The city's name is derived from the fossils that are found in the limestone along the Iowa River.

[3] During the lecture, he presented local samples of fossilized Devonian period coral.

[4] The lecture was well received and helped raise public interest in the local fossils.

In 1866, more corals were discovered at the site of a new mill, inspiring the citizens of the area to name the settlement "Coralville".

They built handcarts out of native woods during their encampment so that an adult could haul a 600–700 pound load and cover about 15 miles per day on foot in their continuing trek to Salt Lake City.

A historical marker commemorating the Mormon Handcart Brigade was erected in 1936 by the Iowa Society DAR, with members of the Pilgrim Chapter present.

[7] The construction of Interstate 80 in the 1960s brought several motels, fast-food restaurants, and gas stations to Coralville.

Junior and senior high school students rode buses into Iowa City.

In 1971, the district built Northwest Junior High on property just to the south of Kirkwood Elementary, which then began handling seventh and eighth graders who lived west of the Iowa River.

From June through August 1993, all three of Coralville's main transportation links with Iowa City were submerged.

The 2008 flood proved to be more costly as the Iowa River surpassed the 1993 record crest at over 31.5 feet (9.6 m).

The First Methodist Church was built in 1963 to the designs by architect Thomas Patrick Reilly of Crites & McConnell, 860 17th Street S.E.

[8] On July 29, 1998, the Coral Ridge Mall opened with more than 100 stores, then the largest shopping center in the state.

Around that time a "city center" area was created along the U.S. Route 6 "strip" near its intersection with 12th Avenue.

[9] Xtream Arena, a 5,100-seat venue, opened in 2020 in the city's Iowa River Landing neighborhood.

Interstate 80 runs east–west through Coralville, and most of the city's newer housing subdivisions are located north of I-80.

218/Iowa 27 is divided between the city limits of Coralville and neighboring Tiffin after recent annexations.

Coralville and Johnson County are part of the Cedar Rapids media market.