LeClaire, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
LeClaire, Iowa
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City
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Downtown LeClaire
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Location of LeClaire, Iowa
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| Country | United States |
| State | Iowa |
| County | Scott |
| Area | |
| • City | 4.85 sq mi (12.57 km2) |
| • Land | 4.65 sq mi (12.05 km2) |
| • Water | 0.20 sq mi (0.52 km2) |
| Elevation | 587 ft (179 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 4,710 |
| • Density | 1,012.25/sq mi (390.83/km2) |
| • Metro | 381,580 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
52753
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| Area code(s) | 563 |
| FIPS code | 19-44085 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0466067 |
LeClaire is a city in Scott County, Iowa, United States. It's located right on the Mississippi River. In 2020, about 4,710 people lived here. LeClaire is one of the fastest-growing towns in the Quad Cities area. It's considered a suburb of the larger Quad Cities region, which includes cities like Davenport and Moline.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The city of LeClaire gets its name from Antoine LeClaire. He was a trader with both First Nations and French Canadian family roots. He originally owned the land where the city now stands. Even though the official name is "LeClaire," you might sometimes see it spelled "Le Claire."
People from Europe started settling here in the 1830s. The town officially became a city in 1855.
In January 2020, a train had an accident near the Buffalo Bill Museum. Several train cars fell off the tracks. Luckily, no one was hurt and no buildings were damaged. Officials checked the area carefully and found no major pollution in the air or water.
LeClaire is also famous for being the home of the TV show American Pickers. This show, on the History Channel, features an antiques store called Antique Archaeology. LeClaire is also the birthplace of a very famous person: William Frederick Cody, known as Buffalo Bill.
Where is LeClaire?
LeClaire is located at 41°35′46″N 90°21′23″W / 41.59611°N 90.35639°W. It's a city with a total area of about 4.87 square miles (12.57 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, and a small part is water.
Schools in LeClaire
Students in LeClaire are part of the Pleasant Valley Community School District. This district has several schools. In LeClaire, younger students go to Bridgeview Elementary. If they live in the areas just outside the city, they might go to Cody Elementary.
Older students in junior high travel to Pleasant Valley Junior High School. This school is located on the edge of the city. The high school and other elementary schools in the district are in nearby Bettendorf.
For many years, LeClaire had its own school district. Students went to a building called Albert Gross School. It taught students from kindergarten all the way through high school. In 1966, LeClaire's school district joined with the Pleasant Valley School District. Since then, high school students from LeClaire have attended Pleasant Valley High School.
Fun Things to Do and See
LeClaire has many interesting things to do and places to visit.
Tugfest: A River Tug-of-War
Every August, LeClaire hosts a special event called Tugfest. It's a three-day festival where teams have a giant tug-of-war across the Mississippi River. A long rope stretches from LeClaire, Iowa, to Port Byron, Illinois.
There are teams of men and women who pull against each other. The state that wins the most rounds wins Tugfest! This event also includes a big fireworks show, live music, a race, a carnival, and lots of food.
Buffalo Bill Museum
The Buffalo Bill Museum is right on the riverfront in LeClaire. It celebrates the life of Buffalo Bill Cody. You can see items from his famous Wild West Show here. The museum also has other old items and things that show the history of the area.
American Pickers Store
LeClaire is home to Antique Archaeology. This is the antique store owned by Mike Wolfe, who stars in the TV show American Pickers. The show is very popular on the History Channel. Mike Wolfe used to be a firefighter and a city council member in LeClaire.
Bald Eagles
If you love nature, LeClaire is a great place to see bald eagles. From December to March, many eagles gather near Lock and Dam 14 on the Mississippi River. They come here to catch fish. It's one of the best places in the United States to take pictures of these amazing birds.
Notable People
- William Fredrick "Buffalo Bill" Cody (1846–1917), famous for his Wild West shows.
- Christine Romans, a well-known broadcast journalist.
- Peter Henry Rolfs (1865-1944), a leader in agriculture and founder of a university in Brazil.
See also
In Spanish: Le Claire para niños
