 "Media," meaning "middle," was appended to "polis," meaning "village," as Mediapolis is halfway between Wapello and Burlington.From 1875 to the mid 20th century, Mediapolis was a railroad junction where the Burlington and Northwestern Railway to Washington (later a branch of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy) met the original north-south line.The Rock Island Railroad ceased operation in 1980, leading to the abandonment of the north-south line through Mediapolis.