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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.Story County, Iowa
Story County Education, Geography, and History
Story County is a county in the state of Iowa. Based on the 2010 census, the
population was 89,542. Story County was created
on January 13, 1846. The county seat is Nevada.
The county is named in honor of Joseph Story
(1779–1845), a justice of the United States Supreme Court.
Story county comprises the Ames, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA Combined
Statistical Area.
Etymology - Origin of Story County Name
Story county is named for Joseph Story, a justice of the United States Supreme Court.
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts
Story County History
Cheap and productive farm land
attracted early settlers to the present area of Story County around 1846. In
1853 the county was formed and named after the Supreme Court Justice Joseph
Story. Story County grew slower than surrounding areas and counties. This was
due to the large numbers of lowlands, marshes, ponds and slough areas. These
greatly hindered the development of large tracts of farmland and transportation,
such as roads and the railroad. For example, early roads were sometimes nothing
more than furrows created by sod-breaking teams. They were often muddy and
concealed by high grasses, often making travel an adventure.
This is why the railroads played such a big part in the early development of
Story County. With more than 6,700 acres of land donated to it by the county,
the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad began construction in 1863. By 1864
it had passed through Nevada, reached Ames and had become the furthest western
railway terminus in the United States. In the 1870s a North-South route was
added to the county by the Des Moines and Minnesota Railroads, later named the
Northwestern. It reached Ames in 1874 and Story City in 1877. This rail line
gave birth to the towns of Gilbert, Kelly, and Sheldahl. By the end of the 1880s
and the addition of two more east-west rail lines, every farmer was within six
miles of markets and shipping accommodations.
The first courthouse was built in Nevada in 1856, costing around $1,500. It was
a two-story frame building. Ames was also an early contender for the county seat
but in June of 1859 the Iowa Agricultural College and Farm were located there,
thus making Nevada's claim to the honor more secure. The first courthouse caught
fire and burned on December 31, 1863.
A second similar courthouse was built in its place. The building of a third
courthouse was proposed in 1857. Designed by William Foster and constructed of
locally made bricks the finished cost was $50,000. It is told that the
contractor, J. B. Randall, went bankrupt because of the fine materials, rising
cost of labor, and the careful craftsmanship that went into building the
structure. Finished in 1877, the three-story building was situated on the town
square. In the building was a tower in which school children could climb to see
a panoramic view of the landscape. It was later torn down due to safety reasons.
After almost 90 years the third courthouse was declared unsafe, and a modern
courthouse construction was begun. The new, Y-shaped courthouse was situated
next to the old and cost an impressive $1.2 million to build in 1967. It was
dedicated on May 18, 1968 and occupied and operational on August 5.
An old Civil War cannon is present on the front lawn of the Story County
courthouse. The Story County cannon has been there since 1901. The cannon, the
first built by A. B. Reading and Bro., Vicksburg, Mississippi in 1861, reached
Story via the Rock Island Arsenal on January 29, 1901. It was shipped to Jason
D. Ferguson G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic). By 1911 the G.A.R. was not too
active, and it is speculated that the cannon was donated to the county before
the G.A.R. expired.
After a 12.7 million dollar bond issue was passed by the voters, Story County
broke ground in the year 2000 for a new Justice Center that houses the Sheriff,
Attorney, and Clerk of Court departments, as well as the Judges, the Courts, and
the jail. A statue names Lady Justice graces the entrance. The opening
dedication ceremony was held June 30, 2002. The Y-shaped building was renamed
Story County Administration.
Source: Mary Mosiman, Story County Auditor, 2002
Geography: Land and Water
As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 574 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 573 square miles (1,480 km2) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2) (0.1%) is water.
Story county is located close to the center of Iowa.
Neighboring Counties
Bordering counties are as follows:
- Northeast: Hardin County
- East: Marshall County
- Southeast: Jasper County
- South: Polk County
- West: Boone County
- Northwest: Hamilton County
Education
The county is home to Iowa State University in Ames.
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