Clarke County includes Murray, Iowa. The Murray town sign was the last town sign I harvested on the last road trip I took with my Mom.

I recently returned to Clarke County to get the one town sign I was missing.

Here are some facts about Clarke County:

+ The population is 9,286
+ Osceola is both the largest town and county seat.
+ Was formed in 1846 and is named for James Clarke, a Governor of the Iowa Territory.
+ Major highways are: I-35, US-34, US-69, and I-152.
+ Adjacent counties include Decatur, Lucas, Madison, Union, and Warren
+ The population peaked in 1900 at 12,440.

The Clarke County Courthouse is pretty lame:

Clarke County Courthouse in Osceola, Iowa

The Clarke County Freedom Rock is located near a cemetery in Murray, Iowa:

With Clarke County conquered, here is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:

PURPLE=COMPLETED

20 counties completed. 20.2% of the Cyclone State conquered!

There are only 3 towns in Clarke County. Here are their town signs:

Osceola, Iowa
Osceola – Proud of Our History – Ready for the Future
Population: 4,929

Murray, Iowa
Murray – Since 1868
Population: 756

Woodburn, Iowa
Woodburn – Founded 1868
Population: 125

If you were to go to the Wikipedia page and look up Clarke County, it would also list the town of Weldon as being partially in Clarke County, but mostly in Decatur County. However, since I have switched to the Iowa Department of Transportation is the arbiter of what towns are in a county, Weldon is not in this collection. The Iowa DOT does not consider Weldon to be in Clarke County.

Only 3 signs to choose from in Clarke County. It is pretty obvious which is the worst. Woodburn’s sign isn’t really even a town sign. It is a sign that hangs on what looks like a stage in what looks like a town park.

Osceola and Murray have about equal signs, but I’m going to give Best in Show to Murray for sentimental reasons.

Murray – Best in Show – Clarke County

Osceola and Woodburn have alternate signs, well Woodburn has a DOT sign.

Osceola Alternate Sign – Looks Kinda Familiar

Woodburn Alternate Sign – For being a DOT sign, it does have some character

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:

Best in Show – Adair County

Best in Show – Audubon County

Best in Show – Boone County

Best in Show – Carroll County

Best in Show – Clarke County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Franklin County

Best in Show – Greene County

Best in Show – Guthrie County

Best in Show – Hamilton County

Best in Show – Hardin County

Best in Show – Jasper County

Best in Show – Madison County

Best in Show – Marshall County

Best in Show – Polk County

Best in Show – Story County

Best in Show – Union County

Best in Show – Webster County

Best in Show – Wright County

Next time we visit THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT it will involve Marion County. Home of Iowa’s second best tulip festival and a really big race track.

+++++++

This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is GOVERNMENT:

GOVERNMENT

What is a GOVERNMENT photo? A GOVERNMENT photo is any photo that involves something that involves the GOVERNMENT. Went to a public park? That is GOVERNMENT. Driving on a road? That is GOVERNMENT. Of course there are GOVERNMENT buildings like courthouse, police departments, fire departments, post offices… Everything military related is GOVERNMENT. Everything dealing with public schools is GOVERNMENT.

Think about the following quote when you are contemplating your GOVERNMENT image:

The worst thing in this world, next to anarchy, is government.
-Henry Ward Beecher

Happy photo harvesting!