Prior to the treaty of May 1, 1843, the area of what is now Malcom was Sauk and Meskwaki lands. Though there were a few settlers earlier, by 1858, the population justified the formation of a township. The railroad was extended from Iowa City in 1863, and the village was laid out on the Little Bear Creek. The town was incorporated on April 23, 1872. The town was badly damaged in the 2020 derecho, when a resident died and several grain silos were toppled.
Passages that mention Malcom, cut from the printed page as they were published.
The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa1880 · page 628Read the page →
Read the text
The Grinnell and Montezuma Bailroad runs diagonally northwest and southeast across the township. The county seat, Montezuma, is only a mile and a half from its southern border, and the thrifty little town of Malcom is only a mile from its northern border. It enjoys the privileges of good schools, a depot, church and post-office near the center, at Ewart. The North Fork of English Biver flows from west to east through the center of the township, but the broken land which so often follows the creeks is vastly wanting here.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa1880 · page 313Read the page →
Read the text
Along Little Bear Creek, in the vicinity of the present town of Malcom, there was no extensive settlement prior to the year 1856. Among the pioneers of that region who settled prior to 1850, were Robert Motherl and Church Meigs; Motherl left the country many years ago and Meigs is dead.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Poweshiek County, Iowa1911 · page 702Read the page →
Read the text
He returned to Davenport and then in June,- 1866, went to Brooklyn, where he engaged in merchandising until August of that year, when he sold out and came to Malcom, here erecting the first house in the town. He also opened the first store here on the 15th of September, 1866, and was made the first postmaster. Two years later, however, in 1868, he sold his business and resigned the office of postmaster to accept the position of agent for the Rock Island Railroad Company at Alalcom. He was the second agent here and continued in that capacity until January i. 1882, when he was elected treasurer of
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Poweshiek County, Iowa1911 · page 720Read the page →
Read the text
perous farmers of the county. Upon entering business circles on his own account he rented large tracts of land, which he continued to operate in that capacitv until about three years ago, when he purchased his present home, consisting of seventy acres adjoining the town of Malcom. This place, which is highly improved, its value being greatly enhanced by the fine buildings which stand within the corporation limits of the town, is one of the desirable properties of the community. Aside from the care which he bestows upon his fields he gives a great share of his time and attention to his stock-raising interests, sell-
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Timeline
Malcom, 1858 to 1979
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →
From Wikimedia Commons (4), Wikidata (1), the National Register of Historic Places (1), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
2017
2011
2008
2004
