Discover Monona County

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	*Blencoe* population 231, was platted in 1881. In 1878 the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad put in a station. The town is believed to have been named by a settler from Canada who was working on the railroad. Blencoe was incorporated in 1891 and settled by many Scotch and Irish. The first post office and settlement was actually "Bottoms", because of its proximity to the Missouri River, and was located one-half mile west of the present town.
	*Castana* population 178, was platted on July 24, 1886, when a branch of the Chicago Northwestern Railway connected Castana traders with the latest goods and services. Castana was named by the founder for what he believed to be the Latin word for chestnuts.
	*Mapleton* population 1416, located originally on the west side of the Maple River (1844), was later referred to as Old Mapleton. In 1877, when the Northwestern Railroad route was established on the east side of the Maple River, the town site was moved there. By 1896 the settlers had officially named the town Mapleton for the beautiful Maple River which flowed nearby.
	*Moorhead* population 232, started in 1880 with a little store in the settlement now called "Old Town". In 1900 the tracks of the Chicago Northwestern Railroad were constructed down the Soldier River Valley, about a mile away, which necessitated moving the town over the hill east to the present site. Business buildings were moved with stock intact, and trading was done while the horses, which were pulling the buildings, rested. The town is named for its founding pioneer family. Top of page
	*Onawa* population 3091, county seat, was incorporated in 1859 and is known for the widest main street in the U.S.A. The name was probably taken from the Indian love song in Longfellow's "Hiawatha". Onawa means "awake". The Eskimo Pie was created here. Known for their annual Lewis and Clark Festival.
	*Rodney* population 74, was incorporated in 1887 and rests along the old Milwaukee Railroad track. When the first train stopped at the new depot a passenger named Rodney was the first to alight, and the town was named for him.
	*Soldier* population 207, a Norweigian communtiy, located near the Soldier River. As a young man Lawrence Welk played here many times. Soldier was probably named for a Union Soldier who according to legend, was on his way home from the war, died and was buried along the stream. Soldier has the oldest (1923) continually active 4-H Club in the nation. Top of page
	*Ticonic* population 20, was settled when the Illinios Central Railway built a branch line from Cherokee through the area. During the WWII steel shortage the rails were taken up from Onawa to Anthon. The settlement was named in 1887 by Gideon Wells for his home in Maine.
	*Turin* population 75, was originally called "Bluff Point". In 1887 a railroad station was built and the town of Turin began. The railroad required excavation of the bluffs to build the right-of-way to Onawa. Several Italian laborers were buried alive when the bluff collapsed. At the request of the Italian workers, the town was renamed "Turin" in memory of Turin, Italy. In 1904 Turin had the champion Western Iowa Ladies Baseball Team, named the "Bloomer Girls". Top of page
	*Ute* population 378, in 1887 the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroads established a depot and a village was born. It was named after the Ute Indian who had befriended the settlers.
	*Whiting* population 707, was settled in 1856 by five Whiting brothers who came by horse drawn wagons from Ohio. The first store was built in 1873. Main street of Whiting, along with some of its residents, appeared in the Hollywood film "Children of the Corn."
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