Iowa State...
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Iowa Counties
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Allamakee County, Iowa
Allamakee County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education
County Seat:
Year Organized:
Square Miles:
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Court House: Put address here
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Etymology - Origin of County Name
Allamakee is named for either Allan Makee, a trapper and trader, or is of Native American origin.
(Unique county name) Demographics:
County QuickFacts:
History
There is some debate over the origin
of the county name. Some say the county is named after Allan Makee, an Indian
trader and trapper, who was known by the Winnebago Indians. Other sources say
the name is purely of Indian origin. The county was established in 1847 and
originated in 1849.
The first county seat was located just northwest of Rossville, at a place called
"The Old Stake." This site was considered useless as there were other points of
greater importance already settled in Allamakee County.
In April 1851 the voters went to the polls to select a county seat. The towns
Vailsville, Smith's Mill and Columbus were the choices. None of them received a
majority of the votes. A second election was held the following May, with
Columbus receiving the most votes. Soon after Columbus was selected as the
county seat, a rivalry developed between Columbus and Lansing. Due to this a
commission was appointed to select the county seat. The site they selected was
Waukon. This choice went to an election. Even though Columbus fought the
decision, the results were overwhelmingly for Waukon.
A courthouse was built in Waukon in 1853. It was a small frame structure that
cost $325 to construct. It was used until 1857, when a similar building was
constructed next to it. These two buildings served the county until 1861, when
the county seat was moved again.
A heated contest between the towns of Waukon and Lansing developed. Both towns
agreed to build on suitable lots and both towns offered substantial "rewards"
for the county seat. Lansing offered $8,000 and Waukon offered $5,000 towards
the courthouse.
Between 1860-1861, following an election, a $13,000 courthouse was built at
Waukon. The city paid $5,000 as promised. Although Waukon had a courthouse, it
was not the county seat. That distinction went to "The Point." Located between
Lansing and Capoli, "The Point" became the site of a $5,000, stone structure
courthouse. The cost was paid by the citizens of Lansing.
In the summer of 1866 the citizens of Waukon attempted to regain the county
seat. A gang of 30 men from Waukon tried to steal the county records from the
courthouse at "The Point." This attempt failed, but the one in 1867 did not. A
10th county seat election was held. Waukon won out, after a 25-year long battle.
The present courthouse is of modern design. It was built between 1940 and 1941,
and it replaced the $13,000 courthouse built in 1861. The old courthouse was
taken over by the Allamakee County Historical Society; it now functions as a
museum.
Neighboring Counties:
- North: Houston County, Minn.
- Northeast: Vernon County, Wis.
- East: Crawford County, Wis.
- South: Clayton County
- Southwest: Fayette County
- West: Winneshiek County
Cities and Towns:
County Resources:
Enter County Resources and Information Here
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County Resource Guide
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The history of our nation can be seen as a prolonged struggle to define the relative roles and powers of our governments: federal, state, and local. And the names we've given our counties, our most locally based jurisdictions, reflects the "characteristic
features of our country!"
But age, size and colorful names of our counties isn't the only reason to explore counties' role in American history, or the history of county government itself. In fact, the story of county government reflects the larger meanings of American history.
Today's counties are the most flexible, locally responsive and creative governments in the US. They are the most diverse, varying in size, population, geography, and governmental structure. In their politics and policies, they express a 1990's political slogan "Think globally,
act locally." |
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Penn Foster High School
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