Pottawattamie County, Iowa

Founding: 1848 (declared in 1847)
Parent county: Unorganized territory
Namesake: The Potawatomi people
Seat: Council Bluffs (1848–)
Land area: 950 square miles
Population (2020): 93,667
Population (historic): 7,828 (1850); 16,893 (1870); 47,430 (1890); 55,832 (1910); 69,888 (1930)
Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1930; 1940–1970; 1990–2020
Subdivisions: 14 cities; three CDPs; 29 townships
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 11,325 (28.4%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 56.8%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 4.1%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 8.2%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,318
Average outbuilding value (1930): $2,594

Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.2 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 3,781
Average farm size (1920): 139.5 acres
Sources of settlement: Illinois, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Germany, Indiana, Ireland, and England
_________________________________________________________________________________
 

Council Bluffs

 
Namesake: A reference to the Council of Three Fires, an alliance of Indian tribes
Founding: 1848 (platting as Kanesville); 1850 (post office); 1853 (incorporation)
Population (2020): 62,799
Population (historic): 2,011 (1860); 18,063 (1880); 25,802 (1900); 42,048 (1930)
Periods of population growth: 1848–1930; 1940–1970; 1990–2020
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 8,017 (29.9%)
_________________________________________________________________________________

View and filter the data. Or see a map.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Outstanding Buildings

1. Charles Hanley Farm (c. 1905). 19468 US Highway 59. Belknap. Eclectic.
2. John Ryan Farm (c. 1855). 31295 175th Road. Rockford. Greek Revival.
3. John Laue Farm (c. 1900). 32469 Idlewood Road. Washington. Queen Anne/Shingle.

_________________________________________________________________________________