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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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Fremont County, Iowa
Fremont County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education
County Seat: Sidney
Year Organized: 1847
Square Miles: 511
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Court House: P.O. Box 610
County Courthouse
Sidney, IA 51652-0610
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Etymology - Origin of County Name
Fremont is named for John Charles Frémont, the U. S. general, explorer, and presidential candidate.
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick
Facts
History
Fremont County was established in
1847 and organized in 1850. It was named for General John Charles Fremont, who
was a lieutenant in the Mexican War and is credited with the opening of west to
white civilization.
Benjamin Rector was elected and sent to the state Legislature to represent
Fremont County; however, he was only permitted to express his views -- not to
vote. The first seat of government was at Austin, but no courthouse was built
there, and court was held at the home and general store owned by A.H. Argyle.
The county seat was first named Dayton in 1851, but changed to Sidney at the
next term of court. Sidney was selected to honor the name of the Ohio town of
Clerk of District Court Milton Richards once lived in.
Fremont County has had three courthouses. The county outgrew its first
courthouse soon, and a new, two-story courthouse was built in 1858. A gunny sack
full of dynamite caused thousands of dollars of damage in 1863. There was much
speculation concerning who caused the explosion -- some of the possibilities
included Confederate guerillas securing money for their cause, "border ruffians"
or Kansas "Jayhawkers," or thieves from Missouri or Nebraska.
In 1888, vandals struck again. Coal oil was poured throughout the building and
set afire. A steel vault saved most of the records. Neither crime was ever
solved.
In 1888, the county voted 295 to 219 to build a new courthouse, costs not to
exceed $26,000. Things were no different then than they are now; final cost was
$27,860. This courthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
on October 15, 1966.
During World War II, a catwalk was built on top, and patriotic citizens scanned
the skies for enemy planes.
Source: Mary Nenneman, Sidney
Neighboring Counties:
- North: Mills County
- Northeast: Montgomery County
- East: Page County
- Southeast: Atchison County, Mo.
- West: Otoe County, Neb.
- Northwest: Cass County, Neb.
Cities and Towns:
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- Farragut |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Hamburg |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Imogene |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Randolph |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Riverton |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Sidney
(County Seat) |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Tabor |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Thurman |
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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