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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.

Wapello County, Iowa

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

County Seat: Ottumwa
Year Organized: 1843
Square Miles: 432

Court House:

101 W. Fourth Street
County Courthouse
Ottumwa, IA 52501-2510

Etymology - Origin of County Name

Wapello is named for Wapello, a Native American chief in the Black Hawk War.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick Facts

County History

Wapello County is named in honor of Fox Indian Chief "Wau-ba-law," "Waupello," or "Wa-pel-lo." Chief Wapello was the second-in-command over the combined Sac and Fox Indians.

The county was opened at midnight on April 30, 1843. Eager settlers camped along the county border; and, at the sound of a shotgun, they raced towards the "New Purchase." Within a month of this settlement, 5,000 people were living within Wapello's borders.

The county originated in 1844. Three commissioners selected a site for the county seat. It was originally known as Appanoose Rapids, then Louisville. When the settlers arrived, the name was changed to Ottumwanoc, later shortened to the present Ottumwa.

A simple log cabin was the county's first courthouse. It was not long before it was abandoned in favor of a more suitable building.

The first permanent courthouse was a brick structure that cost an estimated $1,000. This building was used until 1855, when it was sold to the Christian Church.

During the fall of 1881, Wapello County experienced a gold rush. A speculator claimed he discovered gold along Bear Creek. The prices for land and mineral rights soared until an investigation proved the scheme to be a fraud.

In 1855 the county constructed its second real courthouse. This building was also two stories, but twice the size of the previous building. This building was used until 1891. It was then demolished to make way for the third and current courthouse.

In an election, voters approved $100,000 worth of bonds to be used towards the construction of a new courthouse. The cornerstone was laid on September 28, 1892, and it was officially dedicated two years later on May 17, 1894.

Rough cut sandstone was used for the five-story building. A large corner clock tower was part of the original design. In 1950 the clock tower and several chimneys were removed. About 450 tons of bricks were removed to help alleviate stress on the building. At the apex of the building stands an Indian statue representing Chief Wapello.

Source: Phyllis Dean, Wapello County Auditor, 2002

Neighboring Counties:

Northeast: Keokuk County
East: Jefferson County
Southeast: Van Buren County
South: Davis County
Southwest: Appanoose County
West: Monroe County
Northwest: Mahaska County

Cities and Towns:

- Agency	city	Incorporated Area
- Blakesburg	city	Incorporated Area
- Chillicothe	city	Incorporated Area
- Eddyville	city	Incorporated Area
- Eldon	city	Incorporated Area
- Kirkville	city	Incorporated Area
- Ottumwa (County Seat)	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."