Linn County Cities & Towns
Alburnett (1892-Present)
aka: Burnett, Trentham (1888-1892) Incorporated: June 29, 1912
ZIP code: 52202, Area code(s): 319
In 1887, the Illinois Central Railroad was built through Linn County's Otter Creek township. In the winter of that year a depot was built on land donated by Albert Burnett. Because he had given land for the depot, the name "Burnett" was chosen for its identification. Business interests began to center around the depot because the railroad offered an outlet to both the north and the south, and because of its proximity to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Burnett and his wife soon began to plat a community. Meanwhile, landowner Michael Weislogel began to lay out lots a short distance to the south. This community, called "Trentham," was the site of the first general store and post office. However, because contemporary state law dictated that a depot and post office in the same community must carry the same name, the name was soon changed to "Burnett." Mail delivery problems soon developed between Burnett and the community of Bennett in Cedar County. Consequently, "Al" Burnett changed the name to "Alburnett." Alburnett was incorporated in 1912, becoming the only municipality in Otter Creek Township. The first elected mayor was C. E. Hense, and the first council was composed of George Anderson, Albert Burnett, F.L. Glitchell, C.C. Naylor, and H.N. Rockwood. [Source: Wikipedia - Alburnett, Iowa]
Alice Located about 7 miles East of Center Point
Bertram (1858-Present)
aka: Westport (1838-1858) Incorporated: January 17, 1914 In 1838, Israel Mitchell, the claiment to the site where the current village of Bertram is located planned the first village in Linn County. He named the village "Westport". Due to its centralized location within the county, he had hopes that the County seat would someday be established here and hoped to make his fortune by selling portions to others. The village dates from July, 1838. In the fall of 1838, Albert Henry opened the first store in the county. It was at this store that the first election was held in the county as well for Representatives in the Territorial Legislature. Thirty-two votes were cast. Chas. Whittlesey was elected from this district to the Council, and Robert G. Roberts was chosen to the House. In 1858 the town's name was changed to Bertram in honor of Captain John Bertram, who helped establish the first railroad in Linn County. [Source: The History of Linn county, Iowa; Western Historical Company; 1878)]
Cedar Hills Located about 4 miles North West of Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids (1843-Present
aka: Columbus (1838-1843) Incorporated: January 15, 1849
ZIP codes: 52400-52499 Area code: 319
Nickname: City of Five Seasons
Motto: The fifth season is a time to enjoy life, to enjoy the other four seasons Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, 20 miles (32 km) north of Iowa City and 100 miles (160 km) east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city. City hall and the county courthouse are located on Mays Island in the Cedar River; Cedar Rapids is one of few cities in the world with governmental offices on a municipal island. The location of present-day Cedar Rapids was in the territory of the Fox and Sac tribes. The first permanent settler, Osgood Shepherd, arrived in 1838. When Cedar Rapids was first established in 1838, William Stone named the town Columbus. In 1841 it was resurveyed and renamed by N.B. Brown and his associates. They named the town Cedar Rapids for the rapids in the Cedar River at the site, and the river itself was named for the large number of red cedar trees that grew along its banks. Cedar Rapids was incorporated on January 15, 1849. Cedar Rapids annexed the community of Kingston in 1870. The economic growth of Cedar Rapids increased in 1871 upon the founding of the Sinclair meatpacking company. [Source: Wikipedia - Cedar Rapids, Iowa] Cedar Rapids in 1885 had 15,426 people; in 1890, 18,020; in 1895, 21,555; in 1900, 25,656; in 1905, 28,759; and in 1910, 32,870. [Source: History of Linn County Iowa: Volume 1; by Luther Albertus Brewer and Barthinius L. Wick; The Pioneer Publishing Company; 1911; Transcribed by Andaleen Whitney]
Center Point (1875 - Present)
aka: McGonigle's Point, Washington (1839-1875) Incorporated: February 6, 1875
Zip code: 52213, Area code 319 Washington township was early settled, for it is stated on good authority that Bartimus McGonigle settled near what later became Center Point in 1839. Some of the early settlers were Dr. S. M. Brice, John Osborn, Tom Lockhart, W. A. Thomas, James Down, Sam Stewart, E. B. Spencer, Alex Nevin, D. S. Way, Milt Squires, Will Cress, Jacob Thomas, Robert Osborn, Jonathan Dennison, Alex Thomas, and Jas. Chamber. These came as early as 1842, a number coming in in 1839 and 1840. The following came before 1846: Thos. Fee, Isaac Berry, J. L. Benham, Levi Martin, and L. Hollenbeck. The town was laid out in 1848 by Andrew Bottorf. A re-survey was later made as of 1854, and done by J. McArthur for Dr. S. M. Brice and J. R. Grubb. Most of the buildings in the town date from the time of the second plat, when the place began to thrive in earnest. Dr. Brice ran a store which as later sold to A. A. Adams. In 1855 Dr. J. F. Wilson opened a drug store. L. Hollenbeck also opened a general store in 1854. J. M. Bartleson, W. S. Bliss, and John Carr were also early settlers, Carr and Barleson running a store for many years. The locality in and around Center Point, then, is one of the first settled in the County. The population of Center Point in 1885 was 565; in 1890, 615; in 1895, 595; in 1900, 674; and in 1905, 823. [Source: History of Linn County Iowa: Volume 1; by Luther Albertus Brewer and Barthinius L. Wick; The Pioneer Publishing Company; 1911; Transcribed by Andaleen Whitney]
Central City (1859-Present)
aka: Clark's Ford (1839-1859) Incorporated: July 6, 1889
Zip Code: 52214, Area Code(s): 319 At what became Central City arrived in August, 1839, Joseph Clark and family; this place was for a long time known as Clark's Ford. Here Mr. Clark erected a primitive grist mill by selecting a hollow gum and placing in the trunk of the tree a stone; upon this was placed another stone which was operated by a long sweep and turned on a pivot; in this rude manner enough meal was ground out to supply the family. In 1890 the population of Central City was given as 467; in 1895, 594; in 1900, 623; and in 1905, 607. [Source: History of Linn County Iowa: Volume 1; by Luther Albertus Brewer and Barthinius L. Wick; The Pioneer Publishing Company; 1911; Transcribed by Andaleen Whitney]
Coggon
aka: Jackson (1855-????), Green's Mill (????-1887), Nugent or Nugent's Grove (1887-????) Zip Code: 52218, Area Code: 319 In 1854 came Wm. Henderson of Scotch descen from Canada with his family and located on lands a little to the west of the present town of Coggon. A large number of the descendants of this family are still large property owners and respected and enterprising citizens of this township. E. L. Ware, Henry Thorp, G. C. Edgerly and many others purchased lands and settled here during these years. John Bruce in 1858 during the hard times had the courage to erect a stone grist mill on Buffalo creek at the presenttsite of Coggon and this property later came into the possession of Amos Green who operated the mill till 1876, when he erected a frame structure.. This mill was much appreciated by the settlers and it was a busy place for many years. Up till the time of the Illinois Central railway extension in 1887, the place was known as Green's Mill, later called Nugent, after the postoffice, and then named Coggon. The first store at Green's Mill was run by John Bruce, who ran this in connection with his mill. [Source: History of Linn County Iowa: Volume 1; by Luther Albertus Brewer and Barthinius L. Wick; The Pioneer Publishing Company; 1911; Transcribed by Andaleen Whitney]
Covington (1882 - Present) Located about 5 miles North West of Cedar Rapids
Ely (1872-Present)
aka: Hoosier Grove Zip Code: 52227, Area Code(s): 319 The village of Ely is a new one, which sprung up at the old settlement at Hoosier Grove on the occasion of the advent of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad. This is one of the earliest settled points in the county. Six or more persons are believed to have located in the vicinity in 1838. Elisha Cox and Isham Holler settled on the Bassitt farm - the former where the farm house now stands, and the latter on the creek. John Holler located on the town site, and lived where Andrew Fahrmeister now resides. One mile west, Isaac Cox, and one and half miles west, Joseph Cox settled. Abner Cox located on the Frank Lawrence farm. Albert Blaylock settled near there soon after. October 4, 1843, Christopher V. Fahrmeister, now deceased, with his sons, settled one and a half miles south, in Johnson County. Some of the sons have occupied the original farm to the present time. John Holler, who was killed by his son, sold the town site to Alexader Gilmore, who transferred it to William Harris, a Quaker, from whom it was purchased, in 1867, by Andrew Fahrmeister. The latter sold sixty acres to the railroad company. Ely was laid out June 5, 1872, by T. M. Johnson, Surveyor, on parts of Sections 30 and 31, Township 82 north, Range 6, under the proprietorship of John F. Ely. The first building was erected before the town was laid off, and before the railroad had been completed, by William S. Cooper, on the southwest corner of Dows and Main streets. Here Mr. Cooper opened a general store, which was sold to John Hoffman, and afterward to Joseph Woitishek, the present proprietor. The next buildings were, the depot, a warehouse by Andrew Fahrmeister, then a store building by Jerry Smith, occupied by the store of Smith & Healy. [Source: History of Linn County Iowa: Volume 1; by Luther Albertus Brewer and Barthinius L. Wick; The Pioneer Publishing Company; 1911; Transcribed by Andaleen Whitney]
Fairfax Zip Code: 52228, Area Code: 319
Hiawatha (June 12, 1950-Present) Motto: Say hello to a great place to live, work and play
Zip Code: 52233, Area Code: 319
Jordans Grove Located about 5 miles South East of Central City
Konigsmark Located about 6 miles South West of Cedar Rapids
Lafayette Located about 3 miles West of Alburnett
Lincolnway Village Located about 4 miles South of Cedar Rapids
Linn Junction Located about 4 miles North of Cedar Rapids
Lisbon (1851-Present) Incorporated: February 10, 1875
Zip Code: 52253, Area Code: 319 Lisbon was laid out in May, 1851, by John E. Kurtz, John H. Eby and Michael Hoover, on the southeast quarter of Section 11, Township 82 north, Range 51, by S. J. Dunham, Surveyor. The following additions were afward made: Neidig's 1st and 2d; Ringer's 1st, 2d and 3d; Eby's, Barkley's, Grauel's, Pfautz's, and when the railroad was built the addition north was made by Mr. Kurtz and the Iowa Land Co.. The first business, a store, was established by David Dorward, now of Cedar Rapids, who sold to John E. Kurtz, who, with his son, has continued in a general trade to the present time, excepting a few years. David and Daniel Dorwart soon went again into business. They sold to Hammer Stackhouse. Mr. D. G. Ziegenfus began work at blacksmithing, March 24, 1850, and continued in that business twenty-seven years, laying down the hammer in 1877. He now lives in Lisbon. The first wagon shop was that of Alex. Renfrew; while Daniel Runkle first acted as Postmaster. Lisbon did not grow much during the first ten years. When the railroad was completed through (New Year's, 1859), just north of town, an addition was made extending to it, and the principal growth has been in that direction. In 1860, Lisbon had 583 inhabitants. Lisbon's population in 1885 was 703. No statistics are available for 1890, but in 1895 the town had 817 people, 956 in 1900, and 948 in 1905. [Source: History of Linn County Iowa: Volume 1; by Luther Albertus Brewer and Barthinius L. Wick; The Pioneer Publishing Company; 1911; Transcribed by Andaleen Whitney]
Louisa Located about 3 miles West of Marion
Marion (1839-Present) Zip Code: 52302, Area Code: 319 Marion, most fittingly called the "City Beautiful," or the "Grove City," was laid out in 1839 on a semi-circular plateau of prairie that lay within a timbered crescent bordering and following the corse of Indian creek on the west, and opening into a vast extent of prairie on the east, to which if lay joined lake a protected harbor of the sea. Before it was laid out in the spring of 1839, it was located by a special board of commissioners appointed by the territorial legislature of Iowa in 1838, as the county seat of Linn county, and was named in honor of General Francis Marion. David A. Woodbridge, who was appointed to superintend the work, and Ross McCloud, the first county surveyor, proceeded to lay out the town, and on December 2, 1839, assisted by Hosea W. Gray and A. J. McKean as chain carriers, Elisha Kemp stake driver, and Ira Wilson flagman, and under the direction of David A. Woodbridge, agent, the town of Marion was platted on the west half of the northwest quarter of section six, township eighty-three, range six, and the east half of the northeast quarter of section one, township eighty-three, range seven. Isbell's Grove, now known as Irish Hill, lay to the southeast of the town plat like a beautiful emerald island cut off from the body of timber lying south of it by a strip of prairie, where, in 1838, William K. Farnsworth had entered a claim. He was the first actual town settler, although James Preston and Prior Scott had entered a large tract of land east of Isbell's Grove about the same time, and a part of which lay open until the eighties, and was known as Scott's Prairie. Soon after the town was located, Luman M. Strong and James W. Bassitt located northwest of the town; Rufis H. Lucore, west; John C. Berry and Hosea W. Grey, north; James W. Willis, northeast; George W. Gray, south; John Margrave, northwest; and Aaron Moriarity, James and Henderson Smith on the land now owned by Emmett Kemp; James Blackman, adjoining on the northeast; Samuel Ross, his mother and several brothers, adjoining the Willis place, later known as the E. A. Vaughn farm. Marion in 1885 had a populatin of 2,673; in 1890, 3,094; in 1895, 3,766; in 1900, 4,102; in 1905, 4,112 [Source: History of Linn County Iowa: Volume 1; by Luther Albertus Brewer and Barthinius L. Wick; The Pioneer Publishing Company; 1911; Transcribed by Andaleen Whitney]
Midway Located about 4 miles North of Hiawatha
Mount Vernon Zip Code: 52314, Area Code: 319 Mt. Vernon boasted of 859 people in 1885, 1,259 in 1890, 1,178 in 1895, 1,629 in 1900, and 1,664 in 1905. [Source: History of Linn County Iowa: Volume 1; by Luther Albertus Brewer and Barthinius L. Wick; The Pioneer Publishing Company; 1911; Transcribed by Andaleen Whitney]
New Buffalo Located about 1 mile South West of Hiawatha
Otis Located about 4 miles East of Cedar Rapids
Palo Zip Code: 52324, Area Code: 319
Paralta Located about 2 miles South East of Springville
Paris Located about 4 miles North West of Central City
Prairieburg Zip Code: 52219, Area Code: 319
Robins Zip Code: 52328, Area Code: 319
Rogers Located about 2 miles South West of Central City
Springville Zip Code: 52336, Area Code: 319
Toddville Located about 4 miles North West of Hiawatha
Troy Mills (1853-Present)
aka: Spring Grove Zip Code: 52344 Troy Mills, the only village in the township of Spring Grove was founded in 1853, when a dam was built across the river at that place and a saw mill built. This mill continued to run about ten years when the present mill was erected. The mill did a flourishing business grinding all kinds of grain, but of late years has only been used as a grist mill. Jordon Long brought the first stock of goods to Troy Mills amounting to ten dollars. Meeting with success in selling these, he turned all his attention to carrying on a general store which he conducted for more than forty years. Dr. John Dix and E. C. Downs started the first drug store in the town but soon sold out. E. N. Beach, one of the best known men in the northern part of Linn county, came to Troy Mills at an early day and started a drug store and has conducted the same to the present time. Dr. E. Wilson was the only doctor in our township for several years and enjoyed a lucrative practice. The first blacksmith shop was started by Elmer and John E. Atwood in 1854, who conducted the same for nearly thirty years. [Source: History of Linn County Iowa: Volume 1; by Luther Albertus Brewer and Barthinius L. Wick; The Pioneer Publishing Company; 1911; Transcribed by Andaleen Whitney]
Vernon View Located about 6 miles North East of Cedar Rapids
Viola Zip Code: 52350 Located about 5 miles Northeast of Springville
Walford Zip Code: 52351, Area Code: 319 Located in 2 counties: Benton, Linn
Walker Incorporated: June 13, 1891
Zip Code: 52352, Area Code: 319 Following the close of the Civil war development was more rapid, a number of soldiers fresh from the service joining the pioneers in their work of subduing the wilderness. In 1873 when the railroad arrived settlement had reached the northern border of the township, where James A. North, Walker Purviance, William Moses and others were located. The building of the railroad brought the establishment of a new town on section 4, which was called Walker, in honor of W. W. Walker, then chief engineer and afterward superintendent and receiver of the road. Walker in 1895 had 485 people, 505 in 1900, and 571 in 1905 [Source: History of Linn County Iowa: Volume 1; by Luther Albertus Brewer and Barthinius L. Wick; The Pioneer Publishing Company; 1911; Transcribed by Andaleen Whitney]
Waubeek Located about 6 miles Southeast of Central City
Western Located about 3 milese Southwest of Ely
Whittier Located about 4 miles North of Springville
Worthington Acres Located about 2 miles Southwest of Cedar Rapids
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