(July 1, 1920-July 28, 1980)

NORTH End: Bonaparte, Van Buren County

Facing north on 79 (10/3/15)

Bonaparte (1920 pop. 656, 1920 pop. 433) has a rarity, a signed county road truck route. It's possible, though, that the "Truck" is merely being used as a way to double-sign W40 and a truck route. The Historic Hills Scenic Byway runs from Donnellson to Drakesville and then forks to Moravia and Blakesburg.

Bonaparte's school closed in 2016, when the Harmony school district began sharing with Van Buren.

Facing east on J40 (9/8/10)

A view of historic downtown Bonaparte. Behind the camera is the Bonaparte Retreat restaurant, a feature in Villages of Van Buren tourism.

At 35 m. is the junction with State 79, paved.
Right on this road to BONAPARTE, 2 m. (520 alt. 678 pop.), on the bank of the Des Moines River. It was settled in 1837, and named for the French Emperor by William Meek, founder of the town. In 1867 a $20,000 academy was erected by the Bonaparte Academy Association, and in 1878, when the town had a population of 1,200, there were 168 pupils. On Front Street beyond the bridge, is the TOWN PARK (free tourist camp). In 1839 the Territorial legislature of Iowa granted Meek the right to build a dam and dam locks at Bonaparte; they were completed in two years. The locks, 135 feet long, with a passage way 35 feet wide, are still in good condition. Along the lower end is a fish spillway where tons of fish have been removed from the locks. The 164-acre Grey Health Orchard, producing apples and pears, is near Bonaparte; 50,000 bushels of fruit are shipped every year.
— Iowa: A Guide to the Hawkeye State (1938), p. 538-9

SOUTH End: IA 3, now W40 at IA 2, Van Buren County

Perhaps more importantly than the two miles of road gained with this route was a bridge over the Des Moines River. This meant three of the last four bridges across the Des Moines at the time would be under state jurisdiction. The one that wasn't, at Bentonsport, has been abandoned for ages.

Page created 3/4/20; last updated 7/11/20

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