Iowa State...
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Iowa Counties
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Dallas County, Iowa
Dallas County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education
County Seat:
Year Organized:
Square Miles:
MSA: |
Court House: Put address here
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Named: Meaning of County Name State & County QuickFacts:
History
George Mifflin Dallas, mayor of
Philadelphia, U. S. senator from Pennsylvania and Vice President of the U.S.
under James K. Polk is the namesake of Dallas County. The city of Dallas, Texas
is also named in his honor.
The county was established in 1846. The first county elections were held in a
schoolhouse on April 15, 1857 east of present-day Adel. The county seat was
originally called Penoach or Panouch, an Indian word meaning “far away.” In 1849
the name was changed to Adel. The county seat has remained at Adel, but not
without fights from Dallas Center, Perry and Waukee.
The first courthouse was a simple log cabin built by Buel Lathrop in 1848. It
had two rooms connected under one roof with crude looking chimneys on each side
for heating. This building was replaced in 1853 by a 20-foot x 40-foot,
one-story frame building. It was “comfortably finished and furnished.” Although
it was better than the previous courthouse, it was only used until 1858, when a
third courthouse was constructed.
The third courthouse came about after an election authorized its construction by
a vote of 401 to 240. This structure was two stories high and constructed of
brick. The $20,000 building was located on the town square.
In 1902 the fourth and present courthouse was dedicated. The $109,243 building
is impressive looking. The tower is 128-foot-tall with a clock that was donated
by the people of Adel. It is decorated by statues and a stone engraving of the
1853 courthouse. This courthouse, like many others in Iowa, is listed in the
National Register of Historic Places.
In 1993, a restoration project was started which uncovered artwork and
stenciling throughout the public hallways and court room areas of the
courthouse. Restoration architect William Wagner of rural Dallas Center assisted
by offering advice and his time while restoring hidden faux marbling on the
wainscoting in the district court room. Mr. Wagner, at the age of 80, continued
to consult with the county until he lost his life in an automobile accident in
2001. We are very proud of our district court room and the magnificent
chandelier manufactured by St. Louis Antique Lighting.
Restoration is an ongoing project for the county, as we strive to keep our 100
year old courthouse in good condition. We are planning a birthday celebration
and rededication during the week of September 16-20, 2002.
Sources:
Stanek, Edward & Jacqueline, Iowa’s Magnificent County Courthouses,
Wallace-Homestead, 1976
Carole J. Bayeur-Dawson, Dallas County Auditor, 2002
Neighboring Counties:
- North: Boone County
- East: Polk County
- Southeast: Warren County
- South: Madison County
- Southwest: Adair County
- West: Guthrie County
- Northwest: Greene County
Cities:
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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