Researched and Written by
Dr. Fred Stamler

Iowa became a separate governmental entity in 1838, when a strip of land lying west of the Mississippi River was taken from Wisconsin Territory to form Iowa Territory, with Burlington chosen as the first Capitol. It was soon decided that Burlington’s location was not central enough within the territory, and negotiations to choose a new capitol were begun. This resulted in such intense rivalry and dissension, that a plan was adopted to select a virgin site to found a new capitol city. Johnson County was selected as the general area within which the city was to be located, and a committee of three men (Chauncy Swan, John Ralston, and Robert Ronalds) was commissioned to chose the exact site.

On May 4, 1839, this committee settled upon a location overlooking the Iowa River, approximately where the Old Capitol now stands, and declared this to be the chosen spot for the "City of Iowa." Their action quickly gained the necessary approval, and with the establishment of a post office, "Iowa City" became the Capitol of the Territory of Iowa, as well as the county seat of Johnson County, although no city actually existed at the time.

Plans for a territorial capitol building were approved very quickly and construction was begun in 1840. Various problems delayed the completion of the capitol building, and temporary quarters were required for several years, but Iowa City served as the site of territorial government until Iowa became a state in 1846.