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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.

Marion County, Iowa

Marion County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education

County Seat: Knoxville
Year Organized: 1845
Square Miles: 554

Court House:

214 East Main Street
County Courthouse
Knoxville, IA 50138-0497

Etymology - Origin of County Name

Marion is named for either Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox" general of the American Revolutionary War, or a leading pioneer whose name is not recorded.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick Facts

County History

Some say Marion County was named for a pioneer who was a favorite character among early settlers. It could also have been named for Francis Marion, American commander in the Revolutionary War. The popularity of the name is attested by the 17 counties in the US of that name. Marion County, Iowa, was formally organized in 1845, and Knoxville was chosen as the county seat.

The first courthouse was a log cabin. In 1856, the people became dissatisfied and decided the county was rich enough to have a new courthouse. In 1895 the Board called for a special election to replace the 1856 brick courthouse.

Another new courthouse was proposed in the 1960s but was voted down. Instead, updating the old courthouse began in 1972. Today, the beautiful old courthouse has a good sound foundation and an interior full of history.

The Iowa flag was designed by Marion County native Dixie Cornell Gebhart. The flag was carried during World War I by local troops and the Iowa Legislature approved it as the state flag on March 29, 1921.

In 1996 an open house with period costumes and entertainment was held to honor the 100th birthday of our Courthouse. This celebration coincided with the sesquicentennial of the State of Iowa.

Source: Marion County Recorder

Neighboring Counties:

North: Jasper County
East: Mahaska County
Southeast: Monroe County
Southwest: Lucas County
West: Warren County
Northwest: Polk County

Cities and Towns:

- Bussey	city	Incorporated Area
- Hamilton	city	Incorporated Area
- Harvey	city	Incorporated Area
- Knoxville (County Seat)	city	Incorporated Area
- Marysville	city	Incorporated Area
- Melcher-Dallas	city	Incorporated Area
- Pella	city	Incorporated Area
- Pleasantville	city	Incorporated Area
- Swan	city	Incorporated Area

County Resources:

Enter County Resources and Information Here

County Resources

The history of our nation was a prolonged struggle to define the relative roles and powers of our governments: federal, state, and local. And the names given the counties, our most locally based jurisdictions, reflects the "characteristic features of this 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."