Calliope, Iowa facts for kids

Calliope, Iowa was an incorporated town in northwestern Iowa. Calliope was formally incorporated in 1882. It served as the county seat of Sioux County, Iowa. The town of Calliope was annexed by the neighboring town of Hawarden, Iowa in 1893.

History

Calliope was the original seat of Sioux County, Iowa. However, the citizens of a Dutch settlement of Orange City, Iowa believed that the county seat should be moved to their city. On January 22, 1872, fifty-five men from Orange City used horses and sleighs to conduct a raid on Calliope. They brought the county books, the safe containing the county money, and the county seal back with them to Orange City. The raiders, armed with guns and revolvers, persistently demanded what they believed to be theirs and went as far as to threaten violence. Although a bargain was later made to return the books and safe to Calliope, the county seat was eventually formally moved to Orange City after petitions and an election.