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Assorted Groups (Anthology, Cultural, Ethnic, & Religious):
Irish in Iowa - A treasure trove of information, biographies, families, life in general.
Norwegian Heritage in Story County and Central Iowa - A resource to those researching
the history and genealogies of people of Norwegian ancestry in Central Iowa.
Note: These items are presented as part of the historical record and should not be interpreted to mean that the WebMaster, in any way, endorses any stereotypes which may be implied by the linked web sites.
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Census & related Lists of various kinds:
1836 Census of Iowa - from Wisconsin Territorial Census; the Wisconsin Territorial
counties of Dubuque and Des Moines covered the area that would become Iowa
Territory.
1840 Census - 1840 Census of Pensioners Revolutionary or Military Service (Territory of
Iowa).
Des Moines Register Tribune - List: Register Tribune paper carriers, 1929-1931.
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Extinct Iowa Counties:: (not linked unless noted,  ):
(If you know of more to be added, please contact us.)
County Name
Bancroft -
Belknap -
Buncombe -
Cook -
Crocker -
Fox -
Grimes -
Kishkekosh -
Risley -
Slaughter -
Wahkaw -
Yell -
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Factual information
Was created by act of the Legislature in 1851 from a portion of old Fayette and
embraced the twelve northern townships of what is now Kossuth County,
extending to the Minnesota line, making an area of four hundred four
square miles. The county was named in honor of George Bancroft, the
historian. In January, 1853, it was attached to Boone County for election,
revenue and judicial purposes. In 1855 by act of the General Assembly it
was made a part of Kossuth and Bancroft County ceased to exist. No
county-seat was established and no organization of a county government
was performed.
Was created by act of General Assembly in 1874. In compliance with the
Constitution of the proposition to establish this county was submitted to
a vote of the electors residing in the county of Pottawattamie which it
proposed to divide and at this election was rejected so that Belknap County
ceased to exist. The name was given in honor of General William W.
Belknap, a distinguished Iowa officer in the Civil War and afterwards,
Secretary of War in the Cabinet of President U.S. Grant.
Was established in 1851 and named for an officer in the War of the Revolution. At
the extra session of the Ninth General Assembly in September, 1862, the
name was changed to Lyon.
Was established from territory originally embraced in Demoine County, on
07-Dec-1836. The county was never organized and the following year the
territory was divided among other counties created by act of the legislature
on 21-Dec-1837.
Was created by an act of the Legislature of 1870, it was named for General M. M.
Crocker of Iowa, a distinguished officer of the Civil War. The county-seat
was located at Greenwood and the organization was completed in October,
1870. In December, 1871, the Supreme Court of Iowa declared the act
creating this county a violation of the constitution, which in article eleven
declares that no new county shall be created which contains less than four
hundred thirty two square miles. Crocker County ceased to exist from and
after the rendition of that decision and its territory reverted to Kossuth
County.
Was created by act of the General Assembly in 1851 and named for the Fox
Indians. It was attached to Polk County but never organized under that
name. In January, 1853, the name was changed to Calhoun.
Was created by act of the Sixteenth General Assembly in 1876, embracing twelve
townships lying in ranges thirty-eight, thirty-nine and forty of
Pottawattamie County. The act provided in compliance with a provision of
the Constitution, that the proposition should be submitted to a vote of the
electors of 1876. The division of the county was defeated at that election
and the new county was never organized. It was named for Ex-Governor
James W. Grimes, for many years a distinguished member of the United
States Senate.
Was created in February, 1843, and named for a famous Fox Indian chief. It was
organized in July, 1845, when E.S. Rand, Israel Kister and J.A. Galligher
were appointed commissioners to locate the county-seat. They chose a site
where Albia now stands, and a town was laid out named Princeton. On the
1st of August, 1846, the name of the county was changed to Monroe and
the county of Kishkekosh ceased to exist.
Was created in 1851 and embraced the territory now constituting the county of
Hamilton. It was attached to Polk and afterwards to Boone for election,
revenue and judicial purposes. In the same month, by an act of the
Legislature, the county of Webster was created embracing the territory of
both Risley and Yell counties by which act these two ceased to exist. An act
of the same session which took affect before the union of these two
counties, changed the name of Risley to Webster, so that for a period of five
months and nine days the former county of Risley (now Hamilton) was
Webster County. This came from the fact that the act changing the name
of Risley to Webster took affect upon publication January 22, 1853, while
the act consolidating Yell and Risley did not become a law until the following
first of July.
Was created in January, 1838, and embraced a portion of the territory now
included in the counties of Louisa, Muscatine and Henry. It was named for
William B. Slaughter, Secretary of the Territory of Wisconsin. The county-
seat was located at Astoria where the first courts were held in 1837 by
Judges Irwin and Williams. the citizens of the county were dissatisfied with
the name which had been secured through the manipulations of the
obscure official whose name it bore and, upon petition the Legislature
relieved them by changing the boundaries of the county and naming it
Washington.
Was created in 1851 by act of the Legislature from the territory originally
embraced in Benton when that county extended to the Missouri River. The
bill which created this county when reported to the Senate gave the name
of "Floyd" in memory of Sergeant Floyd of the Lewis and Clark expedition
who died in camp in 1804 and was buried on the east side of the Missouri
River south of Sioux City. The Senate passed the bill as introduced but it
was amended in the House by striking out "Floyd" and inserting "Wahkaw,"
an Indian name. An act of the Legislature approved January 12, 1853,
provided for the organization of the county and selected commissioners to
locate the county-seat, the name of which should be Sergeant's Bluff. A
later act of the same Legislature changed the name of the county to
Woodbury, and on 22d of January, 1853, Wahkaw County ceased to exist.
Was created by an act of the General Assembly in 1851 and embraced all of the
present territory of Webster except the north tier of congressional
townships. It was named for the second Governor of Arkansas, Colonel
Archibald Yell, who was killed at the Battle of Buena Vista in the Mexican
War. The county had never been organized up to 1853, when by act of the
Legislature it was incorporated with the new county of Webster. This
county was formed by uniting the former county of Webster, which had
first been named Risley, with Yell County, making thirty-two congressional
townships, to which the name of Webster was given. By this act the county
of Yell ceased to exist.
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Families and Surnames:
Family Group Sheets - Iowa listings
Early Iowa Settlers - The Edge of the Timbers (Story told on August 27, 1936 by
Mrs. Matilda Kennett at the age of 97).
Iowa Biographies Project - There are currently over 16,900 biographies available at this
site. In addition, this project contains links to over 12,000 biographies located at
other Iowa project sites.
Irish in Iowa - A treasure trove of information, biographies, families, life in general.
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Genealogical/Historical Commissions, Societies and Museums:
Please click here - (Counties we have listed), (To list a local society, please contact us.)
Ghost Towns of Iowa - All Iowa Counties have "GHOST TOWNS" listed. - Web site quote
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Historical interest Items, etc.:
Civil War Archives - Union Regimental Histories (multiple listings of infantry regiments.
Early Paleoindian Period - The University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist
(UI-OSA) is the statutorily mandated repository for the State of Iowa's
archaeological collections.
Iowa Documents - General Documents for all of Iowa; history and genealogy
Irish in Iowa - A treasure trove of information, biographies, families, life in general.
Orphan Trains to Iowa Project
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Libraries & Newspapers:
The library of the State Historical Society of Iowa - The State Historical Society of Iowa
serves as a trustee of Iowa's historical legacy and an advocate for understanding Iowa s past.
Des Moines Register Tribune - List: Register Tribune paper carriers, 1929-1931.
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National Parks, Playgrounds, Recreational Areas etc.:
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site - Birthplace, Presidential Library and Museum,
Gravesite of President and Mrs. Hoover and more...
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 State of Iowa, County Maps - 1897 Atlas, listings by Counties.
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State Capital City: Des Moines (Capital since 1857 - located in Polk County)
The State name: The state of Iowa, originally a territory of Wisconsin west of the Mississippi River, was named after the Iowa River; the Iowa River was named after the Iowa Indians who lived in the territory. The tribal name "Ayuxwa" was spelled by the French as "Ayoua" and by the English as "Ioway." "Ayuxwa" means "one who puts to sleep." |
Note: Burlington served as the Territorial Capital from 1838-1846. Iowa City served as Capital from 1846-1857.)
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U.S.A. - General Information links page
U.S.A. - Possessions & Territories
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State of
IOWA -
(The Hawkeye State)
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