Mahaska County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of 2000, the population was 22,335. Its county seat is Oskaloosa.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 573 square miles (1,485 km²), of which 571 square miles (1,479 km²) is land and 3 square miles (7 km²) (0.44%) is water.
Mahaska County was formed on February 17, 1843. The county has been self-governing since February 5, 1844. It was named after Chie...
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Mahaska County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of 2000, the population was 22,335. Its county seat is Oskaloosa.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 573 square miles (1,485 km²), of which 571 square miles (1,479 km²) is land and 3 square miles (7 km²) (0.44%) is water.
Mahaska County was formed on February 17, 1843. The county has been self-governing since February 5, 1844. It was named after Chief Mahaska of the Iowa tribe. The county was the first in Iowa to have a sheriff and a justice of peace.
The first courthouse was completed in January, 1846. The second structure was put into use on February 27, 1886. The first school, a small log cabin one-half mile (ca. 2 km) east of Oskaloosa, was opened on September 16, 1844 and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church opened as the first church in 1846. On July 2, 1850, the first edition of the Iowa Herald was issued (today the Oskaloosa Herald). In 1864, the first tracks were laid through the...
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