The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Iowa (county)

IOWA. I. A S. W. county of Wisconsin, bounded N. by Wisconsin river, and drained by the branches of the Pekatonica; area, 720 sq. m.; pop. in 1870, 24,544. The surface is irregular and thinly timbered. Lead is abundant, and copper and zinc are found. The Prairie du Chien division of the Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad passes along the N. border, and the Mineral Point railroad terminates at the county seat. The chief productions in 1870 were 760,166 bushels of wheat, 705,792 of Indian corn, 803,951 of oats, 40,867 of barley, 35,857 of flaxseed, 145,141 of potatoes, 48,758 lbs. of wool, 73,896 of hops, 84,023 of flax, 547,388 of butter, and 38,054 tons of hay. There were 9,871 horses, 10,064 milch cows, 17,460 other cattle, 13,756 sheep, and 28,235 swine; 22 manufactories of carriages, 7 of cabinet furniture, 5 of pig lead, 1 of paints, 8 of saddlery and harness, 3 flour mills, 4 breweries, and 2 zinc-smelting establishments. Capital, Mineral Point. II. An E. county of Iowa, intersected by the river of the same name and the N. fork of the English river; area, 576 sq. m.; pop. in 1870, 16,644. It has an undulating and well wooded surface, and a fertile soil. The Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific railroad passes through the county. The chief productions in 1870 were 531,148 bushels of wheat, 1,281,123 of Indian corn, 267,049 of oats, 111,882 of potatoes, 499,379 lbs. of butter, 31,877 of wool, and 30,703 tons of hay. There were 6,564 horses, 6,481 milch cows, 10,995 other cattle, 8,806 sheep, and 21,590 swine; 4 manufactories of carriages, 4 of saddlery and harness, 1 of woollen goods, 4 of brick, 4 flour mills, and a cotton and woollen print works. Capital, Marengo.