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History · Riverdale

Riverdale dates to 1950, and 20% of its homes were built before 1940

Its Register listings are the James Brown House and the East Hill House and Carraige House.

1950founded
2on the National Register
20%homes built before 1940
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Quick answers

How Riverdale began

When was Riverdale founded?

1950

Riverdale dates its founding to 1950 (Wikidata).

2020 census: 37976 years
Founding year: Wikidata.The full story ↓

What stands out about Riverdale’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Riverdale are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Old housesHalf of Riverdale’s homes were built before 1958.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Riverdale’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Riverdale’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
The story

How Riverdale came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Riverdale.

Read it all →

In 1912, Iowana Dairy Farms was established by Col. G. W. French in what is today the city of Riverdale. French's herd of Holstein cattle became one of the largest and most outstanding in the United States. After the death of Col. French, Glenn Moore took over part of the operation as Iowana Milk Farm, and G. Decker French operated the other part of the operation as Iowana Holstein Farm. The Aluminum Company of America, (ALCOA), moved to the area in 1946. By the middle of 1948 the new plant's construction was finished and operations began in 1949.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Riverdale, decade by decade

Today5 recent
Arconic Davenport Works2022Arconic Davenport WorksRiverdale, Iowa sign2012Riverdale, Iowa signJames Brown House2012James Brown HouseUS Navy 110621-N-CI293-217 Rear Adm. Tilghman D. Payne, commander of Navy Region Midwest, tours Alcoa North American Ro…2011US Navy 110621-N-CI293-217 Rear Adm. Tilghman D. Payn…IAMap-doton-Riverdale2004IAMap-doton-Riverdale
On the National Register

2 historic places in Riverdale

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
2
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
4
each building in a district counts
first listed
1982
James Brown House
James Brown HouseEast Hill House and Carraige House
Buildings

Architectural styles listings

Vernacular1
Greek Revival1
Roman Classicism1
Colonial Revival1
James Brown HouseVernacular
East Hill House and Carraige HouseColonial Revival

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

Famous people

Famous people close to Riverdale

Nobody well known was born in Riverdale itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Lara Flynn BoyleAmerican actress · b. 1970
Buffalo BillAmerican soldier and showman · b. 1846
Seth RollinsAmerican professional wrestler and actor · b. 1986
Julia MichaelsAmerican singer-songwriter · b. 1993
Sue LyonAmerican actress · b. 1946
E
Eduvie IkobaAmerican soccer player · b. 1997
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Bettendorf4 historic placesC−

Questions about Riverdale’s history

What year was Riverdale founded?

In 1950, according to Wikidata.

What is on the National Register in Riverdale?

Two places: the James Brown House (listed 1982) and the East Hill House and Carraige House (1999).

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

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 (5), the National Register of Historic Places (2), Wikipedia and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.