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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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Pottawattamie County, Iowa
Pottawattamie County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education
County Seat: Council Bluffs
Year Organized: 1848
Square Miles: 954
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Court House: 227 South Sixth Street
County Courthouse
Council Bluffs, IA 51501-4269
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Etymology - Origin of County Name
Pottawattamie is named for the Potawatomi (Pottawattamie) Native American people.
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick
Facts
History
Modern-day Pottawattamie County
evolved out of the Pottawattamie Purchase of 1847. It was named for the Indian
tribe that once possessed the Iowa Territory. The name is an Indian term meaning
"Blowers of Fire," "Keepers of the Council Fires," or "Makers of Fire." The
county was established in 1837 and originated in 1847.
The county is the second largest in area in Iowa and has two courthouses -- one
in Council Bluffs and another in Avoca. However, Pottawattamie has only one
county seat: Council Bluffs.
County commissioners selected Kanesville and Pleasant Grove as potential sites
for the county seat and on April 7, 1851 all but seven votes were cast for
Kanesville, previously known as Hart's Bluff and Miller's Hollow. It was changed
to Council Bluffs in 1853.
The first real courthouse was completed in Council Bluffs in 1868. The two-story
brick and stone building cost $50,000 to complete. Prior to this the county
offices were housed in Hyde's New Hall.
Early in 1884, only 16 years later, there was the need for a new courthouse. The
old one was unsafe and county offices lacked sufficient space. A bond issue was
voted on and passed to construct a $150,000 courthouse and $30,000 jail. The
winning bid came from Eckel and Mann for $136,800 and the old courthouse was
sold for $3,000. County offices were then held in the Masonic Temple until the
second courthouse was completed.
In December 1972 it was discovered that the 87-year-old building was sinking
into the ground, at rate of about 2 inches a month. On August 22, 1973, voters
approved a $2.5 million bond issue for a new county courthouse and jail.
Additional funds for the $4.5 million project were obtained from the federal
government.
The original town plat of Avoca was made in 1869, the same time when the
railroad reached the area. The second courthouse appeared in Avoca around
January 1885. This courthouse houses the offices of the county clerk, sheriff
and magistrate court.
Neighboring Counties:
- Northeast: Shelby County
- East: Cass County
- Southeast: Montgomery County
- South: Mills County
- Southwest: Sarpy County, Neb.
- West: Douglas County, Neb.
- Northwest: Washington County, Neb.; Harrison County
Cities and Towns:
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- Avoca |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Carson |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Carter Lake |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Council Bluffs
(County
Seat) |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Crescent |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Hancock |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Harlan |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Macedonia |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- McClelland |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Minden |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Neola |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Oakland |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Shelby |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Treynor |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Underwood |
city |
Incorporated Area |
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- Walnut |
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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