Early drawing of the Linn County Courthouse |
On September 20, 1832, General Winfield Scott and Governor Reynolds of Illinois negotiated a treaty with the Sac, Fox, and Winnebago Indians. This transaction, known as the Black Hawk Purchase, involved 6,000,000 acres of land on the west side of the Mississippi. This purchase did not include all of what is now Linn County, but five years later the United States bought 1,250,000 more acres immediately west of the first tract, also from the Indians . This strip was twenty-five miles wide and its western boundary was nearly identical to the existing western boundary of Linn County.
The territory of Iowa was created by an act of Congress on June 12, 1838. The first session of the Iowa legislature passed an act providing that the County of Linn be organized from and after June 10, 1839.
Linn County was named after Lewis Fields Linn (1795-1843), a senator from Missouri. He was a champion of the Western territories who enthusiastically supported every initiative for their advancement. Several midwestern and western states have a county named in honor of Dr. Linn.
The first settlers arrived in the county in 1836 and 1837. At least five people have claimed to be the first settler. William Abbe is reported to have arrived in 1836 in Linn County, staked out a claim on the Red Cedar River near Mount Vernon, and returned to Ohio for his family. He returned with his family in 1837. E. M. Crow, sometimes credited as the first Linn County settler, arrived in 1837 and settled near Viola.
County Government Established
Linn County Commissioners Richard Knott, Lyman Dillon, and Benjamin Nye were charged with establishing a suitable place for the seat of justice. They met at the home of William Abbe in March of 1839, selecting Marion as the county seat. The commissioners also ran crude lines since a survey of the county had not been completed.
The first election for county commissioners was held in 1839. The commissioners were to serve as fiscal agents of the county, and had powers similar to those of the present board of supervisors.
In 1840, William Abbe and Asher Edgerton were hired to construct a county jail in Marion. Later that year, the commissioners ordered the erection of the county courthouse, which was completed in 1841. Settlers cut logs from nearby woodlands for the courthouse since they could not afford to pay for construction.
In 1851, the Legislature passed an act establishing a county judge. The judge was given total authority for the county, taking many of the powers formerly held by the county commissioners. In 1871, the system of government was changed to the current system of three supervisors elected at large. In 1872, the first elections for county supervisors were held.
In 1855, the first of several debates for moving the county seat from Marion to Cedar Rapids developed. Marion was able to retain its claim to the title of county seat until 1919, when the issue was put to a vote. The election favored moving the county seat to Cedar Rapids, 9,960 votes to 4,823. Cedar Rapids deeded a portion of Mays Island to the county as a site for the new courthouse.
Moving Forward
In 1859, the first rail line was built into Cedar Rapids. Several other lines were extended into the county in the 1860s. The railroads played an important role in establishing Cedar Rapids and Linn County as a center of commerce in Eastern Iowa.
Linn County continues on the successful path established in the 1800s by the early leaders. The county enjoys continued success with an excellent transportation system, a strong commercial base, a healthy job market, and a sound economy.
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