Place:Coon Rapids, Carroll, Iowa, United States

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Coon Rapids is a city in Carroll and Guthrie counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 1,300 at the 2020 census, which is a decrease of 5 from the 2000. The small portion of Coon Rapids that lies in Guthrie County is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.

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Coon Rapids-Whiterock named an Iowa Great Place

October 11, 2005, Governor Tom Vilsack named Coon Rapids-Whiterock one of Iowa's first three "Great Places," out of a field of more than 146 aspirants. The intention is to target state and federal resources on those communities selected.

For more information, see: http://www.whiterockconservancy.org/gp/GreatPlaces.htm

For recent updates on Coon Rapids under Great Places projects, see: http://www.coonrapidsiowa.info/html/great_place_news.html

History

Content of this section copied from: http://www.coonrapidsiowa.info/html/early_days.html

(This information was extracted from the Coon-Rapids Bayard Alumni Page - http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/4566/index.html)

The original town of Coon Rapids was, next to Carrollton, the first town in the county. It was not known by that name, but there was a sort of frontier outpost at that point, on the route from Des Moines, Panora, Sioux City and points farther northwest [1]. How Coon Rapids Got Its Name

The land was first taken up by one O.J. Niles, a peculiar character, who attracted the attention of the early pioneers. He was elected justice of the peace and was an important individual in the transaction of business for his neighbors [1]. It is related that a man named Tuttle, of Tuttle's Grove, felt a grievance over a horse trade he had made with Samuel Wilson, and stated the details of the transaction to 'Squire Niles. The squire listened patiently, and at the close advised Mr. Tuttle that the law in the case was so complicated that he couldn't obtain justice. Some suspicious persons, always inquiring as to the relations of cause to effect, remarked that Wilson was a splendid shot, and Niles was very fond of venison [2].

O.J. Niles entered the land on which Coon Rapids stands, in Union Township, in 1855. Mr. Niles was from Western Michigan, and probably of Yankee birth [2]. He lived in a 16 x 36 log house [2], the site of the present funeral home [3]. (The centennial report says: The earliest record of any settlement is in 1854; one of the earliest in Carroll County. In 1853, Obediah Niles, a Yankee by birth, came from Michigan. He purchased 200 acres of land from the government and the tract included almost all of the present town site [3].) His (Obediah Niles) nearest neighbors were at Tuttle's Grove [3].

The nearest railroad was at Des Moines [3]. A mail route was established in 1858 between Panora and Sioux City, with intermediate offices at Carrollton and Denison [2].

The earliest record of a 4th of July gathering was in 1859 at Tuttle's Grove. Lawson Mingus stood barefooted at the foot of a huge oak and read the Declaration of Independence. That evening, a dance was held at Sammy Wilson's on Brushy Creek and many danced barefooted. It is recorded that people from the little hamlet of Coon Rapids attended the event [3].

In 1861, he (O.J. Niles) sold a few acres of his land to a man by the name of Winfred who started to improve the mill site, on Middle Coon [1]. The settlers were so enthusiastic over the prospect of a mill in their vicinity that they held their Fourth of July celebration that year on the proposed mill-site [2].

In 1863 Crockett Ribble, County Treasurer, bought the site and commenced to improve it, with financial assistance from the county. A Mr. Frizzell set up a store to supply the men with tobacco and other "necessaries," and John J. McCollum started a blacksmith shop [2].

Jacob Cretsinger lived on Wilson Hill, east of the mill. He carried mail from Panora to Sioux City on horseback. Anxious to have a mail station nearer his home, he petitioned the government for a post office for Coon Rapids and suggested the name [3].

William Minnich bought the land in 1865 and laid out a town, and built the house (where William Schnepps now lives - in 1887), to rent as a store [2]. The first occupant was Shoemaker & Endicott [2].

But the old town did not prosper, and when the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad built through, in 1882, there were but few families there. The Western Town Lot Company then laid out the new town, along side the railroad, a mile or so west from the old site, and newcomers were numerous and the town grew rapidly [1].

The Coon Rapids Bank was opened in June, 1882, by Lyons & Cooney [2]. The City Bank was established in the autumn of 1882, by H.L. Miller & Co., the present proprietors (1887) [2].

The first graded school building was put up in 1883 [2].

In the Enterprise of 1883 is the earliest printed record of a 4th of July celebration. A brass band of 12 instruments was organized for the event. The program was as follows: National salute of 107 guns at sunrise. Prayer by the Chaplain. Reading of the Declaration of Independence. Address of State Senator from Panora. Music by the brass band. Vocal Selection. Basket dinner followed by toasts and responses. There were races, baseball and other amusements. In the evening following supper, the program consisted of music by the band, fireworks and dancing [3].

Coon Rapids was incorporated in 1884, the result of an election held December 19, 1882 [2]. Officers were elected in January following, and J.H. Louthan was the first mayor. The officers for 1886-1887 were: Mayor, T.C. Reid; Recorder, D.M. Grove; Councilmen, A.R. Harfield, C.E. Morris, B.H. Shute; H.L. Miller, Henry Wallace and I.L. Dermond; Treasurer, J.H. Louthan; Assessor, Theophilus George; Marshal, James Mulford; Street Commissioner, George Miller [2].

In 1885, the population of the town was 729 [1].

The following firms are in business at Coon Rapids in December, 1886:

   * · J.H. Adams, Merrill Hotel;
   * · W.H. Asher & Co., general store;
   * · J. Bates & Co., drugs;
   * · Beed Brothers, elevator;
   * · E.J. Bradley, lumber;
   * · A. Brutsche, general store;
   * · C.L. Cady, barber;
   * · John Cooney, bank;
   * · Cumpston & Co., drugs;
   * · L.A. Cushman, barber;
   * · Dale & George, elevator;
   * · I.L. Dermond & Bro., grocery;
   * · B.F. Erb, drugs;
   * · George Foreman, mill;
   * · H.Frisbie, livery;
   * · E. & W. Garst, general store;
   * · A.M. Graham, meat market;
   * · A.R. Hatfield, general store;
   * · S.D. Henry, publisher of the Enterprise
   * · L. Hoffman, tailor;
   * · Holliday & Harris, insurance;
   * · O.D. Houghton, butcher;
   * · S.E. Huse, lumber;
   * · M.H. Ish, grocery;
   * · W.J. Jackley, billiard hall;
   * · Jones Bros., hardware;
   * · F.C. Jones, post office;
   * · W. Law, blacksmith;
   * · J.H. Louthan, harness shop;
   * · William McNabb, meat market;
   * · H.L. Miller & Co., bank;
   * · C.E. Morris, grocery;
   * · Mrs. J.D. Parrott, millinery;
   * · L.L. Peck, bakery and billiard hall;
   * · E.A. Rogers, photographer;
   * · Scott & Son, blacksmiths;
   * · Steele & Johnson, furniture;
   * · A.R. Taylor, hardware;
   * · O.C. Triplett, restaurant;
   * · J.E. Tucker, jeweler;
   * · Henry Wallace, blacksmith;
   * · J.F. Yetter, harness;
   * · G.W. Zollinger, confectionery [2].

The first class was graduated from Coon Rapids High School in 1888. The class contained eight seniors [3].
[See Alumni list at: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/1956/crbschpg.html]

Sources:

[1] From History of Carroll County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, by Paul Maclean, Volume I, Chicago: The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company (1912).

[2] Biographical and Historical Record of Greene and Carroll Counties, Iowa. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company (1887).

[3] Coon Rapids Centennial Book, 1963, Enterprise Publishing