Category Archives: Road Trip

Anders, Elizabeth, Flowers, Naima, Nature, Photo of the Day, Road Trip, Self-Portrait, Still Life, WPC - Reminder

Fat Mum Slim – January 2022

February 4, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

This year, in addition to THE SELFIE PROJECT, I’ve decided to participate in the popular Instagram Photo of a Day Project run by Fat Mum lim. Each day there is a different photo prompt. I’ve created a separate Instagram account to post these pictures, so if you are Instagram, you can follow that account at @fmsbennett.

Here are the pictures from January:

January 1 – How I’m Starting 2022

January 2 – This is me

January 3 – Breakfast

January 4 – Something blue

January 5 – This year I’ll

January 6 – Begins with G

January 7 – Words to live by

January 8 – Get in the photo

January 9 – Play

January 10 – Makes me smile

January 11 – Lunch

January 12 – I am here!

January 13 – Happy

January 14 – Reflection

January 15 – Heck Yes!

January 16 – Self care

January 17 – In the sky

January 18 – Serenity

January 19 – Lucky number

January 20 – A path

January 21 – Happens every day

January 22 – I love this colour

January 23 – A place

January 24 – A shape

January 25 – Flowers

January 26 – Water

January 27 – Dinner

January 28 – Nature

January 29 – A book cover

January 30 – Mirror

January 31 – I need to do this…

I need to acknowledge Elizabeth for helping on two of the projects. She threw the basketball in the air for “Up in the sky” and she also provided and held the illustration for “Flowers”.

The February themes are all letter related:
February 1: A is For…
February 2: B if For…
February 3: C is For…
February 4: D is For…
February 5: E is For…
February 6: F is For…
February 7: G is For…
February 8: H is For…
February 9: I is For…
February 10: J is For…
February 11: K is For…
February 12: L is For…
February 13: M is For…
February 14: N is For…
February 15: O is For…
February 16: P is For…
February 17: Q is For…
February 18: R is For…
February 19: S is For…
February 20: T is For…
February 21: U is For…
February 22: V is For…
February 23: W is For…
February 24: X is For…
February 25: Y is For…
February 26: Z is For…
February 27: Letters
February 28: Your Fave Word

Hoping to collect some fun images in February.

+++++++

This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is JUNK:

JUNK

JUNK! What a great theme for Week 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a JUNK image? Simply put, it is any picture that involves JUNK in the composition. It can be as simple as opening up your JUNK drawer and taking a picture. I have at least 5 JUNK drawers in my house and one more in the office. You could got to a local salvage yard. You could go to a local “antique” store. It could be simply a picture of something you don’t like. There are numerous definitions of JUNK and feel free to explore any of those definitions. I think you know the definition I’m talking about.

Happy photo harvesting!

Art, Road Trip, Teresa, Town Sign Project

TOWN SIGN PROJECT: MAHASKA COUNTY

February 1, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

A few weeks back I tooled around Mahaska County with Teresa harvesting their town signs. It was a good trip.

Here are some facts about Mahaska County:

+ Population is 22,190 making it the 28th most populous county in Iowa. Below Washington County and above Buena Vista County.
+ The county seat and largest town is Oskaloosa.
+ Formed in February of 1843.
+ Named after Chief Mahaska of the Iowa tribe.
+ Home of William Penn University.
+ Major highways are US-63, IA-23, IA-92, IA-163, IA-146, and IA-149.
+ Adjacent counties are Jasper, Poweshiek, Keokuk, Wapello, Monroe, and Marion.
+ Population peaked in 1900 at 34,273.

Mahaska County has a cool looking courthouse:

The Mahaska County Courthouse located in Oskalooa, Iowa.

The Mahaska County Freedom Rock is located in Oskaloosa, Iowa:

With Mahaska County completed, this is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:

PURPLE=COMPLETED

56 counties completed. 56.6% of the Cyclone State conquered!

Eddyville is partially in Monroe County and partially in Mahaska County and partially in Wapello County. My eyeball assessment says that the plurality of it is in Wapello County, so I will reveal its town sign with the Wapello County harvest.

Here are the town signs of Mahaska County:

Oskaloosa, Iowa
Oskaloosa
PRIDE, PROGRESS, AND TRADITION
Population: 11,558 (+95)

New Sharon, Iowa
Welcome to New Sharon
Est. 1856
Population: 1,262 (-31)

Fremont, Iowa
FREMONT
Population: 708 (-35)

University Park, Iowa
the City of University Park
Welcome home!
Population: 487 (0)

Beacon, Iowa
Welcome to BEACON
Est. 1874
Population: 445 (-49)

Leighton, Iowa
WELCOME TO LEIGHTON
“A Little Bit of Town & County”
Est. 1865
Population: 158 (-4)

Rose Hill, Iowa
WELCOME TO ROSE HILL
Population: 157 (-11)

Barnes City, Iowa (Partially Poweshiek)
WELCOME TO BARNES CITY
HOME OF LAKE HAWTHORN
Population: 156 (-20)

Keomah Village, Iowa
Keomah Village
Population: 110 (+26)

The worst town sign in Mahaska County is a true no-brainer. It is Beacon. I would go so far as to say that Beacon has the worst town sign I’ve seen, where it felt like the town was actually trying. The design elements, just awful by themselves, but then you put them together… it is the thing nightmares are made of. But a special demerit for the Oskaloosa sign that made it practically impossible to read the town slogan on the sign.

For me, the purple ribbon for Mahaska County is a three horse race. Rose Hill, Keomah Village, and Leighton. In the end, I’m going to give it to Leighton for the great artwork AND a snappy town slogan.

Leighton- Best in Show – Mahaska County

I will put this caveat out there though. After I harvested these town signs, I learned from my Instagram friend @runner4life that the unincorporated town of Indianapolis has a pretty great town sign. I don’t pursue unincorporated towns unless they are on my route, so I didn’t visit Indianapolis. However, I plan on harvesting that sign when I harvest Wapello County. So this is one Best in Show that could possibly change.

There is only one alternate sign in Mahaska County:

Keomah Village – Alternate

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 – Bremer 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 – Clarke County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Decatur 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 – Jones County

Best in Show – Kossuth County

Best in Show – Linn County

Best in Show – Lucas 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 – Monona County

Best in Show – Monroe 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 County

Best in Show – Sac County

Best in Show – Shelby 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 – Worth County

Best in Show – Wright County

The next time we hit the open road for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will hit Clinton County.

Art, Automobiles, Black & White, Christianity, History, Road Trip, Ruins

Monona County Auxiliary Images

January 26, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

A few weeks back a tooled around Monona County and part of Harrison County harvesting town signs. Here is a collection of the auxiliary images I took on that trip:

The correct color tractor.

Restaurant & Malt Shop. Goodtime Charlie indeed!

They don’t make numbers high enough to count the number of drunk people that would hit this thing if it was in Boone.

Lewis and Clark State Park

Onawa

Onawa claims to have the widest main street in America. 150 feet wide. Eskimo pie was also born here.

Turin

Castana

Turin, again.

Blencoe

River Sioux

Little Sioux

Pisgah

Here is a little more information on the Turin Man from clio.com:

In 1955, a skeleton was discovered in a gravel pit near Turin, Iowa. Experts first proposed that these remains were about 10,000 years old, going back to the “early people” of the ice age era. As archaeologists continued to excavate, they found in succession three more human skeletons. After months of rigorous reconstruction of the remains and scientific testing, experts concluded that the skeletons were likely a family unit about 6,000 years old. The site provided evidence of prehistoric burial practices with many similarities to ancient burials found throughout the eastern United States. The skeletons found here in Turin were the oldest human remains discovered in the state until August of 2011, when archaeologists excavated a 7,000 year old village in Des Moines.

Next set of auxiliary images we will peek at are from Shelby and Mills counties.

Art, Road Trip, Teresa, Town Sign Project

Town Sign Project: Monroe County

January 25, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

A few weeks back I hit the open road with Teresa and harvested the town signs of Monroe County.

Here are some facts about Monroe County:

+ Population is 7,577 making it the 87th most populous county in Iowa. Putting it behind Decatur County and above Adair County.
+ The largest town and county seat is Albia.
+ Originally named Kishkekosh County after the Meskwaki Chief. Renamed for James Monroe, 5th President of the United States.
+ Site of Buxton, the largest town with a majority black population in the early 20th century.
+ Major highways are US-34, IA-5, and IA-137.
+ Adjacent counties are Marion, Mahaska, Wapello, Appanoose, and Lucas.
+ Population peaked in 1910 at 25,429.

The Monroe County Courthouse is gorgeous:

The Monroe County Courthouse in Albia, Iowa.

The Monroe County Freedom Rock is located in Albia, Iowa.

With Monroe County completed, this is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:

PURPLE=COMPLETED

55 counties completed. 55.6% of the Cyclone State conquered!

There are 5 incorporated towns in Monroe County. However, Eddyville is barely in Monroe County and is mostly in Mahaska County and Wapello County, so we will cover it at a later date. Moravia is also ever so slightly in Monroe County, but 99.9% of it is in Appanoose County. So we will also cover it at a later date. That leaves Monroe County with only 3 towns.

Here are the town signs of Monroe County:

Albia, Iowa
ALBIA
SINCE 1846
Population: 3,721 (-45)

Lovilia, Iowa
Lovilia
Established 1853
Population: 472 (-66)

Melrose, Iowa
Welcome to Melrose
Iowa’s Little Ireland
Population: 112 (-2)

Georgetown, Iowa – Unincorporated
WELCOME TO GEORGETOWN

I don’t even think this one is open to discussion. The monorail sales man of US-34 got Albia. Lovilia is also snoozer. Meanwhile, Melrose brings the heat! I loved the town of Melrose. Not only does it have a great sign, they have a monument in their town park for their 1937 high school basketball team that won the state championship that they claim was the best high school team in Iowa history. Although I think the Ames High team with Harrison Barnes and Doug McDermott might have something to say about that. They also have their own blarney stone. That makes two Iowa towns that I know of that have their own blarney stone.

Melrose – Best in Show – Monroe County

Melrose also had a few alternate signs:

Melrose – Alternate

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 – Bremer 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 – Clarke County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Decatur 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 – Jones County

Best in Show – Kossuth County

Best in Show – Linn County

Best in Show – Lucas County

Best in Show – Madison County

Best in Show – Marion County

Best in Show – Marshall County

Best in Show – Mills County

Best in Show – Monona County

Best in Show – Monroe 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 County

Best in Show – Sac County

Best in Show – Shelby 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 – Worth County

Best in Show – Wright County

The next time we hit the open road for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will end up in Mahaska County.

Animals, Art, Black & White, History, Road Trip, Ruins

Southwest Iowa Auxiliary Images Vol. 6

January 19, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Here is the final collection of auxiliary images I took on a couple of road trips to southwest Iowa to harvest town signs. Most of these are in Page County, but a few are in Ringgold County.

Clarinda

Shambaugh

While the Facebook algorithm is destroying humanity, this robot is out there doing God’s work.

College Springs

Blanchard

Northboro

Coin

Clarinda again

Maloy

Benton

Once again, those towns, I think are correct, but it has been awhile since I made these road trips. Next time we look at some auxiliary images, it will involve Monona County.

Art, Road Trip, Town Sign Project

Town Sign Project: Cedar County

January 18, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

A few weeks back I made a solo road trip to harvest the town signs of Cedar County.

Here are some facts about Cedar County:

+ Population is 18,505 making it the 38th most populous county in Iowa. Below Poweshiek County and above Dickinson County.
+ Tipton is the largest town and county seat.
+ Formed on December 21, 1837. Named for the Cedar River.
+ Birthplace of President Herbert Hoover.
+ Major highways are I-80, US-6, US-30, IA-28, and IA-130.
+ Adjacent counties are: Jones, Clinton, Scott, Muscatine, Johnson, and Linn.
+ Population peaked in 1870 at 19,731.

The Cedar County Courthouse isn’t much to look at:

The Cedar County Courthouse in Tipton, Iowa.

The Cedar County Freedom Rock is located in Tipton, Iowa, right next to the courthouse:

With Cedar County completed, this is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:

PURPLE=COMPLTED

54 counties completed. 54.5% of the Cyclone State conquered!

One note before we get into the town signs of Cedar County. I normally don’t consider a mural to be a town sign unless it is the only town sign in the town, or it is at the busiest intersection entering that town. The amount of high quality murals in Cedar County has made me rethink this policy somewhat.

Another note, Wilton is slightly in Cedar County, but just slightly. I will hold onto that town sign until I harvest the rest of Muscatine County.

Here are the town signs of Cedar County:

Tipton, Iowa
TIPTON
EST. 1840
Population: 3,149 (-72)

West Branch, Iowa (Partially in Johnson County)
BIRTHPLACE of HERBERT HOOVER
Historic West Branch
Population: 2,509 (+187)

Durant, Iowa
welcome to DURANT
Population: 1,871 (+39)

Clarence, Iowa
CLARENCE
“WELCOMES YOU”
Population: 1,039 (+65)

Mechanicsville, Iowa
HEAVEN AMONGST THE CEDARS
MECHANICSVILLE, IOWA
Population: 1,020 (-126)

Lowden, Iowa
Welcome to LOWDEN
incorporated 1869
Population: 807 (+18)

Stanwood, Iowa
WELCOM TO STANWOOD
1869
Population: 637 (-47)

Bennett, Iowa
BENNETT
Population: 347 (-58)

For the most part, I don’t think there is a bad town sign in Cedar County. If there are any that just bore me, they are the town signs of Tipton and Durant.

I think that the best town sign in Cedar County is really a no-brainer. While Bennett is the best named town in Iowa and I do love their sign, I have to give it to Lowden.

Lowden – Best in Show – Cedar County

There were a few alternate town signs in Cedar County:

West Branch – Alternate

Tipton – Alternate

Tipton- Alternate

Stanwood – Alternate

Lowden – Alternate

Durant – Alternate

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 – Bremer 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 – Clarke County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Decatur 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 – Jones County

Best in Show – Kossuth County

Best in Show – Linn County

Best in Show – Lucas County

Best in Show – Madison County

Best in Show – Marion County

Best in Show – Marshall County

Best in Show – Mills 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 County

Best in Show – Sac County

Best in Show – Shelby 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 – Worth County

Best in Show – Wright County

The next time we hit the open road for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT we will visit Monroe County.

Art, Black & White, Christianity, Road Trip, Ruins

Southwest Iowa Auxiliary Images Vol. 5

January 12, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

It is time once again for another collection of auxiliary images I took the couple of times I went to southwest Iowa to harvest some town signs. I’m pretty sure all the towns are lines up correctly this time, but it was a long time ago. All these pictures were taken in Taylor County.

Sharpsburg

Gravity

Bedford

New Market

I still have one more collection of images to share from this area of the state.

Art, Michelle, Road Trip, Town Sign Project

Town Sign Project: Jones County

January 11, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

A few weeks back I made a road trip with Michelle to harvest the town signs of Jones County.

Here are some facts about Jones County:

+ The population is 20,760 making it the 31st most populous county in Iowa. Below Carroll County and above Buchanan County.
+ Anamosa is the largest town and county seat.
+ Was founded in 1837 and is named after George Wallace Jones.
+ Home of Anamosa State Penitentiary.
+ Major highways are: US-151, IA-1, IA-38, IA-64, and IA-136.
+ Adjacent counties are Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson, Clinton, Cedar, and Linn.
+ Population peaked in 1900 at 21,954.

The Jones County Courthouse is pretty meh:

The Jones County Courthouse in Anamosa, Iowa.

The Jones County Freedom Rock is located in Stone City, Iowa:

With Jones County completed, this is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:

PURPLE=COMPLETED

53 counties completed. 53.5% of the Cyclone State conquered!

Here are the town signs of Jones County:

Anamosa, Iowa
ANAMOSA
BIRTHPLACE OF GRANT WOOD
*MUSEUMS
*ANTIQUES
NEXT EXIT
Population: 5,450 (-83)

Monticello, Iowa
MONTICELLO
Population: 3,796 (+244)

Cascade, Iowa (Partially in Dubuque County)
CASCADE
Population: 2,386 (+227)

Olin, Iowa
WELCOME TO OLIN
SINCE 1835
Stop for a Visit… Stay for a Lifetime!
Population: 651 (-47)

Wyoming, Iowa
Welcome To WYOMING
The Christmas City
Population: 523 (+8)

Oxford Junction, Iowa
OXFORD JUNCTION
EST. 1871
Population: 424 (-72)

Martelle, Iowa
WELCOME TO MARTELLE
The small town with the BIG Heart!
Population: 249 (-6)

Onslow, Iowa
Welceome to Onslow
Est. 1871
Population: 201 (+4)

Morely, Iowa
1925
MORLEY
Population: 966 (-15)

Stone City, Iowa (Unincorporated)
STONE CITY

I don’t know there is necessarily a terrible sign in this collection. If there is a worst sign, I guess I’d give it to Monticello. But Cascade is equally as boring.

For Best in Show, I think it is pretty obvious. While I like the town signs in Martelle, Olin, Oxford Junction and Morley for just being so weird, I have to give it to Anamosa.

Anamosa – Best in Show – Jones County

There are a couple alternate signs in Jones County:

Onslow – Alternate

Olin – Alternate

Monticello – Alternate

Cascade – Alternate

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 – Bremer 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 – Decatur 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 – Jones County

Best in Show – Kossuth County

Best in Show – Linn County

Best in Show – Lucas County

Best in Show – Madison County

Best in Show – Marion County

Best in Show – Marshall County

Best in Show – Mills 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 County

Best in Show – Sac County

Best in Show – Shelby 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 – Worth County

Best in Show – Wright County

The next time we hit the dusty trail for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will end up in Cedar County.

Art, Black & White, History, Road Trip, Ruins

Southwest Iowa Auxiliary Images Vol. 4

January 5, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

It is time once again to share some auxiliary images from the couple of times I went to southwest Iowa to harvest some town signs. Once again, I think I have the towns lined up correctly, but this trip was awhile ago and I went to a ton of towns.

This is not a Freedom Rock. But it is a rock and appears to be done by the same artist. Bonus rock.

Mount Ayr

I am going to eat here at some point.

Diagonal – This town houses the county’s Freedom Rock.

Clearfield

I still have at least one more collection of images from this road trip to share.

Art, Michelle, Road Trip, Town Sign Project

Town Sign Project: Linn County

January 4, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

A few weeks back I finished up harvesting the town signs of Linn County with Michelle.

Here are some facts about Linn County:

+ Population is 230,299 making it the second most populous county in Iowa. Below Polk County and above Scott County.
+ Cedar Rapids is county seat and largest town.
+ Linn County was organized in 1839.
+ Named for Senator Lewis F. Linn of Missouri.
+ Home of the Czech Village.
+ Home of Coe College.
+ Home of Cornell College.
+ Home of Mount Mercy University.
+ Home of PrairieMoon on Main, a stop on the Tenderloin Trail 2.0.
+ Major highways are: I-380, IA-27, US-30, US-151, US-218, IA-1, and IA-13.
+ Adjacent counties are Benton, Buchanan, Delaware, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, and Jones.
+ Currently at its peak population.

Linn County has a beautiful courthouse:

The Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The Linn County Freedom Rock is located in Central City, Iowa:

When I was there, it had yet to be painted, but should be painted by now. I will have to shoot back through there at some point and have a look. Probably on my way to Prairieburg.

With Linn County completed, this is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:

PURPLE=COMPLETED

52 counties finished. 52.5% of the Cyclone State conquered!

Here are the town signs of Linn County:

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
CEDAR RAPIDS
Population: 137,710 (+11,384)

Marion, Iowa
MARION
Population: 41,535 (+6,767)

Hiawatha, Iowa
Hiwatha!
Population: 7,183 (+159)

Mount Vernon, Iowa
MT VERNON
Population: 4,527 (+19)

Robins, Iowa
Welcome to Robins
Community Family Friends
Established 1888
Population: 3,353 (+211)

Fairfax, Iowa
HOME SWEET HOME
Fairfax
Est. 1863
Inc. 1936
Population: 2,828 (+705)

Center Point, Iowa
Center Point
Population: 2,579 (+158)

Ely, Iowa
ELY
ESTABLISHED 1872
Population: 2,328 (+552)

Lisbon, Iowa
LISBON
Est. 1875
Population: 2,233 (+81)

Palo, Iowa
PALO
Gateway to the Outdoors
Population: 1,407 (+381)

Walford, Iowa (Partially in Benton County)
WALFORD
Population: 1,366 (-97)

Central City, Iowa
CENTRAL CITY
EST. 1852
Population: 1,264 (-7)

Springville, Iowa
IT’S ALWAYS SPRING IN…
SPRINGVILLE
Population: 1,154 (+80)

Coggon, Iowa
Welcome to Coggon
“The one and only”
Population: 701 (+43)

Walker, Iowa
Welcome to…
WALKER
Population: 688 (-103)

Alburnett, Iowa
Alburnett
the comfort of country and community
Population: 675 (+2)

Bertram, Iowa
BERTRAM CITY LIMITS
Population: 269 (-25)

Prairieburg, Iowa
Welcome To Prairieburg
Population: 160 (-18)

The worst town sign in Linn County is pretty obvious. It is Bertram. The best they could manage is a city limits town sign.

I think the Best in Show in Linn County is pretty obvious. However, I’ll give Cedar Rapids some credit. For a large city, it has a pretty good town sign. I will also give some respect to the town signs of Robins and Palo, but clearly the best town sign belongs to Springville.

Springville – Best in Show – Linn County

There were a few alternate town signs in Linn County:

Robins – Alternate

Springville – Alternate

Mount Vernon – Alternate

Coggon – Alternate

Central City – Alternate

Alburnett – Alternate

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 – Bremer 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 – Decatur 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 – Kossuth County

Best in Show – Linn County

Best in Show – Lucas County

Best in Show – Madison County

Best in Show – Marion County

Best in Show – Marshall County

Best in Show – Mills 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 County

Best in Show – Sac County

Best in Show – Shelby 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 – Worth County

Best in Show – Wright County

The next time we will hit the dusty trail for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we end up in Jones County.