A few weeks back I cruised around Hancock County harvesting their town signs. It was a very interesting trip as Hancock County has some very nice towns.
Here are some facts about Hancock County:
+ Population is 10,802 (2019 estimate). Making it the 68th most populous county in Iowa. Behind Louisa County and ahead of Guthrie County.
+ The largest town (entirely in Hancock County) and county seat is Garner.
+ Was established on June 28, 1858.
+ Named after John Hancock, the leader of the Continental Congress during the American Revolution.
+ Home of the World’s Largest Bullhead.
+ Home of a National Hobo Convention.
+ Major highways are: US-18, US-69, and IA-17.
+ Adjacent Counties are: Winnebago, Cerro Gordo, Wright, and Kossuth.
+ Population peaked in 1940 at 15,402.
The Hancock County Courthouse isn’t ugly, but it isn’t much to look at either.
The Hancock County Courthouse located in Garner, Iowa.
The Hancock County Freedom Rock is located in Britt, Iowa:
With Hancock County conquered, this is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:
PURPLE=COMPLETED
33 counties completed. 33.3% of the Cyclone State conquered.
Here are the town signs of Hancock County:
Forest City, Iowa – Mostly in Winnebago County
Forest City
Population: 4,151
Garner, Iowa
Welcome to GARNER
EST. 1870
Population: 3,129
Britt, Iowa
BRITT
NATIONAL HOBO CONVENTION
Population: 2,069
Kanawha, Iowa
Welcome To… KANAWHA, IOWA
Celebrating 100 Years and still on track!
Population: 652
Klemme, Iowa
WELCOME TO KLEMME
Population: 507
Corwith, Iowa
CORWITH
Population: 309
Crystal Lake, Iowa
Crystal Lake
Home of the world’s largest bullhead
Population: 250
Woden, Iowa
WELCOME TO WODEN
Population: 229
Goodell, Iowa
LITTLE TOWN
GOODELL
FRIENDLY PEOPLE
Population: 139
Duncan, Iowa – Unincorporated
I would say that Hancock County has a solid but not great set of signs. I don’t think there is a bad sign, but Garner’s is the most boring and corporate, so it get worst town sign in Hancock County.
I like the town signs of Goodell, Britt, and Kanawha. I’m going to give Best in Show for Hancock County to Britt for the picture of the hobo:
Britt – Best in Show – Hancock County
There are a few alternate town signs in Hancock County:
Klemme – Alternate
Klemme – Alternate
Kanawha – Alternate
Goodell – Alternate
Forest City – Alternate
Corwith – Alternate
Britt – Alternate
Britt – Alternate
Here is the current list of Best in Shows:
Best in Show – Adair County
Best in Show – Audubon County
Best in Show – Benton County
Best in Show – Boone County
Best in Show – Butler County
Best in Show – Calhoun 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 – Grundy County
Best in Show – Guthrie County
Best in Show – Hamilton County
Best in Show – Hancock County
Best in Show – Hardin County
Best in Show – Humboldt County
Best in Show – Ida County
Best in Show – Jasper County
Best in Show – Lucas County
Best in Show – Madison County
Best in Show – Marion County
Best in Show – Marshall County
Best in Show – Polk County
Best in Show – Poweshiek County
Best in Show – Sac County
Best in Show – Story County
Best in Show – Tama County
Best in Show – Union County
Best in Show – Warren County
Best in Show – Webster County
Best in Show – Wright County
The next time we hit the dusty trail for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will visit Pocahontas County.