The first settler to build a home in the area that was to be known as Wilton in the new state of Iowa (1846) was Mr. Christian Marolf who came in July 1849,[4] and erected of a small log house opposite the German Lutheran church.

The city was once home to the Wilton German English College from 1894 to 1905.

[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.95 square miles (5.05 km2), all land.

28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Witon has a library/community center building in the northeast section of the city, near the high school that provides numerous resources to residents.

Historic sites include the Wilton Candy Kitchen, which is the oldest ice cream parlor in the world,[12] and the former Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad depot built in 1898.

The City Park (known by residents as the Blue Park) in the heart of the town had an indoor swimming pool (torn down in 2024) as well as a playground, shelter house, and baseball field.

Westview Park is on the west side of town and has tennis courts, playground equipment, a walking path, and a ball field.

The class also produces a student newspaper called "The Beaver Tale" which is printed monthly during the school year in the Advocate News.

Wilton is three miles (5 km) south of Interstate 80, at the junction of County Highway F58 and Iowa Highway 38, within driving distance of Muscatine, the Quad Cities, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids.

The Iowa Interstate Railroad passes through the city and provides service to local industries.

The Quad City International Airport is 30 miles east of Wilton providing non-stop flights to destinations throughout the country.

Wilton sits along the historic transcontinental U.S. Route 6, though this section was transferred to IA927 and later to county F58.

Trinity Medical Center in Muscatine has a "physicians' clinic" located in Wilton.