|
Iowa State...
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Iowa Counties
|
|
Click Image to Enlarge
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.
|
|
| |
|
|
Dickinson County, Iowa
Dickinson County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education
County Seat: Spirit Lake
Year Organized: 1851
Square Miles: 381
|
Court House: 1802 Hill Avenue
County Courthouse
Spirit Lake, IA 51360-1259
|
Etymology - Origin of County Name
Dickinson is named for Daniel Stevens Dickinson, a United States senator from New York.
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick
Facts
History
Dickinson County, the smallest county
in land area, is named in honor of Daniel S. Dickinson, a lawyer and senator
from New York.
The county was established in 1851. In the summer of 1856 Rowland Gardner came
from Cerro Gordo County to settle. He and his family erected cabins, which came
to be known as Gardner's Grove. Soon after many families started to settle in
the area. But by the end of the year the population was only 40 residents, half
of that being children.
In the winter of 1856-1857 a renegade band of Sioux Indians attacked the
settlers around the lake, killing all but four women. Later, two of the four
women were murdered and the remaining two were rescued. For six days the
ravaging and pillaging of settlements and killing of livestock continued. Word
of the "Spirit Lake Massacre" finally reached Fort Dodge. An expedition was
launched to pursue the Indians, but the main job turned out to be burying the
dead.
Following the massacre there was a large increase in settlers, especially in the
summer. This second wave of pioneers organized the county for independence. A
petition was sent to the judge in Woodbury County, a seven-day journey by
horseback, asking for a separate organization. An election was held calling for
county officials, and on August 4, 1857 Dickinson County was formed and in 1858
the county originated.
The first courthouse was built in Spirit Lake. It was begun in 1859 and
partially finished in 1860. In 1860 it was used as a barracks for Civil War
troops and was completed in 1868. This building was destroyed by fire in 1872.
A second courthouse was constructed using the salvageable bricks of the first
courthouse, but it was soon deemed unsatisfactory and condemned in 1880.
In September 1889 a $15,000 bond issue was proposed for the construction of a
new courthouse. It was passed by a large majority. Construction of the third
courthouse began on October 4, 1890 and was completed in 1891. Since its
completion the building has seen three additions, one in 1957 and two more in
1976 and 1978. The funding for these additions came from the Federal Revenue
Sharing fund.
Source: Early History of Dickinson County
Neighboring Counties:
- North: Jackson County, Minn.
- East: Emmet County
- Southeast: Palo Alto County
- South: Clay County
- Southwest: O'Brien County
- West: Osceola County
Cities and Towns:
|
- Arnolds Park |
city |
Incorporated Area |
|
- Lake Park |
city |
Incorporated Area |
|
- Milford |
city |
Incorporated Area |
|
- Okoboji |
city |
Incorporated Area |
|
- Orleans |
city |
Incorporated Area |
|
- Spirit Lake
(County
Seat) |
city |
Incorporated Area |
|
- Superior |
city |
Incorporated Area |
|
- Terril |
city |
Incorporated Area |
|
- Wahpeton |
city |
Incorporated Area |
|
- West Okoboji |
city |
Incorporated Area |
County Resources:
Enter County Resources and Information Here
|
|
County Resource Guide
|
|
|
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." |
|
|
| |
|
