Wilton dates to 1855, and 5 of its places are on the National Register
More historic than 59% of U.S. towns · #94 of 140 in Iowa. What drives it
Most of Wilton was built recently: 9% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1973. 5 places in town are on the National Register, among them a historic district with 32 buildings. Below: maps from 1891 on and the census since 1870.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1850.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Wilton’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Wilton is more historic than 59% of U.S. towns, #94 of 140 in Iowa. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.
B
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Wilton’s overall grade.
Iowa towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Iowa town has 9.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Wilton’s 127 sits above most of its state (85% of Iowa towns have fewer) while its 37 historic buildings outnumber those of 83% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1855.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C to B+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±4.2 points).
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Wilton’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The first settler to build a home in the area that was to be known as Wilton in the new state of Iowa (1846) was Mr. Christian Marolf who came in July 1849, and erected of a small log house opposite the German Lutheran church. When he built his home Mr. Marolf could only see the home of Mr. Stearns just west of town on the south side of the Moscow road. Mr. Marolf was soon followed by Mr. Ben Maurer in 1850 whose land now comprises North Wilton and Peter Marolf in 1851, which is now known as Marolf's addition. North Wilton is at present (1947) not within the corporate limits of Wilton. The city was once home to the Wilton German English College from 1894 to 1905. The campus of the college was later turned into City Park, and some of the college's buildings remain to this day.
Passages that mention Wilton, cut from the printed page as they were published.
The History of Muscatine county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. ..1879 · page 572Read the page →
Read the text
At this time, Messrs. Cook & Sargent, bankers at Davenport, owned a large amount of stock in the M. <t M. R. R., and were interested in building up Durant, in opposition to Wilton, and for a time a sharp warfare was waged. As soon as cars commenced running on the branch from Muscatine, the trains were run by Wilton and transferred at Durant, and the name '"Wilton"' was not allowed to be called on the cars — the brakemen would call out, " Muscatine Junction." A fine depot was erected at Durant, while the only accommodation afforded at Wilton was a small shed-roof building at the west end of the
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The History of Muscatine county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. ..1879 · page 577Read the page →
Read the text
August 3, 1855, the location of the church was changed to Moscow, but immediately afterward was again changed and located at Wilton, and at a meeting held at the residence of Rev. Knowles, June 20, 1856, new articles of incorporation were submitted and adopted, and the name changed to that of First Congregational Church of Wilton.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The History of Muscatine county, Iowa1879 · page 577Read the page →
Read the text
August 3, 1855, the location of the church was changed to Moscow, but immediately afterward was again changed and located at Wilton, and at a meeting held at the residence of Rev. Knowles, June 20, 1856, new articles of incorporation were submitted and adopted, and the name changed to that of First Congregational Church of Wilton.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The History of Muscatine county, Iowa1879 · page 572Read the page →
Read the text
passenger-trains commenced to run to Wilton, j 'Ti "' '"■> \j At this time, Messrs. Cook & Sargent, bankers at Davenport, owned a large amount of stock in the M. & M. R. R., and were interested in building up Durant, in opposition to Wilton, and for a time a sharp warfare was waged. As soon as cars commenced running on the branch from Muscatine, the trains were run by Wilton and transferred at Durant, and the name " Wilton '' was not allowed to be called on the cars — the brakemen would call out, " Muscatine Junction." A fine depot was erected at Durant, while the only accommo-
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
Wilton, 1850 to 1985
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Wilton’s post office has been open since 1972. Two other post offices opened and closed inside today’s town.
Glen Dale
1850–1851
Wilton Junction
1856–1972
Wilton
1972–today
18501940today
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Questions about Wilton’s history
What year was Wilton founded?
In 1855, according to Wikidata. Wilton’s post office opened in 1850, and the census of 1870 counted 1,317 people here.
How does Wilton rank for history?
Wilton is more historic than 59% of U.S. towns, #94 of 140 in Iowa. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Wilton?
5 listings: 4 buildings, among them the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad-Wilton Depot (listed 1988, the first), and 1 historic district, the Wilton Commercial Historic District, with 32 contributing buildings. 37 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Wilton?
9% of Wilton’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±4.2 points), against a typical 22% for an Iowa town; the median home was built in 1973.
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).
From Wikimedia Commons (10), Wikidata (2), the National Register of Historic Places (5), 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 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.
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