (or along Interstate 80!) is where you’ll find this charming little area. The Clinton, Iowa area is on the western shore of the Mississippi River. With roots dating back to 1835, the Clinton, IA, area offers year-round attractions, outstanding annual events, live theater, crafts, antique shops, unique restaurants, and beautiful historic districts. Quiet and scenic, residents take pride in the uniqueness and quality of life the area provides and the community makes both residents and visitors feel right at home.
Homes for sales in the Clinton, Iowa area are affordable and in close proximity to schools, community events, and a vibrant downtown. Read on to learn more about the area and its surrounding communities.
The Clinton, Iowa area might still be a small town named “New York” if it wasn’t for its geographical good fortune. It was named “New York” in 1836 by its first settler Joseph Bartlett and was one of several communities clustered on the west bank of the Mississippi River. Other communities included Lyons, Ringwood, Chancy, and Camanche. Through the 1840s, “New York” changed little while communities around it continued to develop. However, in 1855, the Chicago, Iowa, Nebraska Railroad changed its plans and announced it would cross the river at Little Rock Island adjacent to Bartlett’s settlement instead of at Lyons. The Iowa Land Company bought Bartlett’s land and renamed it “Clinton,” in honor of DeWitt Clinton, the governor of New York State at the time.
Between the 1850s and 1900s, the Clinton area was regarded as the “Lumber Capital of the World.” Huge log rafts were floated down the river from Wisconsin and Minnesota, cut into lumber at Clinton, then shipped to growing communities east, west, north, and south via the river and the railroads. The railroad and river provided economical transportation in all directions attracting manufacturing and heavy industry.
Although most of today’s industries are national companies in contrast to the locally owned businesses of the 19th century, Clinton remains an industrial center. Barges carrying grain have replaced the large log rafts and the railroad transports industrial and grain products now. Even though the river is no longer visible from most places in the city, it’s still a source of leisure for many. Today, the Clinton area prospers as an industrial center, with a steadily growing and diverse economy that impacts the nation and the world.
The area boasts numerous recreational opportunities, including riverboat cruises, water sports, indoor and outdoor activities, and entertainment options. Ballfields, tennis and basketball courts, bowling lanes, gymnasiums, playgrounds, picnic tables, and lots of places to just sit, relax, appreciate nature and enjoy a day with family and friends are just about everywhere you look in this region.
Across the Clinton region, many distinctive neighborhoods give residents a variety of living experiences: from quiet cul-de-sacs to sweeping views of the river and the hustle and bustle of apartment living in downtown shopping districts. The region offers two colleges: Ashford University and Clinton Community College, as well as a technical college, The Graphic Arts & Technology Center. It has over 20 elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools spread across the region and housing is available near each for every price range.
Nightlife abounds throughout the Clinton area with movie theatres, summer stock theatres, brewpubs, nightclubs, and other venues that provide a variety of music from karaoke to live music and dance.
Check out the breathtaking views in a local park (the most notable are Eagle Point Park and Riverview Park), go to a game in the minor league baseball park, spend a night at the casino or attend one of the many community events and festivals planned year-round. Residents regularly enjoy the Bickelhaupt Arboretum, a non-profit arboretum with one of North America’s largest collections of dwarf conifers, as well as the Felix Adler Children’s Discovery Center, which is a non-profit children’s center to explore science, the arts, and culture.
With beautiful restaurants that offer stunning dinner options, tons of theatres, and opportunities to spend an evening on a riverboat casino, this special place’s history, nature, and beauty is simply unrivaled. The area features a state-of-the-art marina and riverfront amenities that include a municipal pool and splash park, bike and pedestrian path, Lumberkings baseball, and much more!
Fall
Stop by the Visitor Information Center before you head into town to get a feel for the area. The Sawmill Museum is a great place to check out to get a better idea of the area’s history and Wide River Winery is a must-see.
Winter
Keep warm and check out Tom & Audrey’s Antique and Collectible Mall or check out the Catholic Historical Center at St. Boniface (this two-story building is truly out of his world and painted in the most beautiful colors you’ve ever seen). Primitive Hollow Home Decor & Gift Shop is another great little boutique to check out for momentos and the Felix Adler Children’s Discovery Center is a great stop to keep the kids entertained.
Summer
Four words: City of Clinton Showboat. Enjoy the beautiful weather and professional theatre performances ON A BOAT or head to the Candlelight Inn for an awesome atmosphere and great food and drinks!
Spring
Eagle Point Park is a popular favorite, but don’t forget to head to Dewitt Park, Root Park, Southside Park, Edwin P Neubauer Park, River View Stadium, or Four Square Park to get your nature fix in.
The Clinton area is packed with job opportunities in popular industries like tech, education, healthcare, and finance.
Whether you travel for work or need to travel outside the area, U.S. Route 30 (Lincoln Highway), U.S. Route 67 (Great River Road), and Iowa Highway 136 pass through Clinton, Iowa region. For air travel, the Quad City International Airport, which is about 40 miles away in Moline, Illinois, is the closest commercial airport and can be reached in less than an hour by car. Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport is about 140 miles east, which usually takes about three hours by car.
Clinton has a municipal airport (Clinton Municipal Airport, KCWI) that serves the general aviation community with two runways. There are also two major railroads which include the Union Pacific Railroad and the Canadian Pacific.
The Clinton, Iowa area has much to offer residents and visitors alike. If you’re looking for new listings in the Clinton area or would like to attend a couple of open houses in the Clinton area to get a better understanding of the real estate market, we’re here to help.
If you’re looking for new career opportunities in the Iowa area, we’re always looking for people to join our Ruhl&Ruhl team. Check out our careers page for more information.
Are you interested in seeing a property in person? Contact the experts at Ruhl&Ruhl and let us show you around! Stop in or give us a call at:
Nearest Ruhl&Ruhl Office
301 North Second Street
Clinton, IA 52732
Phone Number: (563) 441-1776
The first permanent European-American settler arrived in the Clinton, Iowa area in 1835. Clinton was originally platted as the town of New York in 1836 but was renamed in 1857 in honor of the sixth governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton.
In 1855, the land was purchased by the Iowa Land Company in anticipation of construction on the Chicago, Nebraska, and Iowa Railroad line traveling across the Mississippi River. The railroad was completed in 1859 reaching all the way to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The Clinton, Iowa area became a lumber industry center between 1850 and 1900, using rafts of logs floated down from Wisconsin and Minnesota. Thereafter, the manufacturing industry came to Clinton, attracted by the transportation afforded by the river and the railroad.
Camanche, Iowa actually has a deeper industrial and economic history, because by 1856, there were more than 256 buildings in the town. The city was named an original charter city in the state of Iowa. However, in June 1860, a devastating tornado ripped through town and destroyed almost the entire town in a matter of minutes. It traveled across the river to Albany, Illinois and destroyed much of their industry as well.
The Clinton Area offers affordable housing in towns next to the beautiful Mississippi River. Built on a truly supportive community atmosphere, the cities have been focused on people first since they were founded. If you’re looking for towns that feel like home, look no further!
Showboat Theater: The Clinton Area Showboat Theatre is a professional theatre in Clinton, Iowa that offers shows in the summer. With a 217-seat theater, the Clinton Showboat, an actual dry-docked showboat, has produced musicals and comedies for 21 years.
The Sawmill Museum: This museum helps tell the significant history of lografts, sawmills and railroads in the Clinton area. Take a guided tour, book the party room or attend one of the popular events.
Heritage Canyon: Host to many popular Clinton Area events, this 12-acre wooded structure nature walk is dotted with buildings and takes visitors back to the 1800s. You can take a tour of the area, host your special event here or attend one of the local events that occur here.
Wild Rose Casino & Resort: Wild Rose Clinton dates back to the earliest days of riverboat gaming in Iowa. Once a cruising vessel, Wild Rose Clinton unites the charm of riverboat gaming with the thrill and amenities of a casino resort.
The Clinton Lumber Kings: A Class A Minor League Baseball Team Affiliate of the Miami Marlins, the Clinton Lumber Kings are local favorites when it comes to an exciting way to spend your weekend. Bring the whole family to one of their many unique “event” nights or just enjoy a night of local baseball under the lights.
Eagle Point Park: Eagle Point Park offers visitors plenty to explore in nature and history. Visit or rent the rustic lodge, drive to the limestone bridge or to the castle, bring your dog to the Prairie Pastures Dog Park, play a round of 18-hole disc golf, look out over the Mississippi or visit one of the many other attractions the park has to offer.
Camanche Historical Museum: Learn about the town’s past by visiting the historical museum. Here you can find county histories, tax records and family records. You can also explore the long and interesting past of Camanche. The museum is open by appointment only.
Blue Heron Eco Cruises: The Blue Heron is a 26-passenger pontoon boat that gives cruisers an up-close and personal look at the Mississippi River. A naturalist will conduct tours through backwaters, sloughs and the main channel.
Clinton Real Estate Links
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Links to City Resources & Attractions
Showboat Theater
The Sawmill Museum
Heritage Canyon
Wild Rose Casino & Resort
The Clinton Lumber Kings
Eagle Point Park
Camanche Historical Museum
Blue Heron Eco Cruises