Burlington, Iowa - History

History

Prior to American settlement, the area was neutral territory for the Sac and Fox Indians, who called it "Shoquoquon" (Shok-ko-kon), meaning Flint Hills.

In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson organized two parties of explorers to map the Louisiana Purchase. Lewis and Clark followed the Missouri River, while Lt. Zebulon Pike followed the Mississippi River. In 1805, Pike landed at the bluffs below Burlington and raised the United States Flag for the first time on Iowa soil and recommended the construction of a fort. The recommendation went unheeded.

The American Fur Company established a post in the area in 1829, but actual settlement began in 1833, shortly after the Black Hawk Purchase when Samuel (who also went by Simpson) White, Amzi Doolitle, and Morton M. McCarver crossed the Mississippi River from Big Island. According to an account A.T. Andreas wrote in 1875, White erected a cabin in the area later platted to be Front Street between Court and High streets. Andreas called White and Doolittle the Romulus and Remus of their settlement, referring to the ancient heroes who founded Rome — another city surrounded by hills.

A few weeks later, William R. Ross crossed the Mississippi and established a general store. In November and December, he surveyed the settlement for White and Doolittle, and the following spring they allowed the purchaser of the first lot, John Gray, to rechristen the town. For $50, Gray named it after his hometown in Burlington, Vermont.

In 1837, Burlington became the second territorial capital of the Wisconsin Territory. The Iowa Territory was organized in the following year, Burlington became its first territorial capital. The government used "Old Zion," the first Methodist Church in Iowa (located near what is now Third and Washington streets), to conduct business of the day. Although this building no longer exists, a historical marker may be found at its site.

On May 22, 1849, Maj. William Williams visited Burlington and provided a brief description in his journal:

This town originally called Flint Hill- the Indian name was Shoquokon, Flint or Rock Hill. beautifully elevated, situated on the west side of the Mississippi River, a place of very considerable business. The town is very well built. Houses are good, generally taste, brick dwellings. A great many handsome residences on the more elevated parts of the bluff. The number of inhabitants between 3,000 and 3,500. ... Was the first seat of government after the formation of the Territory of Iowa. The view of the city is extremely picturesque from the river. The main part of the city is situated like an amphitheater formed by the surrounding hills, beautiful buildings and private residences on the eminences around. From the location of Burlington it must always be a place of considerable trade. The city is well built modern style, a very intelligent population... The river here is over 3/4 of mile wide and steam ferry boats constantly plying between this and the Illinois shore.

Iowa's nickname "The Hawkeye State" has its roots in Burlington. At Judge David Rorer's suggestion, publisher James G. Edwards changed The Iowa Patriot newspaper's name to The Hawk-Eye and Iowa Patriot in tribute to his friend Black Hawk. Rorer is said to have found the name in The Last of the Mohicans while Edwards proposed the nickname to "...rescue from oblivian a momento, at least of the name of the old chief."

Burlington was a bustling river port in the steamboat era and home to the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, in which part of the name comes from the town. The CB&Q (1848–1970) merged into the Burlington Northern Railroad (BN, 1970–1996), which in turn merged into the BNSF Railway (BNSF, 1997–present), eventually bringing the "Burlington" name from the CB&Q to the name of one of the United States' largest railroads. Even today, one of the BNSF's main east-west lines crosses the Mississippi at Burlington.

In 1975, author Philip Jordan published his book "Catfish Bend." In its epilogue, he wrote: "Burlington today is both the same and different than it was when first settled. It is ugly and it is beautiful. It is progressive and retrogressive. It is both conservative and liberal." He also noted, "Its bluffs still overlook a magnificent sweep of river dotted with islands which pioneers first noted."

On July 8, 2010, Google accepted the first 3D building model for Burlington. The building is located at 1200 North Seventh Street.