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Iowa Counties

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Iowa Counties

There are 99 Counties in Iowa. The first two counties, Des Moines County and Dubuque County, were created in 1834 when Iowa was still part of the Michigan Territory. In preparation for Michigan's statehood, part of Michigan Territory was formed into Wisconsin Territory in 1836]. Two years later, the western portion was split off to become Iowa Territory. The south-eastern part of Iowa Territory became Iowa, the 29th state in the union, on 28 December 1846, by which point 44 Counties had been created. Counties continued to be created by the state government until 1857, when the last county, Humboldt County, was created.

Allamakee County, Iowa

Allamakee County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education

County Seat: Waukon
Year Organized: 1847
Square Miles: 640

Court House:

110 Allamakee Street
County Courthouse
Waukon, IA 52172-1744

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: Census Bureau Quick Facts

County 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:

- Harpers Ferry	city	Incorporated Area
- Lansing	city	Incorporated Area
- New Albin	city	Incorporated Area
- Postville	city	Incorporated Area
- Waterville	city	Incorporated Area
- Waukon (County Seat)	city	Incorporated Area

County Resources:

Enter County Resources and Information Here

County Resources

The history of our nation was a prolonged struggle to define the relative roles and powers of our governments: federal, state, and local. And the names given the counties, our most locally based jurisdictions, reflects the "characteristic features of this 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."