Muscatine had a significant black population in the 19th century, particularly in comparison to other towns in Iowa. Muscatine County, Iowa, was initially settled in the 1830s, and Muscatine (then Bloomington) developed as a Mississippi River community and the county seat through the 1840s. The population of Muscatine climbed to 2,540 by 1850, third in Iowa behind fellow Mississippi River communities of Dubuque and Burlington. African Americans were among the early settlers in Muscatine, with a core group arriving in town by the early 1840s. While these early black residents composed a small percentage of the overall residents in Muscatine, they interacted with the early white residents, formed business relationships, and organized African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church.
Overall, there were 333 African American residents (black or mulatto per census records) in Iowa in 1850. Muscatine led the state with 68 African American residents composing 2.7% of their population of 2,520 residents. The number was more than double the African American population of any other Iowa community. Prominent names in Muscatine in this period included Thomas C. Motts, Alexander Clark, and Benjamin Matthews. The African American population of Iowa grew significantly in the late 1850s, increasing to 1,069 residents in the 1860 federal census. The recorded African American population of Muscatine increased to 81 by 1860, second among Iowa towns to Keokuk with 179 residents.
Increased migration of former slaves to Iowa during and after the Civil War significantly increased the African American population of Iowa to 5,762 by 1870. The African American residents of Muscatine grew to 107, with an additional 56 residents found in Muscatine County. This population ranked Muscatine as ninth among Iowa towns, with the growth of the African American population in other communities. Early residents of Muscatine remained among the leaders in the state. Alexander Clark became known statewide and nationally for his advocacy for civil rights for black residents in this period. The Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church continued to flourish as the center of the religious and social community for black residents of Muscatine through the end of the 19th century and into the 20th century. The growing community of West Liberty in Wapsinonoc Township attracted some additional black residents in the 1870s, though the majority of black residents in Muscatine County lived in Muscatine in the 19th century.
Nearly all of the black residents of Muscatine County lived in Muscatine by the 1910s. The black population of Muscatine declined in the first decades of the 20th century from 125 residents in 1900 to 102 residents in 1920 to 77 residents by 1940. After World War II, the black population increased again from 82 residents in 1950 to 138 residents by 1960. The population would continue to increase in the late 20th century from 160 in 1980 to 250 residents in Muscatine by 2000.
The full report entitled A Survey of Underground Railroad, African American, Emancipation, and Antislavery Themes in Muscatine and Muscatine County, Iowa can be downloaded by clicking here.
Click here for information about the Underground Railroad and Black History in Muscatine and Muscatine County.
Click here for a more detailed Overview of Black History in Muscatine and Muscatine County.
Click here for further information on Alexander Clark.