Palo Alto County IA Archives History - Books .....Our Modern City 1910
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Book Title: History Of Palo Alto County Iowa

CHAPTER XV 
Our Modern County

   Over fifty years have elapsed since the first permanent foundations were made
in Palo Alto County. Many of the pioneers who played a part in the scenes
enacted in those early days are still living among us to bear witness to the
marvelous changes time has wrought.

   From a total of only 216 at the close of the Civil War, the population of the
county has increased by leaps and bounds until now we have nearly 15,000 people
within its boundaries. This increase in population is typical of the development
of the land. From a wild, undeveloped prairie country, with only a few scattered
settlers located along the timbered streams, the land has been all taken up and
has doubled in value many times until the state census of 1905 shows that Palo
Alto County has 1,557 farms containing 312,040 acres, with an actual value of
$15,030,201. Land is steadily advancing in price, and by means of scientific
drainage and better farming methods, even the onetime waste land is now being
made to yield nature's abundance.

   In prosperity and material wealth Palo Alto County stands well to the front.
There are fifteen banks in the county, all prosperous and steadily growing. The
combined capital stock and surplus amount to over $466,000 and the total
deposits amount to $2,130,074.93, as shown by the last statements. In volume of
trade and business, Palo Alto ranks as one of the live and up-to-date
communities of Northwest Iowa.

   The 1905 state census shows that during the previous year Palo Alto County
raised 2,185,245 bushels of corn, valued at $625,543; 1,979,540 bushels of oats,
valued at $504,006; and produced over 80,000 tons of clover, timothy and wild
hay, valued at over $170,000, besides over 30,000 bushels of other crops not
listed. The same census shows that Palo Alto County had 35,790 cattle, valued at
$625,-608; 40,451 swine, valued at $191,161; and 10,609 horses and mules, valued
at $628,792; 182,940 fowls, valued at $64,373; 709,380 dozen eggs, valued at
$94,658; and dairy products valued at $311,170. All these figures for stock and
crops would be largely increased for the subsequent years. Surely this is a
splendid record for a county that has only just begun to develop its resources.

   In social betterment, Palo Alto takes a high place. A thorough and complete
system of rural schools makes a practical education accessible to every country
child, while excellent graded, parochial and high schools place the best
advantages of a common school education before the ambitious youth of today.

   There are twenty-eight flourishing churches in the county, and the large and
influential membership speaks well for the Christian influences that are such a
strong factor in the highest type of civilization.

   In the cities and towns we find substantial business blocks and handsome,
convenient houses. The farmers are building better homes, fitted with every
convenience, and the life on the farm is becoming every day less of a drudgery
and more of a pleasure. Rural mail routes practically cover the whole county,
while 612 miles of rural and through telephone lines within the county, together
with eight live, up-to-date newspapers, make the dissemination of knowledge and
ease of communication an accepted fact. Every town in the county has railroad
connections, there being over 74 miles of railroads crossing the county.

   Emmetsburg, the county seat of the county, is a modern city in every respect,
having electric lights, modern city water and fire protection, sewerage system,
public library, fine modern opera house, good hotels and public buildings,
excellent accredited schools, and strong, flourishing churches. Many of the
other towns of the county have their own lighting plants and water systems and
other conveniences unheard of in a small town a few years ago. Yet with all the
progress the town and city debts are low and taxes small. The county itself is
in exceptionally good financial condition, as it is out of debt, has only $8,000
bridge bonds, no overdue obligations, and owns property valued at $61,000 that
is rapidly appreciating in value.

   Surely the seeds sown by the courageous and far-seeing pioneers have borne
abundant fruit. Palo Alto County stands today as one of the attractive counties
of the great state of Iowa. It offers the advantages of a wholesome, up-to-date
community, a place for a home, a place in which to live in happiness and
contentment—life in the best and truest sense of the word. Our modern county
stands today a worthy monument to the pioneers who with patient industry and
wise foresight built such broad and true foundations.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

History of Palo Alto County Iowa
BY
DWIGHT G. MCCARTY

THE TORCH PRESS
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA
1910


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