A few weeks back I cruised around Washington County harvesting their town signs. It was a great trip as Washington County has a couple of my favorite spots in Iowa to visit.
Here are some facts about Washington County:
+ Population is 22,491 making it the 27th most populous county in Iowa. Below Bremer and above Mahaska.
+ The largest town and county seat is Washington.
+ Formed in 1838 as Slaughter County. Later organized as Washington County when it was moved from the Wisconsin Territory to the Iowa Territory. Named after George Washington. A character from Hamilton. You know, the guy who said, “My name’s been through a lot, I can take it.” and “You have no control. Who lives, who dies, who tells your story.”
+ Home of the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise.
+ Home of the Kalona Creamery and Golden Delight Bakery, two of my favorite places in Iowa and places where I have fond family memories.
+ Major highways are: US-218, IA-1, IA-22, IA-27, IA-78, and IA-92.
+ Adjacent counties are: Iowa, Johnson, Louisa, Henry, Jefferson, and Keokuk.
+ Currently at peak population.
Washington County has a beautiful courthouse that I could have done a better job of photographing:
The Washington County Courthouse located in Washington, Iowa.
The Washington County Freedom Rock is located in Brighton, Iowa.
With Washington County completed, here is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:
PURPLE=COMPLETED
87 counties completed. 87.9% of the Cyclone State conquered!
Here are the town signs of Washington County:
Washington, Iowa
WASHINGTON
Population: 7,352 (+86)
Kalona, Iowa
Welcome to KALONA
SINCE 1879
Population: 2,630 (+267)
Wellman, Iowa
WELCOME TO WELLMAN
Population: 1,524 (+116)
Riverside, Iowa
WELCOME TO RIVERSIDE
Where The Trek Begins
Population: 1,060 (+67)
Brighton, Iowa
Home of Lake Darling
Brighton
Population: 600 (-52)
Ainsworth, Iowa
City of Ainsworth
Population: 511 (-56)
Crawfordsville, Iowa
CRAWFORDSVILLE
BIRTHPLACE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
FEBRUARY 23RD, 1854
Population: 277 (+13)
West Chester, Iowa
Welcome to WEST CHESTER
Population: 144 (+2)
Coppock, Iowa – Also in Henry and Jefferson Counties
Population: 36 (-11)
Last place is kind of a no brainer. Even in a county filled with nondescript and boring signs, Coppock is dead last for only having the DOT sign. The weird thing about Coppock is there is actually a decent sized business in the Eagles Nest. You would think they would have a sign.
As for Crawfordsville being the Birthplace of the Republican Party. #1. The original founders of the Republican Party must be completely ashamed to see what their party has become. #2. The Republican Party doesn’t recognize Crawfordsville as the birthplace of the Republican Party. There are two towns that fight over this distinction. Jackson, Michigan and Ripon, Wisconsin. Neither one, you might notice, is Crawfordsville, Iowa.
So what gives?
The Republican Party used to claim that the first informal meeting took place in Ripon on March 20, 1854. Then the first formal meeting took place in Jackson on July 6, 1854. The first organizing convention took place in Pittsburgh on February 22, 1856. The the first nominating convention took place in Philadelphia opening on June 17, 1856.
The Republican Party doesn’t site either place as their birthplace.
So where does Crawfordsville, Iowa come into this mix?
In February 23, 1854 delegates met in the Seceder Church and House of All Nations and drew up resolutions which began the Republican Party. There are no written proof of the actual meeting and you never see Crawfordsville mentioned as a possible birthplace of the Republican Party. Maybe it is for the best.
But after all of that, you are probably wondering what is the best town sign in Washington County. I do like the Riverside sign. I also like the Ainsworth sign. But clearly, Best in Show goes to Kalona.
Kalona – Best in Show – Washington County
There a few alternate town signs in Washington County:
Riverside – Alternate
Riverside – Alternate
Kalona – Alternate
Brighton – Alternate
Brighton – Alternate
Here is the current list of Best in Shows:
Best in Show – Adair County
Best in Show – Adams County
Best in Show – Allamakee 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
Best in Show – Delaware County
Terril – Best in Show – Dickinson County
Best in Show – Dickinson County
Best in Show – Emmet County
Best in Show – Fayette 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 – Johnson 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 – Washington County
Best in Show – Wayne County
Best in Show – Webster County
Best in Show – Winnebago County
Best in Show – Winneshiek 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 visit Clayton County.