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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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Jefferson County, Iowa
Jefferson County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education
County Seat: Fairfield
Year Organized: 1839
Square Miles: 435
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Court House: P.O. Box 984
County Courthouse
Fairfield, IA 52556-0017
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Etymology - Origin of County Name
Jefferson is named for Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick
Facts
History
Jefferson County is named after the
framer of the Declaration of Independence and third President of the United
States, Thomas Jefferson.
The locating commissioners located the county seat of Jefferson County at
Fairfield on March 4, 1838. There was some minor disappointment that it was not
located at Lockridge, but after time passed, Fairfield was seen as a wise
choice. The county was established and originated in 1839.
The first lots of Fairfield were sold to provide funds for public buildings. The
first of these buildings was the courthouse. Built in 1839, it was the first
courthouse built in Iowa that was not a log cabin or a temporary structure. This
building cost $725, plus extras and painting. By 1845 this building was
considered inadequate for county use. It was sold by the county and subsequently
used as a blacksmith shop.
Approval for the second courthouse came in an election held August 1846. This
stone and brick structure was completed in January 1851 and was being used by
the county in May of that same year. Although this building was only 22 years
old, a grand jury deemed it unfit for county use. Several attempts to construct
a new courthouse failed in elections. It was not until 1890 that the
construction of a new courthouse was approved.
This third, and present, courthouse was officially dedicated on January 20,
1893. The total cost of the 68-foot x 88-foot stone and brick structure was
$73,630. When this building was first completed, it was heated by steam and
contained gas lighting.
Jefferson County claims the first Carnegie Library, the first malleable iron
foundary, and the first golf club located west of the Mississippi. In addition,
Fairfield enjoys the distinction of hosting the first Iowa State Fair in 1854
Neighboring Counties:
- Northeast: Washington County
- East: Henry County
- South: Van Buren County
- Southwest: Davis County
- West: Wapello County
- Northwest: Keokuk County
Cities and Towns:
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- Batavia |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Fairfield
(County
Seat) |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Libertyville |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Lockridge |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Packwood |
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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