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Iowa Counties
There are ninety-nine 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.Louisa County, Iowa
Louisa County Education, Geography, and History
Louisa County is a county located in the state of Iowa. Based on the 2010 census, the
population was 11,387. Louisa County was
created on December 7, 1836. The county
seat is Wapello. The county is named
in honor of either Louisa Massey of Dubuque, Iowa, who, according to
legend, killed the murderer of her brother; or Louisa County, Virginia.
Louisa County is part of the Muscatine Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Etymology - Origin of Louisa County Name
Louisa county is named for either Louisa Massey of Dubuque, Iowa, who, according to legend, killed the murderer of her brother; or Louisa County, Virginia.
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts
Louisa County History
Some claim Louisa County is named in
honor of Louisa Massey of Dubuque. She was famous in folklore to have slain the
murderer of her brother. Others think the name was in honor of Louisa County,
Virginia.
Louisa County has a lot of history. Once the site of a glacier, Louisa County
contains more than one-fourth of all archeological sites on the Great River Road
in Iowa. Artifacts from early hunters and farmers are found at those sites.
Louisa County was created out of a strip of land that was known as the Black
Hawk Purchase. The earliest settlers arrived in present day Louisa County in
1835, when it was still part of Demoine County. Louisa County itself was
established in 1836 and originated in 1837.
The first county seat was Lower Wapello, declared by the Wisconsin Legislature
in 1838. But, in January 1839 the Territorial Legislature of Iowa proposed that
an election be held to name a county seat. Wapello was declared the county seat
on March 4, 1839. One year later a one-story brick structure was constructed at
a cost of $1,300.
In 1854 the brick courthouse was replaced and then used as a school. The third
courthouse was constructed of stone that was quarried from the bluffs southwest
of Wapello. It cost $9,577 to complete.
There have been many battles between Wapello and Columbus Junction over the
county seat. Columbus Junction went as far as to construct a new courthouse; it
was later used as a high school. In all of these battles Columbus Junction lost.
As a consolation prize, Columbus Junction received the annual Louisa County Fair
The present courthouse is located on the site of the previous courthouse. The
two-story brick and stone building was completed in 1928 at a cost of $100,000.
On the courthouse grounds is a 20-pound Civil War cannon made by G.E. Parret of
Notre Dame, Indiana in 1861.
Source: Verl Lekwa
Geography: Land and Water
As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 418 square miles (1,080 km2), of which 402 square miles (1,040 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (3.8%) is water.
Louisa county is located in southeast Iowa. The county's eastern border is adjacent to the Mississippi River.
Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge is located in this county.
Neighboring Counties
Bordering counties are as follows:
- Northeast: Muscatine County; Rock Island County, Ill.
- East: Mercer County, Ill.
- South: Des Moines County
- Southwest: Henry County
- Northwest: Washington County; Johnson County
Education
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