1. In 1853, the first railroad in Iowa, the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad, was completed. Its first train journeyed from Davenport to Muscatine on September 9.

2. On September 9, 1919, the Iowa State Fair set a new attendance record with 102,000 visitors. The fair, which began in 1854, is one of the largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the United States.

3. In 1972, the Iowa Beef Industry Council was established on September 9 to promote the state's beef industry. Iowa is one of the top beef-producing states in the country.

4. On September 9, 1997, the Iowa Cubs minor league baseball team won the Triple-A Championship, defeating the Buffalo Bisons. The Iowa Cubs play at Principal Park in Des Moines.

5. The Hawkeye State Game, a football rivalry between the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, was first played on September 9, 1899. The Hawkeyes won 16-8. The two teams continue to compete annually, with the game alternated between Iowa City and Ames.