Ackley, Iowa
| Ackley | |
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| City | |
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| Motto: Values from the past, Vision for the future. | |
 Location of Ackley in Hardin County (left) and Hardin County in Iowa (right) |
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 Ackley
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| Coordinates: 42°33′9″N 93°3′14″W / 42.55250°N 93.05389°WCoordinates: 42°33′9″N 93°3′14″W / 42.55250°N 93.05389°W | |
| Country |
 United States
|
| State |
 Iowa
|
| Counties | Hardin, Franklin |
| Settled | 1852 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Erik Graham |
| • Mayor Pro-Tem | Randy Eichmeier |
| • City Administrator | Michael Nuss |
| • City Clerk | Carol Williams |
| • Deputy City Clerk | Cyndee Roskens |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.48 sq mi (6.42 km2) |
| • Land | 2.45 sq mi (6.35 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2) 1.21% |
| Elevation | 1,093 ft (333 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 1,589 |
| • Estimate (2012) | 1,569 |
| • Density | 640/sq mi (250/km2) |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 50601 |
| Area code(s) | 641 |
| FIPS code | 19-00190 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0454084 |
| Website | Ackley, Iowa |
Ackley is a city in Franklin and Hardin Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 1,589 at the 2010 census.
In 1852, immigrants began purchasing farms and settling in the north Hardin County area. In the fall of 1852, L.H. Artedge, a frontiers-man from Indiana staked a claim just north of the Hardin County line and built a cabin close to where Highway 57 now passes. Another settler, Thomas Downs, became the first permanent resident of Ackley. Later his widow sold a strip of land from Butler Street to the four county corner for $3.00 an acre to Minor Gallop. Gallop built a house, just east of Highway 57 which became an inn, a stopover for stagecoaches, and the first post office.
Many caravans arrived in anticipation of settling in this area. Roby Parriott and wife, Abigail, settled in Washington Township, Butler County. Parriott immediately began to acquire more land and purchased what is now the business section of Ackley.
Mills were built on the Iowa River south of the community and in 1856 a stage line was built from Cedar Falls to Fort Dodge. The Dubuque and Pacific Railroad Company received a charter from the State of Iowa in the 1850s to build a railroad. Surveying teams were sent out. One of the members was J. William Ackley. He decided Etna Township was a good place for a railroad station. The land was owned by Parriott and his wife, who had purchased it for speculation.
William Ackley purchased the land for the railroad route and discussed founding a town. He and three other land developers purchased the land which is now the town itself for $25.00 an acre. They then sold sites for developing the town. In 1857, the town of Ackley was staked out. The plan was signed December 12, 1857. Even though Ackley never lived here, he gave the town his name.
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