SOIL SXTRVEY OF WEIGHT COUNTY, IOWA. 9 



The first settlers came into Wright County from Hamilton County 

 in 1854 and settled along the streams in wooded areas that afforded 

 fuel and shelter during the Avinter and protection from prairie fires 

 during the summer. Most of these pioneers were originally from 

 New York, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. Prior to this 

 trappers and United States soldiers were the only whites here. In 

 1830 the southern part of the county was ceded to the Government by 

 the Sac and Fox Indians, and the northern part by the Sioux. The 

 county was established in 1851. The first settlements of importance 

 were made near the present town site of Woolstock, in the southern 

 part of the county. The northern part was settled much later by 

 homesteaders, mostly of Scandinavian descent. In the southern half 

 of the county farmers of French extraction predominated, with those 

 of German extraction second. At present people of German descent 

 have largely displaced the French. Many other nationalities are now 

 represented, some having been attracted to the county in recent years 

 by the beet-sugar industry. They include Russians, Mexicans, 

 Greeks, Italians, Poles, and Austrians. 



This particular region was among the last in the State to be oc- 

 cupied. This can be accounted for in part by the poor drainage of 

 the broad, level prairie lands, which were simply a continuation of 

 shallow sloughs and ponded areas most of the year. Further, much 

 of the land was in the hands of speculators, who held it at relatively 

 high prices, and homeseekers did not stop here but continued west, 

 toward the Missouri River, where fertile and better drained farm 

 lands could be obtained for much less. 



According to the 1920 census, the total population of the county is 

 20,348. Somewhat more than 65 per cent of this is rural, giving a 

 density of 22.8 persons per square mile. The farming population 

 is rather uniformly distributed over the county, being only a little 

 more concentrated near the large towns. Probably the northeastern 

 corner is slightly less densely populated than the average. Clarion, 

 with a population of 2,826, is the county seat. It is a division point 

 on the Chicago Great Western Railroad, Avhich gives direct connec- 

 tion with Chicago, Omaha, and St. Paul. It is an important trad- 

 ing center and shipping point for cattle, hogs, poultry, and grain. 

 Eagle Grove, population 4,433, in the southwestern part of the 

 county, is the largest town. The Chicago & North Western Railroad 

 shops are located here. It is also an important distributing point 

 and center for live stock and agi-icultural products. Belmond, in 

 the northeastern part of the county, has a population of 1.797. A 

 large cement-tile works and a beet-sugar factory are situated in 

 this place. Dows, an important trading center located on the county 

 line in the southeastern part of the county, has a population of 1,145. 

 63164°— 22 2 



