The 1854 Gazetteer of the United States by Thomas Baldwin shows:

MUSCATINE, a county in the E. S. E. part of Iowa, bordering on Illinois, has an area of 450 square miles. The Mississippi river, which makes a great bend opposite the county, forms its south-eastern boundary for a distance of about 40 miles, and it is intersected by Red Cedar river. The surface is generally rolling, and diversified with groves of trees and extensive prairies; the soil is exceedingly fertile, and much improved. Wheat, Indian corn, and grass are the staples. In 1850 this county produced 341,465 bushels of Indian corn; 68,246 of wheat, and 5433 tons of hay. It contained 9 churches, 2 newspaper offices, and 1590 pupils attending public schools. Extensive beds of stone coal and quarries of freestone and limestone are found. A railroad is projected through this county from Rock island to the Missouri river. Capital, Muscatine. Population, 5731.