History of Carroll

Carroll County is created as part of forty-nine new counties in the western part of Iowa. The county is named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737-1832) the only Catholic signer, of the Declaration of Independence. He was the last surviving signer dying at ninety-five years of age.

Enos Butrick came to Carroll County and spent two years.

Enos Butrick brought his wife and seven children to Jasper Township near the confluence of Purgatory Creek and the North Raccoon River.

The first religious service was conducted by a Methodist circuit rider at Henry Copeland's cabin near Carrollton.

The first election was held at Henry Copeland's home one mile south of Carrollton in a small clearing on the Middle Raccoon River. Every voter was present from both sections of the county - the North Cooners (15) and the Middle Cooners (13) for a total of twenty-eight votes. Voters were all male - women couldn't vote. The North Cooners won because they had two more votes and the first officials were elected.

William Gilley came to Carroll County and settled near Carrollton. He kept a journal, which today is a valuable source of information about early Carroll County. The Civil War was a deterrent to settlers coming to the county. The early settlers that came to the county settled near the rivers where wood and water was available.

Jane L. Hill was the first teacher in Carroll County at the first school in Carrollton.

Carrollton was established as the first county seat.

Mail delivery was precarious. People going to the Grist Mill at Panora carried the mail back and forth until a post office was established in Carrollton.

The first court house was built for $3,000.

The census listed 281 people living in Carroll County.

The railroad was started across Iowa including Carroll County.

The first public school was established in Carroll City with the first classroom at the Boots Hotel on East 5th Street.

Chicago and North Western trains could travel from Clinton to Council Bluffs.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel was established as the first Catholic Church in Carroll County. The Catholic presence would eventually grow to thirteen parishes in the county.

All the county records were moved to the new county seat of Carroll City, which was a hamlet of eleven residents and prairie grass.

Carroll City was incorporated.

The first court house was built in Carroll City at a cost of $4,000.

The first school was built between 5th and 6th Streets on the west side of Carroll.

The Presbyterian Church was the first church in Carroll. The church was destroyed in the fire of 1879.

Carroll City was renamed Carroll.

A Chicago and North Western branch was built through Maple River Junction and Breda to Sioux City.

The majority of the business district of Carroll was burned down in a fire.

North Side School was built between Adams and Main Streets on 10th Street. This was considered the edge of town at the time. Wings were added to the building in 1891 and 1904.

The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad was built through the southern part of the county. It went through the towns of Coon Rapids, Dedham, Templeton and Manning.

The South Side School was built for elementary students so they didn't have to cross the railroad tracks to go to school. The bell from the school is on the site of the school which, is now South Side Park.

A new court house was built in Carroll after the first one burned.

The Chicago and Great Western was built through Carroll County starting at the northeast corner with the establishment of Lanesboro and Lidderdale, and going through Carroll, Halbur and Manning in the southwest.

St. Anthony Hospital opened with thirty beds and seven doctors.

St. Angela Institute, designed to teach young women domestic science, is established.

The proclamation for the Lincoln Highway was signed. The route, starting at Times Square in New York and ending in San Francisco, went through Carroll County on its 3,389 mile length across the country. Grading began in Carroll County in 1917. Paving came much later.

A new school for grades nine through twelve with a gym and auditorium was built at the north end of the block between Adams and Main Street.

The WPA built a new auditorium.

A new elementary building was built on the south part of the block between Adams and Main Streets.

Kuemper Catholic High School, a coed high school was established.

Nikita Khrushchev visited the Roswell Garst farm to learn about American farming practices.

John F. Kennedy, the future President of the United States spoke at the Chamber of Commerce meeting.

The five year Urban Renewal process began that created a new downtown for Carroll.

The new Carroll County court house was dedicated.

A new elementary school building called Fairview School was built at the corner of 18th and Grant Road.

The new one hundred thirty bed St. Anthony Regional Hospital was dedicated.

The new Farner Government Building was dedicated (city hall, library, police station).

Carroll Recreation Center was completed.

Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) located in Carroll.

Carroll Area Development Corporation, a county-wide economic development group, was established.

New DMACC facility was built. The old swimming pool bathhouse was renovated and used as administrative offices.

A new high school was built at the southwest corner of 30th and Grant Road.

The second phase of Urban Renewal was implemented with the addition of big box stores.

Carroll County Recycling Center opened.  

Carroll Depot Centre Ltd, a local nonprofit group, began restoration of the exterior of the Union Pacific Depot building.

Completed the second Urban Renewal project, celebrated with the World's Longest Ribbon Cutting.

Carroll Little League Complex was completed. 

A new middle school was built at the northwest corner of 30th and Grant Road.

City of Carroll Phase I of the Corridor of Commerce Project. a $2.4 million community redevelopment plan with renovation included new street lighting, streetscapes and a gateway entrance to the city.

City completed Phase II of the Corridor of Commerce Project.

A new Conservation Education Center was dedicated at Swan Lake State Park on Earth Day.

Connect Young Professionals (CYP) is organized as an affiliate group of the Carroll Chamber.

A new 15,000 square foot Fire Station was built on Carroll's east side.

Expansion and remodel of the Carroll Police Station. 

City of Carroll completed Phase III of the Corridor of Commerce project.

City constructed a new Skate Park in Graham Park.

Renovation of the interior Carroll Depot was completed, Chamber of Commerce move to the Depot.

Carroll Aquatic Center opened- the first outdoor pool in Carroll since 1979.

Lakers Basketball Court was built in Veteran Memorial Park. The court was donated by the Los Angeles Lakers franchise in honor of the 50th anniversary of their miracle landing in 1960. The site of the court is where the DC-3 plane carrying the Minnesota Lakers

(now the Los Angeles Lakers) made an emergency landing in a cornfield.  

Improvements to the Carroll Municipal Airport were completed including extending and widening the runway and the parallel taxiway. Extensive remodeling to the terminal building and maintenance hangar were completed.

The Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic opened at St. Anthony Regional Hospital.

McFarland Clinic opened a new facility in Carroll at 1214 South Grant Road. Twelve Physicians practice at McFarland in Carroll

St. Anthony Hospital opened a newly renovated and expanded Physicians Clinic.