|
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.
|
|
| |
|
|
Jasper County, Iowa
Jasper County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education
County Seat: Newton
Year Organized: 1846
Square Miles: 730
|
Court House: P.O. Box 944
County Courthouse
Newton, IA 50208-0944
|
Etymology - Origin of County Name
Jasper is named for William Jasper, a hero of the American Revolutionary War.
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick
Facts
History
Jasper County, with an area of 736
square miles, was named in honor of Revolutionary War hero Sergeant William
Jasper. The county seat Newton was named after Sergeant Newton. Newton and
Jasper both served under General Francis Marion, "The Swamp Fox."
The first county elections were held on April 6, 1846, and the first county
business was conducted on April 14, 1846. In the summer of 1846 the
commissioners selected Newton City as the county seat. On February 3, 1847 the
legislature shortened the name to Newton.
In 1846, before a courthouse had been constructed at Newton, one was built at
Adamson's Grove. This building was offered to the county but it was declined.
Finally, in 1847, the first courthouse was constructed at Newton. It was a
small, inexpensive building. Evan Adamson was paid $87.50 to construct it. In
1857 this building was sold and moved to a farm.
In 1858 a more elaborate and appropriate building was built. The 62-foot x
50-foot two-story structure was sandstone and brick and faced with limestone.
The building served the county for several years until it became unsanitary and
a firetrap. In 1909 it was torn down.
The present courthouse was dedicated on April 6, 1911. The large three-story
building is made entirely of Bedford limestone. Only the doors and window
casings are made from wood. The interior is decorated with ceramic tile and
marble wainscoting.
A clock tower rises 56 feet above the roof. The four dials of the clock measure
8 feet in height. Private funds in the amount of $1,200 were donated for its
purchase. Total cost, including furnishings, was $200,226.
Source: Nancy Parrot, Jasper County Recorder, 2002
Neighboring Counties:
- North: Marshall County
- Northeast: Tama County
- East: Poweshiek County
- Southeast: Mahaska County
- South: Marion County
- West: Polk County
- Northwest: Story County
Cities and Towns:
|
- Baxter |
city |
Incorporated Area |
|
- Colfax |
city |
Incorporated Area |
|
- Kellogg |
city |
Incorporated Area |
|
- Lambs Grove |
city |
Incorporated Area |
|
- Lynnville |
city |
Incorporated Area |
|
- Mingo |
city |
Incorporated Area |
|
- Monroe |
city |
Incorporated Area |
|
- Newton
(County Seat) |
city |
Incorporated Area |
|
- Prairie City |
city |
Incorporated Area |
|
- Reasnor |
city |
Incorporated Area |
|
- Sully |
city |
Incorporated Area |
|
- Valeria |
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." |
|
|
| |
|
