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Iowa

Some People Don’t Know That Iowa Was The First State To Do These 10 Things

By Michaela Kendall | Published August 03, 2015

Iowa has always been one of the more progressive states. Since gaining statehood in 1846, we have been taking big strides to be a leader in civil rights and equality. From being the first state to allow women to go to college, to constructing the first mosque in America, here are 10 things that Iowa was the first state in the U.S. to do.

1. In 1857, The University of Iowa became the first state university in the nation to open its degree programs to women.

2. In 1869, Iowan Julia C. Addington became the first woman in the United States to be elected to a public office. She was elected to be Mitchell County Superintendent.

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3. In 1871, Ada E. North became the first woman in the United States to be appointed to a statewide office. She was appointed as the Iowa State Librarian.

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4. In 1869, Iowa became the first state to allow women to join the bar, which led to Iowa having the first female attorney in the U.S.: Arabella Mansfield.

5. In 1875, Emma Haddock of Iowa City became the first female in the United States to practice law before a federal court.

6. In 1934, the first mosque built in the United States was erected in Cedar Rapids. It is now known as the Mother Mosque of America.

7. In 1851, Iowa became the second state to legalize interracial marriage - a century before the rest of America.

8. In 1846, Iowa became the second state in the nation to allow married women to own property.

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9. In 1868, Iowa became the second state to outlaw segregated schools - 90 years before the rest of America.

10. In 2007, Iowa became the second state to allow full marriage equality for gays and lesbians.

This goes to show how great a state Iowa really is, and just how much history we’ve made, even if you don’t hear much about it.

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