Ghost Towns of Iowa and Nebraska
A new project for 2009 is an extensive study of Iowa ghost towns. As I begin this project and pursue it, I will keep you posted. In addition, between 1988 and 1993, I researched the possibility of publishing a Ghost Towns of Nebraska book. That book was never completed, but the notes and a few town histories will appear here in future months.
Ghost Towns of Iowa
These towns are being considering for a future book. If you have any information on them, please email me and share. Thank you.
Proposed Iowa Ghost Town List:
Adair County
No significant towns were found for Adair County.
Adams County
1. East Nodaway: In section 21, Nodaway Twp. PO 1869-75, then named changed to Rochelle. Soon thereafter changed to Nodaway.
2. Quincy: In the northwestern part of Section 17, Quincy Twp. A prosperous village and the first county seat. PO, 1855-1900.
Allamakee County
3. Allamakee: South of the mouth of Paint Creek, section 10, Fairview Twp. Platted as a town in 1858, but soon abandoned. Post office, 1859-77.
4. Capoll: Two miles NE of Lansing on the Mississippi. PO, 1853-67. 4.5 Columbus: At a landing on the Mississippi at the mouth of Village Creek, two miles below Lansing. Often called Capoll. Columbus was the first county seat of Allamakee County, from 1851 until its removal to Waukon in 1853. Platted in 1852.
5. Chantry: In the northeastern part of Section 12, Lafayette Twp. Platted in 1857. Was an embryo townsite on the Mississippi.
6. Hardin: In the extreme southwest corner of Franklin Twp and partly in Clayton County, on the military road from McGregor to Fort Atkinson. A town of importance. Began to be settled in 1848 and was platted in 1854. PO, 1851-65.
7. Johnsonsport: At the point of an important landing on the Mississippi. A town was laid out on the river front of the north half of section 15, Fairview Twp, in 1856.
8. Lafayette: In the northern part of Section 2, Lafayette Twp, on the Mississippi River about a mile above Chantry. It had a boat landing, sawmill, and stores.
9. Lybrand: In section 15, Post Township. The village was platted in 1851, and was prosperous for a time. PO, 1853-67.
10. Manchester: Sometimes called Manchester Mills. In Section 6, Franklin Twp. The town was close to the Post Township line and to its sister town of Cleveland. The two towns made a milling center on the Yellow River. Platted in 1859.
11. New Galena: In Section 1, Hanover Twp. On the Upper Iowa River. Platted in 1857, but never recorded. At that time thought to have rich ore deposits. PO, 1859-63.
Appanoose County
12. Albany: On east line of Section 1, Union Twp. A prosperous village in the sixties. Had a PO from 1857-60 when it was transferred to the portion of the village on the east side of the road, which placed it in Davis County.
13. Bellair: In the northern part of the sw section of Bellair Twp, section 18, twp 68 north, range 18 west. It was platted in 1854. The building of the railroad town of Numa about a mile to the south in 1871 transferred the business to that place.
14. Elizabethtown: In the southeastern part of section 15 and the northeastern part of section 22, township 68 north, range 16 west. Platted in 1867, but soon thereafter was incorporated into and became a part of the town of Moulton.
15. Forbush: A coal mining town about 4 miles north of Centerville. PO: 1894-1903
16. Hibbsville: Near the northeast corner of Franklin Twp. It was laid out in 1852 and prospered as a village until the coming of nearby railroads. PO, 1854-1900.
17. Iconium: At the center of section 5, Charlton Twp. Platted in 1854 and a prosperous village until railroads came nearby. PO, 1853-1903.
18. Milledgeville: Near center of section 10, Independence Twp. The village was founded in 1857 and prospered until the coming of nearby railroads. PO, 1857-1900.
19. Orleans: In the southeastern corner of Section 35, Washington Twp. The village was laid out in 1851 and flourished until about 1870. PO, 1860-87.
20. Pearl City: A hamlet with a coal mine in section 22, Pleasant Twp. PO, 1894-1903.
Audubon County
21. Dayton: In southwestern part of section 15, Exira Township. Platted in 1855, it became the first county seat, and remained such until 1861, when Exira won the prize. It had only 2 buildings.
22. Hamlin: In sections 1 and 2, Hamlin Twp. Laid out in 1872, it was beautifully located, had a hotel, several stores, residences. Was defeated in county seat war in 1873 and soon declined.
23. Louisville: In section 17, Exira Twp. Platted in 1866 and for a few years was the busiest village in the county. Declined about 1874. PO, 1873-75.
24. Oakfield: In southwest part of Section 23, Exira Twp. It was platted in 1855, soon had mills, stores, and was a thriving town until 1868 when it began to decline. PO: 1859-75.
Benton County
25. Benton City: in the southwestern part of Section 20, Benton Twp, just south of the Cedar River. The plat was filed in 1856. The BCR&N RR built in 1869 but missed it, after which it declined. PO, 1854-59.
26. Guinnville: In the se part of the ne quarter of section 30, Iowa Twp. Platted in 1856. PO: 1856-61. Village declined when Belle Plaine was laid out in 1860.
27. Irving: In the nw quarter of section 6, Iowa Twp. Established about 1860. A part of this busy village was over the county line to the west in Tama County. Original village has disappeared.
Black Hawk County
28. Barclay: In northern part of section 13, Barclay Twp. Laid out in 1854 and became prosperous, but dwindled when the Illinois Central built three miles to the south. PO, 1855-89.
29. Cedar City: In south half of section 6, twp 89, range 13, ne of Cedar River. It was platted in 1856 and was a town of some importance having a population of around 200, but on the coming of the railroad to Cedar Falls it gave way to that city.
30. Ottawa: Located northwest and adjacent to the present La Porte City. Plat filed in 1854. It was finally absorbed by La Porte City, although the latter’s plat was not filed until 1855.
Boone County
31. Boonsboro: County seat of Boone County. Located in the nw quarter of section 29, twp 84, range 26, in 1851 and the town laid out. It was a PO from 1853 to 1901. It became part of the incorporated city of Boone in 1892.
32: Centerville: In se quarter of section 12, Yell Twp, on the west bank of the Des Moines River. Laid out in 1855. It was prosperous for a few years.
33: Coaltown: Original name of the town of Angus.
34: Elk Rapids: In northern part of section 34, Douglas Twp, on the east bank of the Des Moines River. Place of importance, having a population of 150 in 1855 and a po as early as 1850. Soon after it declined. For a few years afterwards, there was a settlement on the west bank of the river called Elk Rapids which may have been remnants of the town.
35: Incline: In section 23, Yell Twp, on the Des Moines River. Coal mining village. PO: 1893-1900.
Bremer County
36: Horton: In sections 26 and 27, Polk Twp. Platted in 1856. Quite prosperous until it barely missed the railroad. PO: 1857-1903.
37: Tripoli: Village was laid out in 1856 in the east part of section 33, Frederica township. Prospered until 1880 when it was removed one mile south to its present location on the CGW RR.
Buchanan County
38: Hazleton: Village began in 1853 in the sw part of section 11, Hazleton Twp, and flourished there until 1873 when the BCR&N Railroad was built one mile west of it. Soon thereafter the town was removed to the railroad.
39: Littleton: In sections 9 and 10, Perry Twp. A busy village on the Wapsipinicon River founded in 1856. Its PO was named Chatham from 1851 to 1881 when it was changed to Littleton, but finally discontinued around 1910.
40: Otterville: In ne part of section 19, Washington Twp, on Otter Creek. Platted in 1857. Sawmills and gristmills flourished there. PO, 1867-1900.
Buena Vista County
Nothing.
Butler County
41: Butler Center: In ne part of section 18, Jefferson Twp. Platted in 1856, it became a town of importance and was the county seat from 1860 to 1881. PO 1857-1900.
42: Butler Rapids: In northern part of section 9, Beaver Twp, on the west fork of Cedar River. Platted in 1858. Had a busy but brief existence.
43: Georgetown: In the corners of West Point, Jackson, Ripley, and Jefferson Twps in the geographic center of the county. It was platted in 1857 and was intended to be the county seat, but never got beyond being a town on paper.
Calhoun County
44: Brooklyn: In sections 27 and 34, Lake Creek Twp. Location selected by commissioners in 1855 for the first county seat, and the town staked off. The county residents rejected the location, and no town was built, but the place got on maps of that date.
45: Calhoun Center: In section 19, Center Twp. It was a village that aspired to be county seat and appears on the maps around 1880.
46: Eads: Located immediately east of the present town of Lohrville. Laid out in 1882 and some improvements made, but lost in the race against Lohrville.
47: Muddy: In section 3, Cedar Twp. Grew to a small village. PO: 1893-97. Coming of the railroad to Somers ended Muddy’s existence.
Carroll County
48: Carrollton: In se part of section 36, Pleasant Valley Twp and ne part of section 1, Newton Twp. It was the first county seat of Carroll County from the county’s establishment in 1856 until 1867, and was a town of importance in those days. PO: 1859-1903.
Cass County
49: Grove City: In sw part of section 11, Grove Twp, about 3 miles east of Atlantic. Platted in 1856. Coming of the railroad and the making of a station where city of Atlantic now stands, ended Grove City’s career. PO: 1865-69. Its first po was called Turkey Grove.
50: Indiantown: Slightly ne of the center of section 9, Cass Twp, and 1 mile west of the present town of Lewis. Settled by Mormons in 1846.
51: Iranistan: In central part of section 8, Cass Twp, about 2 miles west of the present town of Lewis. Laid out in 1853, being the first platted town in the county. PO: 1855-57. The post office was called Cold Springs for awhile.
Cedar County
52: Antwerp: In the se qtr of section 9, twp 80, range 3, 3 mi sw of the city of Tipton. Laid out in 1839 and was an aspirant for county seat.
53: Cedar Valley: In the nw corner of section 19, Gower Twp, near the west bank of the Cedar River. Village was the former location of extensive stone quarries. PO.
54: Gower’s Ferry: A PO formerly called Cedar River. It had the name of Gower’s Ferry from 1849-59 when it was removed to the east side of the river and the name changed to Cedar Bluff.
55: Warsaw: In the sw part of section 34, twp 81, range 3, 3 miles west of present Tipton. Laid out in 1837 and aspirant for county seat.
Cerro Gordo County
56: Livonia: In section 18, Lake Twp. This location was near the east end of Clear Lake, and made county seat in 1857. A town developed, but the county seat was moved a year later.
Cherokee County
57: Blair City: 1 mile ne of the business section of the city of Cherokee. Platted in 1869 in anticipation of the Illinois Central Depot being built there.
58: Cherokee: The old town of Cherokee was located in sections 22 and 23, Cherokee Twp, 2 miles nw of the business section of the present city of same name. Platted in 1857. PO established in 1861 and a block house for protection against the Indians was erected in 1862.
Chickasaw County
59: Bradford: south part of section 9 and north part of section 16, Bradford Twp, 2 mi ne of Nashua. First county seat, holding it from 1854-57. Home of the Little Brown Church. PO: 1853-94.
60: Boyd: Prosperous village with RR station and post office in southern part of New Hampton Twp, started in the 1880s and abandoned around 1920.
61: Chickasaw: Section 21, Chickasaw Twp. Platted in 1854 as an important town for many years. PO: 1855-1903.
Clarke County
Nothing
Clay County
Nothing
Clayton County
62: Frenchtown: Hamlet in Clayton Twp on the Mississippi River near the present town of Clayton. It was a landing and shipping point at the beginning of settlement in this region.
63: Giard: Town in nw part of section 35, Giard Twp. Platted in 1871. PO established in 1854. Coming of the railroad created another town to the north by the same name. A few residences remain in the old town.
64: Prairie La Porte: Name of the town which became part of the present town of Guttenburg. Laid out in 1839 and became the first county seat of Clayton County. PO 1841-43.
NEW: Littleport: Nothing in Mott book about it. PO: 1851—present.
NEW: Osborne: Nothing in Mott book about its existence. PO: 1883-1935. Had a railroad with a station called Osborne Station.
NEW: Wood Center: Nothing in Mott book about it. PO: 1879-83.
Clinton County
65: Lyons: Village platted in 1837 which grew into a city, and in 1894 was annexed to become the northern part of the city of Clinton.
66: Welton: Section 3, Welton Twp. Village founded in 1850, consisting of a colony of English artisans. Existed only a few years. The present Welton is over a mile south of the original one.
Crawford County
67: Bell or Belltown: Former stn and hamlet on the C M & St P RR in section 34, Paradise Twp.
68: Kiron: nw corner of section 7, Stockholm Twp. Founded around 1867. Coming of the railroad to that vicinity in 1899 caused the building of the present town of Kiron one mile west of the first Kiron, which eventually ended the life of the town.
Dallas County
69: Boone: This post office, which existed under this name from 1853-69, occupied locations in different parts of Boone Twp, but finally came to the site of present Booneville.
70: Panther: Northern part of Colfax Twp. PO, 1885-1903. Previous to 1885 it existed for a few years on Panther Creek.
71: Penoach: Name given to site selected in 1847 for county seat of Dallas Co. Location was in eastern portion of the town of Adel. Village existed for two years before being changed to Adel. PO in 1849 was listed as Penoach.
72: Wiscotta: Sections 4 and 5, Union Twp. 1 mile south of the present town of Redfield. Platted and was for a few years an active place. PO, 1855-61.
Davis County
73: Adamsville: PO in Marion Twp in 1851. Discontinued in May of that year and Nottingham PO, located in the same twp. Named for first postmaster, Benjamin Adams. Nottingham continued until 1859, and was probably moved from house to house, finally being near later location of Black Hawk post office.
74: Lunsford: PO from 1901-08 at a coal mine in south section 14, Wyaconda Twp, near the Missouri line.
75: Salt Creek: PO in Salt Creek Twp, perhaps first in section 10, and later in Paul Shepherd’s store in section 17, 3.5 miles east of Floris. Ran from 1851-63, and its discontinuance was probably due to Shepherd’s disloyalty during the Civil War.
Decatur County
76: Milford: Section 28, Richland Twp. Laid out in 1854, but abandoned a few years later in favor of Westerville.
Delaware County
77: Rockville: Section 24, North Fork Twp, on the north fork of the Maquoketa River. Platted in 1846. Village of some importance, 1846-97.
NEW: Oneida: Nothing in Mott book about it. PO: 1879-1965.
Des Moines County
78: Huron: east section 16 of Huron Twp, located on Huron Chute of the Mississippi River. It was started in 1847, grew and had good prospects, but was obliterated by a flood in 1851.
Dickinson County
79: Austin: PO from 1872-82. Located south of Silver Lake, and later near the east shore. On the coming of the RR in 1882 the PO was removed to Lake Park and the name changed to that of the town.
80: Milford: Town in the north central part of section 18, Milford Twp. PO estab in 1869. On the coming of the nearby railroad in 1882 the town of North Milford was established ¾ of a mile to the northwest, which caused abandonment of the original town.
Dubuque County
81: Bally Claugh Grove: Pioneer name of the hamlet of Bally Claugh in section 15, Table Mound Twp. PO established in 1843.
82: Hempstead: Common name in earlier times of the railroad station of Fillmore. PO was Fillmore from 1851 to 1903.
83: Peru: Section 35, Peru Twp, 5 miles north of Dubuque and near the RR station of Edmore. Town was founded in 1833, even before what was now Iowa was attached to Michigan Territory. It was an important town and a rival of Dubuque. Had a post office until 1843.
Emmet County
84: Swan Lake: section 25, center twp. Immediately north of the western part of Swan Lake. Town platted in 1879. Was county seat from 1880-82, and a po from 1881-1900.
Fayette County
85: Albany: village in the western part of section 14, Westfield Twp, on the Volga River. Started in 1854 and was largely devoted to the milling business.
86: Lutra: Original name of the western or newer part of the original town of Elgin. Lutra was laid out in 1871 on the building of the railroad near the older portion of Elgin.
87: West Auburn: Village in the central part of section 26, Auburn twp, adjoining Auburn on the northwest. Villages of Auburn, West Auburn, and Massilon constituted a group of milling villages on the Little Turkey River.
NEW: Oelwein: Nothing in Mott book about it. PO: 1873-present.
Floyd County
88: Rock Grove City: Village of some importance in the southwestern part of section 16, Rock Grove Twp. PO 1857-69.
Franklin County
89: Chapin: Village platted in 1858 in sections 36, Richland, and 31, Clinton Twps. Abandoned in the early 1870s on the building of the rr two miles east and the laying out of the present village of Chapin.
90: Maysville: Section 27, Reeve Twp. It was the first town platted in the county, having been laid out in 1856. It was prosperous and almost county seat. PO 1857-89.
91: Oakland Valley: Village in the northeastern part of section 28, Oakland Twp, near the south bank of the Iowa River. Platted in 1857 and was prosperous for a time. PO 1862-97.
Fremont County
92: Eastfort: Village on the east bank of the Missouri River, opposite Nebraska City, Nebraska. Laid out in 1870. PO: 1867-89.
Greene County
93: Hardin: PO and virtual county seat for a year or two before Jefferson was established in 1855, as William Phillips had become both postmaster and county judge there and held court there. Located 4 miles se of the present site of Jefferson in the ne quarter of the se quarter of section 22, Grant Twp, near Hardin Creek.
94: Rippey: In Section 7, Washington Twp, near the North Raccoon River, as shown on maps from 1857 to 1880. When the railroad was built about four miles to the east Old Rippey was largely removed to the present town of the same name.
Grundy County
Nothing.
Guthrie County
95: Dalmanutha: In the central part of section 5, Thompson Twp. Laid out in 1855 and became a place of some importance on a main stage line. PO: 1863-75.
96: Harbor Station: SE part of Jackson Twp on the overland stage route in the late 1850s and early 1860s.
97: Wilmington: Village platted in 1857 on government lots 1, 2 and 8, section 4, Thompson Twp. Because of the appearance of its sod houses, it was jokingly called Gopher Station, and the name stuck. Abandoned when Dalmanutha was established a mile and a half southwest.
Hamilton County
98: Homer: A town in the southwestern part of section 6, Webster Twp, on the Webster County line. In 1853 it was made the county seat of the then Webster County, which embraced what is now both Webster and Hamilton Counties. The town was platted in 1854 and became a po the same year. It grew rapidly and for a short time was the most important town in that section of the state. PO was discontinued in 1915. Still a neighborhood center.
Hancock County
99: Concord: village one mile south of the business section of the present town of Garner. County seat was located at Concord in 1865, but soon after the coming of the C.M. & St. P. RR and the establishment of Garner, Concord declined. It was a po from 1867 to 1903.
Hardin County
100: Hardin City: Town inside the big bend of the Iowa River in section 7, Clay Twp. It was platted in 1854 and for several years was the most important place in the county. PO, 1855-81.
101: Point Pleasant: In western part of section 18, Pleasant Twp, and the eastern part of section 13, Tipton Twp. It was platted in 1855, and was prosperous for several years. In 1858 it almost became county seat.
102: Rocksylvania: The first name given in 1854 to the town of Iowa Falls, but which it kept for only a small part of the year. In November of the same year, a town was platted about a mile east of what is now the business section of Iowa Falls and it was named Rocksylvania. The post office there was called by the same name for a time in 1857. 102.5: Rockwood: Name of the po at Rocksylvania from 1855 to 1857.
103: Sandersonville: A village on the Iowa River a half mile southeast of Gifford. Had water power for turning out woodenware.
104: Xenia: Town in southwestern part of section 28, Eldora Twp. three miles south of Eldora. It was platted in 1857 and flourished for a few years. PO was named Delanti.
Harrison County
105: Jeddo City: Town platted in 1856, in section 12, Jefferson Twp. Thriving village for a few years. PO, 1856-67. It was revived again as Ojedo for a brief time in the early 1880s.
106: Melrose: Village platted in 1860 in section 2, Taylor Twp. It was a station on a stage line between Council Bluffs and Sioux City.
107: Parrish City: Town platted in 1858 in sections 21 and 22, Cincinnati Twp, adjacent to and a rival of Cincinnati.
108: Saint Johns: town in sections 27 and 28, Saint Johns Township, on the southeast side of the Boyer River and about 2 miles se of the present city of Missouri Valley. Platted in 1857 and an important town in its day. PO 1858-71.
Henry County
Nothing
Howard County
109: Busti: po in the central part of Afton Twp as shown on maps in the 1860s, but in later years of that decade and a few years later it is shown as a hamlet on the west line of section 31, Howard Twp, about one mile north of the location of the present town of Elma.
110: Howard Center: village platted in 1856 located in the southwest corner of section 24, Howard Center Twp. It was the county seat from 1857 to 1858. PO, 1857-93.
111: Lime Springs: Original town of Lime Springs was a little over one mile north of the present town of that name, and was on both sides of the Upper Iowa River. Mill still operates there.
112: New Oregon: first established and was for some years the leading town in the county. In north parts of section 2 and 3, New Oregon Twp, on both sides of the Turkey River, and two miles south of the present town of Cresco. PO: 1855-75. Few residences still remain.
113: Vernon Springs: important town in sections 33 and 34, Vernon Springs Twp, on north bank of Turkey River. 2 miles sw of present city of Cresco, and was county seat from 1865-67. PO 1861-69.
Humboldt County
Nothing
Ida County
Nothing
Iowa County
114: Genoa Bluffs: town in the southwestern part of section 32 and southwestern section of 33, Sumner Twp. Laid out in 1855 and in its early life was prosperous, at one time a county seat contender. PO: 1859-1900. A garage is all that remains.
115: Lytle City: town in the central part of section 1, Fillmore twp. Laid out in 1857. After establishment of Parnell on the new C.M. & St. P. RR in 1884, Lytle City’s existence was soon over.
116: Wilson: original name of the town of Victor. Name was changed from Wilson to Victor in 1862 when the po of Victor, which had been in existence since 1854 and located two miles to the south, was removed to be near the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific RR depot.
Jackson County
117: North Maquoketa: town of brief existence about 1840 north of the present town of Maquoketa and on the north fork of the Maquoketa River.
NEW: Hurstville: Nothing in Mott book about it. Jackson Hist Soc has info on it. PO: 1897-1942. Lime kilns still exist?
Jasper County
118: Draper: Former mining camp in the east section 34 of Fairview Twp, about four miles east of Monroe. PO: 1881-87.
119: Goddard: stn on the former Newton & Northwestern RR in the NE corner of section 29, Sherman Twp.
120: Greencastle: town in the northern part of section 14, Poweshiek Twp, platted in 1855, and prosperous in its day. PO 1857-1900. Few houses still there.
121: Monroe City: Located between Monroe and Prairie City, partly in Des Moines and partly in Fairview Twp, and is now penetrated by the Des Moines Valley branch of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific RR. Platted in 1847, the intention being to make it the capital of the state.
122: Seevers: Coal mining town three miles se of Colfax. PO: 1903-14.
123: Vandalia: Village in sw part of section 20, Des Moines Twp. Laid out in 1853 and was prosperous in the 1860s. PO, 1857-1903.
124: Wittemburg: eastern part of section 3, Newton Twp, 4 miles north of Newton. Platted in 1856 and the Wittemburg Manual Labor College was there.
Jefferson County
125: Lockridge: laid out in 1837 at the common corner of Cedar, Round Prairie, Lockridge, and Buchanan Twps. Flourished as a business place for a time. Had a po from 1852-59
126: Mount Sterling: Plat was filed in 1837 for a village with this name at the terminus of the territorial road running from Burlington to Trenton in Harvey County, and to a point in the northeast corner of Penn Twp. Paper town.
Johnson County
127: Napoleon: section 22, Lucas Twp, 2 miles south of the business section of Iowa City and east of the Iowa River. It was laid out in 1837 and in 1838 legally became the county seat, but failed to become so. Only a town on paper.
128: Sepanamo: in western part of section 12, Fremont twp, on the east side of the Iowa River opposite the mouth of the English River. Laid out in 1837, it was the first town platted in the county but it never materialized.
129: Windham: village in the central part of section 34, Hardin Twp. Laid out in 1854, one store still remains. PO: 1854-1902.
Jones County
130: Edinburg: town laid out in 1840 in the northern part of section 36, Wayne Twp. First county seat of Jones County, 1840-47. It never developed much. PO: 1840-47. PO revived in 1856, being located a little north in section 25 and ran until 1873.
131: Fairview: village laid out in 1841 near center of section 20, Fairview Twp, 4 miles sw of Anamosa. PO: 1843-1904. A few dwellings still remain.
132: Newport: Town platted in 1846, in northern part of section 33, Jackson Twp, just north of the Wapsipinicon River. It was selected as the county seat in 1847, but never so used.
133: Strawberry Hill: Formerly an independent village adjacent to Anamosa on the east. A part of the city since 1901.
Keokuk County
134: Baxter: Coal mining town in south central part of section 4, Washington Twp during the 1880s.
135: Coal Creek: town at intersection of sections 29, 30, 31, and 32, Prairie Twp, laid out in 1866. Prosperous until about 1880. PO first located on north line of section 24 in 1863 but about 1866 was removed to the newly established village and ran until 1903. A few scattered dwellings, 2 churches and a schoolhouse remain.
136: Lancaster: town in ne portion of the east section 30, Lancaster Twp, 6 miles southeast of Sigourney. It was laid out in 1846 and in 1847 it became the county seat, retaining it until 1856, during which time it became a town of importance. It now has a country store and a few scattered residences. PO: 1849-1904.
137: Muscatine: Thriving coal town in the 1880s on both sides of the northern part of the line between sections 4 and 5, Washington Twp.
138: Rosetta: Village in section 4, Washington Twp, populated principally by coal miners from 1885-90.
139: Springfield: town in the southwest corner of section 28, and the northwest corner of section 33, Washington Twp. Laid out in 1845 and was an active town until the 1870s. PO: 1846-93.
140: Vulcan: Village in the north edge of section 4, Washington Twp. It was a coal mining village existing only a few years around 1890.
141: Western City: Original government survey of Richland Twp was made in 1843 and the notes say, “A place on west half of section 17 called Western City was laid off for a town, but contains only two or three houses.” It was four miles northwest of Richland. It was planned to make it a county seat.
Kossuth County
142: Irvington: Original town of this name was located about a half mile north of the present village and railroad station of Irvington. Platted in 1856 and was a rival of Algona, but declined shortly after the Civil War.
Lee County
143: Franklin: Village in northeast part of section 26 and southeastern part of section 23, Franklin Twp. Laid out in 1840 and was intended for county seat. Its post office, Franklin Center, was from 1843 to 1883, when it was changed to Franklin, and ran until 1920.
144: Jeffersonville: Village in the northwestern part of section 16, Jefferson Twp, on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy RR. Laid out in 1867, but failed to prosper due to its proximity to Vicle. PO was established before the village was platted, ran from 1856 more or less until 1876.
145: Madison: Lieutenant Albert M. Lee in his Notes on Wisconsin Territory, 1836, and also on the map, gives the name Madison to what very soon after that date became Fort Madison.
Linn County
146: Ivanhoe: Laid out as a town in 1838, and founded and noted by government surveyors in 1841 on the line between sections 29 and 30, Franklin Twp, on the north bank of the Cedar River. It was on the old Dubuque and Iowa City road and had a post office from 1845-49.
147: Sibley’s Grove: po from 1857 to 62 in section 29, Clinton Twp. In an early day a small village with a place for travelers, blacksmith shop, etc.. Few old houses remain.
148: Western: Town laid out in 1856 in the southern part of section 34, College Twp. Home of Western College and became quite a village. 148.5: Western College: Name of the po at the town of Western, 1858-1906.
149: Westport: First projected town in Linn County, staked out in 1838, three years before the government survey, on Cedar River, near present Bertram.
Louisa County
150: Black Hawk: First name of Toolsboro. PO: 1837-41. The government surveyors of 1838 report in their notes of finding this village and that it had six to eight houses.
151: Burris City: Town on Mississippi River at the mouth of the Iowa River, immediately north of the confluence. Platted in 1855, and had a boom because of the anticipated building of the Air Line Railroad. Pop was 600 to 700, had over 5,000 lots in the plat and was doing big business when the flood of 1858 came and destroyed it.
152: Cuba City: Prospective town of early territorial times, thought to have been on the Iowa River near its mouth.
153: Florence: Territorial town in west section 20 of Elliott Twp on the southwest side of the Iowa River. Found there by gov’t survey in 1838. Place of importance, known once as Keokuk’s principal village, and was also the home of Black Hawk. PO: 1839-46.
154: Hillsboro: ¾ of a mile north of the business section of the town of Columbus Junction and now within the limits of that town. On west bank of Iowa River, laid out in 1842 and was quite a shipping point. Sometimes called Toddville. PO (1857-59) was called Altona.
155: Port Allen: Town laid out in 1841 on high ground between the Iowa and Cedar Rivers close to their confluence. Important place for a while that had a ferry across the Cedar to Fredonia, and another across the Iowa. As the town declined, the post office of Port Allen was kept about ¾ mile up the Iowa River for a few years, and then removed without change of name to Oakland.
156: Port Louisa: Town in southern part of south section 5, Port Louisa Twp, on the Mississippi River. Laid out in 1854 and had a large shipping business for years. PO: 1847-75.
Lucas County
157: Cleveland: Coal mining town in the 1880s in section 18, White Breast Twp, about two miles east of the town of Lucas. Few scattered houses remain.
158: La Grange: Town in the southeastern part of section 25 and the northeastern part of 36, Cedar Twp. Laid out in 1852, was on the main line of the Western Stage Company and was a prosperous town until the railroad came through a mile to the south in 1866. PO: 1855-82. Few scattered dwellings still remain.
159: Tipperary: Coal mining town in Lincoln Twp a few miles northeast of Charlton. PO: 1916-24. Few scattered houses remain.
Lyon County
Nothing
Madison County
160: Buffalo: Hamlet on the southeast side of Middle River about 1 ¼ miles south of Winterset. Its main was its main enterprise. Flourished from 1850s to 1880s.
161: Grandview: Laid out as a town in 1855 in section 22, Monroe Twp. It only had two small buildings, and soon was abandoned. 2 years later in 1857 another town named Grand View was laid out in the north part of Section 27, Lee Twp. It was ambitiously planned but died before building began.
162: Peru: Peru, or Old Peru, was laid out in 1855 near the center of section 3, Walnut Twp, 1 mile northwest of the present town of Peru. Prosperous until the coming of the railroad. PO: 1853-1903.
163: Tileville: Sometimes called Narrows. Hamlet in the late 1840s where, or near where, the po of Montpelier was located. Tileville also the name of a railroad station 4 miles east of Winterset, which was near where the original hamlet of Tileville was located.
Mahaska County
164: Carbonado: Coal mining village 3 miles northeast of Oskaloosa. PO: 1890-97.
165: Excelsior: Coal mining town. PO: 1879-1900. 3 miles southwest of Oskaloosa.
166: Indianapolis: Village in southeastern part of section 11, Monroe Twp, laid out in 1845, and prosperous until the coming of nearby railroads in the 1870s. Few dwellings, school, and church remain. PO: 1850-1902.
167: Lost Creek: Coal mining town in Harrison Twp. PO: 1896-1907.
168: Muchachinock: coal mining town one mile east of railroad station of Givin, or 5 miles south of Oskaloosa. Existed from 1872 to 1890s. Reached a population of 2,000. PO: 1874-1904.
169: Pekay: Coal mining town in western part of Harrison Twp. PO: 1892-1908.
Marion County
170: Amsterdam: Laid out in 1848 on location later occupied by Wabash RR Station of Howell. Amsterdam had big plans.
171: Flagler: Laid out in 1877 in the southwest quarter of east section 2, Knoxville Twp. Coal mining town, and po: 1876-1914.
172: Oradell: Hamlet in steamboating days on what is now the Old Bed of the Des Moines River in section 31, Union Twp.
173: Rousseau: Laid out in 1850 in the western part of section 9, Polk Twp, on south side of the Des Moines River. Prosperous for a few years. PO: 1873-1903.
Marshall County
174: Green Mountain: Platted as a village in 1855 in the northwest corner of section 16, Marion Twp. In 1883, with the coming of the Great Western Railroad, the village was removed a mile north to its present location.
175: Marietta: Platted in 1851 in eastern part of section 13, twp 84, range 19, and western part of section 18, twp 84, range 18. It was made county seat the same year and continued to be until January 1, 1860, when it lost to Marshall. PO: 1852-1900. A railroad siding is about all that remains.
Mitchell County
176: Newburg: Village laid out in 1855 in southwestern part of section 14, Newburg Township, on the west side of the Cedar River and one mile northwest of the present town of St. Ansgar. A busy town. PO: 1857-72.
177: Otranto: Town laid out in 1856 in the northeast part of section 7 and northwest part of section 8, Otranto Twp. On west bank of Cedar River, 3 miles northwest of the present Otranto Stn. Prosperous town for some years. PO, 1857-99. Called Old Otranto in its later years.
Mills County
178: East Plattsmouth: Village on banks of Missouri River, section 26, Plattsmouth Twp, opposite Plattsmouth, Nebraska. First name given this place was Bethlehem in 1846. River is said to have washed away that townsite. Little further back from the river a town was built named Sharpsburg, which was later called Junction City, and finally East Plattsmouth.
179: Saint Marys: A town, the site of which has washed away, near the southwest corner of Saint Mary Twp, as shown on 1850s maps.
180: Trader’s Point: Hamlet and ferry on the Missouri River, near the nw corner of St. Mary Twp, and near the Pottawatomie County line, the site of which has washed away. In the 1870s, there was a railroad station there by the same name near the north edge of St. Mary Twp.
Monona County
181: Ashton: Village in sections 28 and 29, Ashton Twp. Established in 1854 and laid out in 1855. Made the county seat in 1854, but lost to Onawa in 1858. PO: 1855-58.
182: Belvidere: Village in section 14, Belvidere Twp. Laid out in 1857 and active for a few years. It contested unsuccessfully for county seat in 1861. PO: 1857-87.
Monroe County
183: Buxton: Coal mining town in section 4, Bluff Creek Twp. At one time around 1910, it had around 6,000 inhabitants. 5,500 were African-Americans. Town was never incorporated.
184: Cedar Mines: Coal mining town about three miles west of Albia. Busy place for a few years, post office: 1872-88.
185: Clarksville: Embryo town three miles west and a half mile north of present Albia. Competed with Princeton (Albia) for county seat in 1845. Clarksville had the first post office in the county, 1846-47.
186: Fraker: Coal mining town in Central part of Bluff Creek Twp. Post office was Fraker: 1907-15.
187: Hilton: Coal mining town in the southeast part of Monroe Twp. PO: 1880-1907.
188: Hynes: Coal mining town three miles southeast of present village of Avery. PO: 1899-1916.
189: Miami: Coal mining town around 1910 southwest and near Buxton, which see.
190: Princeton: Present Albia. Laid out and made the county seat of Princeton in 1845.
Montgomery County
