A reminder that this Friday is the deadline to enter the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest is this Friday at 5 PM. Entries should be turned in to the Boone Chamber of Commerce at 903 Story Street.
Photos will be displayed at KWBG at 824 Keeler St. Definitely starting on Friday, August 5. But the goal is to have them up Thursday morning. August 4. People’s Choice voting will begin shortly thereafter.
+++++++
Back at the end of May, I cruised around Buchanan County harvesting their town signs. It was a good trip.
Here are some facts about Buchanan County:
+ Population is 21,141. Making it the 29th most populous county in Iowa. Below Washington County and above Jones County.
+ The largest town and county seat is Independence.
+ Created in 1837.
+ Named after Senator James Buchanan, who would go on to be the 15th President of the United States.
+ Home of Iowa’s largest frying pan.
+ Major highways are: I-380, US-20, IA-27, IA-150, IA-187, and IA-281.
+ Adjacent counties are Clayton, Fayette, Delaware, Linn, Benton, Black Hawk, and Bremer.
+ Population peaked in 1980 at 22,900. Population has declined in the last two census.
The Buchanan County Courthouse is fair looking:
The Buchanan County Courthouse located in Independence, Iowa.
The Buchanan County Freedom Rock is located in Independence, Iowa.
With Buchanan County completed, here is the Photography 139 Conquest Map:
PURPLE=COMPLETED
81 counties down. 81.8% of the Cyclone State conquered.
Here are the town signs of Buchanan County:
Independence, Iowa
Independence
Celebrate our spirit!
Population: 6,064 (+98)
Jesup, Iowa – Partially in Black Hawk County
CITY of JESUP
Population: 2,508 (+12)
Fairbank, Iowa – Partially in Fayette County
Welcome to Fairbank
Population: 1,111 (-2)
Winthrop, Iowa
Winthrop
“Friendliest town for miles around”
Population: 823 (-27)
Hazleton, Iowa
HAZLETON
Welcomes You!
Population: 713 (-110)
Quasqueton, Iowa
City of Quasky
Quasqueton
Est. 1842
Population: 570 (+16)
Lamont, Iowa
Welcome to LAMONT
WEST GATEWAY to BACKBONE STATE PARK
Population: 429 (-32)
Brandon, Iowa
Welcome to BRANDON
A Little Town
We’re Proud to Call Home
Population: 341 (-32)
Rowley, Iowa
Welcome To ROWLEY
IOWA’S BEST KEPT SECRET
Population: 270 (+6)
Aurora, Iowa
Welcome to Aurora
Population: 169 (-16)
Stanley, Iowa – Partially in Fayette County
STANLEY
Population: 81 (-44)
Buchanan County is a collection of some solid signs. Even a few great ones. I don’t think there is a bad sign in the bunch. I don’t think I can single one out as the worst.
But what get the purple ribbon? Who gets Best in Show? I love Brandon’s sign because it has the frying pan on it. I love the rapids on the Quasqueton sign. I love the fact that the words “Iowa’s Best Kept Secret” are pretty much a secret on the Rowley sign. However, I think the purple ribbon has to go to Stanley and their dilapidated Tin Man town sign. I’m sure some will argue it is the worst, but I love it. Even it blows over in the next derecho.
Stanley – Best in Show – Buchanan County
There are a few alternate town signs in Buchanan County:
Quasqueton – Alternate
Stanley – Alternate
Independence – Alternate
Independence – Alternate
Independence – Alternate
Aurora – Alternate
Aurora – Alternate
Jesup – Alternate
Here is the current list of Best in Shows:
Best in Show – Adair County
Best in Show – Adams County
Best in Show – Appanoose County
Best in Show – Audubon County
Best in Show – Benton County
Best in Show – Black Hawk County
Best in Show – Boone County
Best in Show – Bremer County
Best in Show – Buchanan County
Best in Show – Buena Vista County
Best in Show – Butler County
Best in Show – Calhoun County
Best in Show – Carroll County
Best in Show – Cass County
Best in Show – Cedar County
Best in Show – Cerro Gordo County
Best in Show – Cherokee County
Best in Show – Chickasaw County
Best in Show – Clarke County
Best in Show – Clay County
Best in Show – Clinton County
Best in Show – Crawford County
Best in Show – Dallas County
Best in Show – Decatur County
Terril – Best in Show – Dickinson County
Best in Show – Dickinson County
Best in Show – Emmet County
Best in Show – Floyd 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 Sow – Harrison County
Best in Show – Howard County
Best in Show – Humboldt County
Best in Show – Ida County
Best in Show – Iowa County
Best in Show – Jackson County
Best in Show – Jasper County
Best in Show – Jones County
Best in Show – Keokuk County
Best in Show – Kossuth County
Best in Show – Linn County
Best in Show – Lucas County
Best in Show – Lyon County
Best in Show – Madison County
Best in Show – Mahaska County
Best in Show – Marion County
Best in Show – Marshall County
Best in Show – Mills County
Best in Show – Mitchell County
Best in Show – Monona County
Best in Show – Monroe County
Best in Show – Montgomery County
Best in Show – O’Brien County
Best in Show – Osceola County
Best in Show – Page County
Best in Show – Palo Alto County
Best in Show – Plymouth County
Best in Show – Pocahontas County
Best in Show – Polk County
Best in Show – Pottawattamie County
Best in Show – Poweshiek County
Best in Show – Ringgold County
Best in Show – Sac County
Best in Show – Shelby County
Best in Show – Sioux 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 – Wayne County
Best in Show – Webster County
Best in Show – Winnebago County
Best in Show – Woodbury County
Best in Show – Worth County
Best in Show – Wright County
The next time we hit the open road for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will look at the town signs of Delaware County.
I don’t think there is any arguing that Stanley is the most unique!
I just wish they had a Wizard of Oz character at every entry into the town.