CHAPTER IV. 



THE GEOLOGY OF HOUSTON COUNTY. 



BY N. II. WINCHELL. 



Situation and area. This county (see plate 8) is the most southeasterly 

 in the state, and contains sixteen government towns, forming very nearly 

 an exact square. Its area is about 568.75 square miles or 363,998.07 acres.* 

 It contains no lakes, but there are low lands along Root river, and along 

 the Mississippi, between the high bluffs, which are flooded most of the year. 

 These lands, when meandered by the original survey, and the water area 

 of those rivers within the county, should be added to the aggregate acreage 

 as above stated. The county seat is Caledonia. Houston, Hokah, and 

 Brownsville are the other principal towns, the last being the oldest in the 

 county, having been settled in June, 1848. 



SURFACE FEATURES. 



Natural drainage. The general drainage is toward the Mississippi river 

 which lies along the east side of the county. Through the northern tier 

 of towns Root river passes to the Mississippi. Thompson's creek joins 

 it from the southwest at Hokah. It receives Money creek, Silver creek and 

 Storer creek from the north, while Pine creek passes though the township 

 of La Crescent and joins the Mississippi from the northwest a few miles 

 below the village of La Crescent. Winnebago and Crooked creeks drain the 

 southeastern portion of the county. There being no foreign drift in this 

 county, these streams run in their ancient channels and several hundred 

 feet below the general upland level. The loam which covers the county is 



*The areas of counties as given in this report are those computed for tliis purpose by Hon. H. H. Young, secretary 

 of the State Board of Immigration. 



