This is a map laying out the township of Adams in Mahaska County, Iowa. The map was most likely compiled in 1936 at the time when all of Mahaska County, Iowa was compiled. The most notable communities of Adams township around this time (1936) were…
Agricola was a farm community that came about from the Latin word meaning "farmer" on January 27, 1855. Most of its residents, like most in Mahaska County, came from Ohio. When New Barnes, now called Barnes City, was founded, Agricola residents…
Barnes City was founded under the name of New Barnes until the town of Barnes City was chartered in 1898. Barnes City came about as a result of the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad needing a central link between Montezuma and Thornberg. …
Beacon, once known as the town of Enterprise, did not fully switch its name over until 1874. Beacon's success revolved around its coal mining connection and proximity to the railroad lines. Before Oskaloosa established a railroad line through its…
Bellefountaine came one vote shy of being Iowa's state capital on the first ballot to move the state capital from Iowa City on December 4, 1854. Bellefountaine was once a part of Jackson Township, but was changed to Scott Township after the…
Black Oak Township sits on the western edge of Mahaska County. Two communities have summed up the township in its history; Lardeo and Leighton. Leighton is the only community that still exists today in the township.
Carbonado was a community whose sole purpose was to extract coal. It was founded in on May 6, 1890 by the Excelsior Coal Company. The coal was exhausted by 1898. The mine had self-dumping cages and quick methods of loading box cars. The Iowa…
The town of Cedar was founded after it was forced to pick a town name by the postmaster, R.W. Moore. So, in 1869, after Moore was already appointed postmaster, he chose the name Cedar because it hadn't been picked yet after he perused the postal…
This is a map of the East Des Moines Township as it appeared in 1936. The most notable communities that comprised the East Des Moines Township at one time included; Givin, Des Moines City, and the famous mining camp of Muchakinock. The entire…
