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 Welcome to the Monona County Democrats
Located in west central Iowa, the Monona County Democrats
represent over 2,100 registered democrats in Monona County. Precinct committee
persons are elected in even numbered years at precinct caucuses and serve on the
county central committee, which is the governing body of the county party.
Party members help recruit candidates for office, help them get elected, and become
involved in the governing process by contributing to the development of County,
District, State and National party platforms.
The Monona County Democrats meet the second Thursday of each month at
alternating locations throughout Monona County. Everyone is invited to
attend, however, only Central Committee Members may vote on matters before the
committee.
About Monona County, Iowa
The name of Monona
County (701 square miles) is believed to be of Indian origin, but its exact
meaning is not known. The word may mean “Peaceful Valley” or “Beautiful
Valley.” Monona was also said to be the name of an Indian maiden who committed
suicide by jumping from a high cliff into the Mississippi River in the belief
that her own tribesmen had killed her white lover. Some authorities suggest that
the county was named for Monona, a town in Clayton County, at the suggestion of
Eliphalet Price, representative from Clayton County in the Third General
Assembly.
The county was established in
1851. The county’s business was first transacted at the Mormon village called
Preparation, in Spring Valley Township, where some of the first settlements were
made. When Ashton (originally called Bloomfield) was named the county seat in
the fall of 1854, a log house served as the first courthouse. Ashton remained
the county seat for only four years.
Following an election, county
records were removed to Onawa, where a frame courthouse was built during the
summer of 1858, at a cost of about $7,000. Attempts were made from 1861 until
1889 to remove the county seat to Belvidere, Arcola, and East Mapleton, but each
contest in its turn ended in favor of Onawa.
 A courthouse was built in
1891-1892 by S.E. Maxon and Company of Omaha. This brick Romanesque
building, with gabled roof surmounted by a tower, is located on the same site as
the previous courthouse. A one-story addition was built on the West side
of the courthouse in 1967, and another
on the East side in 1973.
The old jail was condemned,
and Monona County joined with the City of Onawa to construct a law enforcement
center, including jail facilities, which was completed in September 1974.
An annex to the courthouse was built in 1980 and dedicated in 1981. This
annex was built for court facilities. The original judge’s bench, furniture, and
fixtures were restored and are being used in the new courtroom. Also an entire
third floor of the building was built and now houses the Department of Human
Services. And finally, the basement annex was remodeled to house the county
health nurses and the magistrate court.
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