Sac County, located in the northwest quadrant of Iowa, offers a wide array of agricultural resources, beautiful topography, and cultural activities for the more than 10,000 residents who inhabit the 578 square miles within the county borders. Prior to becoming a county in 1851, the area was home to the Fox and Sauk (Sac) Native Americans, after whom the county and city of Sac City were named.

The county’s rich agricultural soil was, in large part, due to glacial deposits. The Wisconsin glacier covered the eastern part of the county, creating the natural drainage divide that bisects the county and sends water either to the Missouri or Mississippi Rivers. The glacier also created Black Hawk Lake, the southernmost glacial lake in Iowa. The allure of farming was a major attraction for settlers who began to come to Sac County in the 1850’s. Land prices of $3 an acre or less made settling the area affordable. Traveling by ox cart was most common for settlers.  Building a residence on the property was a requirement for new property owners.  D. Carr Early, one of Sac City’s first residents, walked 90 miles to register claims for himself and a friend while the friend built a house that straddled the border of the adjacent properties they had claimed.

This hardy stock of residents spread the word that the Sac City area was a vibrant land of opportunity. By 1860, 246 people called Sac County home.  Ten years later, the population had grown to 1411.  The 1900 census showed the county population burgeoning to 17,639 residents.

Sac City the oldest community in the county, was founded in 1855 and named the county seat in 1856. As the population increased, numerous towns sprang up throughout the county.

One of the first steps to transform the virgin prairie into arable farmland was to survey the land and create a layout for property lines.  John F. Duncombe of Fort Dodge helped plat the county which was divided into square mile sections with occasional correction lines to account for the earth’s curvature. Sac City began to develop along the stagecoach line between Fort Dodge and Sergeant Bluff. The town, enveloped in the curvature of the North Raccoon River, became a favorite stopping place for travelers. As more residents moved to the county and rural residents needed nearby shopping and places to market crops, other communities began to flourish.

As Sac City began to grow, local businesspersons erected beautiful stores and homes. The town is home to many wonderful examples of architecture. Queen Anne homes, Second Empire structures, buildings designed by noted architects, and striking public buildings continue to enrich the area. Sac City grew because of commerce, banking, and real estate investment. Churches and schools became hubs of activities. Many who attended the country schools in rural Sac City continued their education at the high school in town.   The high school also offered adult night school classes that taught adults about new agricultural practices, food preparation, and topics of general interest. The Sac City Institute, the only college in the area, was a Baptist college that trained high school teachers and had a well-respected conservatory of music. It was located on South 11th Street, immediately south of the present middle school.

In addition to church and school functions, entertainment opportunities included numerous movie theaters, two opera houses, traveling circuses, fishing, hunting, skating, and Chautauqua shows.  The Chautauqua movement in Sac City was housed in a large pavilion that remains as a significant example of outdoor auditoriums in the state.

Transportation was a major driving force for community growth.  Railroad access helped farmers sell commodities, brought products into the county, and allowed residents to travel.  Highway 20, the longest road in the United States, originally was Sac City’s Main Street and provided a connection to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

(History adapted from Bruce Perry’s Sac County, © 2020 Arcadia Press)