Category Archives: Iowa Miscellaneous

Jun 20

The rise of the 400-square-mile high school, part 1

Posted on Monday, June 20, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

First in a series on the geography of, and changes to, rural Iowa school districts in the past 55 years, with emphasis on the last 15. For nearly 50 years the number of places in Iowa where one high school … Continue reading →

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Jun 10

The “worst names in Iowa” list

Posted on Friday, June 10, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

(alternate title: “I am a scientist. I arrange, design, and sell science.”) Without a doubt, the “Iowa State University College of Human Sciences” is the most ridiculous name thought up in Iowa in the 21st century. Created in 2005 through … Continue reading →

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Jun 08

Dismounting

Posted on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

June 1, 2015: Mount Union post office. The Henry County town of Mount Union wants to disincorporate. It would be the fourth Iowa town to do so this decade. According to records from the Iowa secretary of state, Mount Union was … Continue reading →

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Jun 07

Iowa’s House freshmen learn challengers today

Posted on Tuesday, June 7, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Aside from today being the last state primaries in the presidential process, it is primary day for Iowa races. In northeast and southwest Iowa, Democrats will pick their nominees to face two freshman Republican U.S. House representatives. The 1st District … Continue reading →

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Jun 06

Peak population decade for each Iowa county

Posted on Monday, June 6, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Washington Post’s Wonkblog carries an entry with an ominous headline, “The places in America that already have their best days behind them”. It’s about the counties across the United States that peaked in population decades ago, and it leads … Continue reading →

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Jun 01

If you build it, they will come

Posted on Wednesday, June 1, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Vin Scully recites the “Field of Dreams” speech. People will come, Vin. Vin Scully recites the most iconic speech from a baseball film ever. #HallofFameTourhttps://t.co/ci59idkKOW — MLB (@MLB) May 26, 2016

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May 30

A flag-lined path

Posted on Monday, May 30, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

May 28, 2012: Goldfield cemetery, Memorial Day.

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May 25

Bridge timeline extended by a decade

Posted on Wednesday, May 25, 2016, at 10:01 AM by Jeff

About eight years ago, I added an “Iowa border bridge timeline” into the Annex section. It has a bar chart of Iowa’s bridges across the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. At the time, I stopped the lines in 2010, knowing the … Continue reading →

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May 20

Visiting every town: Where am I now?

Posted on Friday, May 20, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

September 17, 2014: One of my favorite Iowa town slogans is in Taylor County. At the beginning of 2015, I made a resolution to visit every incorporated place in Iowa. I already had a list and was chipping away at … Continue reading →

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May 17

The REAL Photo 29,000, and Photo 30,000

Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

August 1, 2015: Welcome sign for Grafton. The cemetery, to the right, has paving stones engraved with the names of residents from a century ago. I already posted what I thought was my 29,000th picture, but then I realized I … Continue reading →

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