Category Archives: Iowa Miscellaneous

Jan 04

Iowa counties among ‘most representative’

Posted on Friday, January 4, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

A study from Echelon Insights sought to find “typical counties” in the United States and two counties from Iowa rank in the top 20. The Midwest plus Pennsylvania ranked pretty high overall. The link has a map to play with. … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Maps | Comments Off

Jan 03

The slightly strange political career of Leo Elthon

Posted on Thursday, January 3, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

There are three men who served as governor of Iowa for fewer than two months. One of them pinballed between state and local government after sitting in the big chair. According to the U of I’s Biographical Dictionary of Iowa: Leo … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Dec 24

A genealogist’s Christmas wish

Posted on Monday, December 24, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS Dear Santa: Don’t bring me new dishes; I don’t need a new kind of game. Genealogists have peculiar wishes; for Christmas I just want a surname. A new washing machine would be great, but it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Dec 21

Utah edges Iowa in population, ahead of schedule

Posted on Friday, December 21, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I said it was going to happen. I just thought it would take a little longer. According to census estimates, Utah has 5000 people more than Iowa. At the beginning of the 20th century, Iowa was the 10th-largest state in … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Dec 10

Warren County Courthouse: Everything must go

Posted on Monday, December 10, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Everything not nailed down, and some things that are, at the Warren County Courthouse in Indianola will be auctioned off Dec. 14. (Link: KNIA/KRLS, but tipped off on WHO.) The 1939 courthouse will be replaced next year. Warren County is … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Dec 06

Casey’s popping up in more Iowa towns

Posted on Thursday, December 6, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

May 7, 2018: Just inside the city limits of Lone Tree is a brand new Casey’s. This photo was taken for my IA 405 page. Iowa’s homegrown gas station chain, Casey’s, is marking its 50th anniversary this year. In the … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Nov 13

Fleet Farm Fleet

Posted on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Blain’s Farm & Fleet was one of the first retail developments at the corner of IA 58 and Viking Road, opening in 1999. Beside it sprung up a Wal-Mart. Then, about a decade or so ago, the retail boom there … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Nov 12

Goldfield Cheese Mart is 50 years old

Posted on Monday, November 12, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Enough cheese for every man, woman, and child in town. Probably.

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Nov 08

50-50, plus one, for 2020

Posted on Thursday, November 8, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

While there will be many women voting the democratic ticket, there is no question that that in the northern states the republican party will be largely the gainer and if there was any hope of the sporting candidate, “Wet Jim”, … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off

Oct 10

America’s Finest News Source strikes again

Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Iowa Aims To Keep Young People From Moving Out Of State With New ‘The Stress Will Kill Your Mother’ Retention Campaign I mean, it’s not like anything else has worked. a press conference advising Iowan millennials to find a nice … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off