A few months back I cruised around Wapello County harvesting their town signs. It was a good trip.
Here are some facts about Wapello County:
+ Population is 35,256. Making it the 20th most populous county in Iowa. Below Sioux County and above Marion County.
+ The largest town and county seat is Ottumwa.
+ Was formed on February 17, 1843.
+ Named for the Meskwaki Chief Wapello.
+ The “birthplace” of Iowa.
+ Site of the house in the background of Grant Wood’s painting “American Gothic”.
+ Major highways are: US-34, US-63, IA-16, IA-137, IA-149.
+ Adjacent counties are Mahaska, Keokuk, Jefferson, Davis, and Monroe.
+ Population peaked in 1950 at 47,397.
The Wapello Courthouse is kinda cool looking but the statue on the top is next level:
Wapello County Courthouse in Ottumwa, Iowa.
The Wapello County Freedom Rock is located in Ottumwa, Iowa.
With Wapello County conquered, here is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:
PURPLE=STRONG
89 counties completed. 88.9% of the Cyclone State conquered!
Here are the town signs of Wapello County:
Ottumwa, Iowa
OTTUMWA
CITY OF BRIDGES
Population: 25,529 (+506)
Eddyville, Iowa – Also in Mahaska and Monroe Counties
Home of the Rockets
EDDYVILLE
SINCE 1840
Population: 970 (-54)
Eldon, Iowa
Welcome to ELDON
Home of the American Gothic House
Population: 783 (-144)
Agency, Iowa
Agency
Home of Chief Wapello
Population: 620 (-18)
Blakesburg, Iowa
Welcome To BLAKESBURG
Founded in 1854
Population: 274 (-22)
Kirkville, Iowa
WELCOME TO KIRKVILLE
EST. 1844
Population: 157 (-10)
Chillicothe, Iowa
WELCOME TO Chillicothe
Est. 1881
Population: 76 (-21)
I don’t know that there is really a bad town sign in the bunch. I would say the most disappointing is Eldon. When yo have something so iconic as the American Gothic house in your town, your really need to do better with your town sign.
As for the purple ribbon. Best in Show? I really like the Chillicothe sign, but it has to go to Agency.
Agency – Best in Show – Wapello County
There was only on alternate town sign in Wapello County:
Agency – 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 – Clayton 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 – Wapello 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 Muscatine County.
I was really hoping you’d say Agency! Also my favorite.
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