A few weeks back I cruised around Monona County on a solo town sign harvesting trip.
Here are some facts about Monona County:
+ Population is 8,751, making it the 84th most populous county in Iowa. Below Greene County and above Lucas County.
+ The largest town and county seat is Onawa.
+ Was a stopping point in 1804 for Lewis and Clark.
+ Where the Turin Man was discovered.
+ Formed in 1851.
+ Possibly names for an “Indian” word meaning beautiful valley.
+ Major highways are I-29, IA-37, IA-141, IA-175, and IA-183.
+ Adjacent counties are Woodbury, Crawford, and Harrison.
+ Population peaked in 18,238 in 1940.
The Monona County Courthouse is fair:
The Monona County Courthouse in Onawa, Iowa.
The Monona County Freedom Rock is located in Onawa, Iowa:
With Monona County conquered, this is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:
PURPLE=COMPLETED
44 counties completed. 44.4% of the Cyclone State conquered.
Here are the town signs of Monona County:
Onawa, Iowa
EST. 1857
IOWA’S BEST KEPT SECRET
ONAWA
WIDEST MAIN STREET IN THE U.S.A.
Population: 2,906 (-92)
Mapleton, Iowa
Mapleton
Population: 1,165 (-59)
Whiting, Iowa
welcome to WHITING
Population: 745 (-17)
Ute, Iowa
UTE
Population: 338(-36)
Blencoe, Iowa
Welcome To Blencoe
“You Are Among Friends”
Populatoin: 233 (+9)
Moorhead, Iowa
MOORHEAD
Population: 199 (-27)
Soldier, Iowa
SOLDIER
Population: 184 (+10)
Castana, Iowa
Welcome To Castana
Established 1886
Population: 107 (-40)
Turin, Iowa
WELCOME TO TURIN
HEART OF THE LOESS HILLS
Population: 72 (+4)
Rodney, Iowa
RODNEY
“ON THE GROW”
Population: 45 (-15)
Grant Center, Iowa – Unincorporated
GRANT CENTER
ESTABLISHED 1881
LITTLE SIOUX VALLEY
I don’t think there is a bad town sign in Monona County, so I’m not going to single one out for having the worst.
Despite there being some really solid town signs, I think the best is pretty obvious. It goes to Onawa. The rare triple crown winner. County Seat, Home of the Freedom Rock, and Home of the Best Town Sign.
Onawa – Best in Show – Monona County
And yes, their main street is very wide. I think 8 lanes wide. There are no alternate town signs in Monona County.
Here is the current list of Best in Shows:
Best in Show – Adair County
Best in Show – Adams 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 – Cass County
Best in Show – Cerro Gordo County
Best in Show – Clarke County
Best in Show – Crawford County
Best in Show – Dallas County
Best in Show – Franklin County
Best in Show – Fremont 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 – Monona County
Best in Show – Montgomery County
Best in Show – Page County
Best in Show – Pocahontas County
Best in Show – Polk County
Best in Show – Poweshiek County
Best in Show – Ringgold Count
Best in Show – Sac County
Best in Show – Story County
Best in Show – Tama County
Best in Show – Taylor County
Best in Show – Union County
Best in Show – Warren County
Best in Show – Webster County
Best in Show – Worth County
Best in Show – Wright County
Next time we visit THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will visit Shelby County.
“Widest Main Street in America” is a weird flex, but cool.
I do believe they definitely back it up. I think it was 8 lanes wide.
It is definitely a cool little town.