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Iowa State...
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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.
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Carroll County, Iowa
Carroll County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education
County Seat: Carroll
Year Organized: 1851
Square Miles: 569 |
Court House: P.O. Box 867
County Courthouse
Carroll, IA 51401-0867
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Etymology - Origin of County Name
Carroll County is named in honor of
Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Maryland. He was the only Roman Catholic to sign
the Declaration of Independence, and the longest living signer.
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick
Facts
History
The county was established in 1851. In 1855 a county government was set up in
the town Carrollton. Three years later a courthouse was constructed at a cost of
approximately $3,000. Construction was begun by Nelson Moore, but he died with
only one floor completed. The second story was completed by L. J. Hampton.
In 1869 the centrally located railroad town of Carroll City was selected as the
county seat, replacing, with some protest, Carrollton. The Chicago and
Northwestern Railroad laid out the town and built its first building, a
warehouse. Later a $4,000 courthouse was constructed on the town square. This
building was used until it burned to the ground in 1886. The vaults and records
were undamaged, however, and moved to temporary housing in the Joyce Building
and Drees' Music Hall.
The following winter a $40,000 bond issue was approved toward the construction
of a new, permanent courthouse. The impressive building was built on the
northwest corner of the square (the parking lot of the current courthouse). The
stone and brick building, complete with a clock tower, was used for more than
three-quarters of a century. It was replaced by a modern-looking building in
1965.
A $750,000 bond issue was used to construct and equip the new courthouse. This
building was officially dedicated on September 24, 1966. The highlight of the
dedication ceremony was the opening of the boxes sealed in the cornerstone of
the old courthouse. The bell from the previous courthouse clock tower sits on
the courthouse grounds.
Source: Marie Hackett, Secretary, Carroll County Historical Society, 1991
Neighboring Counties:
- Northeast: Calhoun County
- East: Greene County
- Southeast: Guthrie County
- South: Audubon County
- Southwest: Shelby County
- West: Crawford County
- Northwest: Sac County
Cities and Towns:
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- Arcadia |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Breda |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Carroll
(County Seat) |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Coon Rapids |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Dedham |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Glidden |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Halbur |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Lanesboro |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Lidderdale |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Manning |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Ralston |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Templeton |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Willey |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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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